Mary et al - why do you insist on confusing Country with Folk? Seems to be something you USA-folks do a lot, judging by some of the names that have cropped up in this thread. Dolly and Emmylou are superlative Country Artistes, not Folksingers. You'll be telling me next that Meatloaf and Eminem are Folk Singers. (I dare you!):-)

Just to add a perverse comment, and probably damning myself in the process - someone (I reckon it was Martin Carthy - who IS a British FOLKSINGER and guitarist extraordinaire - but I may be wrong) once said that "All songs are sung by folks, therefore all songs are Folk Songs". Perhaps by the same token ALL singers are Folk Singers? Just a thought.

And re the Canada business, the subject of the thread is 'Your favourite American folksingers' - correct me if I'm wrong but isn't America the Continent which encompasses the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile etc. etc. etc.? Therefore Stan Rogers, Gordon Lightfoot and the others mentioned earlier are Americans from Canada. QED. They are also jolly fine singers and writers.

Peace Brothers and Sister
Johnny