I think they can. Woody lived in a different time and different circumstances. If Woody were around today, he would probably be a rap artist. (In fact, there is evidence of rap-like lyrics in the Woody Guthrie archives!)

What Woody had in his favor was a few songs that reached attention - by other artists.   The Weavers had a few hits, and of course This Land is Your Land made it into the classrooms across the nation. But it wasn't Woody's records that made him a legend.

I can think of someone like Pat Humprhies who wrote a song called "Swimming to the Other Side" that has caught on in folk circles around the globe.   True, it isn't a hit on Top 40 radio, but most of the "folk" hits that we remember from the 60's weren't either.