Max Troy Barnes (born October 25, 1962) is an American country music singer-songwriter studio musician and producer.

In March 2018 he received Hot Country TV's award for "2018 International Artist of the Year"[2] He attended Hendersonville High School and is listed with notable alumni Carlene Carter and Taylor Swift Barnes is most known as a BMI and ASCAP award-winning songwriter.

[5] Other artists that have recorded Barnes' songs include George Jones, Jo Dee Messina, Montgomery Gentry, Alabama, Gene Watson, Mark Wills, Cledus T. Judd, Daryl Singletary, Ralph Stanley, Trace Atkins, Ray Stevens, John Schneider, Linda Davis, James Bonamy, Billy Dean, Foster and Allen, Daniel O'Donnell, Trudi Lawlor, and Billy Joe Royal Barnes' production credits include the 2018 Bobby Bare album, "Things Change"[6] which included a duet with Chris Stapleton.

Other credits to Barnes include backup vocals on Roadhouses and Dance Halls, an album by Lonnie Mack recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

[13] Barnes has performed as a lead guitar player on live tours worldwide with country music artists Joe Sun, Bobby Bare, Shelly West, Skip Ewing, Linda Davis and Tanya Tucker, among others.