Country Music, Y'all!

[UYI]

Next on the list: One of my favorite women in country from the 90's (well, okay, she was releasing stuff in the late 80's, but her breakthrough was in the early 90's with the album Aces), a decade that was CHOCK FULL of great women in country. She does my favorite version of "Two Step 'Round the Christmas Tree" ever.

#67: Suzy Bogguss.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/05/24/100-greatest-women-67-suzy-bogguss/

Edited May 24, 2018 by UYI

[UYI]

Two more women on the list!

#66: Dale Evans.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/05/27/100-greatest-women-66-dale-evans/

#65: Jan Howard.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/05/27/100-greatest-women-65-jan-howard/

[UYI]

Next up:

#64: Billie Jo Spears.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/05/31/100-greatest-women-64-billie-jo-spears-2/

#63: Felice Bryant.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/05/31/100-greatest-women-63-felice-bryant/

[27bored]

I’ve long thought that women are keeping the tempo in Country. I watch a lot of CMT’s music video channel. I’m always impressed how many women in Country don’t seem to crack the mainstream. Instead, you have to deal with any-port-in-the-storm Bebe Rexha and likable but frustratingly ubiquitous FGL. 

Anyway, late last night I came across this song:

 

It's a sweet little song...the kind of song that always has a place in Country. More of this on Country radio and fewer of the bros, please.

[UYI]

It's such a shame. The only woman currently in the top 20 who is actually country is Carrie Underwood. The other three are Bebe Rexha, Tori Kelly, and Julia Michaels. 

That said, women can still get high debuts on the Country Album chart. Kacey Musgraves did recently, along with Ashley McBryde. 

Edited June 4, 2018 by UYI

[UYI]

And on that note, a PSA from country music journalist Marissa R. Moss:

[Stuffy]

6 hours ago, UYI said:

It's such a shame. The only woman currently in the top 20 who is actually country is Carrie Underwood. The other three are Bebe Rexha, Tori Kelly, and Julia Michaels. 

That said, women can still get high debuts on the Country Album chart. Kacey Musgraves did recently, along with Ashley McBryde. 

That's because there's a bunch of men who think women only want to listen to men.  Someone has actually said something about women being attracted to them.  Which is stupid because you can't see someone on the radio.  I say there's nothing remotely attractive about Jason Aldean or Florida Georgia Line physically or musically, and yet they're two of the biggest acts. There's so many male artists that I can't tell their voices apart. I used to be able to identify Luke Bryan and Keith Urban but then a couple of songs I thought were them for months turned out to be other people. I never looked at the artists just assumed it was Luke and Keith. Don't ask me who the other artists were there's too many to remember.

I spend most of my money on female acts. They're doing the interesting work along with the few male artists that country radio actually doesn't play. 

[UYI]

8 minutes ago, Stuffy said:

That's because there's a bunch of men who think women only want to listen to men.  Someone has actually said something about women being attracted to them.  Which is stupid because you can't see someone on the radio.  I say there's nothing remotely attractive about Jason Aldean or Florida Georgia Line physically or musically, and yet they're two of the biggest acts. There's so many male artists that I can't tell their voices apart. I used to be able to identify Luke Bryan and Keith Urban but then a couple of songs I thought were them for months turned out to be other people. I never looked at the artists just assumed it was Luke and Keith. Don't ask me who the other artists were there's too many to remember.

I spend most of my money on female acts. They're doing the interesting work along with the few male artists that country radio actually doesn't play. 

Do you remember when country radio programmer Keith Hill called the women in country tomatoes in comparison to the men in 2015? So stupid. The Change the Conversation organization was founded directly in response to that.

And YES to spending most of my money on female acts. There are some amazing women out there who deserve our support. 

[27bored]

Well, some of this is equilibrium. Not within Country, but within music in general.

I think about half of the male Country artists probably should be trying their hand at pop music, if they should be viable artists at all. Not to knock anybody's hustle, but some of these male Country artists seem like songwriters-who-can-sing, not "stars". Think someone like Cole Swindell. Nothing wrong with him, good songwriter, nice-looking guy, very little on-screen or on-record personality. But he's a star in Country. And while I like him just fine, I think Luke Bryan has gotten WAAAAY overexposed. Luke Bryan seems like a husband and father who gets up to sing at with the weekend band at a BBQ. And you realize, oh wow, he has a decent voice and he's kinda funny and charismatic. But: he's still somebody's husband.

I blame some of this on Sam Hunt's body-like-a-back-hoe head ass. Ever since he got big with the most non-Country Country record in the last five years, everybody wants to include drum loops and hip-hop cadences in their shit. STOP THAT.

And I will say, for the gals, they need to find another Miranda Lambert (never have gotten the big deal there, but I acknowledge it exists) or Carrie. Watching CMT, there's a parade of pretty girls with nice voices out there. It works for keeping Country alive, but I realized after seeing Carrie's video for "Cry Pretty" -- a song I'm only lukewarm on -- what the issue is. There aren't any stars out there. Carrie sings her ass off on that song, and it sounds big and powerful. That's what you have to do to get people's attention.

[Stuffy]

1 hour ago, UYI said:

Do you remember when country radio programmer Keith Hill called the women in country tomatoes in comparison to the men in 2015? So stupid. The Change the Conversation organization was founded directly in response to that.

And YES to spending most of my money on female acts. There are some amazing women out there who deserve our support. 

Yeah I remember that. He was an even bigger jerk on Twitter.

[UYI]

The current outlaws of country are finding a new home, and this time, it's in Memphis:

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8458644/memphis-outlaw-country-music-rebirth

[UYI]

Two more women on the list! The first is a woman I actually brought up shortly before this list began, a mid-late 90's country star who was sadly diagnosed with cancer last year, and the other: an early 80's pop-country crossover star.

#62: Jo Dee Messina.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/06/100-greatest-women-62-jo-dee-messina/

#61: Juice Newton.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/06/100-greatest-women-61-juice-newton/

[SunnyBeBe]

56 minutes ago, UYI said:

Two more women on the list! The first is a woman I actually brought up shortly before this list began, a mid-late 90's country star who was sadly diagnosed with cancer last year, and the other: an early 80's pop-country crossover star.

#62: Jo Dee Messina.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/06/100-greatest-women-62-jo-dee-messina/

#61: Juice Newton.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/06/100-greatest-women-61-juice-newton/

LOVED these two.  Way underrated, imo.  

From Jo Dee I loved Heads Carolina. (I'm from NC)

From Juice, I loved several, but, especially, The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Known.  Great song.  I bought and must have worn it out.  

[Bastet]

6 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

From Juice, I loved several, but, especially, The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Known. 

My favorite of her songs; when I get to that song on her greatest hits album, I put it on repeat and belt it out over and over.  (I need to go to bed, so I will not click on the video.  I need to go to bed, so I will not click on the video ...)  I play the hell out of I'm Gonna Be Strong, too.

I unabashedly love her music (I like a lot of the country pop of that era, whereas the modern version - "pop with an accent" as I refer to a lot of so-called country - not so much).  Angel of the Morning, Heart of the Night, Queen of Hearts, Break It to Me Gently, It's a Heartache (I like Bonnie Tyler's version, too, but Newton's better), Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me, etc. -- she put out a lot of catchy tunes.

[SunnyBeBe]

On 6/7/2018 at 1:27 AM, Bastet said:

My favorite of her songs; when I get to that song on her greatest hits album, I put it on repeat and belt it out over and over.  (I need to go to bed, so I will not click on the video.  I need to go to bed, so I will not click on the video ...)  I play the hell out of I'm Gonna Be Strong, too.

I unabashedly love her music (I like a lot of the country pop of that era, whereas the modern version - "pop with an accent" as I refer to a lot of so-called country - not so much).  Angel of the Morning, Heart of the Night, Queen of Hearts, Break It to Me Gently, It's a Heartache (I like Bonnie Tyler's version, too, but Newton's better), Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me, etc. -- she put out a lot of catchy tunes.

When I was much younger, I would play music until late in the night. I just loved it.   I would play it until 3:00 a.m. and was totally exhausted. Music fed MY soul, the way fashion magazines fed Carrie Bradshaw! lol 

[UYI]

We have a whopping FOUR new entries today!

The first: The woman once proclaimed the Queen of All Radio. 

#60: Lulu Belle.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/14/100-greatest-women-60-lulu-belle/

The second: One of the long-time staples of the Grand Ole Opry--and just recently, on my first trip there, I got to see her perform on that famous stage live!

#59: Jeannie Seely.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/14/100-greatest-women-59-jeannie-seely/

The third: One of the most revered female voices in bluegrass ever.

#58: Rhonda Vincent.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/14/100-greatest-women-58-rhonda-vincent/

And finally: The first female artist to ever top both the country charts AND the pop charts at the same time, way back in 1968, with her signature song, "Harper Valley P.T.A." (Yes, it's 50 years old this year!)

#57: Jeannie C. Riley.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/14/100-greatest-women-57-jeannie-c-riley/

Edited June 14, 2018 by UYI

[SunnyBeBe]

I have no idea how I recall Don't Touch Me by Jeannie Sealy, but, I do.  That was way back there. Here's a link.  This is her later in life and I'm not sure what to make her of appearance, but, I still like her singing.

 

Harper Valley PTA was a HUGE hit in my community.  I owned the single and played it over and over.  I was a child and didn't really even understand what it was about, but, I liked it and learned every word.  I thought that Jeanne C. Riley was so beautiful.  

[UYI]

Our next entry comes to us by way of Australia. 

#56: Kasey Chambers.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/20/100-greatest-women-56-kasey-chambers/

[UYI]

Two new entries to our list:

The first: The original pop-country crossover queen.

#55: Olivia Newton-John.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/26/100-greatest-women-55-olivia-newton-john/

The second: A woman whose recording career never got too far off the ground, but is one of the most prolific female songwriters in country music history. Seriously, look at the list of songs she's written--it's astounding.

#54: Matraca Berg.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/06/26/100-greatest-women-54-matraca-berg/

[SunnyBeBe]

I adored Olivia Newton John.  So pretty and sweet voice. I loved this song. She sure did resemble Heidi Klum back then. 

[Bastet]

6 hours ago, UYI said:

Seriously, look at the list of songs she's written--it's astounding.

Wow.  Coming out of the gate at EIGHTEEN with Faking Love (co-written) is a pretty damn good start, and then having Reba McEntire sing her Last One to Know a few years later?  Then all those Trisha Yearwood songs (Everybody Knows, XXXs and OOOs,).  Wild Angels (Martina McBride), You Can Feel Bad (Patty Loveless), Strawberry Wine (Deana Carter), If I Fall You're Going Down With Me (The Dixie Chicks).  It goes on and on; I had no idea how many of the songs I love from country's women in the '90s, especially, were written by the same person.

[27bored]

Ok I need y’all to help me out. I think Think A Little Less by Michael Ray is a decent country-pop song, but the video is completely weird. If you haven’t seen it, please watch and come back then we can talk:

 

Couple of things:

1. The video is nothing but him and the chick presumably making eyes at each other. And the song is called Think A Little Less. And what, look a little more?

2. Is it just me or this song way too loud for this video? With the sound off you’d think this was a soft, acoustic ballad. But this is like a ful-scale song. It doesn’t match.

3. Michael Ray has his eye-fucking down pat, but they were scared to show him with the girl for three seconds?

4. Is it just me or do they look related? Like maybe they have the same dad but different moms. It’s weird that they got a chick that looks kinda like him.

5. Why don’t their clothes match? She’s in like some sexy shit — bra and panties and a shirt or whatever — while he’s in some shit that’s just clean. It doesn’t match. 

6. Are they in a boat? I can’t tell.

Anyway, I think this video is weird. My girlfriend doesn’t “see it”, but I do! Somebody help me out!

[SunnyBeBe]

I think the video is a little off in some respects.  It sort of annoyed me that they just look at each other while never in the same scene.  Odd.  It also annoyed me that it wasn't clear where they were. A yacht?  Maybe, a beach condo on the water?  IDK. It looks nice, though.  I suppose they look a little alike, but, I don't think I would have noticed that if you hadn't mentioned it. I found the way she looked too obvious annoying.  Just sort of bad acting, I suppose.  The clothing didn't bother me, but, I'm not that wild about the song.  Is he married or does he have a girlfriend who didn't want him making out with another woman in the video? 

[UYI]

Next on our list, the two women behind one of country's most popular mixed-gender bands.

#53: Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman (Little Big Town).

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/04/100-greatest-women-53-karen-fairchild-and-kimberly-schlapman-little-big-town/

[SunnyBeBe]

UYI, I was just over on this thread and wondering where you were! lol  A few seconds later and I saw your post for #53! And what a great listing for Fairchild and Schlapman (Little Big Town)! I would think they would be rated higher.   Little Big Town is one of my TOP favorites.  I actually like their old stuff more than the new.  Love this 2, Boondocks and Little White Church.  

[UYI]

Yay, two more entries today!

The first: The woman behind a popular duo from the late 2000's/early 2010's (who just returned with a new album), who also has released her own solo work, and had a brief foray into acting.

#52: Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland).

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/07/100-greatest-women-52-jennifer-nettles-sugarland/

The second: June Carter Cash and Carl Smith's daughter (and by extension, Johnny Cash's stepdaughter and Rosanne Cash's stepsister). But more than that, a woman who carved out her own identity in country music from her very famous family, which includes one of my favorite pop-country songs of all time, 1993's "Every Little Thing." And last year, she had a large role in her friend John Mellencamp's album, Sad Clowns and Hillbillies, and has toured with him to support it.

#51: Carlene Carter. 

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/07/100-greatest-women-51-carlene-carter/

[27bored]

Music Row? More songs like this from sweet Southern girls, please:

[UYI]

Next on the list:

A woman from New Franklin, Missouri whose sweet voice took her to country music fame in the early/mid 2000's.

#50: Sara Evans.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/10/100-greatest-women-50-sara-evans/

A woman who had a string of hits in the early 80's, with "Don't Worry 'Bout Me, Baby" being my favorite. It's sweet and smooth--as many 80's country songs were--and even quietly subversive, I'd argue.

#49: Janie Fricke.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/10/100-greatest-women-49-janie-fricke/

[SunnyBeBe]

On 7/8/2018 at 10:59 AM, 27bored said:

Music Row? More songs like this from sweet Southern girls, please:

LOVELY.  I really like her.  My, she's grown up. 

IMO, Nettles should be very close to the top and MUCH higher than 52.  She's in my top 10 favorites of female country artists.

[Bastet]

I like Sara Evans's cover of Could Not Ask For More as much as the next person, but the songs of hers I love are Suds in the Bucket and Cheatin'.

I didn't realize Janie Frickie (whom I almost exclusively associate with She's Single Again) had been a session vocalist on songs I've listened to frequently, Elvis Presley's version of My Way and Conway Twitty's I'd Love to Lay You Down.

[UYI]

Next on the list:

A woman from Canada who is probably the only female "hat act" in country music history. She now hosts a radio show called Country Gold.

#48: Terri Clark.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/14/100-greatest-women-48-terri-clark/

And a woman from the very early years of country music, known for playing more than a dozen instruments.

#47: Cousin Emmy.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/14/100-greatest-women-47-cousin-emmy/

[Bastet]

I'm not much of a fan of Terri Clark in general, but I love with abandon Girls Lie Too.

(I never thought about this being a factor, but now I'm flipping through my mental rolodex of hat acts, and my reaction is usually the same - eh, good voice, and I like a couple of his songs, but I'd never go see a show.)

[UYI]

One of the earliest stars of the Grand Ole Opry--she was, in fact, instrumental in updating the dress code for women there, and was the closest country music had to a flower child in many years. It's CRAZY to think that she STILL isn't in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and since she died in 2004, it might be harder for that to happen. Hopefully that will someday change.

#46: Skeeter Davis.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/16/100-greatest-women-46-skeeter-davis/

This was the original big female star of country music, whose song "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" was, in its own way, actually a very liberating song for the time. She wanted to be right there doing everything he did. And it is one of the most enduring standards for women in country music.

#45: Patsy Montana.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/16/100-greatest-women-45-patsy-montana/

Edited July 16, 2018 by UYI

[SunnyBeBe]

I loved this song when I was a very little girl. My mom had a stack of records and I learned to play them as a toddler.  (Seriously.) She sort of sounds like a young girl in the song. (Skeeter Davis)

[UYI]

Yes, she was a member of the Carter Family. Yes, she was both Mrs. Carl Smith and Mrs. Johnny Cash. But she had a legacy of her own, too.

#44: June Carter Cash.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/20/100-greatest-women-44-june-carter-cash/

One of the very earliest Grand Ole Opry stars, complete with her trademark hat and price-tag, and one of the future stars of Hee Haw. HOW-DEE!

#43: Minnie Pearl.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/20/100-greatest-women-43-minnie-pearl/

[UYI]

The SECOND most famous native of Mount Airy, North Carolina--inevitable when you share the same hometown as Andy Griffith--she wrote and recorded one of the most well-known country songs of the early 70's. "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.", and released it as a single after Tanya Tucker refused to release her version as a single, in favor of "Delta Dawn".

#42: Donna Fargo.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/23/100-greatest-women-42-donna-fargo/

Her recording career in country music started and took off a little later in life than it does for some women, but she had a few good years of success with songs about strong, independent, and often sexually forward women. Her hit "80's Ladies" gives you an indication of when her greatest success took place.

#41: K.T. Oslin.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/23/100-greatest-women-41-k-t-oslin/

[SunnyBeBe]

I loved 80's Ladies!   

 

But, not as much as Happiest Girl in The Whole USA.  That song was HUGE!  I just love the way she sings in this performance.

Edited July 23, 2018 by SunnyBeBe

[Bastet]

Oh boy, I hate The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A. with a passion (I also hate her Funny Face), but I love '80s Ladies just as strongly.  LOVE it.  I like Younger Men,* Hold Me, I'll Always Come Back, Do Ya and several others, too, but '80s Ladies is a fucking anthem.  And I just like Oslin, period - the stuff she wrote her songs about, her videos, the whole thing.  It was nice having someone like her so prominent in country music for a while.  And '80s Ladies winning Song of the Year at the CMAs, meaning a female songwriter had finally won, and for a song celebrating not just women, but women "of a certain age"?  Hell, yeah!

*I love the story noted in the write-up about trying to get that song on the radio: 

Quote

The latter single had Oslin noting that women peak at forty and men at nineteen, then crooning, “Here I am on the threshold of all that fun. I’m gonna try my best to cross it with a younger one.” Radio programmers refused to touch it, and when one DJ told her it was offensive to men, she asked him, “Do you play ‘Don’t the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time?” When he said yes, she responded, “Don’t you think women might find that offensive?” He hung up on her.

[UYI]

She became a star at age 13 with the song "Blue", earning her the nickname "the next Patsy Cline". It's a shame she hasn't really found the same success as an adult, but what a voice!

#40: LeAnn Rimes.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/25/100-greatest-women-40-leann-rimes/

If there is a Queen of Alternative Country, this woman is probably it. Car Wheels in a Gravel Road, in particular, which just turned 20 this year, is just a stellar piece of work.

#39: Lucinda Williams.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/25/100-greatest-women-39-lucinda-williams/

[Silver Raven]

I'm surprised LeAnn is that far down the list.

[Bastet]

I really like Lucinda Williams, especially her self-titled album (that, as the write-up notes, saw a good half of its songs covered by other artists) and Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.  I still play the hell out of the latter - the title track, Concrete and Barbed Wire, 2 Kool 2 B 4-Gotten, I Lost It, Drunken Angel ... I don't think there's a song on there I don't like.

LeAnn Rimes, not so much.  Great voice, but I don't sense much emotion behind it, and something about her bugs the shit out of me to the point of distraction, yet I can't even explain what it is.  I don't think I've heard much of her stuff beyond the debut album other than that awful song from that awful movie (Coyote Ugly) and her version of How Do I Live. 

[SunnyBeBe]

I'm not sure what happened to LeAnn Rhimes. She came on strong and then just ran out of steam.  It was unfortunate.  Initially, I thought her voice was the best in her field. Her early albums were impressive. Then, I think her parents had troubles, she fired her dad as manager, then her voice suffered and her career just went downhill.   It's never recovered.  

[UYI]

The daughter of prominent country songwriter Liz Anderson, she had one of the biggest crossover pop-country hits of all time, "Rose Garden", which made her one of the biggest country stars of the early 70's. And on a shallow note: she really did look like a Barbie doll come to life. I love her long blonde hair.

#38: Lynn Anderson.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/27/100-greatest-women-38-lynn-anderson/

By the time of her death two years ago, she was THE matriarch of the Grand Ole Opry, and its longest-living member up to that date. One of the very earliest female stars in country music, and a staunch defender and player of the old school honky tonk sound. As she said in interviews (which are great, by the way), she had a HUGE role in knocking down a lot of the doors in the industry for other women to follow.

#37: Jean Shepard.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/27/100-greatest-women-37-jean-shepard/

[UYI]

She is largely a more folk/Americana type country musician, but in the early 90's she was as big as any other woman in mainstream country music, certainly in terms of awards and critical acclaim.

#36: Mary Chapin Carpenter.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/30/100-greatest-women-36-mary-chapin-carpenter/

A female pioneer of the Bakersfield Country sound.

#35: Rose Maddox.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/07/30/100-greatest-women-35-rose-maddox/

Edited July 30, 2018 by UYI

[Bastet]

3 hours ago, UYI said:

but in the early 90's she was as big as any other woman in mainstream country music,

Holy crap, yes - Come On Come On was everywhere.  Seven singles from one album, released over three years, and all charted (all but one in the top fifteen, and four of them in the top five).  And then add in how many artists were recording her songs during that time, and Mary Chapin Carpenter was dominant as hell in the early '90s.

I'm surprised He Thinks He'll Keep Her only went to #2, and her version of Lucinda Williams's Passionate Kisses to #4; those both play as number one songs to me.  She didn't go #1 until Shut Up and Kiss Me.

[SunnyBeBe]

I really like Sugarland's new song (with Taylor Swift).  

[UYI]

Aw, these next two are best friends, not to mention second-generation country stars who have now recorded two albums together.

The first--the daughter of the late George Morgan--was the 90's reigning blonde bombshell of country music, a six-time married woman (with her second husband being the late country star Keith Whitley--he died right around the time her career was taking off) who had a torch ballad of singing, best heard in what is perhaps her signature song, "Something in Red." And full disclosure: She's a huge favorite of mine, in part because of her fandom of Tammy Wynette, who also became a close friend of hers--she even closed Tammy's public memorial service in 1998 by singing "Stand By Your Man."

#34: Lorrie Morgan.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/08/03/100-greatest-women-34-lorrie-morgan/

 

The second--the daughter of the late Mel Tillis--was one of the more notable brunettes of country during the 90's, with a sweet, distinctive voice that you recognize the moment one of her songs starts playing. I love "Shake the Sugar Tree", of course, but I also have to mention the very fun "Cleopatra, Queen of Denial."

#33: Pam Tillis. 

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/08/03/100-greatest-women-33-pam-tillis/

Edited August 3, 2018 by UYI

[Bastet]

It's weird, because I think Lorrie Morgan has a great voice (I loved her Stand By Your Man tribute), but I hardly ever listen to her.  I don't have any of her albums, and Something in Red and What Part of No are the only songs of hers I have on my iPod.

Same with Pam Tillis, come to think of it.  I don't dislike her for any reason, but I think Maybe It Was Memphis is the only one of her songs I listen to.

[UYI]

The original female Canadian pop-country superstar.

#32: Anne Murray.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/08/05/100-greatest-women-32-anne-murray/

Hoo boy, y'all will have some thoughts on this next one. Remember: I just share this list, I didn't make it!

She may have become the biggest pop music superstar of this past decade (unless Adele's selling numbers are enough to dispute that in your eyes), but originally, she was a 16 year old girl, from Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, who took inspiration from the various and sundry female country superstars of the late nineties, and used it to become a singer-songwriter who sought to bring teenage girls/young women closer together with lyrics and stories they could relate to, complete with a country twang (until the twang got scrapped, of course).

I personally would have ranked her a LOT lower than this--I may have even left her off entirely, due to how un-country she sounded even before she technically "left" the genre--but I understand how a career as unique as hers can make it harder to judge (and she WAS a significant force in country during her early years--even when she started showing signs of crossing over, it looked at first like she was going to stay in the country lane). It is what it is. 

#31: Taylor Swift.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/08/05/100-greatest-women-31-taylor-swift/

Edited August 5, 2018 by UYI

[Bastet]

Taylor Swift - Whatever.  Yes, obviously given her success (country and pop), age at which she started, fact she both writes and sings, and female empowerment/solidarity ... um, persona? schtick? genuine belief muddied up by juvenile antics and annoying personality? ... she's going to be pretty highly-ranked.  I even like that Blank Space song, heaven help me.  But she just bugs. 

Anne Murray - I'm surprised to see her ranked this highly.  And it's not even about country vs crossover vs pop for me, it's that she's so vanilla.  The fact music is work she fell into rather than being a passion shows.  But, I must admit, I have several of her songs on my iPod -- Now and Forever, Nobody Loves Me Like You Do, Could I Have This Dance (I would have liked to have heard that as the duet with Kenny Rogers it was intended to be, too).  I even sort of like A Little Good News, even though I don't want to because it's such a simplistic, naive take on things.