Male vocalists usually take all the limelight related to the genre of country music, but female singers also have a significant role to play. Their vocals, which are at once strong and gentle, provide just the right amount of passion for country music.
Some of the greatest songs ever recorded wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for women. In this piece, we’re going to explore 45 of the best and most well-known female country singers who have contributed their voices and skills to the genre and discover how they became so well-known. Go on reading!
Dolly Parton
Let’s start with Dolly Parton, who is perhaps the most famous musician of all time and maybe the best of all time. Having given us emotional songs since 1967, she is a seasoned performer.
It has paid off for Parton to work hard. Her 44 albums have now debuted in the top 10 country album charts, a record for both male and female performers.
With 11 Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, and nominations for Academy, Tony, and Emmy Awards, her work is well-known even outside of the country music community. Parton’s exceptional work was acknowledged with her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She is still active as a humanitarian and children’s book author in addition to her career as a musician.
Loretta Lynn
18-time Grammy Award winner Loretta Lynn’s remarkable career began in the 1950s, when she started performing in local little bars. After sixty years of performance, Lynn holds the record for most awards ever given to a female country music recording artist.
Lynn was a forerunner for female country music performers; her album Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin (With Lovin’ On Your Mind) sold 500,000 copies, making her one of the first female musicians to achieve this feat.
Her 60-year career is almost unmatched, and she has released a staggering 50 studio albums. She was remarkably active until she was 85 years old. She still regularly releases new songs, even though she now resides closer to her hometown.
Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire is widely known as the “Queen of Country.” She has released an incredible 34 studio albums since her career began in 1977.
McEntire has built her career on writing songs about family, sorrow, and love. Her acting career also explores these subjects. Her most well-known role was on the WB Network as Reba Hart, a divorced mother attempting to make her place in life.
McEntire has seen enormous success and recognition in her acting and singing endeavors. Her friend and fellow country music icon, Dolly Parton, gave her an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in recognition of her accomplishments.
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris, one of the most significant figures in the history of country music, is praised for her constant contributions to the field.
Harris has expanded her discography with 27 studio albums since making her debut in 1970. The Alabama singer earned many Grammy Awards from these, and a number of them also reached the top 10 or reached the top spot on the Billboard Country Albums list. Harris has won 14 of his 48 nominations for Grammy Awards.
In addition to being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008, Harris’ influence on country music was acknowledged when Rolling Stone named her one of the “200 Greatest Singers of All Time.”
Tammy Wynette
Anyone who has heard “Stand By Your Man,” Tammy Wynette’s hallmark song, would understand why she is included on this list. Her voice is so rich and full that it’s hard not to be enthralled.
Although “Stand By Your Man” is perhaps Wynette’s greatest and most well-known song, it is by no means her only one. Throughout her 33-year career, she had over 20 #1 singles!
Despite Wynette’s passing in 1998, her impact may still be heard in modern country music. Her songs continue to serve as enduring recollections of her remarkable career, solidifying her status as a country music icon.
Patsy Cline
Our next singer, Patsy Cline, had a difficult childhood because she was born during the Great Depression. But she persisted, and with her strong and eerie voice, she went on to become one of the most significant country singers of all time, contributing to the creation of the Nashville Sound.
When she released “Crazy” in 1961, it won over listeners’ hearts everywhere. It was a crossover smash as well, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in addition to taking second place on the Country chart.
On March 5, 1963, a catastrophic plane crash tragically ended Cline’s bright career. She died suddenly, and the music industry was shocked.
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Crystal Gayle
Beyond having an incredible voice and chart-topping songs, our next singer is well-known. Famous as her elder sister, country music legend Loretta Lynn, is her black, floor-length hair. Who is this amazing woman? Just Crystal Gayle, none other.
Gayle made her studio album and single debut in 1975 and continued to record 25 albums overall. She received a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance with “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” her most popular tune.
Anne Murray
Country singer Anne Murray is a woman of many firsts. Her song “Snowbird” became the first to be certified as a gold record in the United States, and in 1984, her album “A Little Good News” won Album of the Year, making her the first female Canadian solo artist to achieve this feat.
Now are you curious? Then listen to some of this amazing woman’s other successes, which include Grammy-winning tunes for your playlist including “Love Song,” “You Needed Me,” “Could I Have This Dance,” and “A Little Good News.”
Kitty Wells
Kitty Wells is another woman with many achievements. She became the first female country singer to reach the top of the US country chart in 1952 with her hit song, “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” She became the first female country superstar as a result of the success of this song.
June Carter Cash
June Carter Cash is one of the most well-known country singer-songwriters of all time. At the age of ten, Cash began her career by performing with her parents and siblings under the moniker the Carter Family. Her career lasted over seven decades.
Shania Twain
Shania Twain was born in Ontario, but at the age of 28, she relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue a career in country music.
Twain rose to chart-topping popularity thanks to her catchy, twangy voice and powerful rock-and-roll instrumentals, which won over both country and rock music fans.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is one of the youngest country music celebrities. She became the youngest singer signed to Sony Music Publishing at the age of 14. Swift’s fans have had the exceptional experience of growing up with their favorite artist, which has contributed to her early popularity.
Her collection is diverse, encompassing pop, folk, and country songs. She initially describes herself as a songwriter, matching the songs to the genre that most closely matches her style.
Carrie Underwood
Next is American Idol winner Carrie Underwood. Underwood has continued to have chart-topping success with several of her albums, including “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats,” whereas some American Idol winners fade away over time.
LeAnn Rimes
Since she was 13 years old, singer-songwriter LeAnn Rimes has achieved great success in the country music genre, thanks to her popular songs “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” and “How Do I Live?”
Notable for her Christian recordings, Rimes is a skilled vocalist who has also dabbled in other genres. Her fourth platinum-certified album, You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs, peaked at number one on both the Billboard 200 and Christian charts.
Faith Hill
Our next artist, Faith Hill, is regarded as a natural when it comes to country music, and her popularity stems from the fact that her first two studio albums were chart-topping smashes.
Her 40 million recordings sold globally make her one of the most successful country music singers of all time. Her followers have learned to associate her voice with strength and tenderness.
The genre of country music is sweet, sentimental, lively, and joyful. Without the powerful women in business who contribute their skills to this genre so well, it would not be the same.
We appreciate the incredible work they have contributed to country music, from classic songs to contemporary hits, from up-and-comers like Gabby Barrett to seasoned veterans like Dolly Parton. Listen to some beautiful songs and go through the list of these vocalists; they are all worth hearing.
