What does it take to be considered one of the greatest women country music has ever seen? Songwriting skills? Career longevity? Powerful vocals? All this and more. Today, we’re getting to know a few of the most influential women in country music. Let’s jump in!
Dolly Parton Dolly Parton grew up in a two-room home in rural Sevier County, Tennessee. She was the fourth of twelve children. Her father was an illiterate farmer, and her mother was a homemaker who loved to sing.
Kitty Wells Born in Nashville in 1919, Ellen Muriel Deason grew up where country music lived. She was one of six children born to a musically inclined couple. Her father played guitar, and her mother loved to sing. Beginning in 1936, she performed on local radio with her sisters.
Reba McEntire Reba McIntire was the third of four children raised on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma. When the family traveled, her mom encouraged singing and taught the four to sing in harmony. Reba grew up inspired by artists such as Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline. She sang at various rodeos and other venues whenever she got the chance.