Some of her most famous hits include You Belong to Me, Make Love to Me, and A-Round the Corner.. Her voice is an extraordinary soprano, and she's played everything from classic traditional songs to the work of Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs. 4. Vote for Your Favourite Female Country Singers, (Pop Icon & One of the Best-Selling Musicians of All Time), (Singer-Songwriter and Actress, Primarily Known for Her Work in Country Music), (Singer Known for Her Album 'Come On Over'), (Country Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Hits You Ain't Woman Enough' and 'Fist City'), (One of the Most Popular Female Country Vocal Artists of the Late 20th Century), (Country Singer-Songwriter Best Known for Her Albums: Kerosene, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and 'Platinum), (One of the Most Influential Vocalists of the 20th Century), (American Music Artist Who is Known as the First Lady of Country Music), (Filmmaker, Podcaster and Former Actress Best Known for Her Role as Sam Puckett in the Nickelodeon Sitcom iCarly), (One of the Best-selling Artists, Who Starred in the Musical 'Grease'), (Country Singer, Five-Time Grammy Award-Winner), (Pop Artist who Has the Most US Billboard 200 Top-5 Albums in the 21st Century by a Female), (Country Music Singer Who Topped the Charts at age 13 for Her Single Blue), Country singer Kacey Musgraves has won six, (American Singer-Songwriter & Multi-Instrumentalist), (One of the Best Selling Pop, Rock Singer-Songwriter with Nine Grammy Awards), (One of the Most Successful Country Music Artists of All Time), Country music legend Faith Hill is best known for her hits, (Actress and Singer Best Known for Her Song 'These Boots Are Made for Walkin'), (Country Pop Singer Known for Her Single 'Love Me Like You Mean It'), (Country Singer Best Known for Her Hit single She's in Love with the Boy), (Country Singer and Actress Known for Her Role as 'Alex Dupre' on the Television Series 'One Tree Hill'), (Country Singer-Songwriter Best Known for Her 1977 Hit Single 'Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue'), Country-pop crossover singer Crystal Gayle is best known for her, (One of the Best-Selling Country Artists of All Time), (Country Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Breakout Single 'Seven Year Ache'), Model Barbi Benton is best known for her stint with, (Singer-Songwriter Known for Her 1960 Hit 'Im Sorry' and 1958s 'Rockin around the Christmas Tree'), Loretta Morgan, daughter of country singer George Morgan, began her career as a singer at age 13. Leadbelly's influence has been felt across the musical spectrum, and his tunes spanned the old folk-blues and contemporary folk music. Here's a look at the best singers, songwriters, artists, and bands in the history of American folk music. March 31, 2022, 8:55 am. These classics include such semi-sermons as You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man), Don't Come Home A' Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind) and Rated X. She raised the hackles of radio censors -- while delighting other women -- with The Pill, a song she didn't write but which echoed her approval of birth control pills. However, despite gender equality still being a major issue, many female vocalists of the 1950s rose to fame and made their mark in history. He's written some of the most covered tunes in folk history. He had a very low bass voiceand was renowned for bringing some classic African-American spirituals like "Go Down Moses" to national and international attention. There are some exceptions- the work of Her first chart record, Dumb Blonde, was released in 1967 and she joined the Opry in 1969. As musicians began to write their own tunes and lyrics,female songwriters rose to the challenge as well. Unlike her father, who belted elegant opera, Arden sang more traditional pop music. After winning the radio spot together, they received recognition from bandleader Tony Pastor. Jeannie C. Riley: Riley (b. WebKitty Wells made history as the first woman to have a No. Her songs have been used in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Patti Page: Best known for her 1950 crossover hit, The Tennessee Waltz, Page (1927-2013) charted various other country singles through 1982, including the 1972 Top 20 duet with Tom T. Hall, Hello We're Lonely. Her recording of The Tennessee Waltz was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Picture this: Youre back in the 1950s, grabbing a bite to eat at the local diner, and theres a jukebox sitting in the corner waiting for you to insert your coin and pick a song. Hank Williams & Drifting Cowboys - Honky Tonkin' 3. 3 on theBillboard charts and impressed studio executives. A talent agent discovered her while she worked as an elevator operator in a clothing store on Hollywood Boulevard. Patsy Cline. One thing you always hear when people talk about Odetta is the exceptional power of her voice. The classic song hit No. Thanks, and welcome! Kelsea Ballerini is the recipient of several prestigious awards, such as CMT Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and Teen Choice Awards. Her embattled marriage with George Jones made At the age of 54, she posed for Playboy magazine, becoming one of the oldest women to do so. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Originally called The Starlets, The New Jersey trio of The Angels first formed in 1958 and became best known for their 1963 hit My Boyfriends Back., Hits: My Boyfriends Back, I Adore Him, Til. Londons biggest hit was the blues-style jazz ballad, Cry Me A River, written by former classmate Arthur Hamilton. Del Wood: Wood (1920-1989) had only one chart hit -- the No. In 2006, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Eventually, she would gravitate more toward country tunes, finding better success in that genre. Next: Top female singers of all time list (our choices). The Bryants were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1991. Followinga string of country and soft-rock hits, Newton-John starredoppositeJohn Travoltain the 1978 blockbuster Grease, considered as one the most popular movie musicals of all time. Besides her father, Ardens brother, Jan, was a singer. Joni Mitchell is revered for her poetic imagery and her lovely, soaring soprano. Her songs were (and are) deep, compassionate and insightful. Meanwhile, women began to carve out a space for themselves in the genre, too. the Window. Page attained a unique sound that most pop singers didnt adapt to in the 1950s. Indeed, there aren't a lot of songwriters working these days who don't feel some reverence towards his work. Judy Garland. She averaged about an album a year of her own workand has managed to also slide in several collaborations and benefit albums, not to mention an endlessly rigorous tour schedule. Kay Starrs aunt launched the singers career when she was only seven by making arrangements for her to sing on the radio after hearing her voice. 1's in a chart history that extended into 1979. Utah Phillips has made it his life's work to sing the songs of the working class. Her organization MuttNation Foundation works for rehabilitation of rescue animals. 2 on theBillboardHot Country and Western Charts. A list of the most famous country singers of the 1950s would be remiss not to include Patsy Cline. However, she didn't reach No. She began her singing career at a radio station in Oklahoma, where she embraced the name, Patti Page. Black Female Singers Well known as the First Lady of Rock and Roll, Connie Francis was a pop singer, actress, and one of the best female singers in the 1950s. Dubbed Country Music's reigning Queen, Underwood has influenced several other singers, such as Kelsea Ballerini, Lucy Hale, Lauren Alaina, Mollie King, and Danielle Bradbery. Most might gravitate towards Elvis Presley or Chuck Berry, who laid the foundation for rock and roll during that time. Music!" It's kind of funny that the Weavers and Woody Guthrie come up last in this alphabetical listing, as they're probably two of the most important artists in the history of the contemporary folk movement in this country. Debbie Harry, lead singer of Blondie, on the cover of the single sleeve for "Sunday Girl," 1979. Although country music was dominated by men when Billboard began ranking country songs in 1944, the landscape changed for female artists in the 1950s and 1960s, as the genre claimed Nashville as a recording center and the Country Music Association was formed to create new and larger audiences. 2023 Opry. 44. Brenda Holloway 13. 600 Opry Mills Drive 100 Best Country Singles of the 1960s by Female Performers Although she really wanted to be a painter, Mitchell managed to pen some of the most memorable folk songs of the past 40 years, including the preservationist tune "Big Yellow Taxi.". Diana Ross in 1965, photographed by Barrie Wentzell. Doris Day was an established singer and actress. But there was a lot to celebrate as music evolved from the clean-cut '50s to the free-and-easy '70s. Check out the full track listing below: 1. They worked with fellow Canadian Gordon Lightfoot, and also recorded several original and traditional folk songs. Best Oldies Artists of the '50s, '60s, and '70s - LiveAbout She also had a solo career, but it was far less prominent than her sisters. Sign-Up For Our Newsletter. Listen to CMT's new music playlist The Roundup in this story. Her solo act took off successfully with numerous top 10 hits on theBillboardcharts. Motowns famous act received 12 no. Seely scored a hit Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You with fellow Opry member Jack Greene in 1969 and a solo hit Can I Sleep in Your Arms in 1973. Born and raised in New York City, Mindy Carson started performing in her teens for the radio show Stairway To The Stars. She and Harry Cool made a chart hit called Rumors Are Flying.. 1 singles on theBillboardHot 100 as a solo artist, half of a duet, a member of a trio, and a member of an ensemble. She recorded nearly 600 songs and was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. A talented artist since a young age, she achieved success with her first single and debut album in 2006. Bobbie Gentry: Smoky-voiced Gentry (b. She's managed to influence an enormous crop of folksingers, including Gillian Welch and Janis Ian. Dierks Bentley's 28-city musical journey will run from June through August. Tim McGraw Teases New Music, "Standing Room Only", Tim McGraw: "New single 'Standing Room Only' coming March 10th. Become a member. Top 10 Female Singers Of The '50s, '60s, And '70s Kelsea Ballerini Announces Third Leg of Heartfirst Tour. After being diagnosed with intraductal carcinoma, a form of breast cancer, Sheryl Crow opened the Sheryl Crow Imaging Center by joining hands with her surgeon Kristi Funk. Unfortunately, her career was cut short after only eight years. Her first chart song and only No. Top 11 Girl Groups of the 1950s and 1960s - American Songwriter A vivid and forceful songwriter, Lynn composed many of her best-known songs, beginning with I'm a Honky Tonk Girl, her first chart record, in 1960. During her peak, she gained recognition worldwide as the most successful female singer. 1 on both the country and pop charts in 1968 and won a Grammy in the process. On top of The remaining members took an offer from Tommy Dorsey to perform with his orchestra. Yusuf Islam) was one of the most influential folk singer/songwriters of the 1970s. Circa 1955: American singer and actor Rosemary Clooney (1928 - 2002) sings and dances in a ballroom or on a stage, accompanied by a pianist and a band. Her debut albumJulie Is Her Namecame out later that year. Fitzgeralds legacy lives on through collections of media and memorabilia in the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Library of Congress. Apart from being the most decorated female country singer, Loretta is also the only female Academy of Country Music (ACM) Artist of the Decade (the 1970s). Seely remains one of the Opry's most applauded performers. In the Ken Burns PBS series on country music, producer Billy Sherrill recalls how he gave Virginia Wynette Pugh the name Tammy and how, later on, she and her former husband and singing partner George Jones interacted like wounded animals. She did not, as Sherrill promised her, make history with her first single, Apartment #9, which was released in late 1966 and rose only to No. Many have credited the Weavers with helping to fuel the folk revival that followed their success and subsequent blacklisting during the McCarthy era. The song made the trio international stars and earned them extensive exposure on network television. ], Carmel by the Sea / The Man I Used to Know, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkiJgm6MWA8, When Two Worlds Collide / I Want to Be Where You're Gonna Be, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rww6Sqqzi4g, I Still Believe in Love / Life's That Way, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRnli0d-Gas, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQkm3I2BNgo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vlZjLUkd9s, Keeping Up With the Joneses / No Thanks, I Just Had One, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSphfySIfKw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9iLt8sXbu4, My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy / 'Til Death Do Us Part, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDcoKbX_zBM, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o02f4ArNcWA, The French Song (Quand le soleil) / Sit Down and Write a Letter to Me, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35WLFvVL2Sg. After a falling out with Dorsey, everyone seemed to go their own way. 13 on the Top Pop Singles chart. Widely regarded as the Queen of Country Pop, Shania Twain is the best-selling female artist in the history of country music, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide. She led the fund drive for building the original Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, was instrumental in creating the annual CMA Awards Show, which launched in 1967, and oversaw Fan Fair, which started in 1972 and has since morphed into the CMA Music Festival. Kelsea Ballerini will appear on Saturday Night Live this Saturday. Other hits include Crazy and I Fall to Pieces.. Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. She signed with King Records, releasing a few hits, including Kiki and Youre All I See.. Discover our 2022 Class of Country's Rising Sound. Singers You Didn't Realize Are Still Alive Since then, the Fearless star has not looked back and also made her acting debut in 2009. Janis Joplin 5. If we get 1,000 pre-saves on this today, I'll share a little bit of the song with you", Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles To Appear In New Version of "The Exorcist". She gained fame with her 1957 release And That Reminds Me, which sold millions and made the Top 20 pop hits chart. Formed in 1957 by schoolmatesShirley Owens,Doris Coley, Addie Micki Harris, and Beverly Lee in Passaic, New Jersey, The Shirelles released their first single I Met Him on a Sunday in 1958. Much like Odetta, often when you hear talk of Paul Robeson, you'll hear about his incredible voice. 27. of 50. Their debut album was recorded in their kitchenand went on to become a favorite among folk enthusiasts nationwide. He became so popular and influential that he managed to get his own U.S. postal stampnot something with which many folksingers have been honored. She was one of the most popular female folk singers in the '60s folk revivaland started her own record company, Wildflower Records. Last but certainly not least, we added probably one of the most famous 1950s female singers. With melodies like Crazy and Sweet Dreams, Cline remains as one of the genres most recognizable voices, even today. The song reached no. The group released hits Baby, I Love You, (The Best Part of) Breakin Up, Walking in the Rain, and Be My Baby, all christened by Ronnie Spectors tender and tough vibrato. In 1945, her career took flight with a scat recording of Flying Home. When she reached a point of stagnation with her music, she turned to a new manager, Norman Ganz, who developed Verve records around her. Also a humanitarian, Cash supports many charitable organizations like Children, Incorporated, which supports young adults and children. She won a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1962 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, more than 25 years after her death. It's still remarkable that Ben Harper hasn't blown up any bigger than he is. Her singing style helped influence several artists and musical genres. But, it was his involvement in the scene that put him on the map; literally, there's a street in the West Village of New York named after him. Loretta Lynn is one of the talented, old female singers still alive. Patsy Cline - Walkin' After Midnight (Live) 2. First discovered as a calypso artist, Harry Belafonte became most popular for his "Banana Boat Song." In his collaboration with Portland fiddle player Tracy Grammer, the duo managed to sing and play their way into the hearts of folk fans, even in the short time before Carter's death in 2002. However, Carsons career didnt make a splash until a few years later when she collaborated with Guy Mitchell on the song Cause I Love You Thats-A-Why, which made it to the top 25 on the charts. Her top hits were My Heart Cries For You and Sweet Violets, both reaching no. Chelsea X Leeds - Ao Vivo Grtis HD Sem Travar | Futebol Grtis HD The song was the groups first single and their biggest hit. Trisha Yearwood is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, author, and celebrity chef. 2 single and Clio-winning Coca-Cola jingle she co-wrote, Dottie West (1932-1991) broke into the country charts in 1963 with Let Me Off at the Corner. Her third single, Here Comes My Baby, also a co-write, went to No. June Carter Cash: As the daughter of Maybelle Carter, one of country music's founding mothers, the former wife of country star Carl Smith and later the wife and singing partner of Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash (1929-2003) was as close as it comes to being country music royalty. In 1949, she recorded Copenhagen with a B-side track titled, Music! Additional no. The chatter surrounding the song -- including Riley being forced to wear a miniskirt when accepting her CMA award for single of the year -- dimmed the fact that she scored several Top 10s after her glittery debut. Female Country Singers: The Top 45 Singers of All Time - Wide Their manner of incorporating bluegrass and jazz-like solo jams has inspired countless jam bands since their inception. Ian & Sylvia were one of the most successful folk duos of the 1960s and '70s. Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet. Sheryl Crow is an American musician, actress, and singer-songwriter. 1 on her own with A Lesson in Leavin' and did it again that same year with Are You Happy Baby? Paired again with Rogers, she topped the charts in 1981 with What Are We Doin' in Love. Her daughter Shelly West followed in her mother's footsteps as a country artist. favorites: Heartaches by the Number, Lonely Street 28 Billie Jo Spears Mr. Walker it's all over is a great song. She was nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, winning one for Best Contemporary Vocal Performance for her song, Is That All There Is? in 1969. Her most famous singles are Right or Wrong and In the Middle of a Heartache.. Billboardawarded her the most popular female vocalist in 1955, 1956, and 1957. She developed 27 R&B top 10 hits within seven years. Michael Franti has become known for his electrifying live performances that can feel more like a peace rally than a standard music concert. Etta James 2. Womens History Month: These Artists Thrived in the '50s and 2. A hardcore country traditionalist, Jean Shepard (1933-2016) played bass in an all-woman band called The Melody Ranch Girls before setting out on a solo career. 1 tracks on the American charts and the first to get a gold certification. Phil Ochs is known for writing exceptional protest songs, and he spared nobody with his sharp tongue. But it was sufficient to earn her Grand Ole Opry membership in 1953, a niche she occupied until her death. Some famous Black female singers sing the blues while other top Black woman artists are pop superstars. The Blossoms - Son-In-Law. Jeannie Seely: A gifted singer and songwriter, Seely (b. 1 hits. They've released more than 40 albums in the last 50 years, and have become somewhat of an institution in contemporary folk music. Apart from her entertainment career, Moore is a known philanthropist who endorses the philosophy of effective altruism. 9 on the U.S. singles chart and got inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. 1 hit singles on the U.S. He's also become a star of the big screen, lending his talents to more than 50 films. 1 came in 1953 with A Dear John Letter, a duet with Ferlin Huskey. Frank Sinatra soon joined the band and led them all to the top of theBillboardcharts for 12 weeks in 1940 with their version of Ill Never Smile Again., The group toured across the U.S. for three years, with Stafford making a solo recording on the side in 1941. In the Name of Love, Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, I Hear a Symphony, You Cant Hurry Love, You Keep Me Hangin On, Love Child, Someday Well Be Together. It hasn't been an easy journey for female country musicians, who have faced the same and sometimes more difficult inequalities as With their prodigious instrumental skills, the trio blended jazz, folk, rock, and bluegrass on originals and covers alike. He was an activist and a songwriter, a Merchant Marine, and a former member of a barbershop quartet. Site Map | The evolution of the genre in the 1950s was perhaps best captured at the Opry, where it wasnt uncommon to see honky-tonk, bluegrass, and rockabilly artists perform in succession of each other. The Kendall Sisters - Yea, Yea. The Top Female Country Singers - Ranker The top 50 folk artists of all time, in alphabetical order. She hasn't stopped pushing the envelope sinceand is still releasing excellent records. Carrie Underwood is an American singer-songwriter and one of the best female country music singers of all time. 2 in 1958. Apart from recording songs and appearing in musical theater productions, Boone also co-authors children's books. It's hard to imagine that we'd still be talking about American folk music had there never been a Carter Family. Her Top 5 country hits with Cash were It Ain't Me Babe, If I Were a Carpenter and Jackson, the last-named of which won her and Cash a Grammy as best vocal duo. Ross earned the title of Female Entertainer of the Century, given byBillboardin 1976. Well, no -- but was there a male Aretha Franklin? WebSera Cahoone; Cam; Ashley Campbell; Laura Cantrell; Irene Cara; Lindsey Cardinale; Brandi Carlile; Paulette Carlson; Kim Carnes; Mary Chapin Carpenter; Jenny Lou Carson Their tune "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" became a country-folk standard in the late '20s. There were plenty of issues, to be sure. She also made her public debut as a soloist at New Yorks Hotel Astir the following year. STREAM THE SHOWTIME ORIGINAL SERIES GEORGE AND TAMMY, Read About Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Kitty Wells, Tammy Wynette, and More, Dierks Bentley Announces Summer Gravel & Gold Tour with Jordan Davis, Elle King and More. She has also worked in several movies and is a prolific songwriter. Born and raised in Tennessee, Frances Shore made her debut as a singer on a Nashville radio station. The daughter of musician Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash followed in the footsteps of her father. She came to light as a solo singer in the early 1950s with her first hit song, Come On-A My House. Some additional hits include This Ole House, Hey There, and Half As Much.. In 2013, Georgia Holt became the subject of a documentary titled Dear Mom, Love Cher, which also featured her famous daughter Cher. Kris Kristofferson may be best known for writing Janis Joplin's huge hit "Me and Bobbie McGhee," but he's a favorite among fellow songwriters. 25 Best 60s Female Singers (1960s Female Singers) - MG - Music Ani DiFranco is probably the most prominent Gen-X folksinger. Top 100 Artists Of The After winning a talent contest when she was only 15, she began to perform in clubs. Country Singers All came from different backgrounds but had one thing in common: much like their male counterparts their group name typically started with TheThe Ronettes, The Shirelles, The Shangri-Las, The Crystals, The Marvelettes, and dozens of other all-female groups of the era. While the 50s were generally regarded as a feel-good era in America, country music was ironically dominated by tear-in-my-beer honky-tonk songs in the first portion of the decade. 1 on the charts for 10 weeks. Somewhere in the middle of mostly male-dominated doo-wop groups, Elvis Presley swiveling his hips and the emergence of rock and roll with the likes of Little Richard, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis, and a burgeoning British invasion of the 1960s, there were the women of girl groups. Rosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter. Pictured (L-R): Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton. She sang mostly pop and country songs. Next: Our picks for the best black female singers of all time. Singers Regardless, Ochs is considered one of the more gifted songwriters of his generation. She was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992. During the mid-1960s, the Supremes achieved mainstream success with Ross as lead singer, backed by the Motown hit-making HollandDozierHolland as its songwriting and production team throughout the mid-60s. The music of the Carter Family helped inspire folks like Bob Dylan. 21 Best 50s Female Singers. Her first no. However, Days breakthrough hit didnt come until 1955, when she starred as singer Ruth Etting in Love Me Or Leave Me., She also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and three Grammy Hall of Fame Awards for Sentimental Journey, Secret Love, and Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera).. She performed there for eight weeks and earned herself a record label. If any songwriter could be called "prolific" or "influential," those terms would certainly apply to Woody Guthrie. In 1994, The Shirelles were honored with a Pioneer Award by theRhythm and Blues Foundation, which was accepted by Owens, Lee, and Coley. Originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he spent five years living at the Mount Baldy Zen Center in Los Angeles. Bill Anderson, singer who is still a major songwriter of new hits Female Country Singers | This earned her a slot in her best-known film, Singin In The Rain., She debuted on Broadway 20 years later in the revival of Irene. The show broke the record for the highest weekly gross of any other musical and earned Reynolds a Tony nomination. His early songs were brief and sharp topical songs like "I Ain't Marching Anymore" and "Draft Dodger Rag." Cass Elliot 8. A new era of female songwriters like Carole King, who penned The Chiffons 1963 hit One Fine Day and The Shirelles 1960 hit Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow when she was just 18, and Ellie Greenwich, who wrote hits Da Doo Ron Ron, Be My Baby, Then He Kissed Me, Chapel of Love, Leader of the Pack, were also coming to the forefront. What list of folk music greats would be complete without a nod to Mr. Bob Dylan? Legends of Country: Classic Hits from the '50s, '60s & '70s