Here’s What Your Favorite Country Artists Looked Like When They Were Young
Country music is a uniquely American genre, rooted in the traditions, stories, and sounds of rural and working-class America. After originating in the early 20th century, it became mainstream in the 1940s.
There has been no shortage of star power throughout the various eras of country music. Let’s take a look at some of the genre’s most iconic figures in the early days of their respective careers.
Hank Williams
Hank Williams is on the Mount Rushmore of country artists for most fans and is often hailed as the most influential figure in country music history.
His emotional, raw songwriting and honky-tonk sound helped define the country genre for years to come. While he died at the young age of just 29, his music has stood the test of time.
Patsy Cline
One of the early female superstars of the genre, Patsy Cline enjoyed crossover success thanks to her rich, captivating voice on songs like “Crazy”, “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “I Fall to Pieces.”
Cline’s songs blended traditional country with pop influences, which in turn helped to shape the Nashville Sound. She tragically passed away in a plane crash at the age of 30.
Lefty Frizzell
Modern country artists have a lot to thank Lefty Frizzell for, because Frizzell’s smooth, drawn-out vocal style heavily influenced later artists like Merle Haggard and George Jones.
Frizzell’s dapper image was also trend-setting, as it helped define the visual aesthetic of country stars.
Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold was somewhat of a midway point between traditional country music and the smoother, more commercially viable Nashville Sound.
Arnold’s warm baritone lyrical style helped turn songs like “Make the World Go Away” into big hits. He’s also credited with helping country music take on a more glamorous, less rural image.
Kitty Wells
Known in her day as the “Queen of Country Music,” Kitty Wells managed to break through in a heavily male-dominated industry with her 1952 hit “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.”
Wells had staying power, too, as she continued to chart hits throughout the ’50s and ’60s, helping to pave the way for later stars like Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash had a long and storied musical career, blending country, rock, folk, and gospel into a style that was uniquely his. With his deep voice and all-black attire, Cash was an imposing figure on stage.
His performances at prisons and on his own TV show helped to broaden country’s audience, and his star power lasted well into the new millennium.
Merle Haggard
A master storyteller who could tell a poignant story through song, Merle Haggard helped to give voice to the American working class.
Haggard’s twangy guitar and soulful lyrics explored themes of patriotism, hardship, and redemption. Like other country stars, he managed to turn personal struggles into hit songs.
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn was a coal miner’s daughter from Kentucky, and appropriately enough, became famous for her song “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
Lynn’s songs explored feminine themes and struggles, challenging societal norms and shedding light on the life of working-class women. Her authenticity and resilience served as a model for later songwriters.
Willie Nelson
A cornerstone of the outlaw country movement, Willie Nelson’s laid-back phrasing, distinctive nasal tone, and unique guitar style helped to make him a unique figure in Nashville.
After spending years behind-the-scenes as a songwriter, Nelson rose to fame in the 1970s, and continued to release hits for decades.
Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire brought a winning combination of dynamic vocals, emotional depth, and independence to country music after emerging as a star in the late 1970s.
Like other female country stars, McEntire explored feminine themes in her music as well as personal resilience. Later, she found success as an actress and businesswoman.
Randy Travis
One of the brightest lights of country’s 1980s neotraditionalist movement, Randy Travis brought a sound that was fresh yet classic.
Travis has a warm, baritone voice and lyrics that focus on faith, both aspects that helped him resonate with fans. He’s credited with moving country away from pop and back towards its roots.
Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks isn’t just one of the most successful country artists of all time, he’s also one of the most successful artists in any genre.
While other artists emphasized a return to country, Brooks fused the genre with arena rock energy and theatrical flair. His high-energy shows and hit songs made him a global superstar.
Alan Jackson
First emerging in the late 1980s, Jackson’s music is characterized by his twangy vocals and straightforward songwriting in music that blends honky-tonk, gospel, and bluegrass.
Jackson’s themes are dynamic, ranging from the playful, nostalgic “Chattahoochee” to the poignant and reflective “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).”
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is a country star who became a global icon, with an impact that transcends the genre. Her distinctive voice and songwriting ability helped set the stage for a multi-decade career.
Parton rose up from poverty in rural Tennessee and became a music superstar, philanthropist, actress, and businesswoman.
Carrie Underwood
After winning American Idol in 2005, Carrie Underwood quickly became one of the most powerful voices in modern country music.
Her faith-based ballads, beginning with her debut single “Jesus, Take the Wheel” had crossover appeal. Underwood has helped modernize the genre while staying connected to its roots.
Brad Paisley
Paisley’s trademark witty songwriting and skilled guitar playing have made him a star ever since first emerging on the scene in the late 1990s.
As a guitar virtuoso, Paisley brought a unique musicality to country radio, often playing his own solos live and in studio.
Miranda Lambert
Lambert’s fiery attitude and no-nonsense approach to songwriting have created multiple hits like “The House That Built Me” and “Tin Man.”
Her music blends raw emotion with strength and defiance, as she pushes creative boundaries and tells deeply personal stories through song.
George Strait
George Strait, who’s sometimes called the “King of Country,” is one of the most successful and consistent hitmakers in the genre’s history.
Strait’s traditional style pays tribute to the genre’s honky-tonk and Western swing roots, and also helped define the neotraditionalist country movement of the ’80s and ’90s.
Chris Stapleton
Chris Stapleton’s soulful, bluesy sound and powerful voices helped him emerge in the 2010s after spending years behind-the-scenes as a songwriter.
Stapleton’s hits incorporate aspects of Southern rock, country, and soul, and his emotionally raw lyrics have made him a standout in the modern country genre.
Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves brought a unique, progressive voice to country music with her debut album Same Trailer Different Park in 2013.
Besides her lyrical wit and emotional honesty, Musgraves has also pushed the genre in new directions, incorporating pop, folk, and even electronic influences into her music.
