Great female country stars--the first post

Who doesn't like a really great female country singer? God knows I do. I couldn't decide which one to post about first, but the amusing discussion in the comments section earlier this week decided it for me--Dolly Parton, of course.

Dolly Parton has had one of the strangest careers ever in music. She started out life in crushing poverty but now famously owns her own theme park. She's famous for her figure, her love of outlandish clothing, her amusing movie career, and her sparkling wit. She should be more famous for her music, though you can't blame her for being well-rounded. She had her first record deal at 14 years old and before she was 21, she was a television regular on Porter Wagoner's popular country music show. (She supposedly wrote the song "I Will Always Love You" while coping with her intense feelings upon leaving that show.)

As everyone surely knows, Parton's musical style has veered all over the place, from plain country to the more mainstream music she made in the 80's to accompany her movie career. Many people think Parton is sort of a joke, but real country fans know that she is a major talent and have nothing but respect for her.

Like Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn, Parton has sort of had a resurgence in her career as of late, though she has done it more by reaching back to her roots, where all her best music came from in the first place. She put out two really good bluegrass albums in 1999 and 2001 called The Grass is Blue and Little Sparrow. If you only know Parton through her jokey side, which to be fair is very funny, check these albums out. Her ability to sing in the pure heartbreaking style that defines old school country is what has truly endeared her to country fans all this time.