Women of Country Music

Sandy Posey (1944–2024), Born a Woman singer

Sandy Posey was a singer known for 1960s hits like “Born a Woman” and “Single Girl.” 

Margo Smith (1939–2024), 1970s country music star 

Margo Smith was a country singer and songwriter who had No. 1 hits with “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” and “It Only Hurts a Little While.” 

Laura Lynch (1958–2023), Dixie Chicks founding member

Laura Lynch was a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, playing bass and providing vocals as part of the original line up. 

Jody Miller (1941–2022), “Queen of the House” country singer

Jody Miller was a country singer known for her 1965 hit, “Queen of the House.”

Loretta Lynn (1932–2022), country music superstar

Loretta Lynn was a groundbreaking country singer and songwriter whose hits included the controversial “The Pill” and the autobiographical “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

Olivia Newton-John (1948–2022), “Grease” star and chart-topping singer

Olivia Newton-John was a singer and actress known for a country-turned-pop musical career and for roles in movies including “Grease.”

Bobbie Nelson (1931–2022), Willie Nelson’s sister and pianist

Bobbie Nelson was a pianist who played with her younger brother, Willie Nelson, for more than 50 years.

Rose Lee Maphis (1922–2021), country singer known as “Mrs. Country Music”

Rose Lee Maphis was a country singer and guitarist who performed with her husband, Joe Maphis, as “Mr. and Mrs. Country Music.”

Sue Thompson (1925–2021), singer known for “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)”

Sue Thompson was a singer known for 1960s songs including “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)” and “Norman.”

Nanci Griffith (1953–2021), Grammy-winning singer and songwriter

Nanci Griffith was a folk and country music singer and songwriter known for songs including “Love at the Five and Dime” and “From a Distance.”

Patsy Bruce (1940–2021), country music songwriter

Patsy Bruce was a country music songwriter who co-wrote “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” with her then-husband, .

Taylor Dee (1987–2021), rising country music star

Taylor Dee was a country singer from Texas whose singles, including “The Buzz,” were gaining in popularity.

K.T. Oslin (1942–2020), Grammy-winning country star

K.T. Oslin was a Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter known for the hit song "80's Ladies."

Cady Groves (1989–2020), singer known for “This Little Girl”

Cady Groves was a singer-songwriter whose hits include “This Little Girl,” “Love Actually,” and “Forget You.”

Jan Howard (1929–2020), Grand Ole Opry star

Jan Howard was a country music icon who was a longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry. Her hit singles include “Evil on Your Mind” and “For Loving You.”

Jacqueline McEntire (1926–2020), Reba McEntire’s mother

Jacqueline McEntire , country music star Reba Mcentire’s mother, has died from cancer at the age of 93. She was the matriarch of the Oklahoma family that includes Reba and her three siblings. Jacqueline’s husband Clark was a three-time champion steer roper who was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame. She shared songwriting credit with Reba on the latter’s 2017 gospel album and was featured in a music video in 2016 for Reba’s song “Just Like Them Horses.”

Kylie Rae Harris (1989–2019), country music singer

Country singer Kylie Rae Harrisreleased a self-titled EP this year.

Maxine Brown Russell (1931–2019), country music hall of famer

Member of chart topping trio The Browns.

Jo Walker-Meador (1924 - 2017), CMA executive director

Jo Walker-Meador, who rose from the Country Music Association’s office manager to lead the organization for 29 years, died in Nashville on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, following a stroke.

Holly Dunn (1957 - 2016), Are You Ever Gonna Love Me singer

The former country singer-songwriter had two No. 1 hits in the late '80s and early '90s with "Are You Ever Gonna Love Me" and "You Really Had Me Going."

Bonnie Brown (1938 - 2016), singer with the Browns

Bonnie Brown, member of country music vocal group The Browns, died of complications from lung cancer on July 16, 2016, according to multiple news sources. She was 77.

Joey Feek (1975 - 2016), Joey + Rory country singer

Joey Feek, a member of the hit country and bluegrass duo Joey + Rory who shared her cancer fight via social media, died of the disease March 4, 2016. She was 40.

Bonnie Lou (1924–2015)

Country singer and pioneering crossover rock artist.

Janis Martin: The Female Elvis

Janis Martin was a rockabilly darlin' in a man's world. At just 15, she was poised for stardom in the rising genre, one of the few women who'd make a mark in the early days of rock 'n' roll. She was writing her own songs and performing them with a unique brand of swagger that drove fans wild. So why haven't most people heard of the young woman known as the Female Elvis?

Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton

Country singer Porter Wagoner, who would have celebrated his 87th birthday Aug. 12, introduced country music to millions as the host of television’s The Porter Wagoner Show. But Wagoner...

June Carter and Johnny Cash

Though June Carter and Johnny Cash were remarkable solo artists, collaborating only increased their appeal—and the songs that feature both singers are some of the best of their careers.

Tammy Wynette and the Sad Truth about Happy Endings

"The sad part about happy endings is there's nothing to write about."

Anita Carter's Family

Anita Carter's name gives it all away: she was, of course, a member of THE Carter family, country music superstars.

Crazy for Patsy Cline

Patsy Cline changed the face of country music.

Dale Evans, Queen of the Cowgirls

Dale Evans was Hollywood's most famous cowgirl.

Howdy, Minnie Pearl!

On Minnie Pearl's 100th birthday, we remember her down-home humor.

Kitty Wells, Queen of Country Music

Kitty Wells was a pioneering country musician who skyrocketed into the spotlight, becoming country's first female superstar. But her fame and fortune almost didn't happen.

Mother Maybelle

Maybelle Carter may have been the best-known and best-loved mother in all of country music.

Mary Ford, the Voice Behind Les Paul

Mary Ford became famous for her groundbreaking duets with musician and inventor Les Paul. On what would have been her 87th birthday, we look back at her life and singing career...

The Grand Ole Opry's Unsung Stars

A lot of musicians have played the Grand Ole Opry since it was founded in 1925.