When it comes to country music, the first names that come to mind are often male singers like Garth Brooks, George Strait, and Johnny Cash. However, there have been countless female guitarists who have made significant contributions to the genre and have inspired countless other musicians. In this blog post, we will explore some of the untold country guitar heroines who have rocked the stage and the charts with their incredible talent.
Loretta Lynn
Born in 1932 in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, Loretta Lynn is a country music legend who has been performing for over six decades. She is known for her hits like “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” but she is also an accomplished guitarist who has played on many of her recordings. Lynn has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards, including four Grammy Awards.
Wanda Jackson
Known as the “Queen of Rockabilly,” Wanda Jackson is a country and rock and roll singer who started her career in the 1950s. She is known for her hits like “Let’s Have a Party” and “Fujiyama Mama,” but she is also an accomplished guitarist who has played on many of her recordings. Jackson has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dolly Parton
Born in 1946 in Sevierville, Tennessee, Dolly Parton is a country music legend who has been performing for over five decades. She is known for her hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” but she is also an accomplished guitarist who has played on many of her recordings. Parton has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards, including nine Grammy Awards.
Bonnie Raitt
Born in 1949 in Burbank, California, Bonnie Raitt is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been performing for over four decades. She is known for her hits like “Something to Talk About” and “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” but she is also an accomplished guitarist who has played on many of her recordings. Raitt has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards, including ten Grammy Awards.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Born in 1915 in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a gospel singer and guitarist who started her career in the 1930s. She is known for her hits like “Up Above My Head” and “Strange Things Happening Every Day,” but she is also an accomplished guitarist who has influenced many other musicians, including Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Tharpe has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame.
Melissa Etheridge
Born in 1961 in Leavenworth, Kansas, Melissa Etheridge is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been performing for over three decades. She is known for her hits like “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One,” but she is also an accomplished guitarist who has played on many of her recordings. Etheridge has won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards.
Lucinda Williams
Born in 1953 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Lucinda Williams is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been performing for over four decades. She is known for her hits like “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” and “Drunken Angel,” but she is also an accomplished guitarist who has played on many of her recordings. Williams has won numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards.
Ana Popovic
Born in 1976 in Belgrade, Serbia, Ana Popovic is a blues singer and guitarist who has been performing for over two decades. She is known for her hits like “Can You Stand the Heat” and “Long Road Down,” but she is also an accomplished guitarist who has played on many of her recordings. Popovic has won numerous awards, including a Blues Music Award.
Interested in learning more about the untold heroines of country guitar? Check out our articles on top semihollow guitars for country legends, women redefining country guitar, strumming patterns for country songs, and famous country guitarists with hollow body guitars for a deeper dive into the world of country guitarists!
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many country guitar heroines who have made significant contributions to the genre. From Loretta Lynn to Ana Popovic, these musicians have rocked the stage and the charts with their incredible talent and have inspired countless other musicians. It’s time to give these unsung heroines the recognition they deserve and celebrate their contributions to country music.
