Maybe the 1980s have faded from your music memory. Nevertheless, there was plenty of great music being made, performed, and recorded back then. We want to take a look back at four best country singers of the 1980s and remember what they achieved, as well as what we enjoyed about them and their work. I really believe that truly great music is timeless. It remains pertinent long after its initial heyday. You can certainly say that about these country music artists. Their work was and is sublime, despite the passage of many years.
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Kenny Rogers
Some singers can sing anything, sound good, and be riveting. The late Kenny Rogers was definitely among them. The 1980s was a terrific time for him. according to The Boot. With hits such as the Bee Gees'-written "Islands in the Stream," which he sang with Dolly Parton, and the unforgettably romantic ballad "Lady," that Lionel Richie penned, Rogers had a Midas touch. He notched 20 top 10 hits during the decade, per the outlet, plus he had a quartet of albums that soared to the uppermost rung of the charts. "The Gambler" was rolling the dice and winning every time.
Dwight Yoakam
Remember songs like "Guitars, Cadillacs" and "Honky Tonk Man"? They came from Dwight Yoakam, who made his name partly by boldly adding a rock-inflected patina to his work. The most enduring artists aren't afraid to try something new, and Yoakam really did. Per The Boot, "This edgier approach eventually helped inform the nascent alt-country movement, and went a long way to keeping authentic country artists and sounds relevant as musical trends evolved. Yoakam himself won the ACM Awards Top New Male Vocalist trophy in 1986 — and hasn't looked back since."
Emmylou Harris
Harris' long and distinguished career is filled with notable milestones. Per the Alabama Hall of Fame, her album released in 1985, The Ballad of Sally Rose, was a key turning point for her. "Though a commercial failure, the...record proved pivotal in Harris' continued evolution as an artist and a risk-taker...." In 1987, she linked up with two other powerhouse female singers, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. for Trio, which featured enduring songs like "Telling Me Lies" and "To Know Him Is to Love Him."
Randy Travis
Travis' groove was classic country. He had 1980s hits like "Diggin' Up Bones," "I Told You So," and "Deeper Than the Holler." Songs such as "On the Other Hand" and "Forever and Ever, Amen" earned Travis CMA awards for Song of the Year during the decade. His accomplishments, per his web site, include "seven Grammy Awards, 11 Academy of Country Music statuettes, 10 American Music Awards, two People's Choice awards, seven Music City News awards, eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association and five Country Music Association honors." Travis deserves to be considered among the best country singers of the 1980s.
