# Country music by women **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2011, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373 "2011-06-30T11:50:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/21 "2011-06-30T18:19:55Z")
For someone closer to their age, there is 16-year-old country singer Courtney Stodden, who has been getting a lot of press recently. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/22 "2011-07-01T02:00:08Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > [Loretta Lynn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loretta_Lynn). > > **Genius** level songwriter. She was the first to write and sing about “difficult” topics from a female perspective. And she was the real thing; genuinely a coal miner’s daughter from a shack in Kentucky. Another vote for Loretta Lynn. If you want Country, then you want Loretta. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/23 "2011-07-01T02:14:36Z")
How 'bout Lucinda Williams ‘[Car Wheels on a Gravel Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ainIBDO6a8E&feature=related)’. No relationship issues at all, but clearly country. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/24 "2011-07-01T02:22:47Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Remember Bette Midler’s “The Rose”? Dolly wrote it. You might be thinking of something else, ‘The Rose’ wasn’t written by Dolly. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/25 "2011-07-01T03:04:11Z")
You’ve had some good Country suggestions. Loretta, of course. Most of The Carter Family lyrics were traditional or stolen from old hymns & parlor tunes & credited to A P Carter. But I seemed to remember that Mother Maybelle & Sarah wrote [You Are My Flower](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIGwPxn7-Fw). (Hey, [maybe so](http://www.countrymusictreasures.com/storybehindthesong/you-are-my-flower.html)!) Did the style echo the Mexican tunes they were hearing late in their career, as the Carters broadcast on [border radio](http://www.honkytonks.org/showpages/carterfamily.htm)? Let’s not leave out The Other Kind of Music–namely, Western. How about Patsy Montana’s[I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE2U2j3ZKgA)? With the lyrics provided. (Or _watch_ her sing it [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77_cb_83l3c&feature=related).) ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/26 "2011-07-01T04:59:57Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > How about [Let the Mystery Be](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlaoR5m4L80) by **Iris DeMent**? I second this one. I love this song. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/27 "2011-07-01T06:06:16Z")
Yet another thought. Since you want the students to analyze the lyrics, pick any of the songs from either of Nanci Griffith’s albums _Other Voices, Other Rooms_ or _Other Voices, Too (A Trip Back to Bountiful)_. Nanci Griffith chooses wonderful songs for her two albums of cover versions. For example _Wall of Death_ (from _Other Voices, Too_), written by Richard Thompson, would be a fun one for kids to talk about, using carnival sideshows/attractions as metaphors. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/28 "2011-07-01T06:08:50Z")
> [@Aankh](#): > > While love songs are kinda-sorta okay, they shouldn’t fall into any of these categories: > (1) I’m begging you not to leave me for that whorebitch who won’t appreciate you. > (2) You cheated on me and now I’ll demonstrate my spunky independence by destroying your personal property. > (3) I’m a geeky teenager with a crush on Mr Popular Jock who’ll appreciate my inner beauty by the end of this song. If you’re looking for songs that don’t center around a man, there’s always Chely Wright. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/29 "2011-07-01T06:22:52Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If you’re looking for songs that don’t center around a man, there’s always Chely Wright. Well, except her [back catalog](http://www.metrolyrics.com/single-white-female-lyrics-chely-wright.html). ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/30 "2011-07-01T07:09:17Z")
[Tammy Wynette.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwBirf4BWew) Or for something a little different… [Dixie Chicks.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRdrBCamno0) ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/31 "2011-07-01T09:37:25Z")
[Suzy Boguss](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUTFWqkFf98&feature=related) has, IMHO, [one of the most beautiful voices](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux1VpP0bZio) ever. Her biggest commercial success was in the early 90’s, but she’s still a very talented and well-respected performer. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/32 "2011-07-01T14:44:18Z")
I would recommend the Jessica Andrews song, “Who I Am” Song: [Jessica Andrews - Who I Am - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd9zYKLepCw) Lyrics: [Jessica Andrews - Who I Am lyrics | LyricsFreak](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/jessica+andrews/who+i+am_20070668.html) ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/33 "2011-07-01T14:55:55Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > For someone closer to their age, there is 16-year-old country singer Courtney Stodden, who has been getting a lot of press recently. 😉 Really? I pounced on this because, you mentioned she’s close to their age group, but she sounds pretty awful to me. The first link on Youtube for her name was [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOrD5kqyov0) and I kind of gave up on her at that point! :dubious: **The Man In Black** , that last Jessica Andrews suggestion has all the production values (and bee close-up shots?!) kids these days fall for. My teacherly gut instinct tells me it’s going to get used. 🙂 Thank you all for your suggestions, guys. They’re all going in a big Word document I’m forwarding to my friend later today. I have a feeling she’ll easily get a week’s worth of lessons out of the material here. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/34 "2011-07-01T16:04:06Z")
> [@Aankh](#): > > Really? I pounced on this because, you mentioned she’s close to their age group, but she sounds pretty awful to me. The first link on Youtube for her name was [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOrD5kqyov0) and I kind of gave up on her at that point! :dubious: I had never heard of her, so clicked on that link; listened to about 30 seconds and left. Country that ain’t. Nowhere close. THAT, to my ears, a talentless little twit. God, I feel old. ---
**Author:** ![canterburyales](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@canterburyales](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canterburyales)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/35 "2011-07-01T16:18:48Z")
Here is Bonnie Raitt covering John Prine’s Angel from Montgomery: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhe3vb0z7mY) I’ll leave it to you to decide how appropriate it is. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/36 "2011-07-01T16:30:47Z")
Since others have already mentioned the names near the top of my list, let me toss in a couple that may stretch the boundaries of “country” and may fall outside the parameters of the OP: [Shelby Lynne - Telephone](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTtPG3BygaU) [SAMMI SMITH – SAUNDER’S FERRY LANE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNRzzHtUNi4) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/37 "2011-07-01T16:31:33Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > I had never heard of her, so clicked on that link; listened to about 30 seconds and left. Country that ain’t. Nowhere close. THAT, to my ears, a talentless little twit. > > God, I feel old. He was joking. He mentioned her cause in another thread here it was mentioned that she at 16 just married a 51 year old man. And a guy on TV who was talking about her misread her name Courtney as Country and thought she was a country singer. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/38 "2011-07-01T16:32:42Z")
> [@Aankh](#): > > **The Man In Black** , that last Jessica Andrews suggestion has all the production values (and bee close-up shots?!) kids these days fall for. My teacherly gut instinct tells me it’s going to get used. 🙂 Kool. That’s a song I like a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/39 "2011-07-01T18:40:22Z")
> [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](#): > > He was joking. He mentioned her cause in another thread here it was mentioned that she at 16 just married a 51 year old man. And a guy on TV who was talking about her misread her name Courtney as Country and thought she was a country singer. Yes, sorry about that. It was a joke. More Courtney Stodden goodness in this [Cafe Society thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=613483). ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373/40 "2011-07-01T19:07:17Z")
Oh ha! And here I was on my high horse, mentally wrinkling my nose at your taste in music. 😃 Having listened to a whole bunch of the songs mentioned in this thread, I have to say that country music has seriously diversified from the somewhat yodel-ly form I’ve always associated with it. I have exactly one song from the genre in my music collection: Hank William’s ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’ which typifies the effect I’m talking about. I mean, the throat-drop thing is still there, but in a much more gentle, mellow manner. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-music-by-women/587373.md?page=3)