The Best Country Music of the 70s and 80s

The best country music of the 70s and 80s was a great time for the genre. Here are some of the best songs from that era.

The Best Country Music of the 70s

The 1970s were a great decade for country music. Some of the best artists emerged during this time, including George Strait, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton. The music from this decade is still enjoyed by country fans today. Here are some of the best country songs from the 1970s.

The Outlaws

The Outlaws are a southern rock/country rock band best known for their hit songs “There Goes Another Love Song” and “Green Grass and High Tides”. They were formed in Tampa, Florida in 1972 by guitarist/vocalist Hughie Thomasson, bassist Frank O’Keefe, drummer David Dix, and keyboardist Billy Jones. The band’s original lineup also included singer/guitarist Henry Paul and drummer Monte Yoho.

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson is one of the most popular and influential country artists of all time. He began his career in the 1950s, but it was in the 1970s that he really made his mark on the genre. His songs are characterized by their simple, heart- wrenching lyrics and Nelson’s distinctive voice. Some of his most famous songs include “Crazy,” “Always on My Mind,” and “On the Road Again.”

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is one of the most famous country music artists of all time. She got her start in the 1960s, singing on the Porter Wagoner Show. Parton’s solo career took off in the 1970s with hits like “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” and “Coat of Many Colors.” She has continued to be a successful recording artist and performer over the years, winning multiple Grammy Awards and becoming a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Best Country Music of the 80s

The best country music of the 80s came from artists like George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Hank Williams Jr. They brought us classic songs like “The Fireman”, ” Chattahoochee”, and “A Country Boy Can Survive”. These artists defined country music for a generation and their songs are still popular today. Let’s take a look at some of the best country music of the 80s.

George Strait

George Strait is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. He is known as the “King of Country” and is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. Strait’s success began when his first single “Unwound” was a hit in 1981. During the 1980s, seven of his albums reached number one on the country charts. By the 1990s, he was referred to as the “King of Country” and had more number-one albums than any other artist on the Billboard 200 chart.

Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks released his first album in 1989, but his biggest hits came in the early 1990s with a string of number one singles, including “Friends in Low Places” and “The Thunder Rolls.” Brooks is credited with helping to bring country music into the mainstream, and his success helped pave the way for other artists like Shania Twain and Faith Hill.

Reba McEntire

Rebecca Lynn “Reba” McEntire (born March 28, 1955) is an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and businesswoman. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band, on local radio shows with her siblings and at rodeos.

While a sophomore in college, she performed the National Anthem at the National Rodeo in Oklahoma City and caught the attention of country artist Red Steagall who brought her to Nashville to record. She signed a contract with Mercury Records a year later in 1975. With her roots firmly in the country genre, Reba had greater success on the country radio charts than many of her contemporaries who followed more pop-influenced approaches.

Although having successful recordings with various male singers such as Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill and Ronnie Dunn, it was her duets with fellow female artists that drew the most attention from fans and critics alike. From 1984 to 1987, Reba teamed up with Linda Davis for a series of successful duets named “Does He Love You”, which won them a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1986. The song also helped Reba establish herself as one of the leading female vocalists of the 1980s.