Welcome back to Country Music 4 Ever! It’s time for the next part of my women’s history month project. Today’s post is all about women who debuted in the 1970s and 1980s.

The first lady I want to talk about is Crystal Gayle. Crystal was inspired by her sister Loretta Lynn’s career, so she began learning to play guitar, and she also began singing in a band with her brothers. She signed her first recording contract while still in school. In 1970, she released her debut single, “I’ve Cried the Blue Right Out of My Eyes.” The song was written by Loretta, and it reached number 25 on the charts.

The next artist is Tanya Tucker. In 1968, Tanya traveled with her dad to Nashville so she could make demo tapes and search for a record deal. It took a few years, but she finally signed a record deal like she hoped. In 1972, she became a star at age 13 when her single “Delta Dawn” reached number six on the charts. Tanya’s songs dealt with mature subjects, which helped her avoid being labeled a “child star” like many artists her age.

The next lady is Reba McEntire. Reba began performing with her siblings by the time she started high school. In 1974, she performed the national anthem at the “National Finals” Rodeo in Oklahoma City. A year later, she signed her first recording contract. She began releasing singles in 1976, but her 1977 album didn’t sell well. It wasn’t until 1982 that she earned her first number one. She had hit after hit after that.

The next lady is Rosanne Cash. Rosanne grew up loving country music as a kid. By the time she was a teenager, though, country music was just her parents music and it was no longer cool. After graduating from high school, Rosanne went on the road with her dad, aka Johnny Cash, and she fell back in love with country music. She released her debut single in 1978, but her first charting single came a year later.

Lorrie Morgan is the next artist I’ll talk about. Lorrie is the daughter of Country Music Hall of Fame member George Morgan. Lorrie made her Grand Ole Opry debut when she was 13. Her dad died of a heart attack right as she began her musical career. Lorrie released her debut single in 1979, and she was the first woman in her genre to begin her career with three consecutive platinum albums.

The next lady is Pam Tillis. Pam is the daughter of singer-songwriter Mel Tillis. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut when she was eight, singing “Tom Dooley” with her dad. Pam released her debut single “Every Home Should Have One” in 1981. Her first charting single came in 1984.

The Judds are the first and only duo in this entire project. The Judds were a mother-daughter duo made up of Naomi and Wynonna Judd. In 1980, The Judds began performing on the “Ralph Emery show.” Naomi worked as a nurse at a hospital, and one of her patients was the daughter of producer Brent Maher. Naomi gave the girl a tape of their music to give to her dad. Brent liked what he heard and began working with The Judds. They released their debut single “Had a Dream (For the Heart)” in 1983.

Kathy Mattea is the next artist I’ll talk about. After Kathy left “West Virginia University,” she started working as a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame and also began singing demo tapes for songwriters on Music Row. After signing a recording contract, she teamed up with independent producer Allen Reynolds. Their teamwork resulted in hits for more than a decade. Her debut single “Street Talk” peaked at number 25.

The next lady is Patty Loveless. Patty began singing and writing songs at age 11. Her dad bought her a guitar when she was 12. Patty soon began performing with her brother in a duo called “The Singing Swinging Rameys” Doyle Wilburn of The Wilburn Brothers was very impressed by them and encouraged them to go to Nashville. The Wilburn Brothers eventually signed Patty to their music publishing firm. Her debut single came out in 1985.

The next lady is Holly Dunn. Holly grew up around music. Her parents were always singing around the house. While in college, she began performing a lot and by the time she graduated, her brother moved to Nashville to establish himself as a songwriter. He began having success, so Holly thought if her brother could do it, so could she. In 1985, she was offered a contract with MTM Records and soon released her debut album. Her debut single “Playing For Keeps” peaked at number 62.

The last artist is Mary Chapin Carpenter. After Mary graduated from college, she met producer John Jennings, who she began working with. She released her debut single in 1987 called “A Lot Like Me.” Her first charting single came in 1989 with “How Do.”

Thanks for reading. I have one more part of this project coming later this week. I’ll be back soon!