Laura Lynch, Robin Lynn Macy, and sisters Martie and Emily Erwin came together in 1989 to form a bluegrass band named the “Dixie Chicks”. From 1989-1995, they released three independent albums, got awards at bluegrass festivals and gathered a small fan base together. Also in that time, Lynch and Macy departed the group. Their steel guitar player Lloyd introduced Martie and Emily to his daughter Natalie Maines because he thought she would be good for the group. With these changes in the group, also came changes in their sound; they still kept their traditional up beat bluegrass-type sound, but with some pop sensibilities thrown in to connect with a more modern crowd. Once they signed with Sony, they were good from there. Their debut became the biggest-selling group album in country music history. Their second album sold at those levels as well. Their third album was also a big seller. They were on the top of the world, with millions in sales, lots of hits, and Grammy awards continuing to come their way. Then in 2003, while performing in England, Natalie made a comment about being “ashamed” that President George W. Bush was from Texas. The backlash in the U.S. was swift. Their latest radio single was pulled, very few people went to their following tour, and lots of former fans burned their albums in trash barrels. A few years later, the Chicks put out one more album. It didn’t sell as big as their other albums, but still sold well. They got a big hit single from it (which barely got play on country radio, but pop stations played it), some critical success and swept the Grammy awards that year. After that, they put a hiatus to the group until 2020. They dropped the “Dixie” from their name (feeling it to be too controversial in 2020) and put out another album. Nobody knows what the future holds for The Chicks, but they have already solidified a chapter in the country music history books.

John was born and grew up in Florida, where his main musical influences were the rock and roll artists like the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. Then once he was 15, he discovered a love for country music thanks to legends like George Jones and Merle Haggard. He fell so hard for country that after playing in rock bands in his hometown, he moved to his sister’s house in Nashville at 16. He took odd day jobs here and there while playing clubs in the evenings. After years of doing this, his break finally came in 1977 when he got a recording contract with Warner Bros. It would still be another few years before he got his first hit, but once he did he was off and running. He had his largest success in 1983, when his song “Swingin” became the biggest-selling Warner Bros single at the time. Unfortunately, his career kind of faded out after that until 1991 when he got a second wave. His run of hits finally ended in the late 90’s, but once it was all said and done, John had a resume of songs that were distinctive and memorable while also being one of the members of the “New Traditionalist” movement in the 1980’s that helped bring traditional country music back to radio.

This angelic voiced bluegrass prodigy may not have charted huge hits, but she has become a legend all her own. With her mother being a banjo player, Alison grew up around bluegrass music. She learned the style well enough that she was winning contests by the time she was 10 and recording her first album at the age of 14 (in 1985). Starting at the age of 12, she connected up with a band that would later be known as Union Station and become her backing band. Union Station was made up of players who were also travelling the music festival circuit and would get accolades all their own through the years. Since that point Alison has recorded whatever she wants,  which means lots of quality music without the worry of the radio system (this includes a critically acclaimed 2007 duets album with Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant). This has allowed her to rack up endless acclaim including the National Medal Of Arts, 9 ACM nominations, 27 CMA nominations, and 46 Grammy nominations. Those 46 Grammy nominations led to 27 Grammy wins, which is the second most wins by a female artist and the fourth most wins of anyone in Grammy history.

Steve Wariner is a country music guitar hero who worked his way to a hall worthy resume. As a teen, Steve learned how to play guitar (as well as various other instruments) and played with his father’s band in local clubs. Then, one day, Hall-Of-Famer Dottie West walked in to the club him and his Dad were playing. She drafted Steve into her road band while he was still in high school. After 3 years, he left West’s band to join Bob Luman’s band after Bob recorded some of the songs Steve wrote. From there, he met up with country legend Roy Acuff, where Acuff got him a recording contract at RCA. After that he jumped around to various different labels, but along the way he got two decades worth of a radio career, 11 Grammy nominations, 8 Academy Of Country Music nominations, 4 Country Music Association nominations and became one of the most respected guitar players in the history of country music.