The Ladies Of 90s Country
Lauren Alaina payed homage to a few of them in her song, “Ladies in the 90s”
” just wanna feel like ladies in the 90s
Turn the dial and find me some Strawberry Wine
So I can sing all night long, acting like I’m Britney
Come on baby, hit me just one more time, hey
Man I feel like a woman
I can feel you breathe when you say my name
Hey I don’t want no scrubs
Need a cowboy to take me away
I wanna feel like ladies in the 90s
Ladies in the 90s, hey hey hey”
There was a time when women ruled the country radio airwaves. It was the 1990s and the doors were open. So, let’s take a moment and raise a glass to the queens of country, the barrier breakers, record makers and industry shakers!
1. Shania Twain
She looked like a model, sang like she meant it, and was a powerhouse business woman. She knew what worked. I mean, 11 hit singles on one album! Who does that? Shania does. Or she did in 1997 when she released Come On Over, which went on to become the best selling country album, the best-selling studio album by a female artist and best selling album by a Canadian. Oh, also it’s the 9th all time best selling album in the United States!
2. The Chicks
They made country cool. Natalie, Emily and Martie empowered women with their lyrics and ability to play a variety of instruments. They went on to become the only country group ever to earn back-to-back RIAA diamond awards. And, they made it all look so fun.
3. Trisha Yearwood
That voice! Long before she was a bigtime tv star and wife of Garth, Trisha first blew us away when she released, “She’s in Love with the Boy” in 1991. She went on to have a string of hits in the 90s and into the 2000s. But it was her version of “How Do I Live” that got her noticed in the movie world and was chosen for the soundtrack to the hit movie, Con Air. It went on to win a Grammy Award in 1997 for Best Female Vocal Country Performance.
4. Faith Hill
Who could breathe when Faith Hill sang “Breathe?” It was perfection. Add to it her video of beautiful images, and her stunning looks and you’ve got a career making hit. How could one person be gifted with so much? And then marry Tim McGraw. There was lots of love for Faith.
5. Martina McBride
Like Trisha and Faith, Martina was a vocal powerhouse and could belt out anything. Her range was truly impressive. She was famous for saying, “I’m little but I’m loud.” And Martina’s signature short hair cut had everyone running to salons. Her voice was heard loud and clear when she empowered women with her song, “Independence Day,” speaking out against domestic violence.
6. Jo Dee Messina
Shout out to the underrated Holliston native. Jo Dee was just ahead of her time, honestly. She was gritty, but beautifully and powerfully connected with every song. If you listen to Hillary Scott (from Lady A) and then Jo Dee, there are eerie similarities. Jo Dee knew how to bring the sass!
7. Deana Carter
When you are bold enough to title your debut album, Did I Shave My Legs for This, you know the artist is going to be a barrier breaker. And that Deana did. She even accepted her CMA award for Song of the Year barefoot, and jumped into the unexpecting presenter’s arms. “Strawberry Wine” hit a chord with everyone, and cemented her place in country music history.
