The world of country music is filled with collaborations. But why so few featuring 2 females? Explore 3 powerful country women duets, and 3 more to wish for, here.

When I say duet, I mean 2 solo artists coming together to sing equal parts of a song. Not a duo like Maddie and Tae or a trio like the Chicks, a true collaboration with 2 lead female vocalists. Can you even think of one? I went on a search and could only come up with 3 country women duets in recent times.

Why do you think there are so few collabs between women? There are many male duets I can think of immediately. Morgan Wallen and Eric Church’s current “Man Made a Bar” comes to mind. How about Chris Young and Kane Brown’s “Famous Friends.” Have you heard the new Dustin Lynch with Jelly Roll song “Chevrolet?” It’s really great, but wouldn’t it also be great to hear 2 powerful female voices together?

Duets Were Made For This

There are more male and female duets than any other, which makes perfect sense. Most songs are about relationships, bad or good. That’s why they make the perfect vessel for a man and woman to sing to each other, like a musical conversation. How could we forget Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s “I Need You” or Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash’s “Jackson.” Recently Hardy and Lainey Wilson topped the charts with “Wait In The Truck.”

Here’s a crazy fact for you: There was nearly 20 years between female duets in country music scoring a #1 spot. Yup, it took 2 decade to happen. You’ll find out which was the first to go to #1 and what was the song that broke the streak. It’s a shame there isn’t more. I’m thinking we need to see a country women duet about trucks, beer or hot guys. The love triangle scenario is powerful and popular, but it’s been done.

Who Should Be Next

Who would you like to see collaborating in song? Think of 2 of your favorite female voice that you would sound great together. I have included 3 country women duets I’d like to see happen. Let me know what you think.

• 1. Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood

  “Somethin’ Bad”- 2014

  Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood made quite a splash when they premiered at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards. It was released for sale the next day. The song went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, which was the first time in over 20 years that a 2 female duet did that! You ‘ll find out what that first #1 country women duet was below. Song Facts revealed that this female take on bro-country “struck a chord” with Lambert. She had been wanted to do a song with Underwood and said, “It’s been too long since two girls in our genre have come together like that, especially on a song that’s kind of in your face.” It worked and the video was a huge hit.

• 2. Reba McEntire and Linda Davis

  “Does He Love You”

  In 1993, Reba McEntire and her former backup singer, Linda Davis, released a powerful and dramatic track that took them to the top of the charts. It was like a musical match, each character serving up scenarios of their shared love interest. A love triangle in song. Who does he really love…wife or mistress? It’s strange to think this song was originally pitched to Reba to record with Liza Minelli. According to American Songwriter, this duet became the first between 2 female artists to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart…until “Somethin’ Bad,” 2 decades later. Some fun facts about this song: The record label wanted Reba to record with a more established artist like Trisha Yearwood or Wynonna Judd. They did pitch to Wynonna, but never heard back. So the job went to Reba’s first choice, Linda Davis (who is the mother of Lady A’s Hillary Scott). And the rest is country music history.

   

• 3. Elle King and Miranda Lambert

  “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”

  Elle King wrote this song with Martin Johnson almost 10 years before she had the idea to record it as a duet with her real life friend Miranda Lambert. According to Song Facts, this tale of 2 women and a night of binging was a perfect match their fun personalities, according to Elle. She said, “Our tumbleweed snowball story of getting to know each other is the ultimate real deal kinda thing. Nobody revs me up, kicks my ass on stage, or treats me more like family than Miranda Lambert.” It was the biggest country song of 2021 in Boston. And it came 8 years after the Miranda/Carrie duet. But it wouldn’t be the last #1 female duet in country music.

   

   

• 4. Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde

  “Never Wanted To Be That Girl”

  In 2022 Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde revisited the “Does He Love You” love triangle scenario. Both women find out they are in a relationship with the same man. The 2 artists wrote this one together with the help of noted songwriter, Shane McAnally and took it to the top. Scoring a #1 hit was not all that was in store for these 2 friends. They would also go on to win a Grammy Award, the first for both.  It was released as the 2nd single from Carly’s album, 29: Written in Stone.   

• Dream Duet #1

  Lainey Wilson and Lee Ann Womack

  From the moment I heard Lainey’s voice, I immediately thought she sounded like Lee Ann Womack. Both have strong yet sweet vocals and can hit all the high notes seemingly effortlessly. I’m thinking a song about whiskey and how it’s gotten them in trouble. These 2 strong voices together would be magical.

  

  Lainey Wilson performs during the 15th Annual Academy Of Country Music Honors at Ryman Auditorium on August 24, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for ACM)

• Dream Duet #2

  Kelsea Ballerini and Megan Moroney

  Although Kelsea has pop tendencies and Megan has a pure country voice, I believe this combo would be fire. Both of these powerful women have a rasp. Kelsea’s is much less apparent than Megan’s and both can totally vibe on the singer/songwriter sound. I imagine a acoustic medium tempo song that questions if blondes have more fun, or more issues.

  

  Kelsea Ballerini performs onstage during The Heart First Tour at Radio City Music Hall on September 24, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for ABA)

   

   

• Dream Duet #3

  Lauren Alaina and Gabby Barrett

  2 powerhouse vocalists, both competed on American Idol (at different times). How good would these girls sound doing harmonies off each other? The newly wed Lauren proved how strong her vocals are when she was just 16 years old on the ABC hit show in 2011. The 24 year old mother of 3 under the age of 4, Gabby Barrett competed 7 years after Alaina in 2018. I’d love to hear their soaring vocals go head to head in a good old fashioned power ballad.

  

  Singer-songwriter Lauren Alaina (C) performs onstage at the ACM Party For A Cause: House Of Blues on April 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for ACM)

   

   

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