Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire: Two Queens of Country Music
Country music icons Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire share an enduring bond that transcends their music. Though their careers have followed different trajectories, these two legendary artists have several key things in common that have contributed to their phenomenal success. From their humble beginnings singing traditional country to their entrepreneurial spirit and boundary-pushing artistry, Parton and McEntire have left an indelible mark on country music history.
Roots in Traditional Country
Both Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire launched their careers firmly grounded in traditional country music. Parton got her start performing on local radio and TV shows in East Tennessee as a child, singing classic country and mountain music with her family band. Her early records with Monument Records in the 1960s featured the same pure country sound, including hits like “Dumb Blonde” and “Something Fishy.” Though Parton later crossed over into pop territory, she never abandoned her backwoods country roots.
McEntire followed a similar path. Growing up in Oklahoma, she was highly influenced by Western swing and honky-tonk artists like Bob Wills and Patsy Cline. Her self-titled debut album in 1977 stayed true to her traditional country upbringing, as did early hits like “Sweet Dreams” and “I Don’t Want to Be a One Night Stand.” McEntire’s strong foundation in traditional country helped earn her the nickname “The New Queen of Country.”
By starting out as traditional country artists, Parton and McEntire gained credibility and built a loyal fan base that continued to support them as their sound evolved. Their authenticity and connection to country’s roots have always shone through, even as they’ve experimented with other genres.
Pushing Genre Boundaries
Though steeped in country music traditions, neither Parton nor McEntire were content to just stay in one lane. Both artists ventured into pop, movie soundtracks, holiday albums, and other genres while still keeping one foot planted in their country roots.
Parton’s 1977 pop crossover hit “Here You Come Again” introduced her to a mainstream audience, without alienating her core country fans. She also recorded the soundtrack for the hit 1980 musical film 9 to 5. McEntire followed suit, contributing to film soundtracks like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and recording a series of successful Christmas albums. Her pop-country hits like “Is There Life Out There” and “Fancy” expanded McEntire’s popularity beyond just country fans.
While taking sonic risks, Parton and McEntire were careful not to stray too far from their country base. Songs like Parton’s “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You” and McEntire’s “Does He Love You” with Linda Davis kept their ties to Nashville intact. By straddling the line between country and pop, Parton and McEntire cultivated devoted followings across both genres.
Songwriting Powerhouses
Not only gifted vocalists but also talented songwriters, Parton and McEntire have penned some of country music’s most enduring hits over the past few decades. Parton’s catalog includes universally known songs like “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” and “Coat of Many Colors.” Not one to sing anything she hasn’t written, Parton has composed over 3,000 songs over her decades-long career.
While known mostly as a singer early on, McEntire emerged as an accomplished songwriter in her own right in the ’80s and ’90s. She wrote hits for herself like “Whoever’s in New England” and “Is There Life Out There” that resonated with women’s experiences. McEntire also penned songs recorded by other artists, including “If You See Him/If You See Her” with Brooks & Dunn.
By writing their own material, Parton and McEntire have been able to infuse their music with their unique personalities and capture meaningful stories from their lives. Their skills as songwriters have allowed them to fully shape their artistry and connect on a deeper level with fans.
Shrewd Business Savvy
In addition to their musical gifts, Parton and McEntire also share an entrepreneurial spirit that has made them two of country music’s most business-savvy artists. Parton famously started her own publishing company as a teenager to gain control over her songwriting. She would go on to open Dollywood theme park in her native Tennessee, as well as launch successful ventures like a film and TV production company.
Never content to just be a singer under someone else’s direction, McEntire also took charge of her career. She formed her own management company in the ’80s and started booking her own tours. In the ’90s, she helped launch Starstruck Entertainment, which handled artists like Martina McBride. McEntire also invested in various business ventures like a clothing line and restaurant franchise.
By handling the business side as strategically as the artistic side, Parton and McEntire have built themselves into country music empires that will endure beyond just their recording careers. Their smart investments and entrepreneurial drive have made them two of music’s most powerful female moguls.
Enduring Popularity Across Generations
Very few artists can continue to attract new generations of fans decade after decade, but both Parton and McEntire have managed to do just that. Parton’s music first hit the airwaves in the 1960s, while McEntire released her first album in the late 1970s. Yet in 2023, both are still going strong with new projects and tours.
A key factor in their longevity is their ability to adapt to changing musical trends, without changing the essence of who they are as artists. Parton’s bluegrass-influenced 2016 album with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris introduced her to the millennials. McEntire found renewed success in the 2010s by working with contemporary artists like Kelly Clarkson.
Younger artists frequently cite Parton and McEntire as musical heroes and inspirations. But their appeal also remains strong among older fans who have grown up with them. By maintaining their signature sound while trying new things, Parton and McEntire have amassed an incredibly diverse fanbase. Forty years into their careers, they continue to sell out arenas and top charts.
Powerful Female Role Models
As two of country music’s most prominent women, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire have also been trailblazers in opening doors for other female artists. When Parton got her start in the 1960s, women in country music were largely relegated to singing background vocals and songs written by men. Parton broke that mold with her outsized talents as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Her audacious personality and style of leadership would inspire generations of women in country to find their own voices and creative identities.
McEntire’s rise to fame in the 1980s coincided with an influx of female talent in country music, like Rosanne Cash and Emmylou Harris. Dubbed one of the “Queens of Country,” McEntire showed women could take control of their careers and still succeed in a male-dominated industry. Her prominent roles as both a singer and businesswoman made McEntire a feminist icon in country music.
The commercial success Parton and McEntire found while doing things their own way opened doors for female artists who came after them. Stars like Shania Twain, Faith Hill, and Carrie Underwood all followed the trails they blazed. Though country music still has work to do, Parton and McEntire’s empowering example moved the needle for women’s equality in the genre.
Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire have left an indelible mark on country music that goes beyond just their prodigious talents. By starting out in traditional country, taking artistic risks, writing their own songs, controlling their careers, adapting over decades, and empowering other women, these two queens share a musical sisterhood that has shaped the genre. Their creative fearlessness and business acumen have made Parton and McEntire true icons who will continue inspiring future generations of artists.