That same radio consultant praised Keith Urban, Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan as the “lettuce” in the salad.
In the late 90s, some of the greatest songs on country radio were most by female artists at a time when Jo Dee Messina, Pam Tillis, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Lee Ann Womack, Martina McBride, Leann Rimes, Reba McEntire, and The Dixie Chicks were played consistently on the radio airwaves.
The same holds true for Gretchen Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark and Taylor Swift in the 21st century. The times may have changed, but the music recorded by female artists has always been top-notch. They had to fight for every inch of respect that they garnered in this industry, and their songs are meaningful and relatable to their listening audience.
In fact, the No. 1 country song last week on the Billboard Hot Country Airplay charts was “Love Me Like You Mean It” by none other than Kelsea Ballerini, a new female artist. Country queen Reba is making her way up the charts with her new single “Going Out Like That” and so is Carrie Underwood with “Little Toy Guns.”
The majority of the male artists in the genre have been influenced in one way or another by the songs of their female contemporaries.
Overall, female country singers are very underrated in the industry, however, ever since that comment made by that Texas radio consultant, the country stations have been playing more songs by female artists, and rightfully so. Besides, music by female country singer-songwriters should be worth more than just a passing glance. Also, in any grocery store a pound of tomatoes costs substantially more than a pound of lettuce (by at least one dollar), hence the female country singers are the creme de la creme in country music.
