Country music and pop music may seem like opposite genres, but they have more in common than you might think. Both are rooted in storytelling, emotion, and catchy melodies that appeal to a wide audience. And both have produced some of the most successful and influential artists of all time. But what happens when these two genres collide?
In this article, we will explore the phenomenon of country-pop crossover, a musical style that blends elements of country and pop to create a unique and diverse sound. We will look at the history and evolution of country-pop crossover, from its origins in the 1950s to its current popularity in the 2020s. We will also highlight some of the most notable country-pop crossover artists and songs, from legends like Dolly Parton and Shania Twain to newcomers like Kylie Minogue, Lil Nas X and Maren Morris. Whether you are a fan of country, pop, or both, you will discover how country-pop crossover has enriched and expanded the musical landscape.
The Best of Both Worlds
Pop Singers who made it big in Country Music include some of the biggest names in popular music ever.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is one of the most beloved and influential figures in country music history. She started her career in 1967 as Porter Wagoner’s duet partner, but soon established herself as a solo artist with hits like Jolene, Coat of Many Colors, and I Will Always Love You. She crossed over to pop music in 1977 with her album Here You Come Again, which featured the title track that became her first top-ten pop hit. She also ventured into movies, television, books, and theme parks, becoming a global icon of entertainment. Read our main Dolly article at Legends: Dolly Parton
Shania Twain
Shania Twain is one of the best-selling female artists of all time, and a pioneer of country-pop crossover. Her 1997 album Come On Over broke records as the best-selling country album ever, and the best-selling album by a female artist in any genre. The album spawned several hit singles, such as You’re Still the One, That Don’t Impress Me Much, and Man! I Feel Like a Woman!, which topped both the country and pop charts. Twain won two Grammy awards for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Performance for You’re Still the One. Listen to the Shania Train Playlist
Elvis
Elvis Presley was one of the earliest and most influential country-pop crossover artists. He started his career at Sun Records in 1954, where he recorded songs that blended elements of country and rhythm and blues, such as That’s All Right, Mystery Train, and Blue Moon of Kentucky. He scored his first hits on the country charts, but soon crossed over to the pop and R&B charts as well. Elvis always had a strong connection to country music, as he was influenced by artists like Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Eddy Arnold and Jim Reeves. Elvis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998, and his influence on country music can be seen in artists like Garth Brooks, Dwight Yoakam, and Travis Tritt. Listen to the Elvis Country Music playlist
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift may be known as a pop superstar today, but she started her career as a country singer-songwriter. Her debut album in 2006 was a country hit, and her second album Fearless in 2008 won her four Grammy awards, including Album of the Year. Swift gradually transitioned to pop music with her subsequent albums, such as Red in 2012 and 1989 in 2014. Her pop-country crossover songs include Love Story, You Belong with Me, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, and Shake It Off.
Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker rose to fame as the lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish, a rock band that had several hits in the 1990s, such as Hold My Hand, Let Her Cry, and Only Wanna Be with You. In 2008, Rucker reinvented himself as a country solo artist, and released his first country album Learn to Live. The album produced three number-one singles on the country charts: Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It, It Won’t Be Like This for Long, and Alright. Rucker also won a Grammy award for Best Country Solo Performance for his cover of Old Crow Medicine Show’s Wagon Wheel in 2013.
Faith Hill
Faith Hill is one of the most successful female country artists of all time, with more than 40 million albums sold worldwide. She began her career in 1993 with her debut album Take Me as I Am, which featured her first number-one country single Wild One. She achieved crossover success in 1998 with her fourth album Faith, which included her signature song Breathe. The song was the most popular single of the year on both the country and pop charts, and earned Hill three Grammy awards, including Best Female Country Vocal Performance .
All Faith Hill’s Bestselling Songs
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X is a rapper who made history with his viral hit Old Town Road in 2019. The song blended elements of hip-hop and country music, and featured country legend Billy Ray Cyrus on the remix version. The song sparked controversy when it was removed from the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for not being “country enough,” but it went on to dominate the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a record-breaking 19 weeks. The song also won two Grammy awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video .
Kylie Minogue
One of the most surprising country-pop crossover artists in recent years is Kylie Minogue, the Australian pop icon who has been making dance hits since the late 1980s. In 2018, she released her 15th studio album, Golden, which marked a departure from her usual electro-pop style and embraced a more organic and rootsy sound. Inspired by her personal experiences of heartbreak and healing, Minogue co-wrote and recorded most of the songs in Nashville, Tennessee, the home of country music. She also collaborated with seasoned country-pop producers and songwriters such as Nathan Chapman and Liz Rose, as well as country singer Jack Savoretti. The result was a blend of country-pop, honky-tonk, and disco that showcased Minogue’s versatility and vulnerability as an artist. Songs like Dancing, Stop Me from Falling, and Golden combined catchy hooks, twangy guitars, and uplifting lyrics that resonated with fans and critics alike. Golden became Minogue’s sixth number one album in the UK and her fifth in Australia, proving that she can successfully reinvent herself without losing her essence.
Listen to Kylie – Golden Album
Maren Morris
Maren Morris is one of the rising stars of contemporary country music. She released her debut album Hero in 2016, which earned her four Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist and Best Country Album. She won her first Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance for her song My Church. She also collaborated with pop singer Zedd on the hit song The Middle, which reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her three more Grammy nominations. Her second album Girl in 2019 featured her first number-one country single The Bones, which also crossed over to the pop and adult contemporary charts.
When Pop Goes Country… And Flops
– Jessica Simpson: The pop singer tried her hand at country music with the 2008 album Do You Know, but the effort failed almost as soon as it started. Critics panned the album as bland and generic, and fans didn’t buy it. Simpson only had one minor hit with Come On Over, which peaked at number 18 on the country charts .
– Cyndi Lauper: The pop legend took a turn into country music with 2016’s Detour, which was a collection of country music classics re-imagined. The album was fairly successful with Lauper fans, though mainstream country didn’t seem particularly welcoming. Lauper only charted one single on the country airplay chart with Funnel of Love, which reached number 59.
– Tiffany: The 80s pop star re-emerged in 2011 with a country album, but the world hardly took notice. The singer insisted she was being true to herself by diving into country, but her album Rose Tattoo failed to make any impact on the charts or the critics.
– Ron Keel: The metal singer best known as the vocalist for Keel tried to go country with his band IronHorse in the early 2000s. He released two albums of southern rock and country songs, but they didn’t take off in Nashville or anywhere else. Keel later returned to metal music.
– Steven Tyler: The Aerosmith frontman surprised many fans when he announced he was going solo and making a country album in 2015. His album We’re All Somebody from Somewhere came out in 2016, and featured collaborations with country artists like Eric Paslay and Jaren Johnston. However, the album received mixed reviews and lukewarm sales, and Tyler’s country singles failed to crack the top 40 on the country charts.
These are just some of the pop singers who have tried to go country and failed. They have shown that crossing over to a different genre is not always easy or successful.
Have you ever wondered what happens when pop singers try to go country, or the other way around? In this article, we’ve provided the scoop on some of the biggest hits and misses of this trend. We’ve shown how legends like Dolly Parton, Elvis, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and Lil Nas X rocked both genres with their amazing songs. But it’s not always an automatic hit. How about some of the epic fails, like Jessica Simpson, Cyndi Lauper, Tiffany, Ron Keel, and Steven Tyler? You’ll agree that switching genres is not a piece of cake, and that it takes a lot of skill, flexibility, and charm to win over different fans. As Donny & Marie Osmond once sang,
“I’m a little bit country / And I’m a little bit rock ‘n roll / I’m a little bit of Memphis and Nashville / With a little bit of Motown in my soul”