A Look Back at the Original Stars of Country Music
Photo: Corbis
This Sunday, blonde bouffants and cowboy hats from Nashville to Texas will come together for the Academy of Country Music Awards. Stars like Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Blake Sheldon will all take the stage to perform the songs that have made them millions, earned them spots on TV shows, and even inspired memes. But it was greats like Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and Loretta Lynn who paved the way for today’s big names. To celebrate the original country stars, take a look back at some of the people who made big hair big and blended country with rock and roll, from Elvis Presley to Willie Nelson.
Dolly Parton, 1975 Photo: Corbis
Johnny Cash, 1959 Photo: Marvin Koner/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Elvis Presley, 1958 Photo: © Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Patsy Cline, circa 1955 Photo: © Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Willie Nelson, 1976 Photo: Philip Gould/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Tammy Wynette with President Reagan, 1982 Photo: Mal Langsdon/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Roy Rogers, 1943 Photo: © Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Waylon Jennings, 1978 Photo: © Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Loretta Lynn, 1976 Photo: Tony Korody/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Bill Monroe, circa 1950 Photo: © Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Conway Twitty, 1971 Photo: © Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Barbara Mandrall and the Mandrell sisters with Dolly Parton, 1981 Photo: Tony Korody/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Hank Willliams, circa 1950 Photo: © Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Tanya Tucker, 1979 Photo: © Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Merle Haggard, 1979 Photo: Roger Ressmeyer/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Jimmie Rodgers, 1958 Photo: © Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
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