This week in 1792, Kentucky became the fifteenth state to join the union. It’s also the state that two Country Universe writers – Jonathan Keefe and myself – call home.
Kentucky is well known as the home of bluegrass music, but our state’s rich musical heritage spans multiple genres. A wide variety of music legends hail from the bluegrass state, while its unique natural beauty and varied culture has served as inspiration for many a songwriter.
Jonathan and I have put our heads together for a Country Universe Top Five that covers two topics in one. I’ve chosen my top five favorite artists from Kentucky, while he has chosen his top five favorite songs about Kentucky. Since there are plenty of eligible inclusions for both topics, this leaves plenty of room for reader discussion, so be sure to share your own choices in the comments.
Ben’s Top Five Artists from Kentucky:
1. Patty Loveless
2. Loretta Lynn
3. Wynonna/ The Judds
4. Dwight Yoakam
5. Crystal Gayle
Jonathan’s Top Five Songs About Kentucky:
1. Patty Loveless, “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive”
2. John Prine, “Paradise”
3. Bill Monroe, “Blue Moon of Kentucky”
4. Neko Case, “Bowling Green”
5. Dierks Bentley, “Bourbon in Kentucky”
Great idea! I lived in Kentucky for a number of years and living there helped me learn to appreciate country and bluegrass music. Of all the places I’ve lived, Kentucky is perhaps closest to my heart. I love Kentucky country!
Favorite current Kentucky artists:
1. Sturgill Simpson
2. Chris Stapleton
3. Sundy Best
4. Dwight Yoakam
5. My Morning Jacket (some of their music has a country influence. Listen to “Nashville to Kentucky”)
Keith Whitley is my all time favorite artist, I’m shocked he’s not in your top 5 artists!
Songs about Kentucky
1. Mountain Parkway- Sundy Best
2. Bowling Green- Everly Brothers
3. Kentucky Rain- Elvis
4. South of Cincinnati- Dwight Yoakam (I interpret this to mean Kentucky)
5. Kentucky Gambler- Merle Haggard
Don Everly was born in Kentucky but brother Phil, who died last year, was born in Chicago. The Everly Brothers recorded “Bowling Green” in 1967. In 1961 they recorded “Mention My Name in Sheboygan” which has a second verse about a Kentucky city:
Mention my name in Paducah
It’s the greatest little town in the world
I know a gal there you’ll simply adore
She was Miss Paducah back in 1904
So mention my name in Paducah
And if you ever get in a mess
Just mention my name, I said mention my name
But please don’t give them my address
Kentucky Artist:
1. Loretta Lynn
2. Crystal Gayle
3. Tom T. Hall
4. The Judds
5. Patty Loveless
6. Skeeter Davis
My five:
1. KENTUCKY RAIN–Elvis Presley
2. BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY–Bill Monroe (and Elvis Presley)
3. EIGHT MORE MILES TO LOUISVILLE–Willie Nelson
4. KENTUCKY MEANS PARADISE–Glen Campbell
5. BLUE KENTUCKY GIRL–Loretta Lynn (and Emmylou Harris)
1. Trent Summar and the New Row Mob’s “Louisville Nashville Line.”
2. Blue Moon of Kentucky
3. Everly Brothers, “Kentucky”
4. Dierks Bentley, “Bourbon in Kentucky”
5. Sweethearts of the Rodeo, “Gone to Kentucky”
I’ve said it before, but if Keith Whitley had not died so young I believe he would have been right up there with Alan Jackson and George Strait as modern-day country stalwarts and legends.
Artists:
1. Keith Whitley
2. Lorretta Lynn
3. Dwight Yoakam
4. Patty Loveless
5 (A). Sturgill Simpson
5 (B). The Judds
Songs:
1. Coal Miner’s Daughter: Loretta Lynn
2. Kentucky Gambler: Merle Haggard
3. Kentucky Bluebird: Keith Whitley
4. Kentucky Rain: Elvis
5. Blue Moon of Kentucky: EmmyLou Harris
Oh, and even though it is outside the scope of Country Universe, there’s also “Kentucky Woman”, first a hit for Neil Diamond in 1967, and then again in 1968 for the British hard rock band Deep Purple.
Kentucky Artists:
Sonny & Bobby Osborne
Merle Travis
Grandpa Jones
Ricky Skaggs
Keith Whitley
Loretta Lynn
Dwight Yoakam
Tom T Hall
Crystal Gayle
Songs
EIGHT MORE MILES TO LOUISVILLE – Grandpa Jones
KENTUCKY MEANS PARADISE – Merle Travis
KENTUCKY IN THE MORNING – Tom T Hall
KENTUCKY WALTZ – Bill Monroe or Eddy Arnold
KENTUCKY RAIN – Eddie Rabbitt or Elvis Presley
KENTUCKY WOMAN – Neil Diamond or Waylon Jennings
THE KENTUCKIAN SONG – Eddy Arnold
BUS FARE TO KENTUCKY – Skeeter Davis
THE SHERIFF OF BOONE COUNTY – Kenny Price
Forgot Dan Fogelberg’s “Run for the Roses”
I didn’t realize Keith Whitley was from Kentucky. Top four for me are Dwight Yoakam, Patty Loveless, Loretta Lynn and Keith Whitley, but I’m really struggling with the ranking amongst them.
Song – Hunters of Kentucky
Artist
Bob Atcher
Randy Atcher
Foster Brooks – a terrific singer though better known as a comedian