Patty Loveless

Born into a musical family (Crystal Gayle and Loretta Lynn are cousins), country singer Patty Loveless forged her own path, belting out traditional heartbreakers with a honky-tonk edge. ∙ While she was still in high school, her brother introduced her to Porter Wagoner, who was so impressed with her voice that he invited Loveless to perform with him and Dolly Parton on weekends. ∙ Thanks to her breakout LP, Honky Tonk Angel—with the No. 1 hits “Chains” and “Timber, I’m Falling In Love”—she won Favorite New Country Artist at 1989’s American Music Awards. ∙ Loveless became only the third woman ever to take home Album of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards, winning with 1994’s Platinum-certified When Fallen Angels Fly. ∙ Country star Vince Gill tapped her to duet on his 1995 Grammy-winning ballad, “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” which made Rolling Stone’s list of the 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time. ∙ After earning critical acclaim for her Kentucky bluegrass roots music on 2001’s Mountain Soul, she returned eight years later with Mountain Soul II, which won a Grammy Award. ∙ She has been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.