The most famous country duet of all time is Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers singing Islands in the Stream.
But many great duets were sung by married couples. Johnny Cash and June Carter, married in 1968, recorded many duets together. Likely one of their more famous duets is Jackson
John Prine was married to bassist Rachael Peer from 1984 to 1988. She samg harmony on several of his songs incuding this one.
George Jones and Tammy Wynette were maried from 1969 to 1976. This is my favourite of their duets.
Waylon Jennings and Jesse Colter were married from 1969 until he passed away in 2022
Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge were married from 1973 to 1980
Drugs, alcohol, and infidelity played major roles in the divorces and even in the marriages that stuck it out. Johnny Cash battled with amphetamines all his life until the last few years. Waylon Jennings called amphetamines the artificial energy on which Nashville ran around the clock. Jesse Colter stayed with him in spite of his alcohol and drug abuse. Fame comes at a high price for too many.
When it comes to old timey country, you can't do better than the duets of Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn (although they were not a couple).
ReplyDeleteYes, there are great country duets by non-married singers, including the two you mentioned. One of Loretta Lynn's last recordings was a duet with Willie Nelson "Lay me down" https://youtu.be/dfZxnILzN4c?si=4WQXMEOyrUfLNHho
DeleteI loved that one - so poignant. I'd seen it quite a while ago, but it was well worth watching again.
DeleteI have listened to it so many times. I learned the words and sing it to myself sometimes
DeleteI'm not keen on country music, and I don't really know the singers, so I don't know who was married to who. But I'm very glad I'm not famous because all those stars seem to have suffered in some way, mostly from drugs and booze. And none of those marriages lasted.
ReplyDeleteTwo marriages did but it was not easy. Fame has a high price.
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