3 Country Artists From the 70s That Are Still Relevant Today

As the years pass, so much changes. But thankfully, not everything shifts and remolds in our worlds. Sometimes things like good music stand the test of time. Not only that, sometimes those stalwart cultural icons remain so that we can look to them and remember the past, learn from the past, and even enjoy what came from the past.

Below, we wanted to examine some examples of just that. We wanted to look at three country artists from decades ago who still remain giant figures in our culture today. This is a trio of twangy songwriters and performers whose wisdom is enough to fill our proverbial cups and keep us going as we head into an always uncertain future.

Dolly Parton

In just the decade of the 1970s alone, country star Dolly Parton released a whopping 17 albums, including her seminal 1974 work, Jolene. For the prolific Parton, life brimmed with music. Songs were like fruits she could pluck from a tree. And so, she wrote, recorded, and released tunes that catapulted her into the hearts of millions. Sure, Parton has been releasing music since the 1970s (in fact, she released her debut LP in 1967), but she still somehow seems like a 70s gal. Big hair, glitzy clothes—that’s the decade the songwriter is most synonymous with.

Kris Kristofferson

Country star Kris Kristofferson released his debut self-titled LP in 1970, kicking off a successful decade and a successful career for the songwriter, who famously wrote tunes for both himself and others. In fact, during the decade of the 70s, Kristofferson released a dozen studio albums, which helped cement him as one of the most popular and prolific country stars of the era. Known for songs like “Me And Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, the deep-voiced, sensitive soul is simply of the 70s era. But at the same time, he’s still an essential artist today.

John Denver

The best-selling solo act of the 70s, John Denver was known for his sweet songs about nature. Like Kristofferson, Denver released a dozen records during the decade, including the 1972 LP Rocky Mountain High and the 1974 record Back Home Again. With a kind, unassuming look, Denver sang his way into the souls of millions of fans, and as a result, his well-written songs that bridged country, folk, and Americana have subsisted. Not only that, but have you seen his work with the Muppets from 1979!!??

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