Country duets are always a treat, but when they tell really, really good stories? It’s magic. That’s the case for the following three country duets, each of which came from different decades, all of which tell incredible stories fit for a movie or television series. Let’s take a look!
“Jackson” by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash (1967)
“Jackson” is a fiery back-and-forth fit for a romantic drama. But, somehow, when this famous musical couple sang it, it felt more like a cute inside joke than a song about running off to Jackson to get away from one another. Their chemistry was just that good.
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“Jackson” was originally written by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber for The Kingston Trio and Flatt And Scruggs in 1963. The song achieved substantial popularity when Cash and Carter covered it in 1967. Their version reached No. 2 on the US country chart.
“You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma” by David Frizzell and Shelly West (1981)
Here’s another duet love song about real-life places. Though, “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma” is more of a longing, passionate love story with different perspectives involved. This song, originally written by husband-and-wife duo Felice and Boudleaux Bryant (following a lawsuit that lended in them receiving co-writing credit) and Larry Collins and Sandy Pinkard, was a giant hit for David Frizzell and Shelly West. Their 1981 duet hit No. 1 on the US country chart and No. 13 on the Canadian country chart.
“Does He Love You” by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis (1993)
How about a tense piece of work? Reba is no stranger to a good storytelling song, nor is Linda Davis. The two brought their narrative energy to this 1993 entry on our list of country duets that tell amazing stories. “Does He Love You” is a vocal battle of sorts between the wife and mistress of the same guy, and both women wonder who he truly loves.
Written by Sandy Knox and Billy Stritch, this song was originally pitched to the likes of Liza Minnelli and Barbara Mandrell before Reba got hold of it. Instead of singing the duet with someone “more established,” Reba was firm on recording “Does He Love You” with her road band vocalist, Linda Davis. Their song went to No. 1 on the US country chart and won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.
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More The List
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CIRCA 1966: Singer Mick Jagger of the rock and roll band "The Rolling Stones" performs onstage in circa 1966. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Aerosmith Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, Vorst-Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium, 31st October 1993. (Photo by Goedefroit Music/Getty Images) -
UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: John LENNON between 1970 and 1973. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) -
1972: (L-R) Jim Hodder, David Palmer, Denny Dias, Donald Fagen, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Walter Becker of the rock band "Steely Dan" pose for a portrait in 1972. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". – Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images)
