These four stars really were at the top of their game during their heyday. They had it all - popularity, commercial success, and the loyalty of legions of fans. Then they became less prominent for some reason, or for a combination of personal or professional circumstances. (In the case of John Denver, it was his shocking death in a 1997 plane crash.)
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That, however, does not in any way discount their truly significant and lasting impact on the genre and our collective awareness. So we'll go back in time now to when these artists ruled the airwaves, packed the concert halls, and stormed their way into our hearts.
Tanya Tucker
Tucker, who is now 66, had a ton of genuine, versatile talent that emerged in songs like "Delta Dawn," "Lizzie and the Rainman," "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane," and "What Do I Do With Me." In fact, "Delta Dawn" turned Tucker into a proverbial overnight star at the age of 13. Per Taste Of Country, she "was an essential country artist for more than 50 years...." Tucker has had many high and low points in her life and career, including making headlines with her volatile relationship with the late Glen Campbell. Still, she has been a resilient, influential, and beloved presence in the genre for decades. Per the Country Music Hall of Fame web site via The Tennessean, Brandi Carlile said, "There would be no Miranda, no Brandi, no Gretchen, no Maren without Tanya Tucker."
Jo Dee Messina
Messina had half a dozen chart-topping tunes earlier in her career, plus recognition from Billboard, along with the ACM, AMA, and CMA. She was also nominated for a pair of Grammy Awards. Her single, "Just To Be Loved," dropped two years ago. According to her web site, Messina "was the first female in country music history to celebrate three consecutive multi-week, chart-topping songs."
John Denver
Denver was a pillar of country music, especially in the 1970s. He sang directly from his heart about the things he deeply loved and believed in, like the environment, nature, and the wholesomeness of life. His songs made an indelible mark on popular culture. Among the best-known were "Annie's Song," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Leaving on a Jet Plane," and "Rocky Mountain High." Denver's untimely death on an aviation accident in 1997 left the world a little less thoughtful and beautiful.
Darryl Worley
Worley's post 9/11 song, "Have You Forgotten?," was a country chart number one hit for nearly two months in 2003, per The Boot. He said he was influenced to co-write the song by the military participation of his own family members. Worley was deeply affected as well by the unforgettably tragic events of September 11, 2001. "I come from a military family, on both sides -- lots and lots of military. Every conflict that this nation has ever been in, I've got family members who participated, and I've seen the effects of the wounds since I've been alive."
