We’ve reached the end of another week. But before we clock out for the weekend, we’re giving credit where it’s due. Dolly Parton and the women of country music are the latest champions in our Winner of the Week series.
Country pop has never been more back. Though the Zach Bryans, Noah Kahans, Morgan Wallens, and Shaboozeys of the world mainstreamed country over the past few years, the time has come for women to top the genre, and it looks like 2025 is going to be the year it happens. If the Grammys proved anything, it’s that country pop has officially arrived, and with Dolly Parton soon to collab with Sabrina Carpenter, it’s about to be a Cowgirl Spring.
In retrospect, it makes perfect sense that Parton and Carpenter would link up. Parton, with her hyper-femme style and self-admitted tendency to look “like a cartoon,” paved the way for Carpenter’s sometimes-controversial sex-kitten act. They both play up their “dumb blonde” personas while actually being versatile singer-songwriters completely in command of their crafts. And since they both stand at five-foot-nothing, do I have to say it? Short and sweet!
“As a thank you for giving this album 2 Grammy’s :’) short n’ sweet deluxe is now available for pre order.. and yes that does say featuring Miss Dolly Parton…. 💋💋💋she wouldn’t want me to swear but holy shit!!!!!” Carpenter shared on Instagram. Their duet of “Please Please Please” (not unlike the pleading of “Jolene,” come to think of it) arrives just in time for Valentine’s Day.
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Did you catch the subtle country reference in her look?
Of course, Parton also appeared on Beyoncé’s album-of-the-year-winning Cowboy Carter, recording a voice memo and blessing the singer’s reworked version of “Jolene.” Cowboy Carter was snubbed by the CMAs, so when she won country album of the year…yeah, that was big. Don’t take my word for it; look at her face. (Oh, and her duet with Miley Cyrus, the definition of country pop, won a Grammy too.)
She dedicated the last win of the night to “Miss Martell,” meaning Linda Martell, one of the first (and, sadly, few) successful female Black country artists. Martell was featured on the Cowboy Carter track “Spaghettii.”
If you thought this marked the end of Bey’s country era, please note that literally the day of the Grammys she announced the Cowboy Carter Tour. If Eras has shown us anything, it’s that albums don’t reach peak cultural saturation when they’re released but when they hit the road.
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It’s time to start making preparations.
Speaking of Eras, and the woman who handed Bey that genre-specific trophy…it’s gonna be another Swift-tastic year. Swift’s position at the Grammys and her little giggle before saying “Shania Twain” has some fans convinced that she will release the Taylor’s Version of her debut album sooner rather than later, which would be a return to her country roots.
With the demand for Country Girl Power only increasing, Lainey Wilson better prepare for the busiest months of her life. Yee—and dare I say it—Haw.
