When it comes to having a musical career, artists sometimes have talent beyond their age. Countless singers had their chance long before they were 21, which is the case for all country stars on this list. From one-hit wonders to people who have gone on to become true superstars, here are some of the most notable child stars who made it big in Nashville.
Billy Gilman
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Billy Gilman started doing public performances at the age of 7 and a few years later was discovered by Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, who ended up helping him record demos which earned him a recording contract in Nashville. His debut single “One Voice” landed in the top 20 on the country charts and earned Gilman a Grammy nomination, making him the youngest (at the time) to receive nominations for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and the best country song. He was also (at the time) the youngest singer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. Gilman went on to release a few more albums before taking time off and making a musical comeback as a contestant on The voice in Season 11, where he was a runner-up for Team Adam Levine.
Jessica Andrews
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Jessica Andrews was just a teenager when she landed a recording contract in Nashville and started opening for Faith Hill on tour. His first album, heart-shaped world, came out at the age of 15, with the hit single “I Will Be There for You”. His second album included his number one country chart hit, “Who I Am”, which also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Although his ensuing music never reached the same level of success, Andrews released a third album in 2003 and continued making music and performing around Nashville in the years that followed.
Dolly Parton
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Long before she recorded hit songs like “Jolene,” Dolly Parton was a Smoky Mountain kid with a gift and a dream to go somewhere else. She started playing The Cas Walker Show when she was only 10 years old and released her first single with a Louisiana label at the age of 13 – “Puppy Love”. She got to perform her new song at the Grand Ole Opry, where the Man in Black himself encouraged her to keep pursuing music. As we know, she became the legendary Dolly we love today thanks to a successful film, television and music career that made her a country music icon.
LeAnn Rimes
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Thirteen-year-old LeAnn Rimes launched her music career with the release of the hit single “Blue.” After successfully charting on billboards nationwide, Rimes followed up with “How Do I Live,” also recorded by Trisha Yearwood for the film. Air conditioning. She’s released 18 albums since 1991, was the youngest person to win a Grammy Award for “Blue,” and even managed to have a successful acting career appearing in numerous films on the Hallmark Channel.
Blaine Larsen
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Blaine Larsen, 15, released his first album with an independent label in 2004, but it really hit home when it was re-released the following year under a new name and a major Nashville label. His highest charting song to date was “How Do You Get That Lonely”, which reached No. 18 in the country. Billboard graphics. He toured with Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney and even collaborated on a duet with Gretchen Wilson. These days he lives in Nashville with his family, where he continues to write and perform music.
Taylor Swift
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Given that Taylor Swift is arguably one of the biggest pop stars in the world, it’s particularly awe-inspiring to look back at the early days when she was 15 and released her first single in Nashville. “Tim McGraw” launched his career with a bang, followed by his first number one hit, “Our Song.” Now she has numerous Grammy-winning albums under her belt and has successfully crossed genres from country to pop to Americana and back again, proving that she is one of the great performers of her time. Not to mention, she still writes her own music and is widely regarded as one of the most talented songwriters of any genre.
Tanya Tucker
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Tanya Tucker was just 13 when she landed her first hit with “Delta Dawn.” Similar to LeAnn Rimes, Tucker’s voice was mature beyond her years and helped the song not only reach the top 10 on the charts, but sent her on the path to stardom. Over her four-decade career, Tucker has earned numerous Grammy nominations, is an ACM and CMA award winner, and continues to create and perform music.
Mary Osmond
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While Marie Osmond is known for many things throughout her career, she actually got her start as a country singer when she was just 14 years old. on pop Billboard graphics. She followed up this success with well-known duets with her brother Donny and even pursued an acting career. She didn’t really pursue her singing career beyond the ’80s outside of stints on Broadway, but her big debut in the country music world will always be remembered as a smash hit.
Hank Williams Jr.
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As the son of one of the biggest country stars of all time, Hank Williams Jr. had some big shoes to fill. But when he was only 14, he started covering his father’s songs during public performances on The Jimmy Dean Show, recorded his own album and even put together a duets album with recordings of his late father’s voice. Although he first gained an audience by adopting his father’s voice and style, he started doing his own thing at the age of 18 and went on to go on to an incredibly successful career in his own right. Not only does he still make music, but most of them do too. their children.
Brenda Lee
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Before becoming synonymous with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, Brenda Lee started playing music when she was only 5 years old. As a child, she was a regular performer on the country music show “TV Ranch” on WAGA-TV in Atlanta, followed by a contract on the national television program. Ozark Jubilee in Springfield, Missouri, when she was 10. By the age of 12 she had a record deal which resulted in many country/pop hits like “One Step at a Time”. She continued to release hit country music throughout the 50s and 60s and was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
