My First Country Obsession: Billy Ray Cyrus

If you know me at all, you know that I have a deep, undying love for all things country music. From Miranda Lambert’s sass to Kenny Chesney’s island vibes, my playlist is a solid mix of legends and modern icons. But let me take you back to the very beginning of my country obsession—the real first country artist that had me completely hooked: Billy Ray Cyrus.

Picture this: a hot pink iPod Nano (yes, I was that girl) with "Achy Breaky Heart" on eternal repeat. It was an unspoken rule that I had to dance around the living room to it at least once a day, much to the delight of my family, I'm sure. Let’s be honest, there was no escaping it—Billy Ray was everywhere. He wasn’t just a country star; he was the mullet-wearing icon who got us all into the groove of the '90s with his southern charm.

And we can't forget that moment. When Billy Ray took his talents to Dancing With The Stars in 2007—it was like we all got to relive the glory days of the mullet. He was cutting a rug and showing us that even with a long, feathered hairdo, you can still work the dance floor. At the time, I thought, "This man can do no wrong." But the cherry on top? His unforgettable anthem, "I Want My Mullet Back." Yes, I said it. That song. A true bop. If you didn't belt out “I want my mullet back!” at least once in your life, were you even a Billy Ray fan? I don’t think so.

But as much as we can joke about Billy Ray's signature style and his "Achy Breaky" days, we can’t deny how unpredictable his journey has been since. These days, Billy Ray’s personal life has made its own headline, what with the Fire Rose relationship burning out and the dramatic divorce from Tish Cyrus. In true Billy Ray fashion, just when you think you have him figured out, he keeps us all guessing.

It’s safe to say that my first country obsession will forever be etched in my music memory. Billy Ray Cyrus—what a wild, mulleted ride that was. The man’s unpredictability might just be his most country thing about him. And whether he’s reinventing himself in his relationships or through his music, one thing is for sure: Billy Ray’s never boring.

Here's to the guy who made us all achy in the best way possible.

Dolly Parton is not only a country music icon and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame; she is a national treasure.

Giving back is something Dolly often does, and her sense of charity seems to know no bounds. She recently gave $1 million of her own money to help out victims of Hurricane Helene. Her companies Dollywood and various other companies gave another million making the total donation $2 million to help those in need in her native East Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Her incredible music career is going on its seventh decade, and her recent rock album, Rockstar, which she made after being learning that she was being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, was actually one of the best-selling albums of her career.

There is so much to say about Dolly Parton. I personally have been a fan since I was 12 years old. I really grew up with her music, buying every album and listening to and learning every song. About 20 years ago, I met Dolly for the first time. I started working in country music and have done over 20 interviews with the country icon. They say never meet your heroes because they may disappoint you. That is definitely not the case with Dolly. She is exactly as you expect her to be. She is gracious, caring, and kind. She inspires me and millions of other people every day with her wonderful attitude and the way she handles herself and her career.

She is an inspiration to those following her footsteps into country music. Lainey Wilson, the current entertainer of the year for both the CMA and the ACM, says Dolly is an inspiration, and on one of her recent albums, she even did a song called "What Would Dolly Do." Wilson has gotten to know Parton, and the country icon recently took her under her wing and gave her advice on a career in country music. Many of today's superstars were inspired by Dolly throughout the years, including Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and many, many more

Dolly never stops, and at 78 years old she is one of the busiest artists that country music has today. She continues to host award shows, make TV appearances, embark on several new ventures, and of course, make music.

Speaking of music, it all began with songs. Dolly prides herself most on being a songwriter and as we celebrate her today just because we take a look at five of her very best songs.

RELATED: Dolly Parton’s Million Dollar Donation To Hurricane Victims

"9 to 5" is arguably one of Dolly Parton‘s biggest hits. The song was nominated for four Grammy Awards and even an Academy Award. It was released in November of 1980 and of course, accompanied the movie 9 to 5. The album it was on 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs and came out right around the same time. The song was one of Dolly‘s first to be accompanied by a music video, and it featured footage of Dolly and her band performing the song. Dolly wrote the song for 9 to 5 starring Jane Fonda, and Lily, Tomlin, and of course, Parton. As many know, Jane Fonda found Dolly when she heard "Two Doors Down,"  on the radio. That’s when she thought that maybe Parton would be good in the role of Doralee Rhodes, and she was right.

"9 to 5" went number one on the Billboard Country Chart and also on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. It was a pop song played on pop radio as well as country and if you happen to be lucky enough to see Dolly perform these days it’ll be one of the songs she’ll sing last. 

"Here You Come Again" is one of those rare hits from Dolly Parton that she did not write. Most of the songs she took to the top of the chart, she penned both the music and the lyrics. What is wonderful about "Here You Come Again" is that it won a 1978 Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance becoming her first Grammy win. The song was written by Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil. It’s a catchy tune and one that was played on top 40 radio. The song went to number one on the Billboard Hot Country, Singles chart and number two on the Hot Country Songs chart. "Here You Come Again" also went to number three in the US Billboard Hot 100 all-genre chart. 

"Coat of Many Colors" was a song Dolly wrote in 1969 while she was on the road with Porter Wagner. On the tour bus, she wrote the lyrics to the song on the back of the dry cleaning receipt for one of Porter's famous suits. The song tells the true story of Dolly’s childhood when her family, who was quite poor struggled. During that time, her mother made a coat of many colors for Dolly and she wore it to school. The actual coat of many colors from her childhood sits at a museum at her Dollywood theme park. A big hit for Parton in the early '70s, the song peaked at number four on the Hot Country Songs chart in Billboard. 

First released in 1973, this song came off her album with the same name. "Jolene" is another number-one song of Dolly's that was written from a personal experience. The song was inspired by a redheaded bank teller who flirted with her husband at a local bank branch around the time that they were newly married. Dolly also said that the name and appearance of "Jolene" was based on a young fan who came on stage and got her autograph in the 1970s. While it did not win, "Jolene" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance twice first in 1975 and again in 1976.

First released in 1974. "I Will Always Love You" is a song Dolly wrote in 1973. The song was written as a farewell to her business partner and duet partner Porter Wagner expressing her decision to pursue a solo career. It charted at number one on Billboard, Hot Country Songs chart in 1974 then again it charted number one in 1982 when she re-recorded the song song for the movie, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, which she starred in. The song is most famous for Whitney Houston's version who recorded the pop ballad for the 1992 The Bodyguard. Whitney‘s version stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for at the time a record-breaking 14 weeks. The single of Whitney‘s version was certified Diamond by the RIAA. Houston won a Grammy for Record of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance Female. Dolly has often said that she loved the fact that Whitney Houston did the song, and joked that it helped her bank account quite a bit.