Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire was discovered by Red Steagall who heard her singing the national anthem at the National Rodeo Finals in Kansas City in 1974. Following his guidance, she went to Nashville and signed a recording contract for Mercury Records which didn't result in major chart success initially. She kept on recording, though, and added more pop elements to her music, finally resulting in her first #1 hit in 1983 with "Can't Even Get The Blues" (Lloyd Green played steel on that one!). She finally became one of the most popular female artists in the 1980's, selling over 20 million records and winning four CMS Female Artists Of The Year Awards, also having none less than 14 #1 hits.