Chicagoland's Best Country Stars
Country music is defined as popular music based on the folk style of the southern rural United States or on the music of cowboys in the American West.
While Chicago may not be a hot bed for up and coming country music superstars, the state of Illinois has produced a few notable country music artists that have burned up the music charts and collaborated with legends. While all may have gotten their start in this great state, many have gone on to branch out. Some have worked with Robert Plant from the legendary rock band, Led Zeppelin. Some of them had several charted hits during the 1990's. One of them is currently on the music charts after partnering up with their, well, partner.
Alison Krauss
Alison was part of the revival of bluegrass music in the late 1990's. She grew up in the central Illinois city of Champaign, and spent some time recording and touring behind a smash hit album with none other then legendary Led Zeppelin member, Robert Plant.
Suzy Bogguss
Suzy is from Aledo in western Illinois and has garnered a number of country hits in the 1990's.
Gretchen Wilson
Everyone's favorite "Redneck Woman" is from the town of Pocahontas, Illinois and has charted several top 10 hits in the 2000's .She is currently back with a new album that is due out later this year, and more spitfire country music on the horizon.
David Lee Murphy
David Lee, not to be confused with Roth of Van Halen, hails from Herrin, Illinois and recorded several hits in the mid-1990's.
Joshua Scott Jones
www.bigmachinerecords.com/steelmagnolia
This Big Machine Records recording artist and Winner of Season 2 of CMT "Can You Duet" is now one-half of the duo "Steel Magnolia", and hails from Charleston, Illinois, which is also home to Eastern Illinois University.
