A tradition long upheld by country singers is family. After all, longing for home is more about the people than the property, and memories of simpler times have as much to do with visits to Grandma's house as whoever was in the White House.
Remembering childhood and tipping their hats to country's past is one and the same for these eight artists, as each one has at least one parent that achieved stardom. Whether they're the spitting image of their parent, like Charlie Pride's son Dion, or they are blazing their own path, such as the daughters of Vince Gill and Lee and Womack, each of these artists won the gene pool lottery when it comes to inheriting a legend's musical talent.
Ashley Campbell
Glen Campbell’s touring show was a family affair for decades. His oldest daughter Debby sang with him on stage for 24 years, and his three youngest children, Cal, Shannon and Ashley, backed their dad for his final shows before his ongoing battle with Alzheimer’s ended his career. Since then, Ashley has used her talents as a vocalist and banjo picker, and lessons learned from her famous father, to further her surname’s legacy. For a small sampling of Ashley Campbell’s immense promise, check out her 2015 tribute to her ailing father, “Remembering.”
Jenny Gill
The daughter of Vince Gill and his first wife, Sweethearts of the Rodeo member Janis Oliver, celebrates family with the video for recent single “Lonely Lost Me.” Jenny Gill sounds more like a modern jazz crooner than a country singer here, showing that she's her own person as a performer. Still, the video is a celebration of the Gills, with her son Wyatt stealing the show and mimicking his grandfather’s golf swing.
Ben Haggard
Like Ashley Campbell, Ben Haggard cut his teeth in the music business by touring with a famous father. Ben spent eight years as the lead guitarist of the Strangers, the legendary backing band of Merle Haggard, from age 15 until his father’s death last April. Ben’s only studio recordings to date are covers of his father’s hits, but that’s enough of a sample size to prove he’s inherited some of the same talents as older brother Noel. It’ll be interesting to hear this talented young vocalist and guitarist’s take on songwriting once he starts carving out his own legacy.
Lilly Hiatt
Legendary songwriter and performer John Hiatt’s music often defied genre classification, meaning he’d fit right in with the current Americana crowd. His daughter Lilly’s music also defies fitting any rock, folk, or country mold. Her songs often tell of the dark, dreary realities of life and love, yet there’s always some glimmer of hope that’s not completely blotted out by the latest emotional downswing.
Shooter Jennings
The most obvious name on this list belongs to Shooter, the son of outlaw singers Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. He gets the nod here, despite being an established performer, as an excuse to applaud his various efforts to celebrate both parents’ musical legacies. When Shooter isn’t mirroring his late father’s rebellious spirit by performing his own rowdy, rocking take on country music, he’s issuing both parents’ music through his Black Country Media record label. From his mother’s forthcoming gospel album The Psalms on Legacy Records to yet another Waylon-related Record Store Day release, there’s seemingly Colter and Jennings releases on tap every year, made possible in part by Shooter's efforts to keep both artists fresh and relevant to his own audience.
Aubrie Sellers
Alt-country rebel Aubrie Sellers is among the influx of talented 20- and 30-somethings that are blending a childhood love for bluesy rock with their adult pursuit of country stardom. The result for Sellers is 2016 album New City Blues — a must-hear for fans of Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton and other mainstream country outliers. This all comes from the product of a more pop-oriented country household. Her mother is “I Hope You Dance” singer Lee Ann Womack, and singer, songwriter, and session musician Jason Sellers is her father.
Dion Pride
If there were professional Charlie Pride impersonators back in the day, they’ve surely been out of work since his son Dion came of age as a performer. It’s high praise to compare anyone, kin folk or not, to a Country Music Hall of Famer, a 2017 recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and one of the smoothest baritone singers in popular music history. But Dion’s a dead-ringer for his father, looks-wise and when he’s pouring his soul into a song. Like several others on this list, Dion is a multi-instrumentalist who toured with his famous parent at a young age before launching a solo career.
Ralph Stanley II
Just as Dr. Ralph Stanley carried on beyond the 1966 death of his equally influential brother Carter, Ralph Stanley II kept the family business going after his father passed last summer. The greatest inheritance for Ralph II was the Clinch Mountain Boys. Per his father’s wishes, Ralph II now leads the bluegrass outfit that launched the careers of Ricky Scaggs, the late Keith Whitley, and others.
See what else made our Top 8 by visiting its official page.
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