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Kathy Mattea: Country vs. Pop Country is Nothing New

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Kathy Mattea photo by James Minchin, courtesy of Captain Potato Records.


July 16, 2009 — Kathy Mattea arrived on the country music scene in the '80s with hits including "Eighteen Wheels & A Dozen Roses," "Goin' Gone" and "Where've You Been." Her folky, traditional slant was in sharp contrast to some of her fellow country artists at the time. In fact, she tells the Stamford Times that today's current crossover stars like Darius Rucker, Jessica Simpson and Kid Rock aren't breaking new ground.

"This tension between a real traditional sound and pop music, it's nothing new," says Kathy. "We had Barbara Mandrell, Sylvia, Garth Brooks, Mary Chapin Carpenter ? Lionel Richie [had] a country hit when I was doing my thing."

Kathy told the paper she admires many young country artists, including Jamey Johnson and fellow West-Virginian, Brad Paisley.

"They give me a lot of hope," she says.

Kathy is currently touring in support of her album, Coal.

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