CMT Blog: Archive

Mary Chapin Carpenter, Sammy Kershaw Turn 50

Posted: February 21st, 2008 at 11:46 am  |  By: Tom Roland  

Mary Chapin Carpenter and Sammy KershawCountry music is a diverse genre, and if you have any doubts about that, just take a look at two artists who turn 50 this week. You would have a difficult time arguing that Mary Chapin Carpenter and Sammy Kershaw are anything but polar opposites.

Carpenter (born Feb. 21, 1958) hails from Princeton, N.J., lived during her youth in Japan, attended an Ivy League school and emerged in country music with a sound derived from folk music. There's not an ounce of twang in her understated vocal presence, and her politics are decidedly blue: At the height of her popularity in the early-1990s, she raised money and awareness for AIDS charities; and in 2000, she performed at the Democratic National Convention.

Kershaw (born Feb. 24, 1958) grew up in Kaplan, La., chose the club circuit over college and got his first hits by singing love songs with car metaphors and references to secluded country lakes. With a vocal style that borrows heavily from George Jones, he is one of the twangiest vocalists to appear nationally in the last 20 years, and his politics are decidedly red: He ran as a Republican for lieutenant governor of Louisiana last year, though he found himself having to insist to reporters he was serious about his candidacy.

The beauty of this dichotomy is that these two artists co-existed quite nicely on country radio for years. Carpenter brought an intellectual presence to the genre along with a wry sense of humor (her "I Feel Lucky" depiction of a barroom scene in which Lyle Lovett and Dwight Yoakam compete for her affections is still chuckle-worthy). When she turned to others for material, she was apt to draw on the talents of alt-country figure Lucinda Williams ("Passionate Kisses") or rocker Mark Knopfler ("The Bug").

Kershaw lent a raw, manly air to country, and the titles of some of his singles -- "Yard Sale," "Queen of My Double Wide Trailer," "Your Tattoo" -- show his artistic penchant for songs drawn from the lower end of the economic scale. He ran his career by the book, recording in Nashville and drawing from some of Music City's most-respected songwriters, including Bob McDill ("She Don't Know She's Beautiful") and Mark D. Sanders ("Vidalia").

One could show similar contrasts among current country hitmakers -- Taylor Swift and Craig Morgan, for example; or Rascal Flatts versus Alan Jackson. Critics slam country as one-dimensional hillbilly fare, but there's actually a lot of room for a lot of different characters in the format.

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Reader Comments

  • hotelmotel says:

    Posted: February 21st, 2008 at 3:28 pm  

    I agree that there is more room for diverse fare on country radio than critics acknowledge.

    But part of me thinks early 1990s radio was a bit more diverse than today’s radio. Of course maybe I’m falling into the trap of nostalgia for “the good old days.”

    Anyway, Mary-Chapin Carpenter and Sammy Kershaw both made great music. MCC is proved that you could write intelligent lyrics that were hook-laden and catchy. (some of her more recent stuff isn’t as catchy). At his best, Sammy had some hilarious and quirky songs. “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer” is a delightful song.

  • Gary Allan Watches “Airplanes” Take Off To No. 1 — The 9513 says:

    Posted: February 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pm  

    [...] Tom Roland uses two country singers who turn 50 this week, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Sammy Kershaw, to debunk the “one-dimensional hillbilly fare” label often applied to country music and to prove that their is actually room for diversity in the format. [...]

  • jephthah NKPONWERE says:

    Posted: February 22nd, 2008 at 8:15 am  

    At 50 you are still fresh and healthy what is the secraet?
    Are the both of you husband and wife? More sheer to you all.
    jephthah NKPONWERE.

  • L. Kelly says:

    Posted: February 22nd, 2008 at 6:28 pm  

    Wonderful! Although they may have reached the pinnical of their careers theis two artist will never fade into the shadows of todays up and commers.For proof of this just check out any local bar, club or other establishment hosting Kareoke and you’ll hear those great and diverse song they entertained us with, still being sang and danced to. Two of my favorites,that I’d like to wish a very happy 50th birthday to.

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