It Takes Two To Sing A Country Song ... Once More Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the 1960s, songs from this husband and wife singing duo were among those popular on the US Country charts. Their most successful release was a song that became a country standard titled, "Don't Let Me Cross Over". Who were they?

Answer: Carl and Pearl Butler

Carl Butler and Pearl (Jones) Butler were both Tennessee natives who met and married while they were still unknown in the music business. Although the greatest of chart success was not realized by them ("Don't Let Me Cross Over" would prove to be their only number one chart hit), as performers and members of the Grand Ol' Opry they remained very popular with country music fans for many years - into the 1980s. "Don't Let Me Cross Over" spent eleven weeks at the number one spot on the US Country charts which was a record for an artist's debut single and one that would not be broken for more than fifty years.

2. Kris Kristofferson was featured on several songs that were relatively popular during the mid-1970s with a duet partner who was then his wife. One song was titled "Loving Arms"; another was, "A Song I'd Like To Sing". Who was she - the Native American beauty whose own songs saw greater success on the pop charts?

Answer: Rita Coolidge

The artists with whom Rita Coolidge was associated would read like a Hall of Fame directory. She was involved - personally, professionally or both - with Jim Gordon (and, thus, Eric Clapton), Delaney & Bonnie, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Leon Russell and Joe Cocker.

It was with Kristofferson that she recorded and released three full length albums. Their album titled, "Full Moon" made it to number one on the US Country charts. Initially regarded as a songwriter rather than singer, Kris Kristofferson saw at least a full decade pass as others found success with songs he had written.

The 1970s would bring appreciation for him - both as a writer and a singer. It was during the mid- to late 1970s that Kris was married to Rita Coolidge.

3. Kenny Rogers had very successful songs on the charts during the 1960s and 1970s. His first song of the 1980s to earn a top-ten ranking (US Country charts) was "Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer". He recorded the song with a lady who later that same year released the song, "Bette Davis Eyes". Who was she?

Answer: Kim Carnes

Kim Carnes co-wrote the song, "Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer" and according to the book, "Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song" it was the perfect fit for the "cowboy-rogue-lover" concept of an album Kenny Rogers was compiling during the late 1970s. (The album was his titled "Gideon".) Carnes and Rogers recorded "Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer" while in the studio (together) with "live" musicians.

It was a wonderful beginning of a wonderful year for Kim Carnes. "Bette Davis Eyes" became the best selling single (in the US) for 1980.

4. Both singers of the (electronically created) duet, "Have You Ever Been Lonely", had been dead almost twenty years when "their" song peaked at Number Five on Billboard's "Hot Country Singles" chart in January of 1982. Both died in (separate) plane crashes - she in 1963, he in 1964 - while they were enormously popular. Who were those two singers?

Answer: Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves

Although Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves were contemporaries they never recorded together. Both singers had recorded "Have You Ever Been Lonely" during the early 1960s but the chart success mentioned in the question was only achieved by the manufactured duet. Patsy Cline was (only!) 30 years old when she died; at the time she had released (only!) three studio albums. With her magnitude of talent and popularity it has often been speculated that she could have been a country music favorite for many years had she not died so young. Jim Reeves was 40 years old when he died; thus, his recording career was more extensive.

As with Patsy Cline, songs released by Jim Reeves were often "pop" favorites as well as country - which gave him a huge fan base. He, too, may have remained a "star" for many years had his life not ended so prematurely.

5. Years before Tim and Faith made being married and singing country music duets together sexy and fun, another married couple released some very sensuous songs. One half of that couple was Lorrie Morgan, who recorded the songs, "'Til a Tear Becomes a Rose" and "I Just Want You", with her (then) husband. Who was her husband - featured on those songs?

Answer: Keith Whitley

Keith Whitley had been married to Lorrie Morgan about three years (between 1986 and 1989) when he died of acute alcohol poisoning. Both of the songs mentioned in the question - and several other songs featuring only Whitley - were released after his death. "'Til a Tear Becomes a Rose" peaked on the US Country charts just outside the top ten, at number 13. Even with his shortened career Keith Whitley had ten songs place inside the top ten (US Country charts) - including those released posthumously.

There were many rumors about Whitley's death that circulated within County Music news for years, including that there were unfinished songs - enough for an entire album - Whitley had intended to record with Lorrie Morgan. Too sad we will never know what those songs would have been.

6. "The Heart Won't Lie" peaked at number one on the charts (US Country and Canada Country) during April of 1993. It was featured as a duet on Reba McIntire's album, "It's Your Call". Reba recorded that song with another Oklahoma native and friend of hers. Who was he?

Answer: Vince Gill

According to wipedia.com Reba McIntire had intended to record the song "The Heart Won't Lie" with Kenny Rogers and he had agreed to do so. With Kenny's "OK", Reba (and her production group) asked Vince to record it with her instead, initially featuring Vince as a background/harmony singer. Rather quickly the song evolved into a duet and that was a very wise move - it became Reba's 17th number one single and Vince's third number one.

The song was written by Kim Carnes and Donna Terry Weiss.

7. When the duet titled, "When I Get Where I'm Going", a song that featured Dolly Parton, peaked at number one it was not her singing partner's first number one song but it would begin a streak of ten number one singles for him. A few of those in that incredible streak were: "Ticks", "I'm Still a Guy" and "Waitin' on a Woman". Who was he?

Answer: Brad Paisley

When the song titled "When I Get Where I'm Going" reached number one (US Country) in October of 2005 it became the 24th song to earn a number one ranking for Dolly Parton. Brad Paisley had seen four of his previous singles reach the number one ranking, including: "He Didn't Have To Be", "We Danced" and "Mud on the Tires".

The song "When I Get Where I'm Going" did well for both artists. In addition to several County Music Awards nominations and Academy of Country Music Awards wins, it was also nominated for a Dove Award at the 37th GMA Dove Awards.

8. Country music fans and especially those who followed the career of Alison Krauss had waited for what seemed a long time for the release of her collaboration album titled, "Raising Sand"; it was finally available in late 2007. Her singing partner was the frontman for Led Zeppelin. Who was this English born rocker?

Answer: Robert Plant

"Raising Sand" was an amazing collaboration from those two artists, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. It was certified Platinum (in US sales, UK sales and Canada sales) and peaked at either number one, number two or number three on many of the music charts around the world. "Raising Sand" won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year (2009) and their duet from that album, titled "Please Read the Letter" won the Grammy for Record of the Year (2009). Worth the wait, right?

9. Although there were three members of this country music group when it formed in 2006, most of the lead vocals were performed by Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley. Their harmony and sensitivity was infectious - and, successful. Five of their first six (full length) albums peaked at number one on the US Country charts. Who were they?

Answer: Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum released their first full length album in April of 2008; the self-titled, "Lady Antebellum". As mentioned in the question it went to number one and it produced one number one single. Their second album, "Need You Now" (which also earned a number one ranking) included three songs that earned a number one ranking: "Need You Now", "American Honey" and "Our Kind of Love".

This was just the beginning for a group who have seen a long string of hugely successful albums and songs. All rankings mentioned are from US Country and/or US Hot 100 Country.

The third member of Lady Antebellum is Dave Haywood, who is most often heard on background vocals and playing the guitar, piano and mandolin.

10. During his long and lucrative career Kenny Chesney worked with several artists from a music genre other than country. In mid-2011, his song "You and Tequila" made it to number three on the US Country music charts as a duet. What singer-song writer-musician-actress (and forming member of the band The Nocturnals) sang with Chesney on that song?

Answer: Grace Potter

Country music artists have often recognized the benefit of incorporating performers from other music genre into their particular sound and Kenny Chesney practiced this early in his career. In some collaborations the guest artist can benefit just as much as the initiating artist.

For example, the song mentioned in this question ("You and Tequila") earned Grace Potter her first Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Since this song made its appearance on the music charts Kenny Chesney has been a featured artist at the Grand Point North Music Festival several times. Potter (among others) began that festival in her home state of Vermont in 2011.

Source: Author cowboybluedog

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Most people enjoy and appreciate the work of a talented singer but when there are two talented singers working together it can be, simply, delightful. Here are a few country music duets. Their peak of popularity spans several decades.

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