(Not A Secret) Code Word: Cowboy Quiz

Answer: Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson released "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" as a part of the soundtrack from the very popular movie, "The Electric Horseman", that was a box office success in 1979. The soundtrack sold well for Nelson (who also starred in the movie with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda); it placed deep within the top ten on both the U.S. and Canadian Billboard (Country) charts.

In keeping with the cowboy theme of the movie, the soundtrack for "The Electric Horseman" also included recordings by Willie Nelson titled, "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," and "So You Think You're a Cowboy".

Answer: Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney is credited on the Steve Miller Band album (although not on the song, "Space Cowboy") using a pseudonym he had used previously, Paul Ramon. This moniker for McCartney is seen spelled as Paul Ramone, too. On the reverse of the (original release) album's jacket is the phrase: "**with very special thanks to Paul Ramon".

Answer: Elton John

Bernie Taupin and Elton John co-wrote all of the songs for the album's original arrangement. "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" was certified gold within a few weeks of its release and continued to sell until it became a multi-platinum accomplishment for the song writing team.

The album does include a song with the same title as the album but it was the song, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", that sold the most singles from that album.

Answer: Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?

Paula Cole's song, "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?", did sell well in the US. It reached number four (US) Billboard's Adult Top 40 and number eight on (US) Billboard's Hot 100 charts. The song also gave Paula Cole Grammy nominations in three categories (with no wins) and a nomination at the MTV Music Video Awards - again, without a win.

Although it was not vastly popular or a number one seller, it continued to be recomposed/represented (or, parodied) for many years after its original release.

Answer: Kid Rock

It would be a challenge to definitively pigeonhole Kid Rock. His range of popularity and acceptance is wide. Through the years, his song "Cowboy" has been performed on stage by other artists from various genres, too. It has made more than a few appearances in other pop culture formats - television, movies and live shows. Kid Rock's video of the song "Cowboy" with its long nosed eighteen wheelers and black Trans Am is an obvious nod to the movie series "Smokey and the Bandit".

Answer: The Dixie Chicks

"Cowboy Take Me Away" was co-written by Dixie Chicks band member Martie Seidel, who played the fiddle on their recording of that song. Martie Seidel has also been professionally known as Martie McGuire. The song was not only an instant hit for the Dixie Chicks, it remained a crowd favorite during the remaining years of the group's touring together.

It was originally released as the second single from the Dixie Chicks' top selling album, "Fly".

Answer: The Cowboy in Me

Exemplifying what would prove to be an attribute of many of Tim McGraw's most successful songs, "The Cowboy in Me" is a pensive, self-reproaching ballad with a slow easy beat. There is nothing complicated about the song; perhaps another secret to his success. Spring of 2002 proved to be very rewarding for Tim McGraw. "The Cowboy in Me" was number one (on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart) immediately after McGraw's duet song with Jo Dee Messina, "Bring On The Rain" had occupied the same spot.

Answer: Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett has shown his ability to perform on stage in a wide variety of formats. His concerts can intertwine several music genres; including but not limited to bluegrass, traditional country, folk and even symphony-styled orchestra presentations. As with "Cowboy Man", most of Lyle Lovett's songs have failed to reach the top of the music charts.

At its peak it was at the number ten spot on the Hot Country (US) charts and was the most commercially successful of Lovett's songs released during the 20th century. Perhaps he has "spread himself too thin" but there are many who are delighted that he has refused to be categorized.

Answer: The Cowboy Rides Away

Indeed, "The Cowboy Rides Away". During his recording career, George Strait became one of the most popular and best selling artists of all time. From the release of his first single, "Unwound", in 1981 until he sang "The Cowboy Rides Away" in July 2014 in (then) AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, George Strait has been to millions of his fans the epitome of country music.

It would be difficult to believe him gone; with record sales of more than 100 million (worldwide) we should be adequately provided to remember George Strait for a long, long time.

Answer: Toby Keith

The song "Should've Been A Cowboy" was a tremendous start for Toby Keith - an entertainer who would become one of the wealthiest performers in the country music business. That song reached number one on the U.S. and Canadian Country Music charts and would rank deep within the most popular songs of the entire decade of the 1990s.

Some sources even called it the most played country music song of the 1990s. By the mid-2000s, Toby Keith was celebrating hallmarks such as his album sales reaching more than 40 million units (worldwide) and his songs having received 50 million times of airplay.