Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

The Big Wake Up With Don Chase and Sarah

Weekdays 6:00am-10am

Kick Butt Tip of the Day for May 23: Be Extraordinary

By Don Chase May 23rd
(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIME)

From Elon Musk: “I think it possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary.”

– Don Chase’s Kick Butt Tip of the Day is a daily motivational feature designed to give you the inspiration you need to power through your day. Check out all the Kick Butt Tips here.

Five Pop/Rock Artists That Switched To Country Music

Ed Sheeran is the latest pop star to consider a switch to country music, He performed a new song with his buddy Luke Combs at the ACM Awards last week (5/11) in Texas. Over the years, several pop or rock stars have tried their hand at country music.

Sheryl Crow released a country album a few years back. She never left Nashville, living in the community and performing at events and benefits despite the fact that her country music career never really took off. Cyndi Lauper recorded a country album in 2015 and spent some time in Nashville doing interviews. She talked about the country songs she leaned on throughout her life.

In 2013, Kelly Clarkson released a song just for country radio that never really had success called “Tie It Up.” It was about getting married. Her marriage to Reba’s stepson Brandon Blackstock, which she gushed about in an interview for the song, didn’t make it either. They got divorced in 2020.

While many pop and rock stars have tried their hand at country music, only a few really made it all the way to becoming a country star. We wish Ed Sheeran well if he really wants to give country music a try. Here, we look at five pop and rock stars that had their sights set on country music superstardom.

RELATED: Luke Combs Teaches Ed Sheeran How To Shotgun A Beer'

  • Steven Tyler

    In 2016, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler signed with Nashville’s Big Machine record label and released a solo country album called We’re All Somebody From Somewhere. It didn’t do much to bring the rocker into country music. But he didn’t quit his day job – Aerosmith has just announced their farewell tour.

  • Lionel Richie

    In the spring of 2012, Lionel Richie released a country album featuring many collaborations with country stars called Tuskegee. It featured Lionel’s own popular songs with Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, and many more. The country album wasn’t a huge hit, but it did start the friendship between him and his now fellow American Idol judge Luke Bryan.

  • Ed Sheeran

    Ed is just beginning his dip into country music. He performed a song called “Life Goes On” with Luke Combs at the ACM Awards show. Sheeran said he would like to move towards country music in the future.

  • Elle King

    Elle King has been very successful in her dive into country music as she has already charted two number-one country songs, one with Miranda Lambert, “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home),” and “Different For Girls” with Dierks Bentley. King released her debut country album Come Get Your Wife in January. She is currently touring and has been embraced by the country music community and fans.

  • Darius Rucker

    Darius has been the most successful pop/rock star that switched to country music. So far, he has released five country albums, charted eight number-one country songs, and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2012. He has been nominated for numerous country music awards and got a Country Grammy for Best Solo Country Performance for “Wagon Wheel” in 2013.

Sign me up for the KML email newsletter!

The Big 95.7 KML is proud to bring you all the best in country music, as well as the latest news and events locally, from our KML team members!

*
*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Tags