The Role Fashion Plays In The Country Music Industry (And History) Is HUGE
Fashion plays a huge role in the country music world. Country artists can make themselves stand out by developing a signature style with their outfits. Sometimes, a singer can wear something in a music video or on an awards show…and forever be remembered for it.
Here, we’ve gathered 13 of the most iconic outfits ever worn by country stars. Some of these outfits are specific, one-off things. Some of the other outfits are what an artist is/was more generally known for wearing.
Take a look below!
Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” Outfit
Shania Twain took one outfit and turned it into several looks over the course of her “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” music video. She started off wearing a long black coat with a collared shirt and tie. She accented the look with a top hat and a veil over her face.
Twain gradually removed pieces of the outfit throughout the video. By the end, she was rockin’ a short black dress, tall black boots, and gloves.
Dolly Parton’s Bunny Suit
Who can forget Dolly Parton’s iconic bunny suit photos? She donned the famous outfit over 40 years later to surprise her husband Carl Dean on his birthday!
Johnny Cash’s Entirely Black Attire
Johnny Cash was known as “The Man in Black” for a reason. For a large part of his career he chose to only wear black whenever he performed onstage.
Cash even recorded a song about his preference for black clothes. Some of the lyrics are, “But just so we’re reminded of the ones who are held back. Up front there ought to be a man in black.”
Lainey Wilson & Her Bell Bottoms
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Lainey Wilson is the newest artist featured in this list. The “Watermelon Moonshine” singer has quickly become known for her signature sense of style, which often involves her wearing a feathered hat and lots of jewelry.
Plus, you’ll almost always see Wilson in a pair of bell bottom pants. She doesn’t shy away from wearing bright colors or bold prints either!
Wilson is so well-known for her bell bottoms, her Grammy-winning album is titled Bell Bottom Country.
Eddie Montgomery’s Signature Style
Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery has cultivated a signature sense of style that makes him unlike any other artist. He’s known for his long, black coats and matching black hat.
Montgomery also makes his microphone part of his outfit in a sense. He’s often seen carrying the mic around with him onstage…stand and all!
Porter Wagoner’s Suits
Porter Wagoner was known for his heavily embellished suits. The suits would often feature colorful, rhinestoned images of feathers, wagon wheels, and other things.
Many of Wagoner’s suits were known as “Nudie Suits,” because they were designed by Nudie Cohn. Wagoner was one of Cohn’s best customers, and owned 52 suits he designed.
Dolly Parton’s Matching Sets/Jumpsuits
Wagoner’s duet partner Dolly Parton definitely knows how to make an impression with what she wears. While Parton plays around with style a lot, she often wears matching sets with tight fabric around the midsection.
Parton’s been wearing matching sets for years. There was even a popular doll released in 1978 that shows Parton wearing a red, silver, and white jumpsuit.
Dolly Parton’s Cowboys Cheerleader Outfit
Dolly Parton wowed millions of people with this outfit!
Parton had the honor of performing during halftime of the Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day in 2023. At age 77, Parton donned the iconic Dallas Cowboys cheerleader outfit, and she rocked it!
People were talking about Parton’s performance for weeks afterward.
Reba McEntire’s Red Dress
Now THIS is an unforgettable outfit!
Reba McEntire made jaws drop when she stepped out in this red dress to sing “Does He Love You” with Linda Davis at the 1993 CMA Awards.
“It was very revealing, and I didn’t know that!…When I put it on in the dressing room at the Grand Ole Opry for the show, I thought, ‘Maybe it’s just the lighting in here.’ And when I walked out on the stage, I heard the audience go ‘Oooooh!’ And I thought, ‘Dang, I look good!’” McEntire told PEOPLE years later.
Shania Twain’s Leopard Print Ensemble In The Music Video For “That Don’t Impress Me Much”
Shania Twain has donned many standout ensembles over the course of her career. Her leopard print ensemble from the music video for “That Don’t Impress Me Much” is definitely one of those outfits.
Twain continues to incorporate animal print in her wardrobe today because of this video!
Alan Jackson’s Water Skiing Outfit From The “Chattahoochee” Music Video
Alan Jackson’s music video for “Chattahoochee” is a ton of fun. So is the outfit he wore for most of the shoot…a colorful life jacket and ripped jeans.
Not to mention he wore all of that WHILE water skiing!
Loretta Lynn’s Gowns
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Whenever someone thinks of Loretta Lynn, they picture her wearing one of her beautiful gowns. All of Lynn’s gowns were iconic, because they were intertwined with her personal image.
Head below to watch a video about Lynn’s gowns. They’re all stunning!
When you think of iconic country music outfits throughout history, which one immediately comes to your mind?