Country Music Hair

by Erin Duvall

Country music’s greatest mullets, bobs, beehives, and bouffants collected together in one entertaining volume, illustrated with dozens of color and black-and-white photographs. "The higher the hair, the closer to god." From mullets to mustaches and teased hair to bobs, country singers each have their own distinct looks which enhance their performance and image. Some wear hats and others wear wigs. Some follow the trends and others set them. Some have stylists on the tour bus and others rely on God and hair-spray. As Dolly Parton famously said, "People always ask me how long it takes to do my hair. I don’t know, I’m never there." As country has grown in stature and popularity since the 1960s, country musicians have evolved their music—and their hairstyles and fashion as well. Industry insider Erin Duvall takes fans on a lively tour in this entertaining history that combines interviews with famous hairstylists and fifty of country music stars’ best ’dos, including 1990s mullet king, Billy Ray Cyrus. While business in the front and party in the back may be outdated today, twenty years ago it was one of country’s defining styles. In Country Music Hair , Duvall tells a tale of the day the mullet died and the rumor of the strong emotional reaction from the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer’s young daughter, Miley, who desperately pleaded with him to keep his mane. A fantastic and fun trip down memory lane, Country Music Hair is a must for country listeners and pop culture fans.

Genres: Music

128 pages, Hardcover

Published November 8, 2016

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I just read a book on the history of Country Music hair? Yes I did, and it was DELIGHTFUL. I mean, there is one whole chapter devoted to the mullet and why it even exists! And I live for the shade subtly thrown at more that one country star as to just *what* that hat or wig is hiding.

My only complaint (and why I've only given it 3 instead of 4 stars) is that it needed more pictures. Yeah, 50+ is a lot, but really? Dolly Parton could be the subject of every single one of those pictures EASY.

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 3 out of 5]

:The higher the hair the closer to God" . Erin Duvall takes us through the history of the hairstyles of country music stars. For bouffants ,beehives to the God Forbid mullet.

[Petty Lisbon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. Obviously it was mostly a photobook but the essays they had before each decade at least taught me about the sound and gave a "who's who" in country music. I consider myself a pop culture lover and spend too much time reading about music but I never heard of a lot of big names in this book, like Crystal Gayle or Dottie West so it was fascinating discovering all these new discographies. I thought the "controversy" for Reba's dress was interesting. I never heard of country musicians having edgy moments like Madonna's wedding dress VMA performance or Janet Jackson's Rolling Stone cover. I liked that they covered men too because I feel like we don't talk enough about how male country stars basically do all the same tropes and stunts that general female pop stars also do because they're more "authentic". I learned about interesting concepts like how country fans like meet and greets more or which country stars can go international or the "burn" concept in radio.
I think the 2010's part was funny for how she said "who knows where country can go next!" and since then, Taylor Swift went full on pop and went to folk, Kacey Musgraves (who was not mentioned at all...) became bigger and also had some genre boundary issues, Orville Peck came out (no pun intended), artists like Yola, Valerie June, and Mickey Guyton got the credit they deserve for being Black women in country music, Kane Brown added more R&B influences to country, and M*rgan W*llen became too popular after his disgusting comments. While country music is something I'm fine with just taking other people's recommendations for, I still think the scene/culture is fascinating to watch as a spectator and I didn't realize how fast moving it is compared to pop or rock sometimes.

[Callie Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a lot of great photos in this book, but it doesn't cover up the fact there are a number of proofing/grammar errors. I wish the author would have conducted more interviews with more stylists and musicians. The last two chapters felt like they were less developed than other chapters, and quite frankly, felt like they were just slapped on to make a page or word count.

Worth at least picking up from the library to flip through the pictures.

[Lindsay Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Business in the front, party in the back."

Thank you Billy Ray!

[Ashley N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Country Music Hair ya'll. Sorted by decade, various styles and trends of hair, for both male and female country music stars. Bouffants, long and straight, slicked back with a curl, 80's big, mullets, it's all here. The accompanying narrative is sometimes a little unorganized and repetitive, but I sure enjoyed all the pictures. Some interesting tidbits within, for example, at the time he broke out as a songwriter in the 60's, Willie Nelson was very clean-cut w/short hair. No braids in sight. Also, did you know he wrote "Crazy" for Patsy Cline? I did not know this.
And...another cool thing: I found this book at Dollar Tree. A bargain and definitely worth that price.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful brief summary of the cultural trends and impact of country musicians hair. If you are looking for an in-depth cultural analysis this is not the book for you, but it is a great introduction.

[Courtney. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quick read. Kind of interesting to go through the ages of country music and their images.

[AJNels · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for a photo book, but this was mostly a series of anecdotes from hair stylists who worked in the industry.

[Shant · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. A cute intro to country music for me. I feel like the 2000's chapters were too short, but I enjoyed it enough. I liked the interviews with the celebrity hairstylist, Nanette England.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that tell you what they are about by the cover and title! This is fun to look through! If you need something light, funny, and nostalgic check this out.

[mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

eh

[Tonya Bryner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book. It's basically a history of country music with an emphasis on hairstyles through the decades. It's not deep; it's not expected to be. Lots of pictures, fun read.