Top 5 Duo Artists & Other Favorites
1. Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn: Conway began his country career in 1965 and by the early '70s, he had scored four straight No. 1 hits including Hello Darlin'. Throughout his career he scored 40 No. 1 singles. Arguably country music's biggest female star in the 1960s and early 1970s, Loretta ruled the charts, racking up over 70 hits as a solo artist and as a duet partner with Conway. Conway & Loretta charted 12 top-10 singles and were named Vocal Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association 1972 -- 1975.
2. Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: Noted for his onstage jokes, blonde pompadour, rhinestone-studded stage wardrobe, and partnership with Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner became one of country music's elder statesmen in the 1990s. With their strong feminine stances in the 1960s and 1970s, Dolly Rebecca Parton, along with fellow female pioneers Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, revolutionized the world of country music for women performers. Porter and Dolly charted 14 top-10 singles and were named Vocal Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association 1970 and 1971.
3. George Jones & Tammy Wynette: George Jones launched his recording career in East Texas in the early 1950s and as of the start of the twenty-first century he was still going strong. He has charted 76 top-10 singles. Tammy Wynette was known as the First Lady of Country Music and her best-known song, Stand by Your Man, was one of the biggest selling hit singles by a woman in the history of the country music genre. George and Tammy racked up 8 top-10 hits.
4. Kenny Rogers & Dottie West: It took several tries before Kenny Rogers became a star. As a member of the First Edition (and the New Christy Minstrels before that), he shared in some million-sellers, among them Reuben James and Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town. Rogers expanded his career moving to country music and scoring award-winning duets with Dottie West. One of Country music's most influential and groundbreaking female artists, Dottie West had a respectable solo career, but enjoyed her biggest commercial success with Rogers. Kenny and Dottie were named Vocal Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association 1978 and 1979.
5. Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius: Jim Ed Brown came to fame as a member of the '50s vocal group the Browns, where he was the band's lead male vocalist. In 1965, when the group was still together, he embarked on a solo career that would eventually eclipse the success of the Browns. Helen Cornelius was known to country music fans as a singer/songwriter, but she also danced, acted and played several instruments. Jim Ed & Helen racked up 7 top-10 hits and I Don't Want to Have to Mary You, their sole No. 1 song.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------More Popular Duet Partners
The following is a listing of the most successful duet partners, along with their biggest chart single.
• Bill Anderson & Jan Howard
For Loving You (No. 1, 1967)
• Bill Anderson & Mary Lou Turner
Sometimes (No. 1, 1975)
• Buck Owens & Susan Raye
The Great White Horse (No. 8, 1970)
• Carl & Pearl Butler
Don't Let Me Cross Over (No. 1, 1962)
• Connie Smith & Nat Stuckey
If God Is Dead (1970)
• David Frizell & Shelly West
You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma (No.1, 1981)
•David Houston & Barbara Mandrell
After Closing Time (No. 6, 1970)
• Don Gibson & Dottie West
Rings of Gold (No. 2, 1969)
• Eddie Rabbit & Crystal Gayle
You and I (No. 1, 1982)
• Ernest Tubb & Loretta Lynn
Who's Gonna Take the Garbage Out (No. 18, 1969)
• George Jones & Melba Montgomery
We Must have been Out of Our Minds (No. 3, 1963)
• Jack Greene & Jeannie Seely
Wish I Didn't have to Miss You (No. 2, 1969)
• Jean Shepard & Ferlin Husky
A Dear John Letter (No. 1, 1953)
•Jim Reeves & Dottie West
Love Is No Excuse (No. 7, 1964)
• Johnny Cash & June Carter
Jackson (No. 2, 1967)
• Johnny Duncan & Janie Fricke
Come a Little Bit Closer (No. 4, 1977)
• Johhny & Jonie Mosby
Just Hold My Hand (No. 12, 1969)
• Kitty Wells & Johnnie Wright
We'll Stick Together (No. 8, 1968)
• Kitty Wells & Red Foley
One By Onr (No. 1, 1954)
• Margaret Whitting & Jimmy Wakley
Slipping Around (No. 1, 1949)
• Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton
Please Don't Stop Loving Me (No. 1, 1974)
• Roy Drusky & Percilla Mitchell
Yes, Mr. Peters (No. 1, 1965)
• Tammy Wynette & David Houston
My Elusive Dreams (No. 1, 1967)
• Waylon Jennings & Jessi Colter
Suspicious Minds (No. 2, 1976)
• Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper
There's a Big Wheel (No. 3, 1959)
• Wynn Stewart & Jan Howard
Wrong Company (No. 22, 1959)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, compiled and written by Richard Bell, Country Music Historian, Roots of Country Music, July, 2011.
References: Record Research: Country Music Singles 1944 -- 1993; Billboard Magazine; Roots of Country Music Chronicles.
