Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Here Are Facts About Dottie West, A Trailblazing Pioneer For Female Country Artists

Dottie West Facts
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Though she struggled to rise above the crowd in a mostly male-dominated genre, Dottie West managed to enjoy a successful career. She had recorded more than 30 albums in over a dozen years and achieved quite a few country hits. She even broke into the pop chart.

Truly, West is one of country music’s most influential and trailblazing female artists. Learn more about Dottie West through these facts we have gathered about her.

1. She’s a native of McMinnville, Tennessee.

Born Dorothy Marie Marsh on October 11, 1932, the country icon grew up on a tiny farm outside of Music City in a large, impoverished family. To make ends meet, her mother opened a small cafe. Being the eldest of ten children, West helped her mother run the establishment at a young age.

2. She suffered abuse from her father.

Sadly, West’s father was an alcoholic who beat and sexually abused her. It only ended when she reported him to the local sheriff and testified in court against him. Justice was served with her father being placed behind bars and was sentenced to forty years imprisonment. West was 17 then.

3. She refused to duet on Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night” as it was “too sexy.” 

Before West donned glorious red hair and the provocative outfits most country fans remembered, she performed dressed in a conservative gingham dress and refused to record provocative songs.

4. She was the first female country artist to win a Grammy. 

In 1965, West’s hit song “Here Comes My Baby” helped her take home a Grammy Award in the category of Best Female Country Vocal Performance – making her the first woman in the genre to receive such an award. The same year West was also invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

5. She composed twelve Coca-Cola jingles. 

This includes “Country Sunshine,” which she’s best known for.

6. She was divorced three times.

At 21 years old, West married a steel guitarist named Bill West, whom she met when she studied music at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee. The couple was blessed with four children, including country music star Shelly West.

However, West and Bill called it quits shortly after she achieved success in country music. In 1972, she married drummer Bryan Metcalf, who was a dozen years younger than her. In 1983, she married sound engineer Al Winters, who was also twenty-three years her junior.

7. She filed for bankruptcy. 

While Dottie West songs were some of the biggest hits in the 1960s and a1970s, especially her duets with Kenny Rogers, the country star was caught up in a disastrous spiral of misfortunes. She suffered from drug and alcohol abuse. She experienced financial challenges and had no choice but to file for bankruptcy in 1990. In 1991, The Internal Revenue Service held an auction of her properties during the yearly Country Music Fan Fair so they could recover West’s debt of $1 million.

At some point, West made a home out of her tour bus, which was also later sold.

8. She died in a car crash. 

West was headed to the Grand Ole Opry for a scheduled performance when her car – a Chrysler New Yorker that Kenny Rogers had given to her after losing her possessions – broke down. A neighbor spotted her on the roadside and offered to drive her to the Opry. After speeding up at a freeway exit ramp to get to the Opry on time, he lost control of the car, and they crashed. West suffered injuries and died four days later following a series of surgeries.

While Dottie West’s had a roller-coaster ride, she surely had made a colorful and unforgettable career. 

Latest Stories

Josh Weathers raises over $337000 in a livestream concert fundraiser to help Texas families devastated by catastrophic floods.

Josh Weathers Raises Over $337000 in Livestream to Help Texas Families Hit by Floods

A guitar in hand and a heart the size of Texas. That’s Josh Weathers right now. While storms swallowed up gigs and highways across Central Texas, this Fort Worth native ...

Lauren Alaina fires back at trolls who mom-shame her for bottle-feeding her newborn, pictured holding baby Beni Doll Arnold.

Lauren Alaina Fires Back at Trolls Who Mom-Shame Her for Bottle-Feeding

A bottle in one hand and zero time for strangers’ opinions in the other. That’s how Lauren Alaina’s rolling and some loudmouths just found out the hard way. If you’ve ...

Kelly Clarkson seen emotional in a past photo, echoing fans’ heartbreak after she canceled her Vegas opening night due to illness.

Fans Are Heartbroken After Kelly Clarkson Cancels Vegas Opening Night Due to Illness

Nothing guts a diehard fan like standing in line for hours only to get hit with the words “Show’s off.” Kelly Clarkson found herself in that brutal spot last weekend ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together on stage, teaming up for a new duet that might break country radio charts.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton Team Up for a Duet That Might Break Country Radio

Sometimes, country music gives you a pairing that is so perfect that you wonder what the hell took so long. Well, here we are. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton are ...

Dolly Parton smiles in a sparkling gown, proving she’ll always look glamorous on the outside to match how she feels inside.

Dolly Parton Shares Glamorous Photo Says She’ll Always Look How She Feels Inside

Some folks roll out of bed looking like they just survived a bar fight but not Dolly damn Parton. On July 1, the queen of country herself dropped a glamorous ...

Lee Greenwood performs live in a patriotic shirt, years after nearly shelving “God Bless The USA,” now America’s beloved anthem.

Lee Greenwood Almost Didn’t Release “God Bless The USA” as a Single, Now It’s America’s Anthem

Sometimes, the songs that shape a nation nearly get buried on the B side. Back in 1984, Lee Greenwood was on a solid run of hits and living out every ...

Keith Urban smiles on stage in Akron, Ohio, where he made a heartfelt gesture for a blind fan that moved the audience to tears.

Keith Urban’s Sweet Gesture for Blind Fan Leaves Sister Thanking Him for Truly Seeing Her

Some moments at a concert feel bigger than the music. This was one of them. Keith Urban‘s always been one of the good guys in country, but fans at his ...

Gracie McGraw, seen here at a past event, recently left fans laughing on Instagram comparing herself to Jurassic dinosaurs.

Tim McGraw’s Daughter Gracie Leaves Fans in Stitches Comparing Herself to Dinosaurs

Sometimes, you just need a reminder that not every celebrity kid takes themselves too seriously. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s oldest daughter, Gracie McGraw, just gave the internet a masterclass ...

Willie Nelson smiles while performing onstage with his iconic guitar, as rumors swirl about Baylor University banning him.

Did a Texas University Ban Willie Nelson or Was He Just Too Much of an Outlaw to Show Up

Only Willie Nelson could have a “campus ban” rumor stick for 40 years and make him look even more like the cowboy rebel everyone loves. If you’ve ever cracked open ...

Roy Rogers, smiling in his signature cowboy hat and embroidered suit, remembered by fans as the King of the Cowboys in 1998.

On This Day, Fans Remember Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, Who Rode Off in 1998

Sometimes the cowboy who taught America how to ride tall in the saddle and tip a hat with a smile is the one who leaves the biggest boots to fill. ...