The 1980s saw the rise of many top-notch country artists who are still making music and touring today. Greats like George Strait, Clint Black, Randy Travis, and Garth Brooks rose to prominence in the second half of the decade. Additionally, the 1980s saw many country artists who disappeared after rising to fame -- seemingly falling off the face of the earth in the following decade.
Today, we're going to look back at some of the most promising country artists from the 1980s who later disappeared. Some are still around but flying under the radar, while some have found more important callings to pursue. No matter what they're doing now, they spent years leaving their mark on the genre.
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Charly McClain started her career in the '70s and released a handful of hits including "That's What You Do to Me," "Let Me Be Your Baby," and "Take Me Back." The rising country artist found her stride in 1981 with her first No. 1 single "Who's Cheatin' Who." Later that year, her album Surround Me with Love would bring her three more hit singles. She rode her wave of success to the end of the decade. Then, she chose a different path in life.
McClain walked away from music entirely in the early '90s to spend more time with her husband and family. She and her husband currently live a quiet life in Memphis, Tennessee.
Earl Thomas Conley's career began in the early '70s with singles like "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "I Have Loved You Girl (But Not Like This Before)," and "Queen of New Orleans." However, the country artist didn't find chart success until the early '80s. He started the decade with the top 10 hit "Silent Treatment" and followed it with "Fire and Smoke," his first No. 1 single. He would go on to notch 16 No. 1 hits between 1983 and 1989.
Ronnie Milsap and Alabama were the only artists in any genre to have more No. 1 singles than Conley in the '80s. He was also the only country artist to perform on Soul Train. "Too Many Times," his collaboration with Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters landed him the slot.
Conley went on hiatus after releasing his eighth studio album Yours Truly in 1991. He returned with Perpetual Emotion in 1998 before seemingly walking away from recording for good. He passed away in 2019.
Veteran country artist Royce Kendall formed The Kendalls with his daughter Jeannie in the late '60s. The released several albums and singles throughout the '70s including the top 5 hits "It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' to Me" and "You'd Make an Angel Wanna Cheat" and the No. 1 "Heaven's Just a Sin Away." However, they didn't find consistent chart success until the '80s.
The decade saw them release several top 40 hits including the No. 1 single "Thank God for the Radio." However, their success began to dry up as the '80s drew to an end. They released their final album, Make a Dance in 1995 but continured to tour. Royce Kendall suffered a fatal stroke while the duo was on the road in 1998.
Today, Jeannie keeps The Kendalls alive. She and Carl Acuff Jr. tour under the name and regularly play in Branson, Missouri.
Sisters Janis Oliver and Kristine Arnold formed the Duo Sweethearts of the Rodeo and released their debut self-titled album in 1986. They saw consistent chart success throughout the decade with singles like "Since I Found You," "Midnight Girl/Sunset Town," and "Blue to the Bone."
The released what appeared to be their final album, a bluegrass record called Beautiful Lies in 1996, a year before Oliver's divorce from Vince Gill. Then, they returned in 2012 with Restless. The sisters haven't released new music since then. So, it is likely safe to say that Restless was the Sweethearts' last ride.