Dottie West’s Legacy Is Not Forgotten by the Country Hall of Fame
Dottie West was both a pioneering woman in country music, as well as a superstar in her era. She broke ground for women in the genre, and was the woman most responsible for making the men sound better as one of the genre’s most recognized duet partners for decades. Her legacy had long been overlooked, but not anymore.
On Tuesday (3-27), Dottie West was announced as the latest inductee in the Veterans Era for the Country Music Hall of Fame in a press conference held in the Hall of Fame rotunda in Nashville, hosted by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. Dottie’s daughter Shelly West, as well as performer Jeannie Seely were there to accept the distinction on Dottie’s behalf.
Dottie West died in a car accident in 1991 frantically trying to make a set time at the Grand Ole Opry. If not for this tragedy, likely her legacy would have loomed larger in modern memory, and it wouldn’t have taken so long for her to be put in her rightful place among Hall of Fame elites. It was just one of many tragedies that marked her otherwise successful career and life, including a high-profile bankruptcy and automobile accident in 1990 before her death, and the death of her friend Patsy Cline in an airplane crash in the early 60’s. West was the oldest of 10 children from a poor family raised in McMinnville, Tennessee. Her father beat her and sexually abused her, and eventually was sentenced to 40 years in prison where he died. Dottie West’s life was very similar to a heartbreaking country song, but the legacy persevered.
Dottie West was the first ever woman to win a country music Grammy Award for her 1964 Top 10 hit, “Here Comes My Baby Back Again.” This was just one of many distinctions that would make her career Hall of Fame worthy, including a total of 11 Grammy nominations. Over 15 years later, West would earn her first #1 hit—“A Lesson in Leavin'” which would give way to two more, “Are You Happy Baby?” and “What Are We Doin’ in Love,” a duet with Kenny Rodgers. Eventually, the combination of Dottie and Kenny would give way to two more #1’s, and make the commercial influence and success of Dottie West stretch into three decades. Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, and many more all benefited from Dottie West’s voice during their careers as one of country music’s go-to duet partners.
But it was Dottie West’s own music that had the most impact. Songs such as “Would You Hold It Against Me,” “What’s Come Over My Baby,” “Paper Mansions,” “Like a Fool,” and “Country Girl” made her a fan favorite, and forged a legacy still filling the hearts of true country music fans today.
Dottie West will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame in a Medallion Ceremony to be held later this year. Fiddle player Johnny Gimble, and musician/performer Ricky Skaggs were also named as 2018 Hall of Fame inductees.
Gina
March 27, 2018 @ 10:28 am
Really glad to see this. What a great lady and her name does get left behind too much.
Greg
March 27, 2018 @ 10:29 am
Another great Dottie West classic,in addition to the ones you mentioned Kyle,is her Country version of Last time I saw him.Great song.Shelly really fought to get her momma in the hall of fame,and it paid off in a big way.And I know Dottie’s great friends Kenny Rogers and Loretta Lynn are proud to see Dottie get this great honor too.
Rob
March 27, 2018 @ 10:37 am
This is long overdue. I was beginning to think it would never happen.
Trigger
March 27, 2018 @ 10:57 am
This was the year for the Country Music Hall of Fame to really reflect on its honorees and ask who are the women who’ve been woefully overlooked over the years for induction, with Dottie West right at the top of that list. You induct three more men, and it becomes a media narrative of how the Hall of Fame is a men’s club. Dottie deserved this distinction, and if it didn’t happen this year, it may never have with how hard it is to get in. Rose Maddox, Lynn Anderson, Crystal Gayle, and other women also deserve deep consideration, and hopefully will be inducted in the coming years.
Rob
March 27, 2018 @ 11:30 am
And Tanya Tucker.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
March 27, 2018 @ 11:46 am
Rose Maddox DESERVES this. I’ll debate Tanya Tucker and Crystal Gayle but Rose Maddox DESERVES this!
Tom R.
March 29, 2018 @ 12:46 pm
I agree with every word you write. I had gotten to the point that I feared Dottie would never be inducted because probably the majority of the current people in the industry aren’t that familiar with her (or most pre-1990 country stars). This is the best news I’ve heard regarding a HOF induction in many a year.
Here’s hoping to more ladies growing the club!! I feel the top ten most deserving of future induction are (alphabetically) Lynn Anderson, Skeeter Davis, Donna Fargo, Crystal Gayle, Wanda Jackson, The Judds, Rose Maddox, Tanya Tucker, and Lulu Belle Wiseman – all of whom had careers at least as important as some of the men who have already been inducted.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
March 27, 2018 @ 10:40 am
This is what I mean when I say Country Music’s women. I wish we had more like this and not an endless string of Miley Cyrus wannabes.
Dottie West is one of those Country singers that just like Vern Gosdin is always enjoyable.
I may not always want to hear Porter Wagoner or Buck Owens, but I can always listen to Vern Gosdin or Dottie West. it’s just so great and easy to listen to but it doesn’t get that by sacrificing it’s intensity or honesty it’s never watered down.
this was what Country Music should have evolved into and sadly the soccer moms came along and ruined it with their feel like a woman songs.
there was never any B.S. or silliness with Dottie West, it was always the good stuff.
and this is coming from someone who apparently doesn’t own any Dottie West music. I went looking and found bupkus, squat, and zilch. I was under the impression I had a record hiding somewhere. either somebody went snooping in the Fuzzipedia archives or I made a brain fart somewhere along the line. Gotta make an adjustment to that. the St. Vincent store near me has thousands upon thousands of records and I can never sort through them all one trip so I’m sure I can three or four tomorrow for a dollar.
glad the Hall of Fame is still showing some class. here’s hoping they never change and never let too many people in.
Lil Dale savin country music hall of fame membre class of 2015
March 27, 2018 @ 2:27 pm
dad gum it boy wudda u do for a livin fuzz? must be nise u got all the time in the wurld to reed n respond to evry dad gum artickle a round here wile Im still down at the consrtuction site n thats all rite keep on savin the country music like Ronnie usta say if u cant smoke it or drink it the hell with it
Angelo Rinaldi
March 27, 2018 @ 10:43 am
Finally Dottie, I’m in tears! Now they need to induct Skeeter Davis too in the next years, she deserves it.
Very happy about Skaggs too, I’m glad they didn’t overlook him for Hank Jr or Dwight Yoakam, who’ll surely be members someday soon.
Chris
March 27, 2018 @ 11:17 am
“What Are We Doin’ in Love” was a decent-sized pop hit as well, likely because Kenny Rogers was on it, but a great song nevertheless. Maybe not the most country song ever made, but all country pop should sound that good.
glendel
March 27, 2018 @ 11:27 am
the country legends part of the lineup of the first farm aid concert in Champaign: Willie, Hag, David Allan Coe, Hoyt Axton, Tanya Tucker, Vern Gosdin, Roger Miller, DOTTIE WEST, Kristofferson, George Jones, Emmylou, Charlie Daniels, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, John Conlee, an at that time unknown Vince Gill, Glen Campbell, Waylon, Johnny Cash, Alabama, Johnny Rodriquez, the Dirt Band, pop country’s own John Denver. 🙂
Matthew
March 27, 2018 @ 11:28 am
I think the choice of Dottie West was long overdue. A terrific choice. Now they need to continue with some more women, particularly Lynn Anderson. If that days comes soon, I will cry for joy.
DJ
March 27, 2018 @ 11:34 am
Her signature song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIISuDG7lIs
eckiezZ
March 28, 2018 @ 12:06 am
i love the title track to suffer time.
mesmerizing stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJpFJ-MF0OI
OlaR
March 27, 2018 @ 11:41 am
It was about time!
Gone but not forgotten…
Luckyoldsun
March 27, 2018 @ 12:00 pm
“If not for this tragedy, likely her legacy would have loomed larger in modern memory, and it wouldn’t have taken so long for her to be put in her rightful place among Hall of Fame elites.”
That’s probably wishful thinking.
She was 58 and retired from the current music business and completely out of the public eye when she died. Her legacy was pretty much set. Ten more years on the Opry would not have changed it.
Tom R.
March 29, 2018 @ 12:39 pm
“She was 58 and retired from the current music business and completely out of the public eye when she died.”
This is not true at all. Her last chart song may have been in 1985 but she was an active entertainer and fairly big concert draw right up to the time of her death. She was still so famous in 1991 that People Magazine put her photo on the corner of the cover as the “second lead story” of the week – an honor only a handful of country stars have ever received at the time of their death. The accident that led to her death was all over television for almost a week until she passed and her passing made the nightly news of the major networks. While she probably would not have had addition charting singles she most definitely would have still been performing for years, perhaps decades later, and it’s not hard to imagine her having a major comeback album ala Loretta Lynn and Wanda Jackson making the national charts and leading to more network tv appearances.
Cilla
March 27, 2018 @ 1:09 pm
This is way over DUE. Dottie is the reason I got turned on to Country music.
The Goddess Of Country Rock
March 27, 2018 @ 9:09 pm
She also was well-known for encouraging/helping younger country musicians break into the business, one of the best known examples being Steve Wariner.
Charlie
March 28, 2018 @ 5:22 am
That’s the sign of true class and greatness! Well deserved recognition for a great icon in the genre!
Charlie
March 28, 2018 @ 5:29 am
I am struck by the thought that the notion of ‘fame’ may be getting an ever-increasing negative connotation–the word may have been probably forever tainted by ‘Kardashianization’.
Maybe in the future we need to laud the greats in a field for something other than their fame. Call it the Hall of Greatness, or even something that sounds less super-hero-y but still awesome.
Or maybe its just me–for now.
‘Fame–puts you there where things are hollow’
Tom R.
March 29, 2018 @ 12:51 pm
Dottie West was one of the greatest vocalists country music ever produced, you really felt her emotions as she sang just like her great friend Patsy Cline. She was such a giving woman too, opening the doors for so many younger talents, finally somebody has opened the door for her and given her her long over due reward. This is a very happy day for scores of fans! Congratulations and loving memories to the unforgettable Dottie West!
Sam
April 2, 2018 @ 9:10 pm
Long, long overdue. She’s always been at the top of the mental list I’ve kept of a dozen or so artist’s who’ve been snubbed for years.
Not a huge deal, but it was Dottie’s son Kerry and granddaughter (& Lefty’s neice) Tess Frizzell who were in attendance at the Induction announcement. I believe she said her mother (Shelly) was ill. Thought it was cool to see Tess. I remember them surprising Dottie on the stage of ( I believe the CMA awards) when Tess was born by going live via satellite or taping a video from the hospital room since she couldn’t be there.