Photo by Alissa Saylor
The newest song from Ruthie Collins, who broke out in late 2014 with her transformative cover of the classic Hank Williams song, "Ramblin' Man," is back with a ballad that is quite possibly her best work yet. This new track was written by Collins with Natalie Stovall and Jessica Roadcap, and it is an open letter ( in song form) to a country music great, Dolly Parton.
At the beginning of the track, Collins sings, "Dear Dolly / you don't know me at all / I didn't know who to write / I didn't know who to call." It's the beginning of a song that's not only a beautiful ballad, but a social statement. Many people believe that even though #Saladgate was a year ago, and Kelsea Ballerini has gotten a few No. 1s, that the problem of women in country music is not relevant anymore.
And although, as Collins points out so beautifully in the song, "it's not that I'm not good enough," country radio still won't consistently play women. Previously cut by co-writer Stovall for her band's new project, Heartbreak, this song calls on one of the most influential women in country music in a delightfully country way. If you want to change country music, I think the best way is to stay true to yourself as an artist, and put out better country music than any artist on country radio. And Collins did that in this track.
The lyric video continues on the 'Vintage' theme that Collins established in her debut EP, and the visuals add a lot to the song and the message, unlike many lyrics videos. The end of the video is almost a performance video, with the lyrics still written on the screen, while Collins belts her heart out just as she says she'll keep doing in the song. And hopefully, she'll continue, as country music needs Ruthie Collins and "Dear Dolly."
And although, as Collins points out so beautifully in the song, "it's not that I'm not good enough," country radio still won't consistently play women. Previously cut by co-writer Stovall for her band's new project, Heartbreak, this song calls on one of the most influential women in country music in a delightfully country way. If you want to change country music, I think the best way is to stay true to yourself as an artist, and put out better country music than any artist on country radio. And Collins did that in this track.
The lyric video continues on the 'Vintage' theme that Collins established in her debut EP, and the visuals add a lot to the song and the message, unlike many lyrics videos. The end of the video is almost a performance video, with the lyrics still written on the screen, while Collins belts her heart out just as she says she'll keep doing in the song. And hopefully, she'll continue, as country music needs Ruthie Collins and "Dear Dolly."
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