Old Western Country Singers Wore Cowboy Hats

The cowboy hat is a defining piece of western wear for farm workers in the United States, Canada and northern Mexico as well as for country singers. It is recognized around the world as part of Old West cowboy lore. Nothing says Wild West more than a cowboy hat.

Classic country music is still popular today, and not just among country music fans. You can still hear country music legends such as Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers played on classic country radio stations all over the world. If you're new to country music, here are some classic artists who wore cowboy hats that you should know about.

Willie Nelson by far is one of the most classic western singers in the business. He’s been around for ages and still rocks the hat as well as the guitar with a style unlike any other. His hat is only outdone by his famous braids and you will be riveted watching him when he sings “On the Road Again.”



Another famous singer who wore the hat with panache was Johnny Cash. What would “Burning Ring of Fire” be without the man in black? He is easily one of the most influential musicians the country music world has ever heard.

“Your Cheatin’ Heart” could be won over by the infamous Hank Williams and his hat. With a career that began at age 14 from winning a talent competition, he won the heart of many. Mr. Williams was one of the first three people to be inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Think it was only the men who wore the hats? Even while “Walking After Midnight,” Patsy Cline wore a cowboy hat from time to time. Only some of her amazing outfits could ever detract from her amazing talent.

Today, singers such as Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw show off classic designs with a modern flair. Cowboy hats add a little something special to those who perform while wearing them. It gives drama to a performance like nothing else can.

In the early days, the cowboy hat was valued for being functional, with the wide brim protecting working cowboys from the sun and rain. While the hats can still serve these purposes, most people wear them for aesthetic value as a part of Western lifestyle. Country music wouldn’t be the same without the hats.

Cowgirls and Cowboy Hats

A cowgirl is not just a word; it is a way of life. Their tools of the trade are their cowboy hat, their horse and their heart. You can find these special girls anywhere all over this great earth.

Cowgirl’s favorite accessories are her boots and her hat. Cowgirls like to match their hats to their outfits, so you know the number they own is many. They range from inexpensive fun varieties to more upscale hats that cost a pretty penny.

The cowboy hat is her number one fashion statement. The come in numerous colors and styles. Go to any rodeo and you will be amazed at how different they all can be.

The hat serves her well in keeping the sun off her face. This comes in handy when you are spending all day up in the saddle. No one likes to have a chapped red face exposed from the hot sun.

There are many different places that you can buy cowboy hats at. These places range from a variety of high end stores to small town department and grocery stores. Most of these places have some to choose from, a specialist hat store is the place to go if you are considering making a hat an investment piece.

The hat should fit well on you. Too loose and it might blow right off of your head or dip low in front of your eyes. If it is too tight is can give you a headache or fall off the back.

As you look at the different types of hats that people wear you will notice why women love wearing these hats. They give a woman an air of confidence and make her feel good. Nothing is more appealing than a woman who embodies the cowgirl spirit.

It doesn’t matter if you live in the Wild West or just wish you did, you can still be a cowgirl. You may never get up on a horse, but you can feel the cowgirl spirit by wearing one. That is the idea that draws women to cowboy hats.

What Country Singers Wear Cowboy Hats

Cowboy hats are one of the most iconic symbols in history. These hats are known all over the world, no matter what your background or culture. There are few items that represent cowboys as well as it do.

People of all ages and ranks have worn these hats. Everyone from young boys playing cowboys and Indians, to little girls dressing up, to ranch hands and country singers wear them. Even people who have never set foot on a ranch and have no desire to be a cowboy wear them as fashion items.

Most people who wear them don’t even know how long these hats have been around. And they probably have no idea who it was that first invented them. Few people know that it all started as a joke.

It was John Stetson that first invented the cowboy hat. While on a hunting trip with friends, Stetson tried to amuse his companions by creating various items out of fur. During this time, he created an odd looking hat: it had a brim so large it could shield a man from the rain, the sun, and anything else Mother Nature saw fit to throw his way.

Stetson wore the fur hat for the rest of his trip. And because it worked so well, he wore it throughout the rest of his time traveling through the west. In 1865, just a few months later, he began making copies of his new headwear.

The first of Stetson’s cowboy hats were sold for five dollars. The hats have jumped a little in price since then. Today they are sold at prices ranging anywhere from $16 to $170.

Hats that were once worn for hunting and working outside, are now worn by country stars. Singers such as Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and Brad Paisley all sport these hats during their concerts. They each seem to have a style of hat that they prefer, one that sets them apart a bit from other performers, but they are all cowboy hats just the same.

The cowboy hat is an icon of the western culture. It is the perfect and most recognized representation of the country spirit. Whether your hat is made of fur or felt, whether it’s brown or pink or covered in spots, it represents and keeps that spirit alive.

The History of Cowgirls

Even though they are named after cowboys, cowgirls wore cowboy boots, too. In fact, in the early days, cowgirls even worked in the cattle drives. Some even ran them.

Women made large contributions to the development of the west. Women worked side by side with men on ranches and farms. This was especially common among small ranches and farms that could not afford to hire a lot of workers outside of the family.

However, it was Wild West Shows that brought what we now know as cowgirls. In these shows, cowgirls were performers. They would ride, shoot, and rope for audiences everywhere.

Before these shows, sidesaddles were the respectable option for women. But soon, split skirts made it possible for women to ride astride. This allowed women to compete alongside men without offending the audience.

Cowgirls soon became a part of rodeos, too. Women and men competing for the same titles became more and more common. In many instances, women were taking the same risks as men, riding the same rough horses and bulls as the men did.

But in 1925, women were excluded from men’s events. Many of the events for women were dropped, too. That practice holds true for most events even today, even though women can technically compete in any event they wish.

All women rodeos, however, give girls in their cowboy boots a chance to shine in all events. Women compete in bronco and bull riding. These rodeos do not have a lot of the restrictions for women that normal rodeos do.

This does not, however, mean that cowboys and cowgirls are not equal. While cowboy boots were named after the men, women have been just as influential in the western culture. While the color of their cowboy boots might be different, they are fit for the same work.