The Trailblazing Women of Country is a dazzling, country-fried tribute to Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton that will be hitting the stage at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on May 5 at 8pm. Helmed by Miko Marks, a rising country singer who was named CMT’s “Next Woman of Country” in 2022, alongside Nashville-based vocalist Kristina Train, the duo is backed by a five piece, all-female band as they recreate the music of the legendary singers who paved the way for generations of new fans. “The Trailblazing Women of Country is selling out venues across the country,” said WHBPAC Marketing Director Heather Draskin. “Country music is having a real moment right now and singers like Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton are still relevant to artists like Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, and more.”
Trailblazing Women of Country will entertain and inspire audiences during this pivotal moment in our nation’s history, featuring soloists, Miko Marks, CMT’s 2022, “Next Woman of Country”; and Nashville based singer, Kristina Train, supported by a 5-member all-female band. The pair will be supported by a five-member, all-female band featuring Megan Palmer (musical director, piano), Miss Tess (bass), Heather Thomas (drums), Thayer Sarrano (acoustic guitar, keyboards), and Anne McCue (electric guitar, lap steel).
“This is going to be an outrageous celebration of the women who made it possible for a whole generation of country singers to exist in a typically male dominated industry,” said WHBPAC Executive Director Julienne Penza-Boone. Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton revolutionized country music and blazed a trail for future generations of female artists. With their chart-topping hits and record-breaking sales, they wove threads of contemporary womanhood throughout the tapestry of country music, resulting in unprecedented commercial success and earning each a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Trailblazing Women of Country Tour is set to entertain and inspire audiences during this pivotal moment in our nation’s history.
“To go on tour with Trailblazing Women of Country is a childhood reimagined,” says Marks. “I used to sit at my grandmother’s house while she played records and I remember being drawn to these three women for their unique strengths. The life stories and their music. They are inspirations and I’m honored to pay tribute to these icons of music.” “This program and lineup are truly what dreams are made of,” Train adds. “Dolly, Loretta, and Patsy bestowed on me an education in country music and as a young girl – they helped me dream up what it might feel like to be a fully-grown woman. They certainly offered three unique yet united perspectives with relentless hits and philosophies that have resonated deeply and boundlessly from generation to generation, across all genders through the universal language of music,” she continues. “On the Trailblazing Women of Country tour, I imagine our group of fantastic women and musicians, along with everyone present in the room, will be experiencing a joyful celebration honoring Dolly, Patsy, and Loretta and all they have given us.”
Cline, Lynn, and Parton harnessed country music’s rich storytelling tradition to offer their uniquely empowered – and unmistakably female – perspective on issues faced by women of their day. Their shared legacy of musical excellence, earthy glamour, and unapologetic authenticity continues to resonate with listeners of all ages and backgrounds in the 21st century.
Patsy’s assured contralto affirms that a woman can be heartbroken and sure of herself at the same time (“Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight”); Loretta Lynn’s songs exalt autonomy attained through contraception (“The Pill”) and self-respect (“Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ with Lovin’ On Your Mind”); and Dolly Parton demonstrates that a woman can ascend the career ladder (“9-to-5”) while never losing sight of her roots (“Coat of Many Colors”). Through their singular voices and artistry, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton defied restrictive gender norms, proving that women can be at once beautiful and strong, vulnerable, and powerful.
