Challenge Yourself And See If You Can Connect 15 Country Stars To Their Parents
Country stars’ parents play a major role in shaping them as people and artists. As country singers become famous, they share their love for their parents with the world, making their fans fall in love with them, too.
Some country artists’ parents have a more public presence than others. They appear alongside their famous kids at events and star in their music videos. Others live out of the spotlight but are still recognized by their children in affectionate songs and social media posts.
Those who consider themselves country music experts should easily be able to recognize the people who raised their favorite country stars!
To put your knowledge to the test, we’ve gathered a list of 15 parents to see if you can match them to their country-singing children. If you’re familiar with the reality competition show Claim to Fame, this “quiz” is inspired by that format.
A few things to keep in mind before you start:
- We’ll give you the first name of a country star’s parent, such as “Bob” or “Becky.”
- We’ll share a photo of the parent.
- You’ll read a little information about the parent.
- You’ll get little pieces of information about the country star related to the parent.
- This list does not contain duplicate answers. Each parent is connected to a different country star.
- None of the parents featured here are “famous.” For example, we haven’t included Thomas Rhett’s dad, Rhett Atkins, since he’s also a country star.
The answer key will be at the end of the list. Best of luck!
See How Many Country Stars You Can Match To Their Parents
Betty
Betty learned she was pregnant with her now-famous son when she was still in high school, and she wasn’t able to graduate. Her son’s father was a famous baseball player—who he didn’t meet until he was 11.
Speaking to ABC News in 2020, Betty’s son recalled how hard she worked to support him and, eventually, his two half-sisters she welcomed with his stepdad:
“I can remember us being on our own — my mom and my two sisters — and her working three jobs probably, just to try to keep the basics. She made no money, really.”
Betty ended up raising a “Real Good Man” who became a country singer and actor. In 2020, he honored her with his emotional single, “I Called Mama.”
LeClaire
LeClaire may be one of the most recognizable parents on this list! She has over 318,000 followers on Instagram. Her profile even has the “verified” blue checkmark.
Her country singer son once told Jimmy Kimmel he was flabbergasted when he saw how many followers she had. “How the h— did this happen?” he remembered asking.
LeClaire often shares posts that showcase her hilarious sense of humor. You can also catch her getting into all sorts of shenanigans with her son, his wife, and their other family members, especially when she tags along for her son’s yearly music festival in Mexico.
LeClarie’s famous son clearly inherited her sense of humor. He’s also known for being a bit of a comedian himself. In fact, he’s showcased his comedic chops as the host of both the ACM and CMA Awards!
Dorothy
Creativity runs in Dorothy’s family. She’s a former hairdresser, songwriter, author, and crafter. She’s used her talents to help support her son throughout his country music career—from cutting and styling his famous mullet hairdo to co-writing a Christmas song with him.
That Christmas song, “Time for Me to Come Home,” also features Dorothy singing with her son. She joined him onstage for the first time during his 2012 Christmas special.
“I just about passed out, but somehow I got through it,” she told Country Living.
The mother-son Christmas duet inspired a book that Dorothy co-wrote with Travis Thrasher. That book inspired a 2018 Hallmark Christmas movie, and five additional films followed, creating a series.
Dorothy was seen beaming with pride as she stood by her son when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.
Jacqueline
All of Jacqueline’s kids grew up singing. They learned to love music from Jacqueline, who considered pursuing her own singing career when she was young. But her parents didn’t have the money to help her chase her musical dreams, so she went to school to earn her teaching certificate.
In 1950, Jacqueline married a future three-time world champion steer roper. They shared four children. One of their daughters is now regarded as a country music legend, earning a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011.
Jacqueline is a Hall of Famer herself, earning a place in the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in 2017. Her famous daughter joined the same Hall of Fame that same year.
Jacqueline’s daughter is also a successful actress, with starring roles in movies and TV shows. She even had a namesake sitcom that ran from 2001 to 2007, and Jacqueline had a guest role in one of the episodes.
Sadly, Jacqueline passed away on March 14, 2020, at the age of 93.
Carole
Carole, an elementary school teacher, supported her now-famous daughter’s musical dreams by taking her to talent shows when she was young. She even made the costumes she wore for her performances.
Years later, when Carole’s daughter was ready to compete in her largest “talent show” yet, Carole threw her full support behind her. That venture turned out to be her daughter’s big break.
Today, Carole’s daughter is a country music superstar and Grand Ole Opry member. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which Carole watched her receive in 2018.
Carole lives a mostly private life. However, she once played a major part in an emotional music video her daughter released in 2010.
Lesli
Lesli is a retired elementary school teacher. She raised her four children (three daughters and one son) in a music-loving home. So, it was no surprise when her only son started showing an interest in a music career.
Lesli always supported her son’s dreams, and he once told The Boot that she and his father “…never made [him] feel crazy at all for doing this.”
With his family’s support behind him, Lesli’s son went on to become one of modern country music’s biggest stars and a CMA Entertainer of the Year.
Lesli’s son paid tribute to her in his heartfelt single, “Thought You Should Know,” which he released in 2022. The track, which he co-wrote with Miranda Lambert and Nicolle Galyon, reached #1 on both of Billboard‘s country charts.
The song’s official music video includes home video footage of Lesli and her son and ends with her rushing to give him a hug in the present day.
Carl
Carl taught his now-famous son how to play music. Being a musician himself who performed in their local church in Texas, Carl was well-suited to the task.
When Carl’s son formed his first band in 2006, Carl became a member. However, Carl left the band after they released their first album, Black and White Label.
Still, Carl continued to support his son as his career flourished over the next several years. Now, Carl’s son is one of country music’s leading stars, with three CMA Awards to his name, including an Album of the Year win in 2024.
Carl lives a mostly private life, but his son’s fans have seen him on a number of occasions. Perhaps most notably, he sang with his son on his 2023 Christmas special that aired on CMT.
Barry
After years of devoted service, Barry retired from the United States Air Force. Largely because of his service, his now-famous son deeply respects all who serve in the U.S. military.
In addition, Barry sparked his son’s interest in country music. Barry and his brother would often play songs by country greats such as Merle Haggard and George Jones.
“Really, I started wanting to sing just so I could sit in the room with those guys,” Barry’s son recalled in a past interview for a PBS program.
When Barry’s son was young, he bought him a cheap guitar so he could learn how to play, and he did.
Nowadays, Barry can often be seen supporting his son at his concerts and events or spending time with him and his family at home or on vacation.
Chester
Chester and his wife always worked hard to provide for their family. However, their country-singing son once admitted in an interview with Zane Lowe that they “didn’t have a lot of money” while he was growing up in North Carolina.
“My parents were really good at making it seem like we were doing fine,” he said. “And we were doing fine. I had everything I needed and not a lot of what I wanted. I’ll put it that way.”
So when Chester’s son got famous, one of the first things he did was pay off his parents’ house, calling it “the coolest thing ever.” He later helped both of his parents retire.
Today, Chester’s son is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and a multi-time CMA Entertainer of the Year. His fame reached extraordinary heights in 2023 when his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” became one of the top hits in any genre of music that year.
Chester’s son always gave him credit for teaching him to love the song:
“He played me all kinds of music, and one of the first songs that I remember hearing, he popped in a cassette, I love this whole album, and there was this one song that really stuck out to me, though, and it was called ‘Fast Car’…” he said in 2023. “And that song has meant a lot to me ever since then for my whole life. I always think about my dad when it comes on, and us spending time together.”
Later, Chester appeared on the cover of his son’s 2024 album, appropriately named Fathers & Sons.
Beverly
Beverly (AKA “Bev”) and her husband both worked as private investigators while their children were growing up in Texas.
During the Country Radio Seminar in 2020, Bev’s country-singing daughter explained how she helped kickstart her career. She recalled how she auditioned for the first season of the now-defunct competition show Nashville Star, but didn’t try that hard at her audition.
“My mom got in the car and she wouldn’t start the car. She was just sitting there…She was like ‘You didn’t give anything. I’ve given everything. I’ve driven you all over this state, spent all this gas money and you went in there and didn’t try. That’s not fair to me, you’re doing it again in Houston.’ So she signed me up to audition in Houston…I went in with a different attitude. I realized that this could catapult me into getting out of smoke-filled bars. I sang ‘Crazy’ a cappella and that changed the game.”
Bev’s daughter came in third place on Nashville Star and released her debut album two years later. As her fame grew, she established her own charity, the MuttNation Foundation, with Bev serving as a co-founder.
Brian
Brian is a fifth-generation farmer from Louisiana. He and his wife raised their two daughters in Baskin, his hometown.
Brian’s youngest daughter, who calls him “Deddy,” has since become a Grand Ole Opry member and CMA Entertainer of the Year. She even had a role in Season 5 of Yellowstone!
Many of her songs have been inspired by her family and childhood. She once told American Songwriter, “My family means a whole lot to me. I am who I am because of the people who raised me.”
Brian’s famous daughter often shares how much she admires him. Speaking on the Biscuits & Jam podcast, she said, “He’s the hardest-working person I know.”
Brian experienced a serious health scare in 2022. He was treated for a fungal infection that eventually led to the removal of his left eye and some of the bones in his face. He also suffered a stroke.
“It’s a miracle that he’s still here,” his daughter told PEOPLE after he recovered. “The neurologist that pretty much saved his life has never known anybody to survive what he did.“
Thankfully, Brian made it through, and he’s been right by his daughter’s side at many important events throughout the past few years.
Karen
Karen is a hair stylist from Knoxville, Tennessee. She’s also a mother to two kids, including her now-famous son.
Karen and her son share a close bond, which he illustrated in his tribute to her on Mother’s Day in 2023. He wrote:
“You gave me the gift of connection, the love of family, the love of music and the love of life. You were a child having a child and we grew up together. I am so proud of you and love you!!!”
Fittingly, the photo he shared to accompany the tribute showed them snorkeling together in the ocean. Karen’s son is a famous beach lover, and many of his songs have a tropical sound.
Karen has appeared onstage at her son’s concerts multiple times and always seems to have a blast with him and his band!
Michael
Michael (AKA “Mike”) and his wife raised their now-famous son in North Carolina. But Mike is from New England, which is why he’s a huge fan of the New England Patriots. His son inherited his love for the team.
Mike’s son followed in his footsteps in another way. He went to college at NC State, which is the same school Mike attended.
Fans have seen Mike since the start of his son’s career, as he competed on (and eventually won) the tenth season of a major competition show. Years later, Mike competed alongside his son on a different kind of show…Celebrity Family Feud…and their episode was hilarious!
Mike is clearly proud of his son, who became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2024.
Kristy
Kristy and Mike have a lot in common. Both of their children competed on the same season of the same televised singing competition.
In Kristy’s case, her daughter competed on the show. She eventually came in second place behind Mike’s son, who won.
Kristy has been by her daughter’s side throughout every extraordinary moment in her career. She got to celebrate her induction into the Grand Ole Opry in 2022 and watched her marry the love of her life in 2024.
When Kristy’s daughter learned she was expecting her first child, she enlisted her to help share the news. The announcement came at the end of her music video for “Those Kind of Women,” which shows Kristy helping her daughter decorate her nursery for her baby girl.
Avie Lee
Many of Avie Lee’s 12 children expressed an interest in music. But it was her fourth child, a daughter, who went on to become a global superstar.
Avie Lee’s daughter is a Country Music Hall of Famer, an actress, philanthropist, cookbook author, and so much more. She often credits both of her parents for fostering her creativity and teaching her about the value of hard work.
Avie Lee inspired several of her daughter’s projects, including one of her most iconic songs and two made-for-TV movies. The latter, a Christmas film, was inspired by the time all of Avie Lee’s kids gave up their Christmas presents so their dad could buy her a wedding ring.
“We didn’t have any money, but we were rich in things that money don’t buy. You know, like love and kindness and understanding,” Avie Lee’s daughter told TODAY in 2015.
Sadly, Avie Lee passed away on December 5, 2003. But she lived to see her daughter become a country music icon beloved around the world.
Did You Manage To Match All 15 Country Stars To Their Parents? See The Answer Key…
- Tim McGraw‘s Mom, Betty
- Luke Bryan‘s Mom, LeClaire
- Blake Shelton‘s Mom, Dorothy
- Reba McEntire‘s Mom, Jacqueline
- Carrie Underwood‘s Mom, Carole
- Morgan Wallen‘s Mom, Lesli
- Cody Johnson‘s Dad, Carl
- Jason Aldean‘s Dad, Barry
- Luke Combs‘ Dad, Chester
- Miranda Lambert‘s Mom, Beverly
- Lainey Wilson‘s Dad, Brian
- Kenny Chesney‘s Mom, Karen
- Scotty McCreery‘s Dad, Michael
- Lauren Alaina‘s Mom, Kristy
- Dolly Parton‘s Mom, Avie Lee
How many country stars were you able to match to their parents in this quiz?
Before you go, watch Dolly Parton share a touching story about her mom, Avie Lee, in the video below.
Want to keep testing how well you know some of country music’s biggest stars? Take our quiz to see if you can connect 20 singers to their children!