Country Artists Sweethearts Of The Rodeo

Sisters Janis Oliver and Kristine Arnold became Sweethearts of the Rodeo, taking the name from The Byrds’ album Sweetheart of the Rodeo. After their discovery by Emmylou Harris, they secured slots as opening acts and backing vocalists for other artists. In 1977, the Sweethearts opened a Redondo Beach, California, show for Sundance, a group including 19-year-old Vince Gill. In 1980, Janis married Gill, by then a member of Pure Prairie League, Kristine married Leonard Arnold of the band Blue Steel. In 1983, the Gills moved to Nashville, Tennessee, followed by the Arnolds, with the sisters singing together again.

In 1985, Sweethearts of the Rodeo won the Wrangler Country Showdown talent contest, then signed with Columbia Records. Sweethearts of the Rodeo’s first single, “Hey Doll Baby”, debuted in April 1986, followed by the release of their self-titled debut album. Then came the duo’s first Top Ten hit at No. 7, “Since I Found You”. Four more singles from the album followed, including the No. 4 hits “Midnight Girl/Sunset Town” and “Chains of Gold”, their highest-charting singles.

A second album, One Time, One Night furnished three more Top Ten hits: “Satisfy You”, “Blue to the Bone”, and a cover of The Beatles’ “I Feel Fine”, but their next single, “If I Never See Midnight Again”, peaked at No. 39. Two more albums for Columbia followed (1990’s Buffalo Zone and 1992’s Sisters).