Country artists who ruled the 70s then suddenly disappeared—Top 4

These country legends from the ’70s made waves, then disappeared. Their music still echoes today, even if their names don’t.

1. Bobbie Gentry – The Mysterious Trailblazer

She wasn’t just a singer—she was a force. Bobbie Gentry made history as one of the first female country artists to write and record her own songs. 

Her 1967 hit Ode to Billie Joe put her on the map, and Fancy (1970) became a Reba McEntire staple. 

Then? She vanished. Gentry’s last public appearance was in 1982. No interviews, no performances—just silence.

2. Barbara Mandrell – From Country Queen to TV Star

Mandrell ruled the late ‘70s and early ‘80s with hits like Sleeping Single in a Double Bed and (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right. 

She was everywhere—charting, acting, and even hosting her own TV show. Then, in 1997, she walked away. 

Her last concert? The Grand Ole Opry. She pivoted to acting but left Hollywood by 2000.

3. Johnny Rodriguez – The Tejano Trailblazer Who Faded Out

One of country’s first Mexican-American stars, Rodriguez blended Tejano with classic country and scored massive hits like Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico. 

While he still plays small shows, his last album dropped in 2012, and the mainstream hasn’t seen much of him since.

4. Wynn Stewart – The Underground Legend

Stewart never hit superstar status, but his influence was huge—he shaped the Bakersfield Sound that defined artists like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. 

Tracks like It’s Such a Pretty World Today left a mark, but by 1976, his career stalled. He passed away in 1985, leaving behind a legacy that outlived his fame.