The Singers Who Launched A Million Crushes
For a whole lot of Baby Boomer men, these women weren't just singers. They were the crush. They sold millions of records, dominated radio, and had a place of honor on many a Boomer bedroom wall. Today, many Millennials wouldn't recognize them by name or by face. How many do you remember?
Olivia Newton-John
For a while, Olivia Newton-John had the impossible job of being both America's sweetheart and one of the biggest crushes on the planet. Then she put on those black pants at the end of Grease and pretty much ended the debate. Boomer men know exactly what I'm talking about. Millennials know the name, but most have no idea just how big she really was.
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt could sing basically anything. Rock. Country. Pop. Folk. If a song existed, she could probably sing it better than the person who wrote it. There was also the small matter of her looking like Linda Ronstadt, which certainly didn't hurt. For a lot of Boomer men, she was pretty much the complete package.
Susan Anton
Susan Anton could sing, but that's not usually the first thing people mention. For a few years, she seemed to be on every television in America. Variety shows. Talk shows. Commercials. Magazine covers. Boomer men definitely noticed. Millennials are probably wondering how they've never heard of her.
Lynda Carter
Let's be honest. Most people weren't buying tickets to hear Lynda Carter sing. They were tuning in to watch Wonder Woman. Still, as many Boomers certainly remember, she had a legitimate music career. If you were a Boomer guy in the 70s, there's a very good chance she was somewhere near the top of your celebrity crush list.
Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter never needed flashy costumes or giant stage productions. She just opened her mouth and somehow made every song sound better. She had a warmth that came through every television screen and radio speaker. If you were around in the 70s, you probably knew at least one guy who was completely smitten with Karen Carpenter.
Marie Osmond
Marie Osmond seemed to spend about half the 70s on television. Between Donny & Marie and her music career, she was everywhere. She had the smile, the voice, and that wholesome image parents loved. Teenage boys? Let's just say they weren't always paying attention to the singing.
Crystal Gayle
If you grew up in the 70s, you probably remember two things about Crystal Gayle. The voice and the hair. That famous floor-length hair became almost as famous as she was. Add in hits like Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, and it's easy to see why she had so many admirers.
Cheryl Ladd
Yes, Cheryl Ladd had a successful music career. No, that's probably not why most Boomer men remember her. After joining Charlie's Angels, she became one of the most recognizable faces on television. The records sold well too, but let's just say the posters probably outsold the albums.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker became a star so young it almost seemed unfair. She had attitude, confidence, and the kind of voice that made people stop changing the station. Country fans loved her, and plenty of male fans had her poster hanging on the wall. She wasn't just a singer. She was one of country music's biggest crushes.
Debbie Harry
Before there were pop stars carefully trying to look cool, there was Debbie Harry. Blondie helped define the late 70s, and Debbie looked like she belonged on every magazine cover in America. She had style, attitude, and the kind of confidence that made people stare when she walked into a room.
Stevie Nicks
Part rock star. Part poet. Part mystery. Stevie Nicks always felt like she came from another planet in the best possible way. Between Fleetwood Mac and her solo career, she became one of music's most recognizable women. A lot of Boomer men fell hard for the woman in the flowing shawls and never really got over it.
Dolly Parton
Today, Dolly Parton is practically a national treasure. But before she became everybody's favorite celebrity, she was one of country music's biggest crushes. She had the songs, the personality, the humor, and a look that got plenty of attention. Boomer men loved her then. The rest of the world eventually caught up.
Richard E. Aaron, Getty Images
Cher
Modern audiences know Cher as an icon. Boomer men remember when she was one of the most glamorous women on television. Long before the farewell tours and internet memes, she had the hair, the style, and enough star power to dominate any room she walked into. Few people could compete.
HarryLangdon, Wikimedia Commons
Carly Simon
Carly Simon had something a little different. She wasn't just beautiful. She seemed cool. Smart. Effortlessly confident. Songs like You're So Vain made her a superstar, but her personality was just as big a draw as the music. She was the kind of woman who made men think they actually had a chance.
Barbara Mandrell
For a while, Barbara Mandrell seemed to be everywhere. Hit records. Television specials. Magazine covers. If you watched TV in the late 70s, odds are you saw Barbara Mandrell at least once that week. Country fans loved her music. Boomer men noticed everything else too.
Les Leverett, Beverly LeCroy and Marvin Cartwright, Wikimedia Commons
Anne Murray
Anne Murray wasn't flashy. She didn't need to be. She had that warm smile, that unmistakable voice, and a style that made people feel like they already knew her. Plenty of Boomer men had a serious soft spot for Anne Murray. Younger audiences rarely understand how popular she was.
Fotos International, Getty Images
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge looked like she should have been a movie star and sang like she had been doing it her entire life. For a while, she seemed connected to every major musician on the planet. If you were a guy watching TV in the 70s, chances are you noticed Rita Coolidge.
A&M Records, Wikimedia Commons
Lynn Anderson
Lynn Anderson's Rose Garden was one of those songs that seemed to be everywhere. So was Lynn Anderson. She had the smile, the voice, and the kind of television presence audiences loved. For a stretch of the 70s, she was one of country music's biggest stars and one of its most admired.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
Juice Newton
For a few years, Juice Newton seemed to be everywhere. Queen of Hearts was a massive hit, radio stations couldn't stop playing her songs, and she became one of the biggest crossover stars around. Her fame was enormous. Today, many people know the song but couldn't tell you who sang it.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
Bonnie Tyler
That raspy voice made Bonnie Tyler impossible to mistake for anyone else. Then Total Eclipse of the Heart arrived and turned her into a superstar. She had the big hair, the big songs, and exactly the kind of larger-than-life presence the era loved. Plenty of Boomer men were paying attention.
TimBlanchet, Wikimedia Commons
Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret could sing, dance, and act. If we're being honest, most people remember the movies first and the records second. Boomer men weren't exactly filing formal complaints about that arrangement. She was one of the biggest crushes of the era, full stop.
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