Dissertation Index
Author: Stepherson, Madison A Title: Vocality and Femininity in Post-Millennial Country Music Institution: University of Oregon Begun: August 2021 Completed: December 2025 Abstract: This dissertation examines the differences in feminine expression as communicated through musical output and carefully crafted personae, specifically focusing on the output of three modern country singers: Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson. Though these women share physical attributes, these three country superstars are distinctly different. In particular, I show how each artist’s unique feminine expression has a distinct musical signature, one crafted through vocal delivery, lyric choices, and persona. I investigate how femininity is communicated through the country vocal sound of Underwood, Lambert, and Wilson and show the importance of the feminine country voice in understanding the sounds of country femininity. Not only do country women tackle tough narrative topics, but female country singers also represent the working-class wives and blue-collar women in America. Country music, and specifically women in country music, gives a voice to these women. When women in country music sing about life, they represent the unheard masses of rural white women who have experienced or can relate to the stories they tell. Feminine expression in country culture and music is nuanced and reliant on historical and socio-economic traditions. This project offers culturally sensitive song analyses and works towards recognizing the importance and power of the feminine country voice. This dissertation contributes a new perspective to the ongoing surge of music-theoretical work on vocality and timbre. The historically informed analytical approach allows for hermeneutic readings of song performance and reception and moves toward a framework for interpreting vocal timbre across artist output and genre. This project employs an interdisciplinary methodological approach, combining music analysis, feminist studies, and country scholarship to show how artists create both an image and sound in their music that communicates their particular expression of femininity. Keywords: country music, pop music, timbre, voice, gender, femininity, vocal timbre, feminist music theory, persona TOC: I. Introduction II. Country Vocality III. The Good Christian Girl: Carrie Underwood, Biblical Country, and the Narrator’s Role IV. The Relatable Rebel: Miranda Lambert, Vocal Rebellion, and Gendered ‘Crazy’ V. The Hillbilly Hippie: Lainey Wilson, Audience Variety, and the Untrained Voice Contact: Madison Stepherson mstepherson20@gmail.com |