Start with Rosanne Cash. “Seven Year Ache” was the title song of a great album and is my favorite country song from that era. A large part of what I liked was a return to more traditional country music with some rock elements thrown in.
The O’Kanes were Kieran Kane and Jamie O’Hara. They both made records after the O’Kanes split up following the release of three albums.
The Sweethearts of the Rodeo are sisters Janis Oliver and Kristine Arnold. Their first album was only about 24 minutes long and only had eight songs but it was excellent. “Since I Found You” was written by Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd.
Foster and Lloyd recorded three albums of their own. They each have had solo careers. Foster is more country and Lloyd is more power pop. You can hear both in their records they recorded together. They did a fourth album in 2011 and toured after that. It sounded like they picked up right where they left off. I saw them and they were excellent.
Dwight Yoakam is the most traditional of these artists and is heavily influenced by the Buck Owens style Bakersfield sound. I saw him a few years ago in a concert that also included Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle.
Steve Earle started out as a country singer but has branched out into rock, bluegrass and folk.
Lyle Lovett has acted in films in addition to writing and performing music. I saw him perform and he did a whole range of styles from country and bluegrass to jazz.
Compilations of primarily LA-based country music called A Town South of Bakersfield were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
I like “Hank Drank” by Bobby Lee Springfield which is clearly about Hank Williams.
Sad! 