Suzy Bogguss

Biography

Susan Kay Bogguss (born December 30, 1956) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She began her career in the 1980s as a solo singer. In the 1990s, six of her songs were top 10 hits, three albums were certified gold, and one album received a platinum certification. She won Top New Female Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music and the Horizon Award from the Country Music Association. She was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on January 16, 2026.

Early life and rise to success

Susan Kay Bogguss was born on December 30, 1956, in Aledo, Illinois, United States, the youngest of four born to Barbara "B.J." (née Stewart) and Charles "Bud" Bogguss. Charles was an Army officer who served in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II, and later became a machinist who worked at an International Harvester plant at East Moline. B.J. was a secretary-auditor for a Midwest grocery chain. Her grandmothers played piano at theaters. At age 5, she began singing in the Angel Choir of the College Avenue Presbyterian Church in her hometown. With her parents' encouragement, she took lessons in piano and drums, and as a teenager picked up the guitar as well. In her youth, Bogguss would visit Roy Rogers and Dale Evans at their home in Apple Valley, California, as they attended the same church as her grandparents. She starred in several musicals at Aledo High School, where she was crowned homecoming queen. After graduating in 1975, she enrolled at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, but later transferred to Illinois State University (ISU) in Normal. She graduated from ISU in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in metalsmithing. She would later use those skills to produce her own jewelry.
Bogguss later recalled of her interest in music, "Being from a small town I didn’t realize that somebody had to make this stuff. I was so green. I also knew about Elton John and other big performers, but it never occurred to me that somebody like me from my small town could make a living making music." Having sung and played guitar and drums in local coffeehouses during her college years, Bogguss embarked on a nationwide tour as a folk troubadour after graduating from ISU. At the time, she was drawn to other singers such as Emmylou Harris, James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt. During this time, she produced her first independent album for Old Shack Recording: Suzy. The LP was available for purchase at her shows and is now a rare collector's item. In 1984, while touring at the Huntley Lodge resort in Montana, Bogguss discovered that she spent most of her money on clothes for her later shows. She also realized that she had no health insurance, very little car insurance, and low chances of performing further, and there were no talent scouts.
After moving to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1985, Bogguss began working at the local Tony Roma's restaurant on her first day there. Also in 1985, she performed a three-day audition for entertainer Dolly Parton at Silver Dollar City, a theme park which would eventually become Dollywood. The following year, she became the first featured female performer at the park, playing four solo shows at the park's train station and appearing in the "Jamboree" show. On performing at the train station, Bogguss later recalled that "I kept thinking, 'I'm going to get black lung disease [from the coal train in Dollywood].'" Bogguss said that performing at the park "was the first situation where I knew that every time I introduced a song by a country artist, they knew who the artist's mom was, who his or her brothers and sisters were and who he or she was married to." These performances prompted her to make a self-produced demo recording at a studio owned by folk singer Wendy Waldman, who would eventually become Bogguss's first producer. Bogguss made several copies and sold them while performing in Dollywood. At the time, she recorded a demo of "Hopeless Romantic", a song written by Doug Crider that would become part of her debut studio album. Crider and Bogguss met, and eventually married in November 1986. The demo soon caught the attention of Capitol Records president Jim Foglesong, who offered her a recording contract on the Liberty/Capitol Nashville label.

Liberty/Capitol recording career

In 1987, Bogguss released her first three singles for Capitol, a cover of The Ink Spots' 1941 song "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire," "Love Will Never Slip Away," and "Come as You Were". Two of these singles succeeded in making the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Her debut studio album for Capitol, Somewhere Between×Somewhere Between21 March 1989 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Somewhere Between3:322Guilty as They Come3:103I'm at Home on the Range3:034My Sweet Love Ain't Around3:145Handyman's Dream2:256I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart2:567Cross My Broken Heart3:518Take It Like a Man3:499Hopeless Romantic3:0910Night Rider's Lament4:02 was released in March 1989. Somewhere Between, with its blend of traditional and contemporary styles, drew positive reviews from critics. The album's second single, "Cross My Broken Heart," became a top-20 hit on the country music charts. The same year, Bogguss won the award for Top New Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music.
For her second album, Moment of Truth×Moment of Truth21 August 1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Under the Gun3:082My Side of the Story3:333Moment of Truth3:324All Things Made New Again2:505Wild Horses2:506Fear of Flying3:527As If I Don't Know3:308Blue Days3:389Burning Down3:5610Friend of Mine3:49, production tasks were taken over by new label-head and Nashville producer Jimmy Bowen, who moved Bogguss's sound in a more polished direction. However, the album's two singles failed to rise beyond the lower reaches of the Hot Country Songs charts. A duet she recorded with Lee Greenwood, "Hopelessly Yours," went to No. 12 on the country singles chart and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.
In 1991 Bogguss released her third studio album, the platinum-selling Aces. The LP yielded four hit singles - "Someday Soon", "Outbound Plane", "Aces", and "Letting Go×Letting Go1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksALetting Go3:56BEat at Joe's3:37", the latter three reaching the country Top Ten. At the 1992 Country Music Association Awards Bogguss won the Horizon Award. In September of that year, Bogguss began designing women's leather apparel; the apparel was sold in stores on the West Coast.
Her 1992 follow-up, Voices in the Wind, earned Bogguss her second straight gold record. The album's first single, a cover of John Hiatt's 1988 song "Drive South×Drive South1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksADrive South3:07BOutbound Plane2:52", peaked at number two on Hot Country Songs, representing her highest peak on that chart. Her streak continued the following year with another gold record, Something Up My Sleeve, giving her two additional Top Five hits in "Just Like the Weather" and "Hey Cinderella×Hey Cinderella1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAHey Cinderella4:06BHeartache3:12". The latter, which she cowrote with Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison, has gone on to become one of Bogguss's signature songs. In May 1993, Bogguss appeared on the CBS television special The Women of Country.
Eventually, Bogguss became the sole producer of her sixth studio album, Simpatico. The album consisted of duets with long-time friend and guitarist Chet Atkins. The album was released in 1994, and though it was generally well reviewed, its only single, "One More for the Road," did not chart. That same year, Bogguss's Greatest Hits album was released and went gold. Later, Bogguss collaborated with Alison Krauss, Kathy Mattea, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash to contribute "Teach Your Children" to the AIDS benefit compilation album Red Hot + Country produced by the Red Hot Organization.
Upon completing Simpatico, Bogguss temporarily set her music aside to start a family. Bogguss and Crider's first child, Benton Charles Crider, was born on March 17, 1995. She also scaled down her touring dates as a result for three years. In May of that year, Bogguss performed at the White House with Kathy Mattea and Alison Krauss. This event later aired on PBS stations in September as Women of Country Music. In July 1996, she released her seventh studio album, entitled Give Me Some Wheels×Give Me Some Wheels23 July 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Give Me Some Wheels2:382Feeling ’Bout You3:353Let’s Get Real3:304Traveling Light3:285Live to Love Another Day3:456No Way Out3:207Fall4:018Saying Goodbye to a Friend3:309She Said, He Heard3:5610Far and Away3:40. During her break, the climate of country music had changed considerably, with more pop-oriented female singers such as Martina McBride, Faith Hill, and Shania Twain dominating the charts. Bogguss's traditional, straightforward style failed to connect with younger listeners, and the record yielded low sales. In March 1997, Bogguss performed at the Every Woman's Challenge charity concert, which was held at the Palm Springs Convention Center in California.
After her next album, 1998's Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt×Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt2 June 1998 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Just Enough Rope4:272When I Run3:563I Wish Hearts Would Break3:444Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt3:075Familly Tree2:496Somebody to Love3:297Moonlight and Roses3:178Take Me Back4:079From Where I Stand3:0410I Surrender4:0411Train of Thought3:50, also proved unsuccessful, Bogguss was dropped from Capitol. On February 18, 1999, Bogguss issued the following statement:

I had a great tenure with Capitol, during which I weathered a lot of changes in both personnel and philosophy. From Jim Foglesong to Pat Quigley and everyone in between, I appreciate having been a part of the Capitol family. We celebrated a lot of successes together, including Grammy nominations, hit records, and platinum albums. I have a number of projects on my plate right now. This gives me the freedom to pursue those opportunities.

Indie label recording career

Following her departure from Capitol, Bogguss signed with Nashville-based fledgling label Platinum Records, headed by former Capitol executive George Collier. Within three months, she had released her self-titled ninth studio album, Suzy Bogguss. Once again, the album was commercially unsuccessful, with her only single "Goodnight" making an appearance on the country charts.
In 2001, Bogguss founded her own record label, Loyal Dutchess. The label's first album, Live at Caffé Milano, documents three separate 1999 performances at the Caffé Milano in Nashville. This release is only available for purchase at Bogguss's official website. In November 2001, she released the holiday album, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas×Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas1 November 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas4:072Mr. Santa2:563Sleigh Ride3:044Do You Hear What I Hear3:305Winter Wonderland2:476I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day2:527Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer2:388Two-Step 'Round the Christmas Tree2:429Baby It's Cold Outside2:5610Through Your Eyes3:5811O Holy Night4:0312Jingle Bells2:56, a compilation of new and previously available material included through a special licensing agreement with Capitol. In addition to being available at her website, the album was also offered through Amazon.com, select retailers, and at her live performances.
In March 2003, Bogguss and Loyal Dutchess Records signed a deal with Compadre Records. Her first release on this label was the Western swing album, Swing, that she had been recording with producer Ray Benson, the bandleader of Western swing group Asleep at the Wheel. Although the album saw only lukewarm sales (it reached No. 6 on the jazz album charts, but failed to appear on the Billboard 200), it was well received by critics. Bogguss' next album, Sweet Danger×Sweet Danger4 September 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Bus Ride3:512Everything3:513No Good Way to Go3:354If You Leave Me Now4:055In Heaven4:096Baby July4:347Even If That Were True3:388Chain Lover2:569Sweet Danger3:4510Right Back into the Feeling4:1511It's Not Gonna Happen Today4:0612One Clear Moment3:34, was released in 2007. The album peaked at No. 4 on the jazz charts. In July 2011, Bogguss released her twelfth studio album, American Folk Songbook×American Folk Songbook2 August 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Shady Grove2:382Shenandoah2:453Red River Valley3:544Froggy Went A-Courtin'3:375Wayfaring Stranger4:236Banks of the Ohio4:107Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier3:168Ol' Dan Tucker2:279Rock Island Line3:2010Sweet Betsy From Pike4:2411Swing Low Sweet Chariot4:2112Careless Love4:0413All the Pretty Little Horses3:2514Git Along Little Dogies4:2415Erie Canal3:4116Wildwood Flower3:2317Beautiful Dreamer3:09. The album consisted of renditions of several American folk songs, such as "Red River Valley". In addition to the CD, Bogguss and husband Doug Crider also produced a companion hard cover song book that included lyrics, sheet music, and a short history of each song. A paperback version of the songbook became available in 2015.
In February 2014 Bogguss released Lucky a collection of songs written by Merle Haggard. To partially fund the promotion of the album she created a very successful Kickstarter crowd funding campaign which raised over $75,000 with the participation of nearly 1000 contributors. The album was promoted through the Americana format and was well received.
During the summer of 2016, Bogguss conducted a celebration via her Suzy Bogguss Music Facebook page, of the 25th anniversary of the release of her Platinum selling Aces Album in 1991. Aces also was her break out album which brought her serious attention on Country Radio and secured her future on Capitol Nashville for several more albums. On August 18, 2016, the actual 25th anniversary of the release of the original Aces album, she released a new re-imagined and rerecorded version of the album entitled Aces Redux×Aces Redux2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Outbound Plane3:092Aces3:483Someday Soon3:404Let Goodbye Hurt3:135Save Yourself2:526Yellow River Road3:017Part of Me3:178Letting Go4:379Music on the Wind3:1710Still Hold On4:03. A release party and concert was held that night at the "3rd and Lindsley" venue in Nashville. Aces Redux was recorded with the help of a number of the musicians that have toured with Bogguss over the years and included background vocals by friends Beth Nielsen Chapman and Kim Carnes along with several others. The album takes a more acoustic and simpler production tack than the original which also reflects her more recent touring approach as a trio with Charlie Chadwick on standup Bass and Craig Smith on lead guitar.
Bogguss's 17th studio album, Prayin' for Sunshine, was released on November 3, 2023. It marks the first time she is credited as a writer of all songs on one of her albums. MusicRow said the album "captures the unvarnished essence of southern storytelling and the authentic roots of Americana music." In a review for the lead single, "It All Falls Down to the River", American Songwriter called the song "a lyrical gut-punch, shining a light on hard truths about life in the United States. From the site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination to the levees of New Orleans that broke during Hurricane Katrina, Bogguss and The McCrary Sisters paint a powerful picture of our nation’s complex past and present." In an album review, No Depression said the album "showcases Bogguss’ lyrical and musical ingenuity, her nod-and-a-wink humor, and her deep love for her community of friends and fans. And the album reminds us again just how radiant and transportive Bogguss’ vocals are."
On October 11, 2025, Bogguss was performing at the Grand Ole Opry to celebrate her friend Kathy Mattea's induction as the newest member. During a performance of Mattea's "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" alongside Mattea, Terri Clark, and Trisha Yearwood, Mattea interrupted her own song moments after her own induction to invite Bogguss to become the next member of the Opry, which she accepted. This was the first time in Opry history that an induction and invitation had occurred during the same show. Her induction by Reba McEntire took place on January 16, 2026.