Patty Loveless (born Patty Lee Ramey, Pikeville, Kentucky) was one of the most popular female country vocalists of the late '80s and early '90s. Her music drew from country's honky tonk tradition, while also adding a slight rock & roll edge. Loveless began writing and singing songs with her older brother Roger before she was 12 years old. By the age of 14 she had an impressive repertoire of self-penned songs, and her brother took her to Nashville. There she met Porter Wagoner, who became her close friend and mentor. Loveless got her first break upon meeting Doyle and Teddy Wilburn, who were searching for a singer to replace Loretta Lynn in the Wilburn Brothers. She became their featured singer for three years and signed to their publishing company, Surefire Music, as a songwriter after she graduated from high school. She also married ex-Wilburn drummer Terry Lovelace. The newlyweds moved to his home at Kings Mountain near Charlotte, where they played in several local bands.

In 1985, Loveless went back to Nashville and recorded a demo tape, which attracted the attention of several record companies; two months later she signed with MCA and divorced her husband. Between 1985 and 1987, she appeared on the Top 50 charts four times with songs such as "Wicked Ways" and "After All." Later in 1987, she broke into the Top Ten and Top Five respectively with "If My Heart Had Windows" and "A Little Bit of Love." In 1988, Loveless' career rose meteorically when she released the album Honky Tonk Angels, which produced five tremendously successful singles, including the number one hits "Timber I'm Falling in Love" and "Chains." Her 1990 album On Down the Line was also successful, as was 1991's Up Against My Heart, her final album for MCA. In 1993, the label released Loveless' Greatest Hits album. Later that year, she released Only What I Feel, her first album for Epic Records. Within a year, the album went gold and produced several hits, including the number one "Blame It On Your Heart." In 1994, she released When Fallen Angels Fly, which also went gold and yielded several Top 10 hits. Trouble With the Truth, Loveless' eighth album, was released in 1996.