“Back then, we only had an old car, a couple of stage outfits… and each other.” (Ricky Van Shelton and Bettye – a tender moment before the songs reached the world.) This photo feels like a slice of a long-lost decade — when love was still shy, but as real and rooted as it gets. Ricky — just a dreamer from Virginia back then, carrying a guitar and a few homemade demos in his bag. Bettye — with bright eyes and a gentle smile — didn’t need a stage, or a record deal. She just needed to be by his side. They wandered through cold nights, slept in cheap motels, shared sandwiches on the road… and dreamed. Dreamed that someday, Ricky’s voice would finally be heard.
“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.” Introduction There’s a kind of heartache that country…