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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Pam Linton

Pam Linton isn’t just a singer—she’s a storyteller, a stylist, and a torchbearer of the great Americana tradition. With a career rooted in heartfelt performances and a deep respect for musical heritage, Pam has spent decades traveling the backroads of America, connecting with audiences one fair, festival, and honky-tonk at a time.

What sets Pam apart is her ability to interpret a song with soul and sincerity. Her voice isn’t just heard—it’s felt. “Conveying the story, emotion, and theme of the song is so important to me,” she says. “That’s what makes a musical performance memorable.” It’s this kind of genuine artistry that has earned Pam recognition not just as a singer, but as a keeper of country music’s most enduring values.

Her latest release, Songs of the Carter Family (New Folk Records), is a loving tribute to the roots of American country music. With familiar melodies and timeless lyrics, the album breathes new life into the foundational work of A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter. Pam approaches the material with reverence, calling A.P. Carter a true musical trailblazer. “He had a passion for music that fueled everything he did,” she explains. “The Carter Family’s creativity laid the cornerstone of what we know as country music today.”

Raised in the small town of St. Stephen, Minnesota, Pam’s musical journey began early. Alongside her younger sister, she was mentored by their piano-playing Aunt Betty Jeanne, who introduced them to classic pop and country standards from the 1940s and 1950s. Immersed in a family that appreciated country music across several decades, Pam developed a deep admiration for both Nashville legends and West Coast country innovators. That rich musical environment nurtured the close harmonies and polished performances that quickly made the sisters local favorites.

The turning point came when the family attended a concert by Sherwin Linton, a well-known entertainer. Years later, when Sherwin returned to town, he had heard of the talented siblings and invited them to share the stage. Still in high school, Pam and her sister Patti began performing regularly with Sherwin, eventually becoming full-time members of The Sherwin Linton Show in the early 1980s. From Nashville to Las Vegas, the duo gained fans across the country.

That professional partnership blossomed into a personal one, as Pam and Sherwin later married. Since then, Pam has been an essential part of the Linton legacy, helping manage their musical ventures while continuing to cultivate her own creative path. In 1994, the couple recorded In a Nineteenth Century Lifetime, an album of Western classics and Sherwin originals that showcased their perfectly matched voices.

Pam also made her mark as a solo artist. Her haunting performance of “Somewhere Between Deadwood & Laredo,” a song written for her by Sherwin, earned her international recognition, with chart success in the U.S., Australia, the Netherlands, and Slovenia. Her soulful renditions on the 1996 tribute album Driftwood on the River further demonstrated her talent for breathing life into timeless material. Songs like “Silver & Gold” and “River of No Return” captured the spirit of old Hollywood and the heart of traditional folk.

In 2002, she contributed several folk and gospel tracks to The Last American Frontier Centennial, including a rare rendition of “Wildwood Flower” using its original 1860 lyrics. Over the years, Pam has proven herself to be more than a vocalist—she’s a full-fledged creative force. Behind the scenes, she’s produced albums, designed sets, and handled photography for many of the Lintons’ releases under their own Black Gold Records label.

Pam’s talents also extend into the visual arts. Drawing inspiration from Native American aesthetics, she crafts wearable art and jewelry made from glass beads, tanned hides, feathers, and semi-precious stones. Whether sewing stage costumes, cooking for friends and family, or tending to her garden, she brings passion and craftsmanship to everything she touches. As Sherwin proudly puts it, “She’s always making things!”

Musically, Pam has an eclectic palette. Influenced by artists like Wanda Jackson, Tammy Wynette, and Rose Maddox, she’s equally drawn to the stylings of Tex-Mex legend Flaco Jimenez and country powerhouse Earl Thomas Conley. Her voice—powerful, expressive, and full of character—never fails to surprise audiences, especially coming from such a petite performer. She navigates traditional country, folk, gospel, and even rock with ease, and her tributes to Tammy Wynette regularly stop shows in their tracks.

In 2004, Pam released her first solo CD, Looking Back, a personal collection of classics and originals. To commemorate her 30th anniversary with the Linton show, she published a unique souvenir cookbook titled I’m Cookin’. And when she reached 40 years with the show, she and Sherwin released Pam Linton – 40 – Love’s Ring of Fire, a 20-song celebration of her musical journey.

Pam’s commitment to preserving and honoring Americana music has not gone unnoticed. She is a proud inductee into the National Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame, recognized for her three decades of dedication to the genre’s heritage.

Her latest project, Songs of the Carter Family, is a heartfelt continuation of that mission. “There is so much that moves me about this music,” she says. “It was groundbreaking. From tender love songs to solemn hymns and songs of loss and warning, the raw realism of these lyrics is unmatched.”

Through every note she sings and every story she shares, Pam Linton reminds us why music matters—not just as entertainment, but as a legacy of emotion, truth, and connection that spans generations.

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