Holly Dunn, a renowned female country singer in the late ’80s, was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1957. She had a musical upbringing as the sister of Chris Waters, a future country songwriter. During her high school years, Dunn performed with the Freedom Folk group, touring the South and even gracing the White House bicentennial celebration. At Abilene Christian University, she showcased her talent with the Hilltop Singers touring choir and collaborated with her brother on the track ‘Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind.’ Inspired by the recording of this song by Cristy Lane, Dunn decided to pursue a career in Nashville after completing her education.
In Nashville, Dunn initially worked as a demo singer before transitioning to a staff songwriter role at CBS, later moving to MTM. Her songwriting skills flourished as she penned hits for artists like Louise Mandrell, including the Top Ten success ‘I’m Not Through Loving You Yet.’ Dunn’s breakthrough came when she secured a record deal and released her debut single in 1985. Her self-titled album followed in 1986, featuring the iconic track ‘Daddy’s Hands.’ With the release of ‘Cornerstone’ in 1987, Dunn achieved chart success with hits like ‘Love Someone Like Me’ and ‘Only When I Love.’ Despite challenges when MTM went bankrupt, Dunn signed with Warner Bros. for ‘The Blue Rose of Texas’ in 1989, which included her first number one single ‘Are You Ever Gonna Love Me.’ Throughout the ’90s, Dunn continued to release albums and singles, navigating the changing music industry landscape until her retirement in 2003 due to evolving interests. Sadly, she passed away in 2016 from ovarian cancer at the age of 59, leaving behind a musical legacy that endures.