10 Great Album Covers From Taylor and Other Women Artists

Plus: Kaitlin Butts, Dolly, Beyoncé and more

While I was creating my EP, Honeysuckle Friend, I spent a lot of time looking at album artwork. I scrolled Pinterest, read Rolling Stone’s countdown lists, and even bought the book 1,000 Record Covers by Michael Ochs to help me figure out the direction for my cover art. I photograph and design all my own artwork, and I think it’s so important for the artwork to tell the story of the album. It sets the scene before the listeners hear the first note. 

Here is my list of top 10 favorite album cover art: 

Linda Ronstadt

Simple Dreams (1977)

This is a really captivating photo. The angle in the mirror makes it feel like a photo within a photo. I love the way her hair curls at the base of her updo. The lighting on her face framed in the vanity mirror is stunning. I like the symbolism of seeing her back but also seeing her face in the mirror. It’s kind of like two sides of the story. This album has some of her saddest songs but also some of her most fun and upbeat. This picture seemingly encapsulates that effortlessly. 

Carole King

Tapestry (1971)

Another example of beautiful photography. One thing that I’ve been experimenting with a lot recently is adding layers and depth in the photo. I love how the cat is slightly out of focus at the front of the frame. The thoughtful details of the bare feet, the simple outfit, the cat, and the light coming through the curtains do a great job of setting the scene for the storytelling that takes place in this album. 

Taylor Swift

folklore (2020)

Taylor Swift wanted the emphasis to be on the stories and characters that she creates in the songs and not on her own life. This wide shot really captures that. The foggy trees tower over her. You don’t immediately see Taylor in the photo. I love it. 

Emmylou Harris

Blue Kentucky Girl (1979)

I LOVE the layers and the storytelling in this. The scene behind her. The theater stage. The way she is standing center stage with her guitar really pulls me in. I also love the detail of the blue border since it’s called Blue Kentucky Girl. This is the kind of album cover that you could stare at for a long time and keep finding new details.  

Beyoncé

Cowboy Carter (2024)

I have no clue how they made this photo, but it is so captivating. The movement of her hair, the horse, the dirt that is kicked up, the flag—it’s incredible. I’m a big fan of figuring out how to incorporate the album title in the actual photo, and I love the way Beyoncé did that here.

Dolly Parton

White Limozeen (1989)

This is such an iconic Dolly photo. I love the title on the marquee. The flash from the paparazzi. The adoring fans stacked to the left side. This all-white outfit is incredible. There is a lot of depth and expression in this photo. It feels like a frame from a movie. 

Kaitlin Butts

What Else Can She Do (2022)

One of the first things that caught my attention about Kaitlin Butts was her incredible cover art. She puts so much thought and detail into all of her covers, but I didn’t want this whole list to be just Kaitlin Butts’ covers, so I selected this one as my favorite. The highlights and the shadows in this photo really make it pop. I love the dramatic layering in the background with the blood moon. The vintage texture on the album art is a great final detail. It really pulls me in. 

Hailey Whitters

Raised (2022)

This is one of my favorite country albums of all time. It’s so very Iowa and Midwest, and this cover art pairs perfectly with that. The baby yellow lettering pops against the blue sky. This album is all about being raised in Iowa and her family, so I love the detail of the quilted dress. It makes you think of quilts that have been passed down generations. It is a stunning photo that sets the scene for a stunning album. 

Chappell Roan

Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess (2023)

Chappell Roan has been one of my favorite artists for the past couple years, and she always puts a lot of thought into her cover art. Similar to Cowboy Carter, Chappell is wearing a sash with her name on it, which I love. The contrast of her white powdered face next to her bright red hair pulls the eye in. I really like all the details on the vanity behind her. It’s a very dramatic photo, and her album is like that, too. 

Kacey Musgraves

Golden Hour (2018)

I love the simple sans serif text and the bold colors on this album art. Kacey’s strands of hair blowing in the wind emphasize the breezy feeling you get when you listen to “Slow Burn.” This album art makes you do a double take. At a quick glance, you don’t see the low opacity and scaled up version of Kacey duplicated over her head. I love the little bands of rainbowed reflection around her face—it makes me think of the last track on the album, “Rainbow.” This album art, like everything Kacey does, is very well thought out.