Kim Carnes

Kim Carnes (; born July 20, 1945) is an American singer and songwriter best known for her smash 1981 hit single, "Bette Davis Eyes". She embarked on a solo career as a songwriter and performer in the early 1970s and also worked for several years as a session background singer with the famed Waters Sisters, Maxine Waters Willard and Julia Waters Tillman, who were later featured in the acclaimed 2013 documentary 20 Feet from Stardom. In 1971, Carnes released her debut album, Rest on Me. Released in 1975, Carnes' self-titled second album included her first charting single, "You're a Part of Me", which reached No. 32 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The following year, Carnes released Sailin', which featured "Love Comes from Unexpected Places". The song won the American Song Festival and the award for Best Composition at the Tokyo Song Festival in 1976. In her breakthrough year, 1980, Carnes and her husband, David Ellingson, were commissioned by Kenny Rogers to co-write the songs for his concept album Gideon. Her duet with Rogers, "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer", hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned the duo a Grammy Award nomination. Later that year, Carnes' cover of Smokey Robinson's "More Love", from her fifth album, Romance Dance, hit No. 10. In 1981, Carnes released Mistaken Identity, which featured the chart-topping "Bette Davis Eyes". A worldwide hit, it became the best-selling single of the year in the United States. "Bette Davis Eyes" spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, went Gold, and won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and the Song of the Year. Mistaken Identity reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, was certified Platinum, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Carnes also had success with the singles "Draw of the Cards", "Crazy in the Night (Barking at Airplanes)", "Make No Mistake, He's Mine" with Barbra Streisand, "What About Me?" featuring Kenny Rogers and James Ingram, and the Grammy Award-nominated singles "Voyeur" and "Invisible Hands". Her successes as a songwriter include co-writing the No. 1 duet "The Heart Won't Lie" with Donna Weiss; it was recorded by Vince Gill and Reba McEntire and was released on McEntire's 1993 album It's Your Call. Her most recent studio album is Chasin' Wild Trains (2004).

Bette Davis Eyes: The Remixes - 2025-08-29T00:00:00.000000Z

1980 Best of by uDiscover - 2024-09-06T00:00:00.000000Z

The Best Of Kenny Rogers: Through The Years - 2018-09-21T00:00:00.000000Z

Throwback Tunes: 1980 - 2018-04-20T00:00:00.000000Z

80s Mixtape - 2017-07-21T00:00:00.000000Z

Frankie Miller's Double Take - 2016-08-26T00:00:00.000000Z

Ladies & The City - 2016-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

20 #1's: Classic Rock - 2015-06-16T00:00:00.000000Z

Essential - 2011-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Stars Come Out for Christmas - Special Edition II - 2010-10-29T00:00:00.000000Z

Thumbplay Music Presents: The 80's - 2010-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Very Best Of Kenny Rogers - 2008-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Music Row (Bonus Version) - 2007-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

The Best Of Kenny Rogers - 2005-08-08T00:00:00.000000Z

Chasin' Wild Trains - 2004-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Duets - 2002-11-26T00:00:00.000000Z

Love Songs - 2000-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Gypsy Honeymoon: The Best Of Kim Carnes - 1993-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Daytime Friends: The Very Best Of Kenny Rogers - 1993-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

View From The House - 1988-07-25T00:00:00.000000Z

Light House - 1986-05-06T00:00:00.000000Z

Barking At Airplanes (Expanded Edition) - 1985-05-05T00:00:00.000000Z

Emotion - 1984-12-18T00:00:00.000000Z

What About Me - 1984-08-27T00:00:00.000000Z

Café Racers - 1983-10-01T00:00:00.000000Z

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