When Roy Orbison’s rock classic transforms into a country soul: Ricky Van Shelton sings “Oh, Pretty Woman.”
In truth, Ricky Van Shelton never released “Oh, Pretty Woman” as a single. Instead, he included it on his album RVS III, released on January 16, 1990. The album went on to earn RIAA Platinum certification in April 1991. Known for his warm, emotional voice and his traditional country sensitivity, Shelton reshaped “Oh, Pretty Woman” into a nostalgic love song filled with admiration.
With his subtle approach, Ricky Van Shelton didn’t merely recreate Roy Orbison’s iconic hit he breathed American country soul into every note. In Shelton’s version, you can still hear that memorable opening guitar riff, but now paired with pedal steel and a slower, steadier rhythm a distinctly Nashville touch that still preserves the energy of the original. His baritone brings an intimate feeling, as if a humble man were standing on the sidewalk, watching a beautiful woman walk by, rather than the stage-driven drama Orbison embodied.
The original “Oh, Pretty Woman” was born from something perfectly ordinary: Roy Orbison and co-writer Bill Dees were inspired by an offhand remark, “A pretty woman never needs any money.” That simple moment sparked an immortal song. When Shelton sings it, he echoes that admiration but in his own way not as a cry of yearning, but as a gentle whisper, like a storyteller offering a tender confession.
Emotionally, Shelton’s cover is a tribute in a lower register, not an urgent invitation. The listener is led into a place of memory: a man watching a woman pass by, his heart suddenly still, and then her glance turning back, like a small miracle. Shelton doesn’t attempt to imitate Orbison’s powerful “mercy,” yet his voice carries a mixture of admiration and quiet longing, as if extending an unspoken invitation.
In terms of legacy, Shelton’s choice to include the song on RVS III shows the enduring influence of Orbison and proves how effortlessly two seemingly distant musical worlds can connect: lively rock and tender country. Shelton’s version is not simply a cover; it’s a tribute a way of turning “Pretty Woman” into the heartbeat of country music, told with gentle storytelling and deep emotion.
And so, when you hear Ricky Van Shelton sing “Oh, Pretty Woman,” you’re not just hearing a romantic rock song remade you’re hearing admiration, musical rebirth, and a quiet conversation between passion and nostalgia.