Cowboy Hats Gone Bad
Who Killed the Cowboy Hat?
We Say Bret Michaels Did It

Cowboy hats … American icons of the Old West. And, of the NEW West as well,
judging by the number of Hollyweird celebrities sporting cheap straw cowboy hats
so beat up that they look like victims of a Star Jones lap dance.

Ten Gallon Cowboy Hat and Tom Mix (that's Tom Mix underneath the hat)

We couldn't find hats to hold 10 gallons of anything, but this Resistol outta be able to contain even your big ol' head!

The Cowboy Hat - John Wayne Never Wore Pink!

The cowboy hat has decidedly many deep roots in Americana, iconic of ranches and the Wild West. However, many assert that this trend was originally made popular in Mexico and Spain by ranchers. No matter how you spin it, the cowboy hat has become a quite popular accessory among ranchers, cowboys, and entertainers alike. The cowboy hat has become a staple of rugged tough guys in American Western movies; for example, what would John Wayne be without his trademark cowboy hat?

Trace Adkins Knows Cowboy Hats

We found his hat for you, but doubt it will make you sing any better - click to try it out anyway, who knows?

The Watery Days of the Original Cowboy Hat

Perhaps the most famous, original cowboy hat was the one donned by Tom Mix, the most famous American cowboy in silent films. His clean style, topped by the “Ten Gallon Hat” is what set the tone and costumes for cowboy films for decades to follow.

Many historians argue about where the term "Ten Gallon Hat" originates. It was often believed that the cowboy hat could carry water, and thus was useful to cowboys who were working in extremely dry climates. However, this is decidedly untrue, as felt is certainly not waterproof.
Modern linguists believe that the “Ten Gallon Hat” may stem from the Spanish word “galón,” which refers to the braided trim that accents many cowboy hats.

Western Lure of Cowboy Hats

Jessica Simpson's Cowboy Hat ... Chic!

Here's a felt cowboy hat like Daisy Duke's ... you'll need to crush it yourself

The cowboy hat has gained plenty of notoriety since its inception, and some stars are absolutely linked to their cowboy hats. Of course, stars of Western films like John Wayne are very much associated with the iconic hat, along with President Ronald Regan, whose “cowboy” image certainly contributed to his political success.

Country crooners like Garth Brooks and Trace Adkins are identified by their cowboy hats as well. Babe-worthy country vixens like Shania Twain have also made this look popular among sweet southern belles.

Other stars also make the unfortunate decision to try and pull off the iconic cowboy hat look, with the end result being utter disaster. Stars like Jessica Simpson, Bret Michaels, Pamela Anderson, and Snoop Dogg have all boasted weird reincarnations of the classic cowboy hat, the most popular being the frayed straw version.

The cowboy hat will always remain a big part of Americana and southern culture. Wear the classic tan or black style, and avoid all the weird, furry, pink-sparkly-fuzzy versions that are easily found in most modern malls. What would John Wayne think if he were alive to see these monstrosities?