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Reba McEntire is one of them.
This fiery redhead from Oklahoma is the American dream incarnate -- going from a young barrel racing rodeo contestant to one of the most sought-after entertainers in country music.
And let's not forget a burgeoning career in film and TV.
After climbing every mountain in her path, and surviving her share of personal tragedy, there had been some talk recently that McEntire was going to wind down her musical career and concentrate on film.
After releasing two CDs in the past year and gearing up for another tour with Brooks & Dunn, nothing could seem further from the truth.
"Man, we've never planned on slowing down. We've been filling up the funnels as fast as we can," says McEntire, "Because in this business you just never know what's going to come out that will work, that's going to be right for you.
"It's my policy to just keep trying different things. This year we've already completed a movie for CBS titled Forever Love -- out in September. We also toured Australia with Kenny Rogers.
"And now we're gearing up to tour with Brooks & Dunn, Terri Clark and David Kersh for this year. Man, I've been having so much fun that I can't believe it's June already," she says with a laugh from Nashville.
Touring with Brooks & Dunn isn't new for Reba. She took them on the road when they'd just started in the business. And now the two acts are back touring and have cut an amazing hit single duet titled If You See Him/If You See Her.
"They deserve every bit of success because those guys work hard," she says of the duo. "The funny thing is that they are as totally different as night and day.
"I don't know how anybody could pick two total opposites, put them together and expect it to work -- but they do.
"The only thing they have in common is music and race car driving."
Reba reveals that this new single wasn't something that was in the cards to begin with.
"The songwriters brought the demo to me at Starstruck (her company) on a Friday and I asked to put it on hold. Ronnie (Dunn) didn't hear it until the next Monday and he went nuts over it.
"He called my husband (Narvel Blackstock), and asked what I was going to do with it.
"Recording that song together just made sense because it was an incredible song to sing. It captured my heart and to hear Ronnie sing that high part, and the timbre of his voice, is perfect.
"So one thing led to another and we cut the song and decided to go out on the road again and make it an event."
Reba says she's often in awe of Dunn.
"I just love to stand and watch him sing because it's just so much fun. You'd think to get a voice like that you'd need a big ole barrely chest but no, it's a wonder."
Reba's new disc, If You See Him, offers the fans an even more relaxed and confident-sounding singer.
"I'm having more fun than I ever did. It's been 22 years since my first record and these days the pressure's off. I can select music that I couldn't have even thought about doing 10 years ago.
"Bottom line, this is a great, fun job to do and I thoroughly enjoy every minute of it."
So what's the big difference at this point in her career?
"Getting comfortable with and liking what you do and also just caring about pleasing yourself instead of everyone else.
"That's a huge difference for me. I found that I have to be happy first and then everything just falls into place."
She feels the CD is a new step for her.
"I'm proud that this is a different album for me.
"I got to work with David Malloy, who worked with Kenny and Dolly and Eddie Rabbit and tons of others.
"He's so innovative and easy to work with that it allowed us to take our time.
"Where I normally would be through in a month, we started in Sept. and finished it in Jan. and that allowed us to find great songs."
One of the more touching tracks here is One Honest Heart.
"That's my stepdaughter Cassidy's favorite.
"The truth is that everybody is looking for one honest heart that they can believe in -- not somebody that's just blowing a bunch of smoke in a short relationship."
Canadians can keep an eye out for Reba to touch down here for a few dates later in the year.
But before that they can also look forward to seeing her as part of a 32-page national ad campaign for Anne Klein which will appear in the August issue of a major fashion magazine.
It was a major photo shoot that spotlighted women achievers from all across the U.S.
"It was a blast for me.
"They were just very nice to call and ask me to be a part of this photo shoot, which included people like the past governor of Texas, some actresses, a judge, Olympic gold medallists -- a wild assortment of women getting together for Anne Klein's new line.
"Man I was so tickled."