There's a woman here in town that spent years in an abusive marriage. The story told to me was that the guy wouldn't even let her sing publicly though she has a great voice. She eventually broken free, and some musicians in town formed a band around her, Dottie & the Rail. I think she has met a good man since, but also she was reunited with her love of preforming.
http://www.myspace.com/dottietherail
they did covers of classic country. They don't play anymore that I know which is a shame, because they were a nice, feelgood set compared to all the indie/emo/metal bands that play in town.