shure sm7b with a cloudlifter.
That's the mic everyone uses for spoken voice, and some people use it for vocals. I haven't used one, but my sense is that it's more of a safe choice and very forgiving mic than an ideal one for a folksy voice. It's a dynamic mic, and if I had my druthers I probably wouldn't use one for this kind of intimate, detailed voice.
Again, I haven't actually used an SM7b, so maybe my impression (based on hearing it a lot in comparisons and asking a bunch of audio snobs on rec.audio.pro ) is off. I did research that mic, though, because I was hoping to land a gig that might have wanted it.
I think the AKG C12 is supposed to be good for women's voices and one of it's simulators is the equivalent.
That's an interesting idea - a simulator. C12s are very expensive, and they either sound great on something or not that good.