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Lynn Renée Anderson (September 26, 1947 – July 30, 2015) was an American
country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...
singer and television personality. Her
crossover Crossover may refer to: Entertainment Albums and songs * ''Cross Over'' (Dan Peek album) * ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987 * ''Crossover'' (Intrigue album) * ''Crossover'' (Hitomi Shimatani album) * ''Crossover'' (Yoshino ...
signature recording, "
Rose Garden A rose garden or rosarium is a garden or park, often open to the public, used to present and grow various types of garden roses, and sometimes rose species. Most often it is a section of a larger garden. Designs vary tremendously and roses m ...
," was a number one hit in the United States and internationally. She charted five number one and 18 top-ten singles on the ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' country songs chart. Anderson is regarded as one of country music's most significant performers. Born in
Grand Forks, North Dakota Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the state of North Dakota (after Fargo and Bismarck) and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 59,166. Grand Forks, along with its twin city o ...
, United States, she was raised in California by her mother,
Liz Anderson Liz is a female name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God's Promise". It is also a short form of Elizabeth (given name), Elizabeth, Elisabeth, Lisbeth, Lisbeth, Lizanne, Liszbeth, Lizbeth, Lizabeth, Lyzbeth, Lisa (given name), Lisa, Lizette, Alyssa, and ...
, who was also a country music artist. Daughter Lynn was signed to a recording contract to
Chart Records Chart Records was a country music record label of the 1960s, best known for turning Lynn Anderson into a major country star. It was owned by Slim Williamson. The label was founded in 1964. Among the artists who recorded at one time for the la ...
in 1966 after she was heard singing along with her mother at an industry function. Previously she had recorded some demo tapes of her mother's songs and appeared on television in California on regional country music shows. In 1967, she had her first top ten hit with the single "
If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away) "If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away)" is a popular 1967 song by country singer Lynn Anderson. Summary "If I Kiss You" became Anderson's first top-ten single, paving the way for eight number ones and 18 top tens to come. Anderson's first single "Rid ...
". Soon after, Anderson joined the cast of ''
The Lawrence Welk Show ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years, from 1951 to 1955, then nationally for another 16 years on ABC from 195 ...
'', where she performed country music weekly to a national audience. In 1970, Anderson signed with
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
, where she was produced by her first husband,
Glenn Sutton Royce Glenn Sutton (September 28, 1937 – April 17, 2007) was an American country music songwriter, record producer, and one of the architects of the ''countrypolitan'' sound. Biography Sutton wrote or co-wrote many of Tammy Wynette's early h ...
. She had her biggest commercial success with "Rose Garden". The song reached positions on the ''Billboard'' country, pop, and adult contemporary charts, also charting in other countries and earning her a
Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance was first awarded in 1965, to Dottie West. The award has had several minor name changes: *From 1965 to 1967 the award was known as Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Female *In 1 ...
. Throughout the decade, Anderson also had number-one hits with "
You're My Man "You're My Man" is a song written by Glenn Sutton. The song was a popular No. 1 country hit by country artist Lynn Anderson from 1971. Background "You're My Man" is mainly about the narrator describing her affection for her lover, saying there i ...
", "
How Can I Unlove You "How Can I Unlove You" is the name of a No. 1 country hit by country music singer Lynn Anderson, released in 1971. "How Can I Unlove You" was written by Joe South, who had also written "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden". The song was produced ...
", " Keep Me in Mind", and "
What a Man My Man Is "What a Man My Man Is" is the name of a No. 1 U.S. country music hit by Lynn Anderson Lynn Renée Anderson (September 26, 1947 – July 30, 2015) was an American country singer and television personality. Her crossover signature recording, " ...
". She also became a television personality, with appearances on ''
The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...
'', specials with
Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, with 5 ...
and
Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...
, and her own prime-time specials. After a brief hiatus, Anderson returned with the studio album ''
Back The human back, also called the dorsum, is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral column run ...
'' (1983). The album spawned three singles, including the top ten hit " You're Welcome to Tonight", with
Gary Morris Gary Gwyn Morris (born December 7, 1948) is an American singer and stage actor who charted a string of hits on the country music charts throughout the 1980s. Morris is known for the 1983 ballad "The Wind Beneath My Wings", although his credits ...
. She continued recording sporadically throughout the 1980s. This included a revival of the pop hit " Under the Boardwalk" and the studio album '' What She Does Best'' (1988). Anderson continued releasing new albums into the new millennium, such as 2004's '' The Bluegrass Sessions''. Towards the end of her life, Anderson struggled with alcohol addiction, but continued performing until her death in 2015. For her work as a crossover artist, she was ranked on ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
s list of the "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time" and '' CMT''s "40 Greatest Women of Country Music".


Early life

Lynn Rene Anderson was born in
Grand Forks, North Dakota Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the state of North Dakota (after Fargo and Bismarck) and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 59,166. Grand Forks, along with its twin city o ...
, on September 26, 1947, to Casey and
Liz Anderson Liz is a female name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God's Promise". It is also a short form of Elizabeth (given name), Elizabeth, Elisabeth, Lisbeth, Lisbeth, Lizanne, Liszbeth, Lizbeth, Lizabeth, Lyzbeth, Lisa (given name), Lisa, Lizette, Alyssa, and ...
. Her grandparents were Scandinavian immigrants who established a North Dakota "saddle club". According to Anderson, she could ride horses before she could walk. While she was still a young child, the family relocated to a subdivision in
Fair Oaks, California Fair Oaks is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sacramento County, California, Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento, California, Sacramento–Arden-Arcade, California, Arden-Arcade–Roseville, Calif ...
. However, Anderson insisted that her parents move to a
ranch A ranch (from es, rancho/Mexican Spanish) is an area of land, including various structures, given primarily to ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep. It is a subtype of a farm. These terms are most often ...
, prompting the family to move to
Sacramento, California ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento C ...
. In Sacramento, the Anderson family bought a ranch with two acres of land. The family raised horses, which she learned how to ride and care for. At the age of nine, Anderson won second place at a local horse-racing event in
San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
. Lynn also became interested in performing from an early age. Both her parents were aspiring songwriters that had formed friendships with west country performers. Her performing and musical interests continued into
high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
. During her teens she landed a job working as a secretary for KROY in Sacramento. Upon graduating, she became the station's secretary to the general manager. While working full-time, Lynn continued entering equestrian competitions. Once winning several competitions, she was dubbed the "California Horse Show Queen" in 1966. While watching her daughter at these events, Liz Anderson was also composing songs. She sent her compositions to
Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
and
Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
, where they were heard by music executives. Among the songs heard was "
(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers" is a song written by Liz Anderson. Best remembered as American country music artist Merle Haggard's first national Top 10 record, it was also a Top 10 song concurrently for Roy Drusky. The song is also known ...
", which was recorded by
Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler. Haggard was born in Oildale, California, toward the end of the Great Depression. His childhood was troubled af ...
in 1964. The song led producer
Chet Atkins Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), known as "Mr. Guitar" and "The Country Gentleman", was an American musician who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, helped create the Nashville sound, the country music s ...
to Liz to a recording contract at RCA Victor. This prompted the family to relocate to Nashville. Before officially moving, Liz took a brief trip with her daughter to Nashville in 1965. At a hotel, mother and daughter performed in an informal sing-along with several other artists. Also present at the sing-along was producer
Slim Williamson Bradley L. Williamson, (November 21, 1927 – December 25, 2013) known professionally as Slim Williamson, was an American record executive who owned several record labels. He purchased the Chart label in 1964 from Gary Walker for $350.00. He di ...
. Impressed by her vocals, Williamson offered Lynn a recording contract of her own. In 1966, she signed her first recording contract with
Chart Records Chart Records was a country music record label of the 1960s, best known for turning Lynn Anderson into a major country star. It was owned by Slim Williamson. The label was founded in 1964. Among the artists who recorded at one time for the la ...
.


Music career


1966–1969: Early country success and ''The Lawrence Welk Show''

During a car ride, Liz Anderson composed a song titled "Ride, Ride, Ride". Her daughter liked the song and had an interest in cutting it at her new label. It was cut at her first recording session. Although her debut single was 1966's "In Person", it was " Ride, Ride, Ride" that became Anderson's first charting single. Her next release was another Liz Anderson composition, "
If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away) "If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away)" is a popular 1967 song by country singer Lynn Anderson. Summary "If I Kiss You" became Anderson's first top-ten single, paving the way for eight number ones and 18 top tens to come. Anderson's first single "Rid ...
". It was Anderson's first major hit as a music artist, reaching number five on the ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''
Hot Country Singles Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...
chart in 1967. Her debut studio album of the same name was also released in 1967 and peaked at number 25 on the ''Billboard''
Top Country Albums Top Country Albums is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The 50-position chart lists the most popular country music albums in the country, calculated weekly by Broadcast Data Systems based on physical sales a ...
chart. She followed it with " Promises, Promises", which reached number four on the country singles list in February 1968. Her second studio release of the same name reached number one on the country albums chart. When reviewing her 1999 Chart compilation, Greg Adams of
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
gave the recording four-and-a-half out of five stars. "Lynn Anderson made some of the best music of her career during her late-'60s period on the Chart label", Adams commented. ''Billboard'' magazine also praised these early recordings. In reviewing ''Big Girls Don't Cry'', writers took note of her mass appeal. "The material which includes her fine renditions of '
Honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
' and '
Ring of Fire The Ring of Fire (also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Rim of Fire, the Girdle of Fire or the Circum-Pacific belt) is a region around much of the rim of the Pacific Ocean where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. The Ring o ...
' is diversified and has appeal for all buyers", they wrote. In 1967, Anderson's career gained further momentum when she was cast on ''
The Lawrence Welk Show ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years, from 1951 to 1955, then nationally for another 16 years on ABC from 195 ...
''. Welk's son, Larry Welk, discovered an Anderson album cover and was drawn to her physicality. Larry's interest drew Lawrence Welk to audition and eventually cast her. Anderson became the show's first country performer and toured with the cast nationwide. However, she was dissatisfied with the material chosen for her to sing on the program and threatened to quit. After meeting with Welk, different arrangements were made for Anderson's performances. The exposure led to continued music success. In 1967, she won the "Top Female Vocalist" award at the
Academy of Country Music Awards The Academy of Country Music Awards, also known as the ACM Awards, were first held in 1966, honoring the industry's accomplishments during the previous year. It was the first country music awards program held by a major organization. The academy ...
. She remained with ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' until 1968. While finding chart success and common ground with Welk, Anderson was not finding common ground with the Nashville establishment. "I was seen as a kid from California on the Welk show – not a real country artist", she stated. Thus, she chose to record more traditional material that would help associate her with Nashville's country music scene. Among these songs was a cover of the
Osborne Brothers The Osborne Brothers, Sonny (October 29, 1937 – October 24, 2021) and Bobby (born December 7, 1931), were an influential and popular bluegrass act during the 1960s and 1970s and until Sonny retired in 2005. They are probably best known for ...
' "
Rocky Top "Rocky Top" is an American country and bluegrass song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant in 1967 and first recorded by the Osborne Brothers later that same year. The song, which is a city dweller's lamentation over the loss of a simpler a ...
". Anderson's version became a bigger hit than the original, climbing to number 17 on the ''Billboard'' country singles list in 1970. She had country hits between 1968 and 1969 that further displayed a traditional country style, including "
Big Girls Don't Cry Big Girls Don't Cry may refer to: Music * ''Big Girls Don't Cry'' (Lynn Anderson album), 1968 * ''Big Girls Don't Cry'' (The Weather Girls album), 1986 * "Big Girls Don't Cry" (Fergie song), 2007 * "Big Girls Don't Cry" (The Four Seasons song), ...
", " That's a No No" and a cover of
Hank Snow Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow (May 9, 1914 – December 20, 1999) was a Canadian-American country music artist. Most popular in the 1950s, he had a career that spanned more than 50 years, he recorded 140 albums and charted more than 85 singles on t ...
's "
I've Been Everywhere "I've Been Everywhere" is a song written by Australian country singer Geoff Mack in 1959, and popularised by Lucky Starr and Hank Snow in 1962. The song as originally written listed Australian towns. It was later adapted by Australian singer ...
". Anderson's sixth studio album was a tribute to the traditional female country performers that preceded her. Entitled ''
Songs That Made Country Girls Famous ''Songs That Made Country Girls Famous'' is a studio album by Lynn Anderson released in 1969. The album became Anderson's second top ten LP on ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard's'' Top Country Albums chart, peaking at #9. The eleven song album ...
'' (1969), the album reached number nine on the country albums chart.


1970–1980: Rose Garden and breakthrough

left, upAnderson in ''Billboard'' magazine, 1971 In 1970, Anderson's recording contract was bought by
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
and she began recording for the new label that year. Two years prior, she married songwriter and producer
Glenn Sutton Royce Glenn Sutton (September 28, 1937 – April 17, 2007) was an American country music songwriter, record producer, and one of the architects of the ''countrypolitan'' sound. Biography Sutton wrote or co-wrote many of Tammy Wynette's early h ...
, who ultimately became her producer at the label. Her first Columbia release was the Sutton-penned "
Stay There, Till I Get There "Stay There, Till I Get There" is a song written by Glenn Sutton. It was recorded by American country music artist Lynn Anderson and released as a single in February 1970 via Columbia Records. Background and release "Stay There, Till I Get There ...
". The song became her fifth top ten hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart, rising to number seven in 1970. Her eighth studio album of the same name was also released in 1970. According to writer Greg Adams, the album resembled the traditional country of her previous Chart recordings. Despite the success of Sutton's composition, Anderson claimed that it was hard for Sutton to provide additional material for her. His collaborator,
Billy Sherrill Billy Norris Sherrill (November 5, 1936 – August 4, 2015) was an American record producer, songwriter, and arranger best known for his association with country artists, notably Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Sherrill and business partner Gle ...
, oversaw Sutton and chose many of his compositions for
Tammy Wynette Tammy Wynette (born Virginia Wynette Pugh; May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was an American country music artist, as well as an actress and author. She is considered among the genre's most influential and successful artists. Along with Loretta Ly ...
to record. "Glen was very politically connected at Columbia and Epic...so I had to find songs from other sources, which is why a lot of my songs were written by other people", she commented in 2011. According to Anderson, she had found the original version of "
Rose Garden A rose garden or rosarium is a garden or park, often open to the public, used to present and grow various types of garden roses, and sometimes rose species. Most often it is a section of a larger garden. Designs vary tremendously and roses m ...
" on "a Joe South album and loved it." She then brought it to the attention of Glenn Sutton. However, Sutton was against recording it because lines in the song were sung from a male perspective. However, he eventually acceded to Anderson after she kept bringing the song into recording sessions. Released as a single in October 1970, the song became Anderson's first number one single, topping the charts for five weeks. It was also her first to crossover onto the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at number three in February 1971. The song eventually became a hit in 15 other countries. Its crossover success helped Anderson receive accolades from
13th Annual Grammy Awards The 13th Annual Grammy Awards were held on 16 March 1971, on ABC, and marked the ceremony's first live telecast. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1970. The ceremony was hosted for the first time by Andy Williams. Award ...
, the
Academy of Country Music The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Among the founders were Eddie Miller, Tommy Wiggins, and Mickey and Chris Christensen. They wanted to promote country music ...
and the
Country Music Association The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre. The objectives of the organization are to guide and enha ...
. Anderson's eleventh studio album, ''
Rose Garden A rose garden or rosarium is a garden or park, often open to the public, used to present and grow various types of garden roses, and sometimes rose species. Most often it is a section of a larger garden. Designs vary tremendously and roses m ...
'', was released in December 1970. The record topped the ''Billboard'' country albums chart and spent 77 weeks on the survey altogether. It was also her highest-peaking album on the
Billboard 200 The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine and is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of art ...
chart list, reaching number 19. The record certified platinum in sales from the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
. Anderson followed "Rose Garden" with the singles "
You're My Man "You're My Man" is a song written by Glenn Sutton. The song was a popular No. 1 country hit by country artist Lynn Anderson from 1971. Background "You're My Man" is mainly about the narrator describing her affection for her lover, saying there i ...
" and "
How Can I Unlove You "How Can I Unlove You" is the name of a No. 1 country hit by country music singer Lynn Anderson, released in 1971. "How Can I Unlove You" was written by Joe South, who had also written "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden". The song was produced ...
", which both became number one hits on the ''Billboard'' country songs chart in 1971. Both songs also registered on the ''Billboard''
adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...
chart, with "You're My Man" becoming a top ten hit on that survey. The latter singles appeared on corresponding studio releases. This begun with ''
You're My Man "You're My Man" is a song written by Glenn Sutton. The song was a popular No. 1 country hit by country artist Lynn Anderson from 1971. Background "You're My Man" is mainly about the narrator describing her affection for her lover, saying there i ...
'', which reached the top spot on the country albums list. The project also peaked at number 99 on the Billboard 200. Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars, praising the album's pop covers of "
Knock Three Times "Knock Three Times" is a popular song credited simply to "Dawn". Tony Orlando was not named on the record. The actual singers were Tony Orlando, Toni Wine, and Linda November, prior to the creation of "Dawn" with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent ...
" and "
Proud Mary "Proud Mary" is a song written by John Fogerty and first recorded by his band Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was released by Fantasy Records as a single from the band's second studio album, ''Bayou Country'', which was issued by the same rec ...
". Her twelfth studio album was also titled ''
How Can I Unlove You "How Can I Unlove You" is the name of a No. 1 country hit by country music singer Lynn Anderson, released in 1971. "How Can I Unlove You" was written by Joe South, who had also written "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden". The song was produced ...
.'' It featured covers of " Take Me Home Country Roads" and "
You've Got a Friend "You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song written by American singer, songwriter, and musician Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, ''Tapestry'' (1971). Another well-known version is by James Taylor fr ...
". The record peaked at number two on the country albums chart and number 132 on the ''Billboard 200''. She continued to diversify her music by recording songs of different styles. In 1972, Anderson recorded
Johnnie Ray John Alvin Ray (January 10, 1927 – February 24, 1990) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Highly popular for most of the 1950s, Ray has been cited by critics as a major precursor to what became rock and roll, for his jazz and blu ...
's pop hit "
Cry Crying is the dropping of tears (or welling of tears in the eyes) in response to an emotional state, or pain. Emotions that can lead to crying include sadness, anger, and even happiness. The act of crying has been defined as "a complex secreto ...
", which became a top five country hit for Anderson. She also reached the top five with a version of
Loggins and Messina Loggins and Messina was an American rock- pop duo consisting of Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina, who achieved their success in the early to mid-1970s. Among their well-known songs are "Danny's Song", "House at Pooh Corner", and "Your Mama Don't D ...
's "
Listen to a Country Song ''Listen to a Country Song'' is a studio album by Country music singer Lynn Anderson, released in 1972. This was the second album released by Anderson in 1972, the other being her album ''Cry'', which featured the No. 1 hit of the same name. Th ...
" and
Joe South Joe South (born Joseph Alfred Souter; February 28, 1940 – September 5, 2012) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Best known for his songwriting, South won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1970 for " Ga ...
's "
Fool Me "Fool Me" is a song written by Joe South. South's version was released as a single in 1971 and peaked at number 78 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Lynn Anderson version "Fool Me" was also recorded by American country music artist Lynn Anderson. Re ...
". She then covered
The Carpenters The Carpenters (officially known as Carpenters) were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen Carpenter, Karen (1950–1983) and Richard Carpenter (musician), Richard Carpenter (born 1946). They produced a distinct ...
' " Top of the World" after hearing it on their 1972 album, ''
A Song for You "A Song for You" is a song written and originally recorded by rock singer and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album '' Leon Russell'', which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understandin ...
''. Anderson's version reached number two on the ''Billboard'' country songs chart. After discovering that Anderson's version had become a hit, The Carpenters released their own version for the pop market. In the 21st century, critics have taken notice of Anderson's various music styles. Writers Mary A. Bufwack and
Robert K. Oermann Robert Karl Oermann is a Nashville-based music journalist and author who is recognized as an authority on country music. Oermann is a long-time regular contributor to the trade publication ''MusicRow'', for which he writes a weekly column. Biog ...
commented that her diverse song subjects proved that she could be "poignant" and "downhearted". Greg Adams of
Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
thought that albums such as 1972's ''
Cry Crying is the dropping of tears (or welling of tears in the eyes) in response to an emotional state, or pain. Emotions that can lead to crying include sadness, anger, and even happiness. The act of crying has been defined as "a complex secreto ...
'' had an
easy listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, n ...
style that made her music more marketable to different genres. Between 1973 and 1974, the singles " Keep Me in Mind" and "
What a Man My Man Is "What a Man My Man Is" is the name of a No. 1 U.S. country music hit by Lynn Anderson Lynn Renée Anderson (September 26, 1947 – July 30, 2015) was an American country singer and television personality. Her crossover signature recording, " ...
" reached number one. Anderson's success was also fueled by television appearances, especially during the second half of the decade. She appeared on prime-time shows ''
The Brady Bunch Hour ''The Brady Bunch Hour'' is an American variety show featuring skits and songs produced by Sid & Marty Krofft Productions in association with Paramount Television. It ran on ABC from November 28, 1976, to May 25, 1977. The series starred the or ...
'', ''
The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...
'' and '' The Midnight Special''. Additionally, she collaborated with
Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...
and
Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, with 5 ...
on television and in concert. Anderson hosted her own
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
television special in 1977. Regular television appearances helped promote singles that were less successful. This included a one-episode appearance on ''
Starsky and Hutch ''Starsky & Hutch'' is an American action television series, which consisted of a 72-minute pilot movie (originally aired as a ''Movie of the Week'' entry) and 92 episodes of 50 minutes each. The show was created by William Blinn (inspired by th ...
'', where Anderson performed her 1977 single " Wrap Your Love All Around Your Man". After her performance, the song reached number 12 on the ''Billboard'' country singles chart. She had further top twenty country hits in the middle decade with " He Turns It into Love Again", "
I've Never Loved Anyone More ''I've Never Loved Anyone More'' is a studio album by the country singer Lynn Anderson, released in 1975. In the USA, two singles were released from the album, the title song (written by Linda Hargrove and Michael Nesmith) and "He Turns It Into L ...
", and " All the King's Horses". With declining chart success, Anderson adopted a newer image which was described by writers as "racy" and "skin tight". The new style proved successful when she returned in 1979 with
Karla Bonoff Karla may refer to: People * Karla (name), a feminine given name * Petras Karla (1937–1969), Soviet Olympic rower Places * Karla, Kose Parish, a village in Harju County, Estonia * Karla, Rae Parish, a village in Harju County, Estonia * Kärl ...
's " Isn't It Always Love". Anderson's version reached the top ten of the country charts. Its success led to her 1979 album reaching the top 30 of the ''Billboard'' country albums chart. In 1980, Anderson released her last studio album for Columbia Records called '' Even Cowgirls Get the Blues''. It produced two top 30 country singles, including the
title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title. Title track may al ...
, which reached number 26.


1982–1989: Hiatus and comeback

In 1980, Anderson left Columbia Records after remarrying two years prior. Prior to her departure, it was claimed that Columbia intended to promote her as the company's answer to counterparts,
Barbara Mandrell Barbara Ann Mandrell (born December 25, 1948) is an American country music singer and musician. She is also credited as an actress and author. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was considered among country's most successful music artist ...
and
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...
. Instead, Anderson moved to
Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
with her second husband and raised a family. With the exception of an album of re-recordings, she did not record for nearly three years. She divorced in 1982 and returned to Nashville, but found it difficult to regain interest in her career. However, she began working with former
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
agent Bonnie Garner. In 1983, Garner helped her secure a new recording contract with the independent label Permian Records. In 1983, she released her 29th studio album, ''
Back The human back, also called the dorsum, is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral column run ...
'', on Permian. Writers Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann called the album's music "emotional" and "bruised". "That's what I felt at the time", Anderson recalled of the album's choice of material. ''Back'' was her last charting record, peaking at number 61 on the ''Billboard'' Top Country Albums list in 1983. Two singles were spawned that became major hits. The first was " What I Learned from Loving You", a top twenty hit on the Hot Country Songs chart. The second was a duet with
Gary Morris Gary Gwyn Morris (born December 7, 1948) is an American singer and stage actor who charted a string of hits on the country music charts throughout the 1980s. Morris is known for the 1983 ballad "The Wind Beneath My Wings", although his credits ...
called " You're Welcome to Tonight". It was Anderson's first top ten hit in five years, reaching number nine in 1984. In 1986, Permian Records filed for
bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor ...
. Although the label focused on artist management and production, it dropped all of its major artists, including Anderson. During this period Anderson did not release full-length albums, but did record a single for
MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wit ...
. Titled "Heart of the Matter," the track did not chart. She then signed with
Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. In the United States, it is ...
in the second half of the decade. In 1988, her cover of
The Drifters The Drifters are several American doo-wop and R&B/Soul music, soul vocal groups. They were originally formed as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, formerly the lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953. The second group of Drifters, f ...
' " Under the Boardwalk" became her highest-charting single in five years, peaking at number 24 on the ''Billboard'' country songs chart. Her 30th studio album, '' What She Does Best'', was issued on Mercury in 1988. The record's title track was also spawned as a single and became a minor hit in 1988. The album's third (and final) single, "How Many Hearts", was Anderson's last chart appearance in her career. In March 1989, it peaked at number 69 on the ''Billboard'' country songs chart.


1990–2015: New musical directions

Anderson left the major label market following her departure from Mercury in 1990. She began to diversify her career during this time. In 1990, she appeared on the
BBC Scotland BBC Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ''BBC Alba'') is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcaster in Scotland. It is one of the four BBC national regions, together with the BBC English Regions, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Northern Ireland. I ...
drama ''The Wreck on the Highway''. She also recorded a variety of different musical genres. In 1992, she released the studio album ''
Cowboy's Sweetheart ''Cowboy's Sweetheart'' is the name of a studio album, released by country singer Lynn Anderson in 1992. Anderson had recently finished a long and lucrative career in the country music business, releasing and promoting albums and singles for the ...
'' on the independent Laserlight label. The project was
western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
-themed and included collaborations with
Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including ...
and
Marty Stuart John Marty Stuart (born September 30, 1958) is an American country and bluegrass music singer, songwriter, and musician. Active since 1968, Stuart initially toured with Lester Flatt, and then in Johnny Cash's road band before beginning work as a ...
. Allmusic's Jason Ankeny gave the album 2.5 out of 5 stars, yet called it one of her "stronger albums". In 1992, ''Billboard'' gave the album a positive response. "Anderson has never sounded better or more alluring than she does in this collection built around a western/living free motif", staff writers noted. Six years later, Anderson released the
Platinum Entertainment Platinum Entertainment was an American record label that operated in the 1990s. The company was founded by Steve Devick in 1991, who reorganized his River North Studios recording studio into a record label. The company initially sold primarily g ...
studio project, '' Latest and Greatest''. The album included re-recordings of her hits, and also featured three new tracks. Two of the album's track were composed by Anderson's partner,
Mentor Williams Mentor Ralph Williams (June 11, 1946 – November 16, 2016) was an American songwriter and producer. He is best known for writing " Drift Away," a popular song first performed by John Henry Kurtz in 1972 and popularized by Dobie Gray the followi ...
. In their review, Allmusic commented that she no longer had her "girlish" edge, but rather a voice comparable to that of
K.T. Oslin Kay Toinette Oslin (May 15, 1942 – December 21, 2020) was an American country music singer-songwriter. She had several years of major commercial success in the late 1980s after signing a record deal at age 45. Oslin had four number one hits and ...
or
Mary Chapin Carpenter Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...
. In 2000, Anderson released her first live record entitled ''Live at Billy Bob's Texas'', which was issued on the Smith label. Richie Unterberger of Allmusic gave the effort three out of five stars in his review, commenting, "This disc is not an electrifying find, but it's decent for what it is." In June 2005, Anderson's 34th studio album, '' The Bluegrass Sessions'' was issued on the DM label. The album was a collection of Anderson's former hits recorded in a bluegrass style. The track listing included hits such as "Rose Garden", "You're My Man", and "Rocky Top". Zac Johnson of Allmusic gave the release 2.5 out of 5 possible stars. Johnson questioned her authenticity when reviewing the record, noting that some songs sounded "a little forced". Despite the critical response, ''The Bluegrass Sessions'' was nominated by the
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
for
Best Bluegrass Album The Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality works (songs or albums) in the bluegrass m ...
. Over the next several years, Anderson continued touring and performing as well. In 2007, Anderson was part of the lineup at the
CMA Music Festival The CMA Music Festival is a four-day music festival centered on country music, hosted each June by the Country Music Association (CMA) in Nashville, Tennessee. Beginning in 1972 under the name Fan Fair, the event now draws over 400 artists and c ...
at the Riverfront Park. Other performers included
Terri Clark Terri Lynn Sauson, known professionally as Terri Clark, born August 5, 1968, is a Canadian country music singer who has had success in both Canada and the United States. Signed to Mercury Records in 1995, she released her self-titled debut that ...
and
Lorrie Morgan Loretta Lynn Morgan (born June 27, 1959) is an American country music singer and actress. She is the daughter of George Morgan, widow of Keith Whitley, and ex-wife of Jon Randall and Sammy Kershaw, all of whom are also country music singers. Mo ...
. In 2009, she performed at the
Stagecoach Festival The Stagecoach Festival is an outdoor country music festival held annually at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Various artists attend, whether they be mainstream or relatively unknown, ranging from folk, mainstream country, bluegrass, ...
, which also included several additional performers as well. Between 2010 and 2011, she performed alongside the Metropole Symphony Orchestra for a series of concerts. Anderson also continued recording music. In 2006, she released her 35th studio album, ''
Cowgirl A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the '' vaquer ...
''. The album was a collection of western songs, which were written (or co-written) with her mother. The project was released on her mother's label, Showboat Records. A similar project was issued in 2010 entitled '' Cowgirl II'' on the same label. According to Anderson, her reasons for releasing both western albums was to present the genre in a "sophisticated way" for people who did not know the music. In June 2015, Anderson released her final studio album ''
Bridges A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whic ...
''. The album was a collection of
gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...
material that included collaborations with
The Martins ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
and
The Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet originating in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in Southern gospel during the 1950s. Their name was change ...
. According to a 2015 interview with Anderson, it was her first album in ten years that she decided to promote. It was also Anderson's first gospel collection and featured a reworking of
Dobie Gray Dobie Gray (born Lawrence Darrow Brown; July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011) was an American singer and songwriter whose musical career spanned soul, country, pop, and musical theater. His hit songs included " The 'In' Crowd" in 1965 and "Dr ...
's "
Drift Away "Drift Away" is a song by Mentor Williams written in 1970 and originally recorded by John Henry Kurtz on his 1972 album ''Reunion''. Mentor Williams was a country songwriter, and John Henry Kurtz was an actor and swamp rock singer. It was later ...
" for the Christian market. Writer Timothy Yap called the album's songwriting "top notch" in his review of the album. Markos Papadatos of the ''Digital Journal'' gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling the record "phenomenal". The album was released a month prior to her death in July 2015.


Equestrian career

In addition to her music career, Anderson was also an
equestrian The word equestrian is a reference to equestrianism, or horseback riding, derived from Latin ' and ', "horse". Horseback riding (or Riding in British English) Examples of this are: * Equestrian sports *Equestrian order, one of the upper classes i ...
and professional horse racer. While she had equestrian credits before signing her first recording contract, Anderson continued pursuing it throughout her life. Over the course of her life, Anderson had won 16 national championships, eight world championships and some celebrity championships. She often alternated between performing music concerts and participating in horse shows. "I'd go sing at a concert, then fly to a horse show, then fly back the next night for a concert. I was real serious about showing horses", she recounted. Anderson also bred horses, most notably
quarter horses The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at ...
. Among her bred horses, Doc Starlight, helped start a bloodline for
cutting horse A cutting horse is a stock horse, typically an American Quarter Horse, bred and trained for cutting, a modern equestrian competition requiring a horse and rider to separate a single cow from a herd of cattle and prevent it from getting back to th ...
s in the United States. She was a lifelong member of the
American Quarter Horse Association The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), based in Amarillo, Texas, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse. The association sanctions many competitive even ...
and participated in a variety of the organization's events. While she participated in many events, the cutting horse events were considered her favorites. Anderson kept show horses in Texas during the final years of her life. She also employed a horse trainer to keep the animals active and ready for competitions. Anderson traveled between Texas and her home in New Mexico to spend time with the horses. She also raised horses at her ranch in New Mexico. In a 1995 interview, Anderson told reporter Gene Stout that she mainly moved to New Mexico so that she could raise horses. "I’ve been kind of a cowgirl most of my life, so New Mexico is the perfect place for me. It suits me very well. Ninety percent of the time I’m in cowboy boots and a cowboy hat", she recounted. Anderson worked with disabled children and facilitated in learning to ride horses. She helped establish a horse riding organization in
Franklin, Tennessee Franklin is a city in and county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. About south of Nashville, it is one of the principal cities of the Nashville metropolitan area and Middle Tennessee. As of 2020, its population was 83,454 ...
called "Special Riders". Anderson was inspired to establish the organization after observing a child who had crutches and was unable to ride. Anderson also collaborated with a similar program in Texas called "Rocky Top Riders". Although not started by Anderson, the program was named for her 1970 country hit. She also established a clinic to help aspiring young female riders. Entitled "Rodeo Queen", the clinic focused on horse show activities, such as horse grooming and self-care. She also worked with the
North American Riding for the Handicapped Association Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.), formerly the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), is a non-profit organization based in Denver, Colorado, that promotes the benefits of the ...
(NARHA) for several years.


Personal life


Marriages, relationships and family

Anderson was married twice and had three children. Her first marriage to Glenn Sutton lasted from 1968 until 1977. The pair met after Sutton developed an interest in producing her while at the Chart label. Anderson stated that she had turned down several professional opportunities due to Sutton's disapproval. This included touring in
Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
with Bob Hope and acting in the film ''
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings ''W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings'' is a 1975 American comedy film directed by John G. Avildsen, starring Burt Reynolds, and written by Thomas Rickman. The 20th Century Fox film features the acting debut of Jerry Reed. Plot In 1957, W.W. Bright (B ...
''. The pair continued collaborating musically until they divorced in 1977. The couple had one child together, Lisa Sutton. In 1978, Anderson married Texas business entrepreneur Harold "Spook" Stream. She had met Stream at a rodeo event and developed a romantic relationship shortly afterward. The couple had two children together. The couple divorced in 1982. Anderson claimed that Stream had been physically abusive, stating that he had attempted to run her over with a vehicle and attempted to hit her. Following their divorce, Anderson and Stream fought over custody of their two children. Although attempting to gain visitation rights, Anderson ultimately lost custody of the children. Anderson reconnected with songwriter
Mentor Williams Mentor Ralph Williams (June 11, 1946 – November 16, 2016) was an American songwriter and producer. He is best known for writing " Drift Away," a popular song first performed by John Henry Kurtz in 1972 and popularized by Dobie Gray the followi ...
following her divorce. The pair reunited at a Nashville press event and the relationship turned romantic in 1989. The couple later moved to a ranch in
Taos, New Mexico Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Initially founded in 1615, it was intermittently occupied until its formal establishment in 1795 by Nuevo México Governor Fernando Cha ...
, the home state of Williams. Anderson and Williams lived in New Mexico until her death in 2015. The pair never married but remained in a committed relationship. "He’s technically my boyfriend, but really he’s like my husband", Anderson said in 2013.


Legal issues

Anderson had issues with alcohol towards the end of her life. In December 2004, she was arrested and charged with
driving under the influence Driving under the influence (DUI)—also called driving while impaired, impaired driving, driving while intoxicated (DWI), drunk driving, operating while intoxicated (OWI), operating under the influence (OUI), operating vehicle under the infl ...
in
Denton, Texas Denton is a city in and the county seat of Denton County, Texas, United States. With a population of 139,869 as of 2020, it is the 27th-most populous city in Texas, the 197th-most populous city in the United States, and the 12th-most populous ...
. A driver following Anderson called the police after noticing her car weaving in and out of lanes. After failing a field sobriety test, she was arrested and released on a $1000 bond. On January 24, 2005, Anderson was accused of shoplifting a
Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...
DVD from a local supermarket in Taos, New Mexico. Upon her arrest she punched the arresting officer. She was charged with shoplifting, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer. The assault charges were later dropped. The shoplifting charge was dropped, as long as Anderson agreed to not commit any further offenses. In May 2006, Anderson was arrested on a second DUI charge after a traffic accident near
Española, New Mexico Española is a city primarily in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. A portion of the central and eastern section of the city is in Santa Fe County. Founded as a railroad village some distance from the old Indian town of San Juan de lo ...
. According to police, Anderson failed a sobriety test and refused to take a breathalyzer test after her car hit the back of another car. No one was injured in the collision and she again was charged and released on bond. Her last arrest occurred on September 11, 2014, after being involved in a minor traffic accident in
Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
, on West End Avenue. Anderson was arrested after she admitted to drinking alcohol and taking prescription medication. She was booked on DUI and released on a $5,000 bond. She issued a statement and apologized to her fans. Anderson later went through rehabilitation at the
Betty Ford Center The Betty Ford Center (BFC) is a non-profit, residential treatment center for persons with substance dependence in Rancho Mirage, California. It offers inpatient, outpatient, and residential day treatment for alcohol and other drug addictions, as ...
.


Death

Anderson died on July 30, 2015, at the
Vanderbilt University Medical Center The Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is a medical provider with multiple hospitals in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as clinics and facilities throughout Middle Tennessee. VUMC is an independent non-profit organization, but maintains acad ...
in
Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
, at the age of 67. She had been briefly hospitalized due to
pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...
after vacationing in Italy. The official cause of death was a heart attack. At her funeral, friend
Brenda Lee Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944), known professionally as Brenda Lee, is an American singer. Performing rockabilly, pop and country music, she had 47 US chart hits during the 1960s and is ranked fourth in that decade, surpassed only ...
gave a speech and several
doves Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...
were released to commemorate her passing. She is buried at
Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 660 Thompson Lane in Nashville, Tennessee. It is one of the largest cemeteries in Nashville. Among those interred or entombed in the cemetery, there are many prominent members of the country music ge ...
in Nashville near her mother and father. In 2018, Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery (referred to as "Cemetery of Country Stars") created "The Lynn Anderson Rose Garden", consisting of 200 Lynn Anderson Hybrid Rose Bushes (named for the singer by the National Rose Society of America), as a place of reflection and meditation, in honor of Anderson's signature song.


Musical styles

Anderson's music is rooted in the country genre. It is also rooted in the sub-genres of the
Nashville Sound The Nashville Sound originated during the mid-1950s as a subgenre of American country music, replacing the chart dominance of the rough honky tonk music, which was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s, with "smooth strings and choruses", "sophist ...
,
Countrypolitan The Nashville Sound originated during the mid-1950s as a subgenre of American country music, replacing the chart dominance of the rough Honky tonk, honky tonk music, which was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s, with "smooth strings and choruse ...
, bluegrass, western and gospel. Early on, Anderson had a traditional country style that featured instruments such as the
steel guitar A steel guitar ( haw, kīkākila) is any guitar played while moving a steel bar or similar hard object against plucked strings. The bar itself is called a "steel" and is the source of the name "steel guitar". The instrument differs from a conve ...
and the banjo. These recordings also incorporated some elements of the Nashville Sound style. Her style shifted after working alongside Glenn Sutton, who helped develop Anderson's music towards the Countrypolitan format by combining
soft rock Soft rock is a form of rock music that originated in the late 1960s in Southern California and the United Kingdom which smoothed over the edges of singer-songwriter and pop rock, relying on simple, melodic songs with big, lush productions. S ...
and
adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...
. This was first seen on her 1970 studio album, ''
No Love at All "No Love at All" is a song written by Johnny Christopher and Wayne C. Thompson. It was recorded by American country music artist Lynn Anderson and released as a single in June 1970 via Columbia Records. Background and release "No Love at A ...
''. Reviewer Pemberton Roach said the album exemplified the style through its emotional lyrics and mature vocal stylings. It was most apparent in "Rose Garden", which writer Richard Carlin called a "poppy, upbeat song" with rock accompaniment. As Anderson's music routinely crossed over into the pop field, it developed into adult contemporary and pop music. Anderson recorded covers of pop hits for her studio releases during the 1970s. In his review of her 1972 album, Greg Adams commented on her shift: "''Cry'' continues Lynn Anderson's trend toward pop music and away from songs written by her gifted mother, Liz Anderson."
Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...
noted a similar trend in his review of her 2017 album, ''The Definitive Collection'': " twinds up with a narrative, illustrating how Anderson drifted from the Nashville sound to easy listening by the end of the '70s, and by telling that story, this double disc lives up to its title's promise". Anderson's singing voice has also been highlighted by writers and journalists. David Laing of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' described her as having a "powerful alto voice." Steve Huey of Allmusic called Anderson's voice "sweet but strong" in his biography of her career.


Legacy

Anderson has been widely regarded as one of country music's most significant female artists. According to Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann, Anderson brought female artists to a new level in the 1970s. Steve Huey of Allmusic called her "one of the most popular female country singers of the early '70s". Courtney Campbell of ''Wide Open Country'' called her "one of the most important female country music voices of her time". At the time of her passing, other country artists acknowledged her as a career inspiration, most notably
Neal McCoy Hubert Neal McGaughey Jr. (born July 30, 1958), known professionally as Neal McCoy, is an American country music singer. He has released 10 studio albums on various labels, and has released 34 singles to country radio. Although he first charted on ...
,
Martina McBride Martina Mariea McBride (née Schiff, born July 29, 1966) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record producer. She is known for her soprano singing range and her country pop material. McBride was born in Sharon, Kansas, and relocat ...
and
Mary Sarah Mary Sarah Gross (born July 7, 1995), known professionally as Mary Sarah, is a country music singer and songwriter. She started what would become her career with performances local to her region, before being picked up by Kidz Bop in 2007. Aft ...
.
Reba McEntire Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955), or simply Reba, is an American country music singer and actress. Dubbed " the Queen of Country", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Since the 1970s, McEntire has placed over 100 single ...
also saw Anderson as a musical inspiration: "I am a huge fan of Lynn’s. She was always so nice to me. She did so much for the females in country music. Always continuing to pave the road for those to follow." Writers and music journalists have most notably regarded Anderson as an important crossover music artist. In his book ''Historical Dictionary of Popular Music'', author Norman Abjorensen viewed her as an artist that "took aim at the mainstream pop audience". Bufwack and Oermann noted that Anderson's "Rose Garden" helped set the trend for female crossover artists in the 1970s. Her crossover legacy has also been recognized for her national television appearances. In 2015, ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' explained that Anderson was the first female country artist to appear on national television due to cast membership on ''The Lawrence Welk Show''. Courtney Campbell of ''Wide Open Country'' noted that she was the first female country performer to appear on ''
The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...
'' and headline at
Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...
in New York City. Anderson has also been given honors and achievements as part of her legacy.
Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...
named her their "Artist of the Decade" between 1970 and 1980. In the mid-1990s, a
hybrid tea rose Hybrid tea is an informal horticultural classification for a group of garden roses. The first hybrid tea roses were created in France in the mid-1800s, by cross-breeding the large, floriferous Hybrid Perpetuals with the tall, elegant Tea roses. T ...
was created called "The Lynn Anderson Rose". In 1999, Governor
Don Sundquist Donald Kenneth Sundquist (born March 15, 1936) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 47th Governor of Tennessee from 1995 to 2003. Prior to his governorship, he represented Tennessee's 7th congressional district in the Unit ...
of Tennessee made June 15 "Lynn Anderson Day" in the state. She was also inducted into the North American Country Music Association Hall of Fame the same year. In 2002, she was ranked by
Country Music Television Country Music Television (CMT) is an American pay TV network owned by Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global. Launched on March 5, 1983, as Country Music Television, CMT was the first nationally available channel devoted to coun ...
on their list of the "40 Greatest Women of Country Music". She received a similar recognition when ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' included her on their list of the "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time". In 2017, her stage costumes and memorabilia were on display at the
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amass ...
. The Anderson exhibit was called "Keep Me in Mind". The exhibit ran through 2018. In 2018, daughter Lisa Sutton helped open the Lynn Anderson Rose Garden in Nashville to pay tribute to her career. In 2019, she was inducted into the
Western Music Association Hall of Fame The Western Music Association Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Western Music Association. Inductees are those individuals deemed important to the traditional and contemporary music of the American West and the American Cowboy. The organization i ...
. In 2020, Anderson was featured in the
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
documentary "Iconic Women of Country". Female country artists, including
Trisha Yearwood Patricia Lynn Yearwood (born September 19, 1964) is an American singer, actress, author and television personality. She rose to fame with her 1991 debut single " She's in Love with the Boy," which became a number one hit on the ''Billboard'' c ...
, discussed her legacy in the genre. The same year, Anderson's eleventh studio album, ''Rose Garden'', was remastered for its 50th anniversary. The new edition included liner notes from Clive Davis and Reba McEntire.


Discography

Studio albums * 1967: '' Ride, Ride, Ride'' * 1967: '' Promises, Promises'' * 1968: ''
Big Girls Don't Cry Big Girls Don't Cry may refer to: Music * ''Big Girls Don't Cry'' (Lynn Anderson album), 1968 * ''Big Girls Don't Cry'' (The Weather Girls album), 1986 * "Big Girls Don't Cry" (Fergie song), 2007 * "Big Girls Don't Cry" (The Four Seasons song), ...
'' * 1969: ''
With Love, from Lynn ''With Love, from Lynn'' is a studio album released by American country artist Lynn Anderson. It was released in March 1969 via Chart Records and was produced by Slim Williamson. Her fourth studio release, ''With Love from Lynn'' contained 12 track ...
'' * 1969: ''
At Home with Lynn ''At Home with Lynn'' is a studio album by American country artist Lynn Anderson. It was released in July 1969 on Chart Records and was produced by Slim Williamson. It was Anderson's fifth studio recording in her music career and contained a tota ...
'' * 1969: ''
Songs That Made Country Girls Famous ''Songs That Made Country Girls Famous'' is a studio album by Lynn Anderson released in 1969. The album became Anderson's second top ten LP on ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard's'' Top Country Albums chart, peaking at #9. The eleven song album ...
'' * 1970: '' Uptown Country Girl'' * 1970: ''
Stay There 'Til I Get There ''Stay There 'Til I Get There'' is a studio album by American country artist Lynn Anderson. It was released in May 1970 on Columbia Records and was produced by Glenn Sutton. The album was Anderson's eighth studio recording as a music artist and was ...
'' * 1970: ''
No Love at All "No Love at All" is a song written by Johnny Christopher and Wayne C. Thompson. It was recorded by American country music artist Lynn Anderson and released as a single in June 1970 via Columbia Records. Background and release "No Love at A ...
'' * 1970: '' I'm Alright'' * 1970: ''
Rose Garden A rose garden or rosarium is a garden or park, often open to the public, used to present and grow various types of garden roses, and sometimes rose species. Most often it is a section of a larger garden. Designs vary tremendously and roses m ...
'' * 1971: ''
You're My Man "You're My Man" is a song written by Glenn Sutton. The song was a popular No. 1 country hit by country artist Lynn Anderson from 1971. Background "You're My Man" is mainly about the narrator describing her affection for her lover, saying there i ...
'' * 1971: ''
How Can I Unlove You "How Can I Unlove You" is the name of a No. 1 country hit by country music singer Lynn Anderson, released in 1971. "How Can I Unlove You" was written by Joe South, who had also written "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden". The song was produced ...
'' * 1971: '' The Christmas Album'' * 1972: ''
Cry Crying is the dropping of tears (or welling of tears in the eyes) in response to an emotional state, or pain. Emotions that can lead to crying include sadness, anger, and even happiness. The act of crying has been defined as "a complex secreto ...
'' * 1972: ''
Listen to a Country Song ''Listen to a Country Song'' is a studio album by Country music singer Lynn Anderson, released in 1972. This was the second album released by Anderson in 1972, the other being her album ''Cry'', which featured the No. 1 hit of the same name. Th ...
'' * 1973: '' Keep Me in Mind'' * 1973: '' Top of the World'' * 1974: '' Smile for Me'' * 1974: ''
What a Man My Man Is "What a Man My Man Is" is the name of a No. 1 U.S. country music hit by Lynn Anderson Lynn Renée Anderson (September 26, 1947 – July 30, 2015) was an American country singer and television personality. Her crossover signature recording, " ...
'' * 1975: ''
I've Never Loved Anyone More ''I've Never Loved Anyone More'' is a studio album by the country singer Lynn Anderson, released in 1975. In the USA, two singles were released from the album, the title song (written by Linda Hargrove and Michael Nesmith) and "He Turns It Into L ...
'' * 1976: '' All the King's Horses'' * 1977: '' I Love What Love Is Doing to Me/He Ain't You'' * 1977: '' Wrap Your Love All Around Your Man'' * 1978: '' From the Inside'' * 1979: '' Outlaw Is Just a State of Mind'' * 1980: '' Even Cowgirls Get the Blues'' * 1982: '' The Best of Lynn Anderson: Memories and Desires'' * 1983: ''
Back The human back, also called the dorsum, is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral column run ...
'' * 1988: '' What She Does Best'' * 1992: ''
Cowboy's Sweetheart ''Cowboy's Sweetheart'' is the name of a studio album, released by country singer Lynn Anderson in 1992. Anderson had recently finished a long and lucrative career in the country music business, releasing and promoting albums and singles for the ...
'' * 1998: '' Latest and Greatest'' * 1999: '' Home for the Holidays'' * 2005: '' The Bluegrass Sessions'' * 2006: ''
Cowgirl A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the '' vaquer ...
'' * 2010: '' Cowgirl II'' * 2015: ''
Bridges A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whic ...
''


Filmography


Awards

Anderson received many awards during the course of her career. This includes two from the
Academy of Country Music The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Among the founders were Eddie Miller, Tommy Wiggins, and Mickey and Chris Christensen. They wanted to promote country music ...
, one from the
Country Music Association The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre. The objectives of the organization are to guide and enha ...
and one from the
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
.


References


Footnotes


Books

* * *


Further reading

* Bufwack, Mary A. (1998). "Lynn Anderson". In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury (editor); New York:
Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...
, page 14.


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Lynn 1947 births 2015 deaths American women country singers American female equestrians American country singer-songwriters American people of Norwegian descent American television actresses Columbia Records artists Country musicians from California Country musicians from North Dakota Countrypolitan musicians Grammy Award winners Lawrence Welk MCA Records artists Mercury Records artists People from Fair Oaks, California People from Grand Forks, North Dakota People from Sacramento, California People from Taos, New Mexico Singer-songwriters from California Singer-songwriters from North Dakota