Jean Shepard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Shepard
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Jean Shepard in June 2006
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ollie Imogene Shepard |
| Born | November 21, 1933 Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | September 25, 2016 (aged 82) Hendersonville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Country, honky tonk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1952–2015 |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | Ferlin Husky, Ray Pillow |
Ollie Imogene "Jean" Shepard (born November 21, 1933 – died September 25, 2016) was an American country music singer and songwriter. She is known for being a pioneer for women in country music. This means she helped open doors for other female artists.
Jean Shepard had many hit songs, including one that reached number one on the country charts. She recorded many albums and became a member of the famous Grand Ole Opry in 1955. The Grand Ole Opry is a well-known country music stage show in Nashville, Tennessee.
Her first big hit was "A Dear John Letter" in 1953. It was a duet with Ferlin Husky. This song was special because it was one of the first big hits by a female country artist after World War II. It sold over a million copies!
Contents
Biography
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Ollie Imogene Shepard was born on November 21, 1933, in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. She was one of ten children in her family. She grew up in Visalia, California, which is close to Bakersfield.
As a teenager, Jean played bass guitar in an all-girl band called the Melody Ranch Girls. This was in 1948. A few years later, a famous musician named Hank Thompson discovered her talent.
With Hank Thompson's help, Jean Shepard signed with Capitol Records in 1952. This happened after another female country singer, Kitty Wells, had a big hit song. Jean recorded her first song for Capitol Records in 1952, but it did not become a hit.
Becoming a Star (1953–1956)
Jean Shepard's first song to become a hit was "A Dear John Letter" in 1953. She sang this song as a duet with Ferlin Husky. A "Dear John letter" is a letter from a girlfriend breaking up with a soldier. This song became a number-one hit in country music. It also became popular on the pop music charts, reaching number four.
Their next song, "Forgive Me John," was also a hit. It reached the top 10 on the country chart. Because Jean was only 20 years old and still a minor, her parents allowed her to tour with Ferlin Husky.
In 1955, Jean Shepard joined a national TV show called Ozark Jubilee. She was on the show for several years. That same year, she recorded her first album, Songs of a Love Affair. She also had her first solo hit song, "A Satisfied Mind," which reached number four on the country charts. She had another top-five hit called "Beautiful Lies" that year.
Because she had so many hit songs, Jean was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1955. At that time, only a few women, like Kitty Wells and Minnie Pearl, were big stars at the Opry.
Challenges and Comeback (1956–1978)
Jean Shepard was known for singing "honky-tonk" country music. This style was very traditional. However, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, a new style called the "Nashville sound" became popular. This new sound was smoother and more pop-friendly. Because of this, Jean had fewer hit songs between 1956 and 1963. Still, she was named Cash Box's Top Female Artist in 1959.
In 1960, Jean married fellow Opry star Hawkshaw Hawkins. They had met on the Ozark Jubilee TV show. Sadly, Hawkshaw died three years later in a plane crash. This was the same crash that killed other famous singers like Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. Jean gave birth to their son, Hawkshaw Jr., just one month after the crash. She later married another country musician, Benny Birchfield. They stayed married until her death.
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Jean Shepard made a big comeback in 1964 with her song "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)." This song reached the top 10. She continued to have hits in the mid-1960s. In 1966, she sang a duet with Ray Pillow called "I'll Take the Dog," which was a top-10 hit. She also had two solo hits that year: "If the Teardrops Were Silver" and "Many Happy Hangovers to You."
In the early 1970s, Jean Shepard signed with United Artists Records. Her first song for this label, "Slippin' Away," was a huge hit. It reached number four on the country charts. She continued to have hit songs throughout the 1970s.
Jean Shepard was known for being a "traditionalist" in country music. She believed in keeping country music pure and traditional. She even helped start an organization to support traditional country music.
Later Years and Legacy (1980–2016)
After the 1970s, Jean Shepard did not record new music as often. However, she released one more album in 1981 called Dear John. This album included new versions of her old hits.
Jean continued to perform at the Grand Ole Opry and tour around the world until 2015. She had many fans in the United States and the United Kingdom.
In 2005, Jean Shepard celebrated 50 years as a member of the Opry. When she passed away, she was the longest-serving living member of the Grand Ole Opry. In 2011, she was honored by being added to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 2014, Jean Shepard wrote a book about her life called Down Through the Years. On November 21, 2015, she made history. She became the first woman to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 60 years in a row. Only one other person has achieved this. She retired from performing on stage that night.
Jean Shepard passed away on September 25, 2016, at the age of 82. She had Parkinson's disease. Her music and her role as a pioneer for women in country music continue to be remembered.
Discography
- Songs of a Love Affair (1956)
- Lonesome Love (1958)
- Got You on My Mind (1961)
- Heartaches and Tears (1962)
Images for kids
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Jean Shepard in June 2006
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Jean Shepard in 1971
See also
In Spanish: Jean Shepard para niños
