Lynn Anderson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lynn Anderson
Anderson in 1970
Born	Lynn Rene Anderson (1947-09-26)September 26, 1947 Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.
Died	July 30, 2015(2015-07-30) (aged 67) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter television personality equestrian
Years active	1966–2015
Spouse(s)	Glenn Sutton ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1977)​ Harold "Spook" Stream ​ ​ (m. 1978; div. 1982)​
Partner(s)	Mentor Williams (1989–2015)
Children	3
Parent(s)	Liz Anderson (mother)
Musical career
Genres	Country Countrypolitan western bluegrass gospel
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Chart Columbia Permian MCA Mercury Laserlight Intersound Smith Showboat Center Sound

Lynn Renée Anderson (September 26, 1947 – July 30, 2015) was a famous American country singer and TV star. She was best known for her hit song, "Rose Garden," which was a number one song in the United States and around the world. Lynn had five number one songs and 18 songs that reached the top ten on the Billboard country music charts. Many people see Lynn Anderson as one of the most important country music performers ever.

Lynn was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S. Her mother, Liz Anderson, was also a country music artist, and Lynn grew up in California. In 1966, Lynn signed a record deal with Chart Records after she was heard singing with her mother. Before that, she had made demo tapes of her mother's songs and appeared on local country music TV shows in California. In 1967, her song "If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away)" became a top ten hit. Soon after, Lynn joined The Lawrence Welk Show, where she sang country music every week to a national audience.

In 1970, Lynn Anderson signed with Columbia Records. Her first husband, Glenn Sutton, produced her music there. Her biggest success was "Rose Garden." This song became a hit on country, pop, and adult contemporary charts. It also charted in many other countries and won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. During the 1970s, Lynn also had number one hits like "You're My Man", "How Can I Unlove You", "Keep Me in Mind", and "What a Man My Man Is". She also became a popular TV personality, appearing on The Tonight Show and specials with Bob Hope and Dean Martin. She even had her own TV specials.

After a short break, Lynn returned with the album Back in 1983. This album included the top ten hit "You're Welcome to Tonight", which she sang with Gary Morris. She continued to record music sometimes throughout the 1980s, including a new version of the pop hit "Under the Boardwalk" and the album What She Does Best (1988). Lynn kept releasing new albums into the 2000s, such as The Bluegrass Sessions in 2004. She continued performing until she passed away in 2015. Because her music was popular across different styles, she was listed on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time" and CMTs "40 Greatest Women of Country Music."

Early Life and Horse Riding

Lynn Rene Anderson was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on September 26, 1947. Her parents were Casey and Liz Anderson. Her grandparents were from Scandinavia and started a "saddle club" in North Dakota. Lynn said she could ride horses even before she could walk! When she was young, her family moved to California. Lynn convinced her parents to buy a ranch in Sacramento, California, where they raised horses. She learned how to ride and care for them. At age nine, Lynn won second place at a horse-racing event in San Francisco, California.

Lynn was also interested in performing from a young age. Both her parents were songwriters and knew many country performers. Lynn's interest in music continued through high school. She worked as a secretary for a radio station, KROY, in Sacramento. After graduating, she became the general manager's secretary.

While working, Lynn kept competing in horse shows. In 1966, she won several competitions and was called the "California Horse Show Queen." Her mother, Liz, also wrote songs while watching Lynn at these events. Liz sent her songs to Los Angeles and Nashville, Tennessee. One of her songs, "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers," was recorded by Merle Haggard in 1964. This led producer Chet Atkins to offer Liz a record deal with RCA Victor, and the family moved to Nashville.

In 1965, before the family officially moved, Liz and Lynn visited Nashville. They sang informally with other artists at a hotel. Producer Slim Williamson was there and was impressed by Lynn's voice. He offered Lynn her own record deal. In 1966, she signed her first contract with Chart Records.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out in Country Music (1966–1969)

Lynn's mother, Liz Anderson, wrote a song called "Ride, Ride, Ride." Lynn loved it and wanted to record it for her new label. This song became Lynn's first to appear on the music charts. Her next song, "If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away)," also written by her mother, was Lynn's first big hit. It reached number five on the Billboard country singles chart in 1967. Her first album, Ride, Ride, Ride, came out in 1967 and reached number 25 on the country albums chart.

Lynn with radio disc jockeys, 1967

Her song "Promises, Promises" reached number four on the country singles list in 1968. Her second album, also called Promises, Promises, became number one on the country albums chart. Music critics praised Lynn's early recordings, noting her wide appeal.

In 1967, Lynn's career grew even more when she joined The Lawrence Welk Show. She became the show's first country performer and toured with the cast. This TV exposure helped her music career continue to succeed. In 1967, she won "Top Female Vocalist" at the Academy of Country Music Awards. She stayed on The Lawrence Welk Show until 1968.

Lynn felt that people in Nashville didn't see her as a "real country artist" because she was from California and on the Welk show. So, she decided to record more traditional country songs. One of these was a cover of the Osborne Brothers' "Rocky Top." Lynn's version became a bigger hit than the original, reaching number 17 on the country singles chart in 1970. She had other country hits between 1968 and 1969, like "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "That's a No No." Her sixth album, Songs That Made Country Girls Famous (1969), was a tribute to earlier female country singers and reached number nine on the country albums chart.

The "Rose Garden" Era (1970–1980)

Lynn in Billboard magazine, 1971

In 1970, Lynn signed with Columbia Records. Her husband, Glenn Sutton, became her producer. Her first song for Columbia was "Stay There, Till I Get There," which became her fifth top ten hit in 1970. Her album of the same name also came out in 1970.

Lynn found the song "Rose Garden" on another artist's album and loved it. She showed it to Glenn Sutton, but he didn't want to record it because some lines were from a male point of view. However, Lynn kept bringing the song to recording sessions, and he finally agreed. When it was released in October 1970, "Rose Garden" became Lynn's first number one song, staying at the top for five weeks. It also became a hit on the pop charts, reaching number three in February 1971. The song became a hit in 15 other countries. Its success helped Lynn win awards from the 13th Annual Grammy Awards, the Academy of Country Music, and the Country Music Association. Lynn's album, Rose Garden, released in December 1970, topped the country albums chart and stayed on the charts for a long time. It was also her highest-charting album on the pop album list, reaching number 19. The album sold over a million copies.

After "Rose Garden," Lynn had more number one hits in 1971 with "You're My Man" and "How Can I Unlove You." Both songs also did well on the adult contemporary charts. These songs appeared on her albums You're My Man and How Can I Unlove You, which also topped or nearly topped the country album charts.

She continued to sing different styles of music. In 1972, Lynn recorded the pop hit "Cry," which became a top five country hit. She also had top five hits with "Listen to a Country Song" and "Fool Me." She then covered The Carpenters' song "Top of the World." Lynn's version reached number two on the country charts. When The Carpenters heard Lynn's version was a hit, they released their own version for the pop market.

Critics have noted Lynn's ability to sing different music styles. They said her songs showed she could be "poignant" (sad) and "downhearted." Her albums often had an easy listening style, which helped her music appeal to many different types of listeners.

Lynn in Billboard magazine, 1972

Between 1973 and 1974, "Keep Me in Mind" and "What a Man My Man Is" became number one hits. Lynn's success was also helped by her many TV appearances. She was on shows like The Brady Bunch Hour, The Tonight Show, and The Midnight Special. She also worked with Dean Martin and Bob Hope on TV and in concerts. In 1977, Lynn hosted her own TV special on CBS. These TV appearances helped promote her songs. For example, after she performed her 1977 song "Wrap Your Love All Around Your Man" on Starsky and Hutch, it reached number 12 on the country charts. She also had other top twenty country hits like "He Turns It into Love Again" and "I've Never Loved Anyone More."

In 1979, Lynn returned with Karla Bonoff's "Isn't It Always Love," which reached the top ten of the country charts. Her 1979 album, Outlaw Is Just a State of Mind, reached the top 30 on the country albums chart. In 1980, Lynn released her last album for Columbia Records, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. It included two top 30 country songs, including the title track.

Return to Music (1982–1989)

In 1980, Lynn left Columbia Records. She moved to Louisiana with her second husband and focused on her family. She didn't record new music for almost three years. After her second marriage ended in 1982, she returned to Nashville. It was hard to get her career going again, but she started working with an agent named Bonnie Garner. In 1983, Bonnie helped her get a new record deal with Permian Records.

In 1983, Lynn released her album Back. This album was her last to appear on the charts, reaching number 61 on the country albums list. Two songs from the album became hits. "What I Learned from Loving You" was a top twenty hit. The second was a duet with Gary Morris called "You're Welcome to Tonight." This was Lynn's first top ten hit in five years, reaching number nine in 1984.

In 1986, Permian Records closed down. Lynn didn't release full albums for a while, but she did record a song for MCA Records called "Heart of the Matter," which didn't chart. She then signed with Mercury Records. In 1988, her cover of The Drifters' "Under the Boardwalk" became her highest-charting song in five years, reaching number 24 on the country charts. Her album What She Does Best was released in 1988. The album's title song was also a small hit. The last song from this album, "How Many Hearts," was Lynn's final song to appear on the charts, reaching number 69 in March 1989.

New Musical Directions (1990–2015)

After leaving Mercury in 1990, Lynn started to explore different parts of her career. In 1990, she appeared in a BBC Scotland TV drama called The Wreck on the Highway. She also recorded different types of music. In 1992, she released the album Cowboy's Sweetheart, which had a western theme and included collaborations with Emmylou Harris and Marty Stuart. Critics praised this album, saying Lynn sounded "better or more alluring than she does in this collection." Six years later, Lynn released Latest and Greatest, which had new versions of her hits and three new songs.

Lynn in concert, 2010

In 2000, Lynn released her first live album, Live at Billy Bob's Texas. In 2005, her album The Bluegrass Sessions came out. This album featured Lynn's old hits recorded in a bluegrass style, including "Rose Garden" and "Rocky Top." Even though some critics had mixed feelings, The Bluegrass Sessions was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.

Lynn continued to tour and perform. In 2007, she performed at the CMA Music Festival. In 2009, she performed at the Stagecoach Festival. Between 2010 and 2011, she performed with the Metropole Symphony Orchestra. Lynn also kept recording music. In 2006, she released Cowgirl, a collection of western songs written with her mother. A similar album, Cowgirl II, came out in 2010. Lynn said she released these albums to show the western music genre in a "sophisticated way."

In June 2015, Lynn released her final album, Bridges. This album was a collection of gospel songs and included collaborations with The Martins and The Oak Ridge Boys. It was Lynn's first gospel album and featured a new version of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" for the Christian music market. Critics praised the album, calling it "top notch" and "phenomenal." The album was released just one month before she passed away in July 2015.

Equestrian Career

Besides her music career, Lynn Anderson was also a talented horse rider and professional horse racer. She had won many awards in horse riding before she even signed her first record deal, and she continued to ride throughout her life. Lynn won 16 national championships, eight world championships, and several celebrity championships.

Lynn raced and bred quarter horses, similar to the one pictured

She often went from music concerts to horse shows. Lynn said, "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." Lynn also bred horses, especially quarter horses. One of her horses, Doc Starlight, helped start a famous line of cutting horses in the United States. She was a lifelong member of the American Quarter Horse Association and loved participating in their events, especially the cutting horse events.

In her later years, Lynn kept show horses in Texas and New Mexico. She even moved to New Mexico so she could raise horses. She told a reporter in 1995, "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."

Lynn also worked with children with disabilities, helping them learn to ride horses. She helped start a horse riding organization in Franklin, Tennessee called "Special Riders." She was inspired after seeing a child with crutches who couldn't ride. Lynn also worked with a similar program in Texas called "Rocky Top Riders," which was named after her hit song. She also created a clinic called "Rodeo Queen" to help young female riders learn about horse shows, grooming, and self-care. She also worked with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) for many years.

Personal Life and Passing

Lynn Anderson was married twice and had three children. Her first marriage to Glenn Sutton lasted from 1968 to 1977. They had one child together, Lisa Sutton.

In 1978, Lynn married Harold "Spook" Stream. They had two children together. They divorced in 1982.

After her divorce, Lynn reconnected with songwriter Mentor Williams. Their friendship became a romantic relationship in 1989. They moved to a ranch in Taos, New Mexico, which was Mentor's home state. Lynn and Mentor lived in New Mexico until she passed away in 2015. They were never married but were in a committed relationship.

Lynn Anderson passed away on July 30, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 67. She had been in the hospital briefly due to pneumonia after a trip to Italy. The official cause of death was a heart attack. At her funeral, her friend Brenda Lee gave a speech, and several doves were released to honor her.

Lynn is buried in the mausoleum at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville, near her mother, Liz, who passed away in 2011. Her father, Clarence, passed away in 2018 and was buried next to his wife. In 2018, Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, known as the "Cemetery of Country Stars," created "The Lynn Anderson Rose Garden." This garden has 200 Lynn Anderson Hybrid Rose Bushes (named after her by the National Rose Society of America) and is a place for quiet reflection, honoring her famous song.

Musical Styles

Lynn Anderson's music was mainly country, but it also included styles like Nashville Sound, Countrypolitan, bluegrass, western, and gospel. Early in her career, Lynn had a traditional country style with instruments like the steel guitar and banjo. These early songs also had some elements of the Nashville Sound. Her style changed when she worked with Glenn Sutton, who helped her music move towards the Countrypolitan style, mixing soft rock and adult contemporary sounds. This was first heard on her 1970 album, No Love at All. Her song "Rose Garden" was described as a "poppy, upbeat song" with rock music elements.

As Lynn's music became popular in the pop world, it developed into adult contemporary and pop music. She often recorded covers of pop hits for her albums in the 1970s. Critics noted her shift towards pop music. Lynn's singing voice has also been praised. One writer described her as having a "powerful alto voice," and another called her voice "sweet but strong."

Lynn Anderson's Legacy

Lynn Anderson is widely seen as one of country music's most important female artists. Many believe she helped female artists reach new levels of success in the 1970s. She is called "one of the most popular female country singers of the early '70s." Other country artists, like Neal McCoy, Martina McBride, and Reba McEntire, have said Lynn was an inspiration to them. Reba McEntire said, "She did so much for the females in country music. Always continuing to pave the road for those to follow."

Writers and music journalists often highlight Lynn Anderson as an important crossover artist. This means her music was popular in both country and pop genres. Her song "Rose Garden" helped set a trend for female crossover artists in the 1970s. Her legacy is also recognized for her many national TV appearances. The Washington Post noted that Lynn was the first female country artist to be a regular cast member on national television, thanks to The Lawrence Welk Show. She was also the first female country performer to appear on The Tonight Show and to headline a show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Lynn Anderson has received many honors and awards. Record World named her their "Artist of the Decade" for the 1970s. In the mid-1990s, a new type of hybrid tea rose was created and named "The Lynn Anderson Rose." In 1999, the Governor 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 that same year.

In 2002, Country Music Television included her on their list of the "40 Greatest Women of Country Music." Rolling Stone also put her on their list of the "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time." In 2017, her stage costumes and other items were displayed at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in an exhibit called "Keep Me in Mind." In 2018, her daughter, Lisa Sutton, helped open the Lynn Anderson Rose Garden in Nashville to honor her career. In 2019, she was inducted into the Western Music Association Hall of Fame. In 2020, Lynn was featured in the PBS documentary "Iconic Women of Country," where artists like Trisha Yearwood discussed her impact. The same year, her album Rose Garden was re-released for its 50th anniversary.

Discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Awards and Recognition

Lynn Anderson received many awards during her career. This includes two from the Academy of Country Music, one from the Country Music Association, and one from the Grammy Awards.

See also

In Spanish: Lynn Anderson para niños