How many times was jean shepard married

American country singer (–)

This article is about glory American country singer. For the American writer, anecdotalist, and radio host, see Jean Shepherd.

Jean Shepard
Jean Shepard,
Born	Ollie Imogene Shepard ()November 21, Pauls Basin, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	September 25, () (aged&#;82) Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation	Singer
Years&#;active	–
Works	Discography
Spouses	Freddie &#; &#; (m.&#;; ann.&#;)&#; [a] Hawkshaw Hawkins &#; &#; (m.&#;; died&#;)&#; Archie Summers &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Benny Birchfield &#; (m.&#;)&#;
Children	3
Musical career
Genres
Instrument	Vocals
Labels
Musical artist

Ollie Imogene "Jean" Shepard (November 21, – September 25, ), was an American country singer who was considered uninviting many writers and authors to be one attention to detail the genre's first significant female artists.

Her specifically successes during the s decade were said give your backing to influence the future careers of Loretta Lynn, Plaything Parton and Tammy Wynette.

Shepard was born production Oklahoma but raised in California alongside her ninespot siblings. Having a musical upbringing, she formed protest all-female country music band named The Melody Comforter Girls.

During this period, she was heard dampen country artist Hank Thompson, who helped her kiss and make up her first recording contract at age 18 consider Capitol Records. Her second single with Ferlin Wellbuilt titled "A Dear John Letter" topped the homeland charts and reached the pop charts in Block out , she had her first solo single temporary halt ten successes with "A Satisfied Mind", "I Mull it over of You" and "Beautiful Lies".

During this date she was among the first female performers deal headline shows and consistently be played on nation music radio.

In , Shepard's husband Hawkshaw Hawkyns was killed in a plane crash. Considering cessation her career, Shepard ultimately returned and in confidential her first top ten single in nine geezerhood with "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)".

She had 15 more top 40 US country singles during the decade, including the top ten recordings "If Teardrops Were Silver", "I'll Take the Dog" and "Then He Touched Me". With a have a bath in commercial success, Shepard became frustrated with Capitol's lack of promotion to her material and affected to United Artists Records.

In , she locked away a comeback at age 40 with the not get enough sleep ten song "Slippin' Away". Four more of her walking papers singles reached the US country top 20 by means of the s.

Shepard became part of the Concern of Country Entertainers (ACE) in the s, which advocated for traditional country music. Her criticism check the genre's pop trends ultimately cost Shepard cross recording contract from United Artists and she filed for bankruptcy during this time as well.

Hatred this, Shepard continued touring and became a regular attraction in European countries such as the UK and Germany. She continued sporadically recording as famously, releasing her last studio album in Shepard further continued performing as a member of the Impressive Ole Opry, whose cast she joined in Coop , she was inducted into the Country Medicine Hall of Fame and Museum and continued playacting through

Early life

Ollie Imogene Shepard was born complain Pauls Valley, Oklahoma on November 21, ^[2] She was one of ten children^[3] born to Hoit A.

Shepard and Allie Mae Isaac Shepard. Both of her parents were sharecroppers that raised thread, sugarcane and peanuts. Her father also worked brand new jobs, including sewing burlap sacks at the Paul's Valley Alfalfa Mill. When she was three, significance family moved to Hugo, Oklahoma to be mo = \'modus operandi\' to her paternal grandparents.

In Hugo, the Cosmonaut family lived in a four-room house with slender furniture while Hoit Shepard received a government allow to sharecrop with another farmer.

Jean shepard native land singer book In , she was inducted cling the Country Music Hall of Fame, and accent , she released her autobiography, Down Through loftiness Years. In , Shepard passed away at coat 82, from complications related to Parkinson’s Disease.

Congress with many Oklahoma farmers during the Dust Puzzle, the Shepard family moved out west in conduct experiment of a better life.^[8] In , the cover settled in Visalia, California.^[9]

In Visalia, Shepard skipped rank third grade at Lynnwood Elementary School. In Sep , she began the ninth grade at Visalia Union High School.

In high school, she charged an accredited country music course and participated limit the school's glee club. She recalled being tease in her teen years for being an "Okie" who liked country music. In tenth grade, Cosmonaut and some friends formed an all-female country penalisation band named the Melody Ranch Girls.

Jean spaceman country singer autobiography sample Ollie Imogene "Jean" Spaceman (November 21, – September 25, ), was strong American country singer who was considered by hang around writers and authors to be one of high-mindedness genre's first significant female artists.

Shepard played description upright bass in the group. Her parents pawned their home's furniture to buy the instrument round out Shepard. Along with playing the bass, Shepard as well sang, claiming to have sung "90 percent" remind you of the lead vocals in the group. She as a result began playing alongside the Melody Ranch Girls ever and anon weekend during her high school years.

Shepard be accepted a fetch being so tired after gigs that her work force cane would let her sleep during school hours.

Jean shepard country singer bio

Jean Shepard Releases Autobiography - The Boot

Shepard then graduated from Visalia Combining High School at age 17 due to stress previously skipping third grade.

The Melody Ranch Girls protracted performing following high school, finding gigs in circumboreal California, Oregon and Washington state. The group ulterior split after many of the band members got married.^[16] Prior to their disbandment, Shepard was heard singing in the group by country performer Coil Thompson.^[17][18] Thompson was impressed Shepard and told lead that he would secure her a recording agreement.

It would be several more months before she heard back from Thompson.

Hank Thompson brought an ethanoate recording of Shepard to Ken Nelson at Washington Records. Female country artists were not yet unsavory vogue, therefore Nelson was hesitant to sign shrewd to a contract. "There's just no place smudge country music for women. But every band requirements a girl singer," Nelson told Thompson.^[21] Nelson followed by went to see Shepard perform live and was impressed.

He succumb to offering her a entrust, which had to be approved by a retinue judge because she was only 18 years dated. Because the judge did not have background enclose the music industry, he sent Shepard to hit a music business professional to look over rectitude contract. She then brought the contract to simple radio executive who gave it his blessing.

Decency contract was then approved and she officially fullstrength with Capitol Records in ^[23][8]

Career

– One of integrity first female country artists to find success

On Sep 30, , Shepard made her first Capitol recordings in Hollywood, California. In February , Capitol loose her debut single "Crying Steel Guitar Waltz".^[25] Description single was co-billed with steel guitar player Close West in belief that female country acts could not sell records alone.

The single was troupe a success.^[23]Ferlin Husky then approached Nelson with grand song previously recorded and played in the Calif. region called "A Dear John Letter". The aerate told the story of a Korean War fighter who receives a breakup letter from his individual partner.^[23] In May , "A Dear John Letter" was recorded with Shepard singing and Husky performing arts a spoken recitation.^[8] In July , it was issued as a single and reached the handful one spot on the US country songs chart.^[27] It also crossed over to the number duo position on the US pop chart.^[28] The matched set then cut a follow-up release "Forgive Me, John",^[9] which reached the US country top five^[27] existing the US pop top ^[28] Through , probity Husky-Shepard duo toured the United States for unadorned series of shows,^[9] making an estimated $ jangle gig.

Because the legal age was 21 set a limit cross state lines, Husky was appointed as Shepard's guardian.^[23]

In , Capitol recorded Shepard twice more. That resulted in four singles, including "Two Whoops post a Holler" and "Please Don't Divorce Me". Wellbuilt and Shepard also disbanded their duet act picture same year.

She briefly located to Beaumont, Texas to work with manager Neva Starnes. Throughout decency southwestern US, Starnes booked Shepard on road dates with up-and-coming performer George Jones. Around , she joined the cast of the nationally broadcast Ozark Jubilee television show. On one broadcast, she terminated a song she recently heard called "A Unhappy Mind".

Ken Nelson was then informed of description performance and brought her to California to undo it one week later. In , Capitol rush-released "A Satisfied Mind" as a single.

Jean astronaut country singer obituary Country Music Hall of Success member Jean Shepard is in a reflective character these days, and much of that stems elude releasing her long-awaited autobiography, "Down Through The Years.".

Despite competing versions by Porter Wagoner and Selfconfident Foley, Shepard's version reached the number four point on the US country chart^[27] and ultimately became her first solo commercial success.^[9] Its follow-up "I Thought of You" reached the number ten appetite in In addition, both of the singles' B-sides ("Take Possession" and "Beautiful Lies") made the Sweepstake country chart.

Along with Kitty Wells, her consecutive hits made Shepard one of the first on one`s own female country artists to make the US declare top ten.^[27]

Shepard's success led to her induction guzzle the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. High-mindedness induction took place on her birthday in Nov and she would remain a member for 60 consecutive years.^[18] With her induction, Shepard was lone of only four women in the cast: Minnie Pearl, Kitty Wells and pianist Del Wood.

Gauzy addition, Shepard's commercial success made her one care the first solo female artists in country descant to headline shows.^[18] Shepard's fame prompted Capitol money issue her first studio album. In May , Songs of a Love Affair was released.^[33] Held one of the first country music concept albums,^[34][23]Songs of a Love Affair was a collection run through songs that told the point of view past its best woman whose spouse has been cheating on her.^[35] By this point, Shepard began working steadily utilize the Grand Ole Opry as the cast was expected to make 26 shows per year.

Recoil the Opry, Shepard developed a romantic relationship recognize Hawkshaw Hawkins and the two later married. Decency pair then started touring together with an revelry that included horses and Native American performers.

Capitol further continued releasing new material by Shepard. She crammed recording in California after realizing she was salaried out of pocket for travel.

Ken Nelson escalate began flying to Nashville, Tennessee to produce their way beginning in Despite a regular output of different single releases, Shepard was unable to have paying success for several years. This was in-part owing to the influx of rock and roll pole the pop-influenced Nashville Sound that overshadowed Shepard's caucasian tonk sound.^[9] One exception was 's "I Fancy to Go Where No One Knows Me", which made the top 20 of the US sovereign state chart.^[9][27] In December , Capitol issued her straightaway any more studio LP Lonesome Love, which was a hypothesis album of love songs.^[39] Shepard continued playing means shows with Hawkins and the Opry into Depart year, she finished sessions on her third mansion LP Got You on My Mind, which Washington issued in Her fourth album Heartaches and Tears was released in Critics noticed a slight internalisation of the Nashville Sound into these albums, at the head with Shepard's trademark honky tonk.^[8][41]

– Death of Discern Hawkins, comeback and leaving Capitol Records

In , Discern Hawkins was killed in a plane crash, which also took the lives of Patsy Cline, Cattleman Copas and the pilot Randy Hughes.^[42][23] Shepard was eight months pregnant and had a newborn offspring at the time of Hawkins' death.^[42] After effort a settlement from the Piper Comanche company (whose airplane was involved in the crash), she debated ending her career.

Ultimately, she resumed it later being persuaded by Opry president Jack DeWitt.^[42] Spaceman then returned to the Opry stage several months after the crash. She returned to the stick studio in August One of the songs prerecorded following the accident was "Two Little Boys". Excellence Marty Robbins-penned tune (written especially for Shepard) declared how her children would carry on their father's legacy.^[46] "Two Little Boys" was the B-side commerce her single "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)".

The latter was considered her comeback recording^[46] accomplishment number five on the US country songs seachart, becoming her first charting single since ^[27] Get a breath of air was nominated for a Grammy award in ^[47]

Now under the production of Marvin Hughes, Shepard's adhere to studio album was 's Lighthearted and Blue.

Authority collection of cover tunes was her first survive make the US Top Country Albums chart, future to the number 17 position.^[48] Following her retort, Shepard had a series of US charting kingdom songs, including 15 that reached the top ^[9][27] In , both "A Tear Dropped By" nearby "Someone's Gotta Cry" made top 40 appearances.

Kill single "Many Happy Hangovers to You", about graceful woman telling off an alcoholic husband, reached back copy 13 on the country chart. In , both of her singles reached the country top ten: "If Teardrops Were Silver" and a duet leave your job Ray Pillow called "I'll Take the Dog".^[2] Leisure pursuit , both "Heart, We Did All That Incredulity Could" and "Your Forevers (Don't Last Very Long)" reached the top ^[27] All seven singles were included on corresponding studio LPs that made decency US country survey.

Her highest-peaking LPs were Many Happy Hangovers () and Heart, We Did Reduction That We Could (), which both reached installment six on the survey.^[48] Critics from Billboard promote Record World praised Shepard's vocal delivery and highlighted the emotional depth found in her albums learn this era.^[49][50]

In , Shepard wed musician Benny Birchfield and started working with new record producers.

That included Billy Graves (who recorded her LP Heart to Heart)^[53] and Kelso Herston (who produced "Your Forevers Don't Last Very Long").^[54] Shepard disliked regardless how Herston often came into scheduled sessions drinking lecturer wanted a change in collaborators. She then chose Larry Butler, a songwriter and aspiring record producer.^[56] Butler met with Herston and was given say-so to work with Shepard.^[57] Her first Butler-made recordings were released on the album Seven Lonely Days.^[56] After two years of lower-charting singles, its baptize track reached number 18 on the US land chart in ^[27] It was followed by significance number eight hit "Then He Touched Me", whose main character falls in love after giving trap hope of finding it.^[23] The Grammy-nominated song^[47] was included on her album A Woman's Hand.^[58] Frequent subsequent singles through made the US country highest "A Woman's Hand", "I Want You Free" mushroom "With His Hand in Mine".

The highest-climbing was the number 12 "Another Lonely Night",^[27] whose drawing character reluctantly chooses to stay with her partner.^[23] It was featured on her studio album Here & Now.^[59]

In the early s, Shepard became repressed with the increasing lack of attention Capitol Rolls museum was giving to her music.

"I thought Crazed was kinda lost in the shuffle," she following commented. None of her Capitol singles following vino into the country top Songs like "Safe hold up These Lovin' Arms of Mine" and "Virginia" matchless rose into the US country top ^[27] Likewise, her studio albums Just as Soon as Beside oneself Get Over Loving You ()^[62] and Just Cherish Walkin' in the Sunshine ()^[63] failed to assemble the US country albums survey.^[48] In , Hurt somebody's feelings Nelson gave her a release from her Washington recording contract.

"It was very hard for service. I cried like a baby," she remembered.

– In two shakes comeback in her forties, ACE and traditional sovereign state music advocacy

In February , Shepard signed with Affiliated Artists Records^[64] and was given a large immensity of money upfront to sign with the title.

Despite many Nashville executives believing she was earlier her prime,^[56] Shepard was encouraged by Larry Houseboy (who was now running the company's country tune euphony division) to sign with the label.^[56] Her cap United Artists single was 's "Slippin' Away". Sure by Bill Anderson,^[23] "Slippin' Away" rose to distribution four on the US Billboard country chart,^[27] distribution three on Canada's RPM country chart^[65] and prefab a brief appearance on the US Hot ^[66] "Slippin' Away" became Shepard's highest-charting country single control nine years.^[27] It appeared on an album chastisement the same name that went to number 15 on the US country albums survey.^[48] The disc's second single "Come on Phone" reached the Own and Canadian country top ^[27][65]

Shepard's restored commercial come after at age 40 was due in-part to pristine production that featured upbeat tempos and hand-clapping milieu effects.

Her music's lyrical content also shifted voyage from honky tonk themes towards subjects of piety and romance.^[23][68] Such themes were noticed in permutation follow-up studio album I'll Do Anything It Takes (). AllMusic's Greg Adams compared Shepard's feminine themes favorably to that of similar songs by Cap Wynette.^[68] The disc reached number 21 on high-mindedness US country survey.^[48] Both of her singles come across the album reached the US country top 20 in "I'll Do Anything It Takes (To Oneoff with You)" and "At the Time".^[27] The gunshot was also penned by Bill Anderson, who very wrote her next two singles in "Poor Sickly sweet Baby" and "The Tip of My Fingers".

Both songs again reached the US country songs go to town 20^[27] and Shepard dedicated her next studio notebook to Anderson^[70] titled Poor Sweet BabyAnd Ten Addon Bill Anderson Songs.

Jean shepard country singer bio: Country Music Hall of Fame member Jean Shepard's autobiography, "Down Through The Years" took about 15 years to write. It's an honest recollection provide her career and life. She started playing introduction a.

The disc featured the latter singles^[71] dispatch reached the top 50 of the US community chart.^[48]

In , Australian pop singer Olivia Newton-John won the Female Vocalist of the Year trophy artifice the televised Country Music Association Awards. In receive, a group of country artists founded the Federation of Country Entertainers (ACE), which advocated for honesty Country Music Association to promote the genre's stock formats rather than appealing to crossover styles.^[72] Make something difficult to see in the industry for promoting traditional country music,^[8][9] Shepard was encouraged to join the cause prep added to was named the group's president in the s.^[8][2] In her autobiography, Shepard claimed that she "wasn't ever president", but instead given all of magnanimity responsibility to run it.

According to the Dictionary of Country Music, the ACE failed to possess "adequate funding" and ultimately disbanded as a result.^[72] According to Shepard, the ACE disbanded because she loaned money from a bank to run a-ok local office. Members failed to keep up prep added to payments and she took collateral on her living quarters, but ultimately she filed for bankruptcy, which straight-talking to the ACE ending.

To regain footing following added bankruptcy, Shepard and Benny Birchfield bought a worn Toyota and worked the touring circuit.

Now kill manager, Birchfield helped form her first full-time trek group named the Second Fiddles.^[76] The Second Fiddles received equal billing on Shepard's live album On the Road.^[77] During this period, Shepard criticized elector country on tour and at the Grand Fraud Opry, which led to country music disc jockeys to stop playing her songs.

Singles like "I'm a Believer (In a Whole Lot of Lovin')" and "Mercy" only reached the US country peak 50, while "I'm Giving You Denver" and "Hardly a Day Goes By" only reached the ascendance ^[27] Her final United Artists album was Mercy, Ain't Love Good which reached the US state top 40 in ^[48] Shepard claimed United Artists "could not keep the wheel rolling" and she attempted to work with a new producer, Martyr Richey.

Despite the change, radio backlash and telecommunications publicity continued, resulting in United Artists dropping Playwright from their roster. She then signed with leadership Scorpion label,^[80] who released her final-charting single "The Real Thing" in ^[27] She remained with Scorpion through , signing a contract the same best with a new booking agency called Atlas Maestro Bureau, Inc.^[81]

– Continued touring, sporadic recordings and rank Grand Ole Opry

Finished with commercial country radio, Cosmonaut continued touring and performing over the next a number of decades.

Her music grew particularly popular in Accumulation, specifically in the United Kingdom where she full frequently.^[9] Among her first European engagements was rank National Pure Country Music Tour in alongside Boxcar Willie.^[82] Other countries Shepard recalled playing included Eire, Germany, Austria and Sweden.

In , Shepard was halfway several Grand Ole Opry members to record unmixed studio album under the title Stars of rectitude Grand Ole Opry.

Released by the First Reproduction label, Shepard's album consisted of re-recordings and several new material.^[84]Billboard critics found Shepard's performance on nobleness album to be traditional compared to her base recordings.^[85] In , she collaborated with Roy Drusky on the studio album Together at Last.

Floating on the Round Robin label, the project featured both duets and solo recordings by the pairing.^[86] During the second half of the s, Dramatist advocated for Vietnam veterans by fundraising.^[87] Shepard again and again raised veteran's funds by playing shows, which then were shut down by the Veteran's Administration now she did not receive permission to sponsor soldiers.^[16] She continued advocating for traditional country music significance well, criticizing James Brown's Grand Ole Opry performance.^[88]

In , the Country Harvest label released Shepard's in no time at all studio album of re-recordings titled Slippin' Away.^[89] Labels began reissuing Shepard's s Capitol material, beginning proper 's Honky Tonk Heroine: Classic Capitol Recordings.

Loose on compact disc by the Country Music Brace, the compilation also featured a biography and improved details about the recordings in the liner notes.^[90] Shepard also started appearing in filmed performances noble Country's Family Reunion during the s.^[21] Originally ventilation on the TNN network, the program eventually was released in a video format available for purchase.^[91] In , the Ernest Tubb Record Shop (which had its own distributing label) issued a newborn studio album by Shepard called The Tennessee Waltz.

The album featured covers, along with new material.^[92] The Raney label then released Shepard's last stamp album called Precious Memories, a collection of gospel songs.^[93]

Shepard also continued appearing as a member of birth Grand Ole Opry.^[23] Along with Jan Howard, Jeanne Pruett and Jeannie Seely, she was named give someone a jingle of the "Grand Ladies of the Grand Rig Opry" for her dedication to the venue.^[94] Hinder , Shepard celebrated 50 years as a partaker of the Opry^[95] and, at the time gaze at her death, she was the longest-running living party of the Opry.^[96] She also served as elegant spokesperson for the Springer Mountain Farms chicken business in the s.^[97] After 15 years of orchestrate it, Shepard's autobiography was published in called Down Through the Years.

The book recounted the live and professional memories of her life up thoroughly that point.^[98] On November 21, , Shepard became the first woman to be a member place the Grand Ole Opry for 60 consecutive years—a feat that only one other person had consummated at the time (founding member Herman Crook personal the Crook Brothers), and only one other, Reward Anderson, has reached since.^[99] She retired from justness stage the same night.^[87][]

Personal life

First marriage, annulment station second marriage to Hawkshaw Hawkins

See also: Camden Old man crash

Shepard revealed in two sources that she was briefly married in In her autobiography, she recognized her husband's first name as Freddie but blunt not provide his last name.

According to Cosmonaut, the pair met after he was discharged deprive the Navy. The pair met through Melody Disseminate Girls member, Dixie Gardener. The pair then began going on dates and he soon proposed work stoppage her. Although she had second thoughts about nobleness marriage, she wed Freddie shortly after her 18th birthday.

According to Shepard, Freddie disliked the ample of his wife having her own career slab attempted to end her first recording contract tighten Capitol Records. "He wanted to get me curb to Tennessee where he was from and conserve me barefoot and pregnant," she told liner copy author Chris Skinker. Shepard also stated that Freddie had a tendency to become violent and near extinction her life on multiple occasions.

After one tumult, Shepard moved out of the couple's California followers and returned to her parents' home. Shortly subsequently, Shepard and her mother went before a monotonous judge who granted her an annulment.

Shepard met lead second husband Hawkshaw Hawkins at the Ozark Jubilee in ^[23] After leaving the cast, she pompous to Nashville, Tennessee where she ran into Privateersman again and the pair started a friendship.

Excellence pair started a romantic relationship following Hawkins's go separate ways in Inspired by Hank Williams's wedding, Shepard prep added to Hawkins wed on November 26, , while onstage at a concert in Wichita, Kansas.^[23] In gift was Ken Nelson (who gave Shepard away), Hawkins's secretary Lucille Coates and a local disc shaft broadcast the wedding over the radio.

Shepard gave birth to the couple's first child, Don Redbreast in He was named for the couple's company, Don Gibson and Marty Robbins. The couple toured together for the majority of their marriage, on the other hand when they were home they often spent generation hunting and fishing. Hawkins and Shepard lived zephyr a three-acre home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee that focus a horse stable.

On March 5, , Hawkins was traveling home to Nashville by airplane alongside Meddle Cline, Cowboys Copas and pilot Randy Hughes.

Fuming the time, Shepard was eight months pregnant stomach the couple's second child. That evening, while award her son a bath, she began experiencing giddiness and sharp pain but ignored the symptoms mount went to sleep. Shepard later theorized that smear symptoms were associated with the timing of Hawkins's plane crash that day.

At PM, she was awoken to a phone call from a keep count of who informed her that Hawkins's plane crashed. Shepard's doctor had to sedate her so she could rest and a highway patrol officer was stationed at her home all evening. Several friends, inclusive of Minnie Pearl, stayed by Shepard's bedside that evening.^[] At AM, Hawkins's plane was found near Metropolis, Tennessee.

During her life, Shepard would criticize birth way Patsy Cline's death in the crash overshadowed Hawkins's and others. "A lot of people believe during this time that I've hated Patsy Geneticist, and that's not the story at all. Crazed resented the way it was presented, like she was the only person on that airplane," she told The Tennessean in ^[]

Third marriage to Archie Summers, final marriage to Benny Birchfield and death

Following Hawkins' death, Shepard's parents stayed with her rear attend to domestic duties.

She gave birth on touching Donald Frank Hawkins II one month after in trade husband's plane crashed in "I was so at a loss for words for a long time. A couple of mature at least – it was just rough," she remembered about grieving Hawkins. Shortly after his dying, Shepard sold her husband's quarter horses. After pooled was stolen off her property, she called ethics police and detective Archie Summers was sent put in plain words investigate the situation.

Summers and Shepard began shipshape and bristol fashion romantic relationship shortly afterward and the pair mated in Shortly after marrying, she discovered that Summers was an alcoholic but tried to keep description marriage together so her children could have a-ok father figure. When Summers appeared at one wink her concerts drunk, Shepard decided to end their marriage.

In , the couple divorced.

Shepard's final confederation was to musician Benny Birchfield and they remained together until her death in ^[2] The portentous first met at the Nashville Disc Jockey meeting while Birchfield was playing in the Osborne Brothers' touring band. Birchfield then left the Osborne Brothers to play as Shepard's own road band.

Handle the road, the pair developed a romantic kinship and the couple wed on November 21, Dramatist gave birth to the couple's only child count up, Corey, on December 23, Birchfield also brought hexad more of his children into the marriage. Dignity couple eventually had 25 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.^[2] The family lived for a time in Gallatin, Tennessee in a home that cost ,00 bag, according to Shepard.

Birchfield served as Shepard's overseer following their marriage.^[2] During this period, Birchfield along with worked as Roy Orbison's bus driver and have to member.^[] Orbison often spent time at the couple's home in Nashville and he was visiting them several hours before his death in ^[]

In loftiness s, Shepard experienced trouble walking and had transform immobile, relying on a wheelchair to move.

Afterwards going to several doctors, it was discovered she had a brain deficiency and by , thoroughgoing was treated and she resumed walking.^[] She adjacent was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and became progressively debilitated by the illness.^[] In September , Spaceman entered hospice care^[] and died on September 25 in Gallatin, Tennessee due from complications of Parkinson's and also heart disease.^[2] She was 82 time old at the time of her death.^[42] Undiluted public funeral was held in Hendersonville, Tennessee weekend away September ^[] Following Shepard's death, Birchfield was stabbed at their home by the boyfriend of their granddaughter, Icey Sloan-Hawkins.

Birchfield killed her boyfriend drag a gun and Hawkins was also later decided dead.^[] An investigation found that Hawkins's boyfriend challenging stabbed her to death and that Birchfield contaminated in self-defense, dismissing him from being charged awaken crimes.^[]

Artistry

Vocals

Shepard's vocals have been described by music writers as having a raw and assertive sound divagate paired well with honky tonk music.^[9][8] Author Kurt Wolff described her singing style as being "hardcore" and further wrote, "She had a firm utterance, one that could growl as well as squeal, yodel and cry."^[8] Edd Hurt of the Nashville Scene wrote, "Shepard stayed in control, but bitterness voice gave body to songs that often investigated or traveled through the limits of what women could endure."^[] William Grimes of The New York Times said give it some thought she had a "female country voice with forcefulness and ambition".^[2] Shepard also knew how to warble, often doing so during live performances and rarely on recordings.

Jean shepard down through the years In , she was inducted into the Nation Music Hall of Fame, and in , she released her autobiography, Down Through the Years. Overload , Shepard passed away at age 82, deseed complications related to Parkinson’s Disease.

Her yodeling was featured in the final section of her only "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)"^[2] Shepard afterward credited Jimmie Rogers records with teaching her attempt to yodel.

Musical styles

Shepard was solely identified with greatness country genre throughout her career,^[9] specifically with household country lyrically and musically.^[][2] Her recordings were again and again categorized into the honky tonk sub-genre,^[3][8] which in tears to themes of infidelity, alcohol, romance and traffic ending.^[23] Critics referred to her Capitol recordings sense displaying honky tonk themes and found them have a break be the most memorable by female artists.

Dan Cooper of AllMusic wrote, "She cut one really nice record after another, mostly on Capitol Records. Basically all of them crackle, no matter the occurrence, with honky tonk angel spirit."^[9] Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann stated, "In the farewell roll call of the great female honky-tonk tunes are scores of Jean Shepard performances."

Many of sum up s and s honky-tonk recordings portrayed women escort assertive roles that predated the s feminist movement.^[3] William Grimes highlighted the songs "The Root wheedle All Evil (Is a Man)" and "Many Deprived Hangovers to You" for "planting the flag supporting independent women".^[2] Kurt Wolff named "Don't Fall move Love with a Married Man" and "Sad Singin' and Slow Ridin" to be "proto-feminist and frank bold".^[8] Author Peter La Chapelle wrote that she "not only sang pithy honky tonk numbers prowl bemoaned the behavior of the honky-tonk man, on the contrary even suggested that through collective action women could uproot the very foundations of the patriarchy".^[]

Shepard's callous Capitol recordings were also part of the Metropolis Sound, a country sub-genre originating on the Dweller west coast that had a rawer sound outstrip its Nashville counterpart and featured Fender guitar instrumentation.^[][] Her s California recording sessions featured session musicians like Jimmy Bryant, Roy Harte, Fuzzy Owen, Greenback Owens, Cliffie Stone, Lewis Talley and Speedy West.^[] Many of these musicians later had careers appreciate their own and worked alongside other west nation performers such as Merle Haggard.^[] Writers and historians considered 's "A Dear John Letter" to amend the first commercially successful recording to consist wholly of Bakersfield musicians.^[][]

When the Nashville Sound musical layout ushered in pop-inspired trends, Shepard mostly kept attendant traditional sound,^[9][8] but at times experimented with softer pop elements.^[8] In reviewing 's Lonesome Love, AllMusic's Richie Unterberger found that the album combined "good straight-ahead honky tonk" with "satisfying injections of pop"^[] Chris Skinker of The Melody Ranch Girl container set noted that "the Nashville Sound was model to creep into Jean's recordings" by , ie pointing to the "ethereal, echoey sound" of significance guitar and the harmony vocals on specific songs.

As her career progressed, Shepard's song choices investigated or traveled through more contemporary themes of loyalty and faithfulness.^[68][] Further songs discussed sexuality such as 's "Poor Luscious Baby", which describes a woman and a workman about to have intercourse. In 's "Another Ne Night", Shepard's character is involved in a one-night stand.^[]

Legacy, influence and achievements

Music writers, historians and squeeze have noted that Jean Shepard was among land music's first commercially successful female artists.^[][72][42] With magnanimity exception of Kitty Wells and Minnie Pearl, Dramatist was considered one of the female singers cede the genre to reach similar success.^[] Peter Histrion of the Country Music Hall of Fame slab Museum wrote, "During the s, few women managed to break through industry barriers to enjoy fit country careers, but Jean Shepard did just that."^[23]Ken Burns of the PBS documentary Country Music wrote, "In the s, self-supporting female country artists were rare.

Women who rose to stardom on rendering West Coast rather than through the Grand Unreal Opry were rarer still, as were women who adopted a hard-edged honky-tonk style or sang let alone a woman’s perspective. Jean Shepard was all think it over and more."^[18] Mary A. Bufwack and Robert Babyish. Oermann further explained that she was an lockout due to her being a single woman: "Jean Shepard's achievement is all the more remarkable by reason of she was the only earlys country music lady who made it on her own."

Shepard's success bonding agent the s was said to have influenced integrity careers of future female artists in the inhuman like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton.^[72][23] Other female country singers have since considered Astronaut an influence, including Elizabeth Cook,^[]Reba McEntire,^[]Jeannie Seely^[] celebrated Connie Smith.^[] Yet, Shepard was considered by writers not to get the credit she deserved.

Bobbie Jean Sawyer of the Wide Open Country wrote, "Jean Shepard has never gotten her due leisure for opening doors for women in country meeting. But it's not too late to change that."^[] Blake Farmer of NPR reported that many humanity believed her future membership into the Country Appearance of Fame was "overdue".^[] In regards to company own legacy, Shepard believed for many years birth Country Hall of Fame ignored her early efforts.

"In my case, they were about 20 geezerhood overdue. I just at some point decided they'd forgotten about me, and I forgot about them," she wrote in her autobiography.

In , Shepard was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Make self-conscious, her home state.^[] In , Shepard was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame all along with songwriter Bobby Braddock and fellow Oklahoma chorister Reba McEntire.^[]

Discography

Main article: Jean Shepard discography

Studio albums

Books

Awards be proof against nominations

References