Lynn Anderson | |
|---|---|
 Anderson in 1970 | |
| Born | Lynn René Anderson (1947-09-26)September 26, 1947 |
| Died | July 30, 2015(2015-07-30) (aged 67) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1966–2015 |
| Spouses | |
| Partner | Mentor Williams (1989–2015) |
| Children | 3 |
| Mother | Liz Anderson |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels |
|
| Website | lynnandersonrosegarden |
Musical artist | |
Lynn René Anderson (September 26, 1947 – July 30, 2015) was an Americancountry singer and television personality. Hercrossoversignature recording, "Rose Garden", was a number one hit internationally. She also charted five number one and 18 top-ten singles on theBillboardcountry songs chart. Anderson is regarded as one of country music's most significant performers.[2][3]
Born inGrand Forks, North Dakota, United States, she was raised in California by her mother,Liz Anderson, who was also a country music artist. Daughter Lynn was signed to a recording contract toChart Records 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)". Soon after, Anderson joined the cast ofThe Lawrence Welk Show, where she performed country music weekly to a national audience.
In 1970, Anderson signed withColumbia Records, where she was produced by her first husband,Glenn Sutton. She had her biggest commercial success with "Rose Garden". The song reached positions on theBillboard country, pop, and adult contemporary charts, also charting in the Top-5 in 15 other countries and earning her aGrammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Throughout the decade, Anderson also had number-one hits with "You're My Man", "How Can I Unlove You", "Keep Me in Mind", and "What a Man My Man Is". She also became a television personality, with appearances onThe Tonight Show, specials withBob Hope andDean Martin, and her own prime-time specials.
After a brief hiatus, Anderson returned with the studio albumBack (1983). The album spawned three singles, including the top ten hit "You're Welcome to Tonight", withGary Morris. She continued recording sporadically throughout the 1980s. This included a revival of the pop hit "Under the Boardwalk" and the studio albumWhat She Does Best (1988). Anderson continued releasing new albums into the new millennium, such as 2004'sThe 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 onRolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time" andCMTs "40 Greatest Women of Country Music".
Lynn Rene Anderson was born inGrand Forks, North Dakota, on September 26, 1947, to Casey andLiz Anderson.[4] Her grandparents were Scandinavian immigrants who established a North Dakota "saddle club". According to Anderson, she could ride horses before she could walk.[5] While she was still a young child, the family relocated to a subdivision inFair Oaks, California.[6][4]
However, Anderson insisted that her parents move to aranch, prompting the family to move toSacramento, California. In Sacramento, the Andersons 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 9, Anderson won second place at a local horse-racing event inSan Francisco, California.[5] Lynn also became interested in performing from an early age. Both her parents were aspiring songwriters who had formed friendships with west country performers.[6][7] Her performing and musical interests continued intohigh school. During her teens she landed a job working as a secretary forKROY in Sacramento.[6] Upon graduating, she became the station's secretary to the general manager.[5]
While working full-time, Lynn continued entering equestrian competitions. Once winning several competitions, she was dubbed the "California Horse Show Queen" in 1966.[4][6] While watching her daughter at these events, Liz Anderson was also composing songs. She sent her compositions toLos Angeles andNashville, Tennessee, where they were heard by music executives.[5] Among the songs heard was "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers", which was recorded byMerle Haggard in 1964.[6] The song led producerChet Atkins to sign Liz to a recording contract at RCA Victor. This prompted the family to relocate to Nashville.[5] 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 producerSlim Williamson. Impressed by her vocals, Williamson offered Lynn a recording contract of her own.[6] In 1966, she signed her first recording contract withChart Records.[4]
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.[8] Although her debut single was 1966's "In Person",[9] it was "Ride, Ride, Ride" that became Anderson's first charting single.[6] Her next release was another Liz Anderson composition, "If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away)".[1] It was Anderson's first major hit as a music artist, reaching number five on theBillboardHot Country Singles chart in 1967.[10] Herdebut studio album of the same name was also released in 1967 and peaked at number 25 on theBillboardTop Country Albums chart.[11] She followed it with "Promises, Promises", which reached number four on the country singles list in February 1968.[12] Hersecond studio release of the same name reached number one on the country albums chart.[13]
When reviewing her 1999 Chart compilation, Greg Adams ofAllMusic 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.[14]Billboard magazine also praised these early recordings. In reviewingBig Girls Don't Cry, writers took note of her mass appeal. "The material which includes her fine renditions of 'Honey' and 'Ring of Fire' is diversified and has appeal for all buyers", they wrote.[15]
In 1967, Anderson's career gained further momentum when she was cast onThe Lawrence Welk Show.[6] 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.[16] Anderson became the show's first country performer and toured with the cast nationwide.[6] 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.[16] The exposure led to continued music success. In 1967, she won the "Top Female Vocalist" award at theAcademy of Country Music Awards.[17] She remained withThe Lawrence Welk Show until 1968.[16]
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 theOsborne Brothers' "Rocky Top".[16] Anderson's version became a bigger hit than the original, climbing to number 17 on theBillboard country singles list in 1970.[18] She had country hits between 1968 and 1969 that further displayed a traditional country style, including "Big Girls Don't Cry", "That's a No No" and a cover ofHank Snow's "I've Been Everywhere".[6] Anderson's sixth studio album was a tribute to the traditional female country performers that preceded her. EntitledSongs That Made Country Girls Famous (1969), the album reached number nine on the country albums chart.[19][20]
In 1970, Anderson's recording contract was bought byColumbia Records and she began recording for the new label that year. Two years prior, she married songwriter and producerGlenn Sutton, who ultimately became her producer at the label. Her first Columbia release was the Sutton-penned "Stay There, Till I Get There".[21] The song became her fifth top ten hit on theBillboard Hot Country Singles chart, rising to number seven in 1970.[22] 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.[6] 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, oversaw Sutton and chose many of his compositions forTammy Wynette to record. "Glenn 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.[21]
According to Anderson, she had found the original version of "Rose Garden" 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.[23] However, he eventually acceded to Anderson after she kept bringing the song into recording sessions.[24] Released as a single in October 1970, the song became Anderson's first number one single, topping the charts for five weeks.[9] It was also her first to crossover onto theBillboard Hot 100, peaking at number three in February 1971.[25] The song was an international hit, reaching the Top-5 in 15 other countries.[1] Its crossover success helped Anderson receive accolades from13th Annual Grammy Awards, theAcademy of Country Music and theCountry Music Association.[26][17][27] Anderson's eleventh studio album,Rose Garden, was released in December 1970.[28] The record topped theBillboard country albums chart and spent 77 weeks on the survey altogether.[29] It was also her highest-peaking album on theBillboard 200 chart list, reaching number 19.[30] The record certified platinum in sales from theRecording Industry Association of America.[31]
Anderson followed "Rose Garden" with the singles "You're My Man" and "How Can I Unlove You", which both became number one hits on theBillboard country songs chart in 1971.[9] Both songs also registered on theBillboardadult contemporary chart, with "You're My Man" becoming a top ten hit on that survey.[32] The latter singles appeared on corresponding studio releases. This begun withYou're My Man, which reached the top spot on the country albums list.[33] The project also peaked at number 99 on the Billboard 200.[34] Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars, praising the album's pop covers of "Knock Three Times" and "Proud Mary".[35] Her twelfth studio album was also titledHow Can I Unlove You. It featured covers of "Take Me Home Country Roads" and "You've Got a Friend".[36] The record peaked at number two on the country albums chart[37] and number 132 on theBillboard 200.[38]
She continued to diversify her music by recording songs of different styles. In 1972, Anderson recordedJohnnie Ray's pop hit "Cry", which became a top five country hit for Anderson.[39] She also reached the top five with a version ofLoggins and Messina's "Listen to a Country Song" andJoe South's "Fool Me".[40][21] She then coveredThe Carpenters' "Top of the World" after hearing it on their 1972 album,A Song for You.[41] Anderson's version reached number two on theBillboard country songs chart.[42] After discovering that Anderson's version had become a hit, The Carpenters released their own version for the pop market.[41]
In the 21st century, critics have taken notice of Anderson's various music styles. Writers Mary A. Bufwack andRobert K. Oermann commented that her diverse song subjects proved that she could be "poignant" and "downhearted".[40] Greg Adams ofAllmusic thought that albums such as 1972'sCry had aneasy listening style that made her music more marketable to different genres.[43]
Between 1973 and 1974, the singles "Keep Me in Mind" and "What a Man My Man Is" reached number one.[9] Anderson's success was also fueled by television appearances, especially during the second half of the decade. She appeared on prime-time showsThe Brady Bunch Hour,The Tonight Show andThe Midnight Special. Additionally, she collaborated withDean Martin andBob Hope on television and in concert.[44] Anderson hosted her ownCBS television special in 1977.[40] Regular television appearances helped promote singles that were less successful. This included a one-episode appearance onStarsky and Hutch, where Anderson performed her 1977 single "Wrap Your Love All Around Your Man".[6] After her performance, the song reached number 12 on theBillboard country singles chart.[45] She had further top twenty country hits in the middle decade with "He Turns It into Love Again", "I've Never Loved Anyone More", and "All the King's Horses".[9] With declining chart success, Anderson adopted a newer image which was described by writers as "racy" and "skin tight".[4][40] The new style proved successful when she returned in 1979 withKarla Bonoff's "Isn't It Always Love". Anderson's version reached the top ten of the country charts.[1] Its success led to her1979 album reaching the top 30 of theBillboard country albums chart.[46] In 1980, Anderson released her last studio album for Columbia Records calledEven Cowgirls Get the Blues.[21] It produced two top 30 country singles, including thetitle track, which reached number 26.[9]
In 1980, Anderson left Columbia Records after remarrying two years prior.[21] Prior to her departure, it was claimed that Columbia intended to promote her as the company's answer to counterparts,Barbara Mandrell andDolly Parton. Instead, Anderson moved toLouisiana with her second husband and raised a family.[40] With the exception of analbum of re-recordings, she did not record for nearly three years.[21] In 1982, Anderson and Harold Stream divorced. She returned to Nashville that same year and began working with formerCBS agent Bonnie Garner. In 1983, Garner helped her secure a new recording contract with the independent label Permian Records.[21]
In 1983, she released her 29th studio album,Back, 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.[40]Back was her last charting record, peaking at number 61 on theBillboard Top Country Albums list in 1983.[47] 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.[48] The second was a duet withGary Morris called "You're Welcome to Tonight". It was Anderson's first top ten hit in five years, reaching number nine in 1984.[49]
In 1986, Permian Records filed forbankruptcy.[50] Although the label focused on artist management and production, it dropped all of its major artists, including Anderson.[51] During this period Anderson did not release full-length albums, but did record a single forMCA Records. Titled "Heart of the Matter," the track did not chart.[9][1] She then signed withMercury Records in the second half of the decade.[4] In 1988, her cover ofThe Drifters' "Under the Boardwalk" became her highest-charting single in five years, peaking at number 24 on theBillboard country songs chart.[52] Her 30th studio album,What She Does Best, was issued on Mercury in 1988.[53] The record's title track was also spawned as a single and became a minor hit in 1988.[9] The album's third (and final) single, "How Many Hearts", was Anderson's last chart appearance in her career.[4][9] In March 1989, it peaked at number 69 on theBillboard country songs chart.[54]
Anderson left the major label market following her departure from Mercury in 1990. She began to diversify her career during this time.[4] In 1990, she appeared on theBBC Scotland dramaThe Wreck on the Highway.[55] She also recorded a variety of different musical genres.[4] In 1992, she released the studio albumCowboy's Sweetheart on the independent Laserlight label. The project waswestern-themed and included collaborations withEmmylou Harris andMarty Stuart.[1][56] Allmusic's Jason Ankeny gave the album 2.5 out of 5 stars, yet called it one of her "stronger albums".[57] 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.[58] Six years later, Anderson released thePlatinum Entertainment 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.[59] In their review, Allmusic commented that she no longer had her "girlish" edge, but rather a voice comparable to that ofK.T. Oslin orMary Chapin Carpenter.[60]
In 2000, Anderson released her first live record entitledLive at Billy Bob's Texas, which was issued on the Smith label.[1] 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."[61] 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 abluegrass style. The track listing included hits such as "Rose Garden", "You're My Man", and "Rocky Top".[62] 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".[63] Despite the critical response,The Bluegrass Sessions was nominated by theGrammy Awards forBest Bluegrass Album.[26][64]
Over the next several years, Anderson continued touring and performing as well. In 2007, Anderson was part of the lineup at theCMA Music Festival at the Riverfront Park. Other performers includedTerri Clark andLorrie Morgan.[65] In 2009, she performed at theStagecoach Festival, which also included additional performers as well.[66] Between 2010 and 2011, she performed alongside theMetropole Symphony Orchestra for a series of concerts.[1] Anderson also continued recording music. In 2006, she released her 35th studio album,Cowgirl. 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.[67][68] A similar project was issued in 2010 entitledCowgirl II on the same label.[69] 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.[70]
In June 2015, Anderson released her final studio albumBridges.[1] The album was a collection ofgospel material that included collaborations withThe Martins andThe Oak Ridge Boys. According to a 2015 interview with Anderson, it was her first album in ten years that she decided to promote.[71] It was also Anderson's first gospel collection and featured a reworking ofDobie Gray's "Drift Away" for the Christian market.[72] Writer Timothy Yap called the album's songwriting "top notch" in his review of the album.[71] Markos Papadatos of theDigital Journal gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling the record "phenomenal".[73] The album was released a month prior to her death in July 2015.[4][55]
In addition to her music career, Anderson was also anequestrian and professional horse racer. While she had equestrian credits before signing her first recording contract, Anderson continued pursuing it throughout her life.[68][74] Over the course of her life, Anderson had won 16 national championships, eight world championships and some celebrity championships.[74][70]
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.[21] Anderson also bred horses, most notablyquarter horses. Among her bred horses, Doc Starlight, helped start a bloodline forcutting horses in the United States.[74] She was a lifelong member of theAmerican Quarter Horse Association and participated in a variety of the organization's events. While she participated in many events, the cutting horse events were considered her favorites.[70]
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.[70] She also raised horses at her ranch in New Mexico.[75] 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.[76]
Anderson worked with disabled children and facilitated in learning to ride horses.[70] She helped establish a horse riding organization inFranklin, Tennessee 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.[68] She also worked with theNorth American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) for several years.[70]
Anderson was married twice and had three children.[41] Her first marriage to Glenn Sutton lasted from 1968 until 1977. The pair met after Sutton developed an interest in producing her music while at the Chart label.[21] Anderson stated that she had turned down several professional opportunities due to Sutton's disapproval.[77] This included touring inVietnam with Bob Hope and acting in the filmW.W. and the Dixie Dancekings. The pair continued collaborating musically until they divorced in 1977.[78] The couple had one child together, Lisa Sutton.[40]
In 1978, Anderson married Louisiana oilman and entrepreneur Harold "Spook" Stream. She had met Stream at a rodeo event and developed a romantic relationship shortly afterward.[78] The couple had two children together and divorced in 1982.[50] Anderson claimed that Stream had been physically abusive, stating that he had attempted to run her over with a vehicle and tried to hit her.[79] 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.[80][50]
Anderson reconnected with songwriterMentor Williams following her divorce. The pair reunited at a Nashville press event, and the relationship turned romantic in 1989.[50][81] The two later moved to a ranch inTaos, New Mexico, the home state of Williams. Anderson and Williams lived in New Mexico until her death in 2015.[81] They never married but remained in a committed relationship. "He’s technically my boyfriend, but really he’s like my husband", Anderson said in 2013.[82]
Anderson had issues with alcohol towards the end of her life. In December 2004, she was arrested and charged withdriving under the influence inDenton, Texas. 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.[83] On January 24, 2005, Anderson was accused of shoplifting aHarry Potter 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.[84] The shoplifting charge was dropped, as long as Anderson agreed to not commit any further offenses.[85]
In May 2006, Anderson was arrested on a second DUI charge after a traffic accident nearEspañola, New Mexico. 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.[86] Her last arrest occurred on September 11, 2014, after being involved in a minor traffic accident inNashville, Tennessee, on West End Avenue.[87] 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 theBetty Ford Center.[88][85]
Anderson died on July 30, 2015, at theVanderbilt University Medical Center inNashville, Tennessee, at the age of 67. She had been briefly hospitalized due topneumonia after vacationing in Italy. The official cause of death was a heart attack.[89] At her funeral, friendBrenda Lee gave a speech, and severaldoves were released to commemorate her death.[90]
Anderson is interred in the mausoleum atWoodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville near her mother, Liz, who died in 2011. Her father, Clarence, died in 2018 and was interred next to his wife. That same year, 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.[91]
Anderson's music is rooted in the country genre.[92] It is also rooted in the sub-genres of theNashville Sound,[93]Countrypolitan,[94] bluegrass,[63] western[21] and gospel.[71] Early on, Anderson had a traditional country style that featured instruments such as thesteel guitar and the banjo.[95][6] These recordings also incorporated some elements of the Nashville Sound style.[93][96][97] Her style shifted after working alongside Glenn Sutton, who helped develop Anderson's music towards the Countrypolitan format by combiningsoft rock andadult contemporary.[98] This was first seen on her 1970 studio album,No Love at All. Reviewer Pemberton Roach said the album exemplified the style through its emotional lyrics and mature vocal stylings.[94] It was most apparent in "Rose Garden", which writer Richard Carlin called a "poppy, upbeat song" with rock accompaniment.[98]
As Anderson's music routinely crossed over into the pop field, it developed into adult contemporary and pop music.[93][43] 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."[43]Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted a similar trend in his review of her 2017 album,The Definitive Collection: "[It] winds 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".[93] Anderson's singing voice has also been highlighted by writers and journalists. David Laing ofThe Guardian described her as having a "powerful alto voice."[75] Steve Huey of Allmusic called Anderson's voice "sweet but strong" in his biography of her career.[1]
Anderson has been widely regarded as one of country music's most significant female artists.[3][2][1] According to Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann, Anderson brought female artists to a new level in the 1970s.[50] Steve Huey of Allmusic called her "one of the most popular female country singers of the early '70s".[1] Courtney Campbell ofWide Open Country called her "one of the most important female country music voices of her time".[99] At the time of her death, other country artists acknowledged her as a career inspiration, most notablyNeal McCoy,Martina McBride andMary Sarah.[100]Reba McEntire 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."[101]
Writers and music journalists have most notably regarded Anderson as an important crossover music artist. In his bookHistorical Dictionary of Popular Music, author Norman Abjorensen viewed her as an artist that "took aim at the mainstream pop audience".[102] Bufwack and Oermann noted that Anderson's "Rose Garden" helped set the trend for female crossover artists in the 1970s.[40] Her crossover legacy has also been recognized for her national television appearances. In 2015,The Washington Post explained that Anderson was the first female country artist to appear on national television due to cast membership onThe Lawrence Welk Show.[103] Courtney Campbell ofWide Open Country noted that she was the first female country performer to appear onThe Tonight Show and headline atMadison Square Garden in New York City.[99]
Anderson has also been given honors and achievements as part of her legacy.Record World named her their "Artist of the Decade" between 1970 and 1980.[104] In the mid-1990s, ahybrid tea rose was created called "The Lynn Anderson Rose".[105] In 1999, GovernorDon Sundquist 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.[99]
In 2002, she was ranked byCountry Music Television on their list of the "40 Greatest Women of Country Music".[106] She received a similar recognition whenRolling Stone included her on their list of the "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time".[3] In 2017, her stage costumes and memorabilia were on display at theCountry Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Anderson exhibit was called "Keep Me in Mind".[107] The exhibit ran through 2018.[108] In 2018, daughter Lisa Sutton helped open the Lynn Anderson Rose Garden in Nashville to pay tribute to her career.[109] In 2019, she was inducted into theWestern Music Association Hall of Fame.[110] In 2020, Anderson was featured in thePBS documentary "Iconic Women of Country". Female country artists, includingTrisha Yearwood, discussed her legacy in the genre.[111] 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.[112]
Studio albums
| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lawrence Welk Show | 1967–68 | Herself | [16] | |
| Tennessee Ernie Ford's White Christmas | 1972 | television special | [113] | |
| The Dean Martin Show | 1972–74 | [113] | ||
| Dean Martin Presents Music Country | 1973 | [114] | ||
| The Bobby Vinton Show | 1976 | [114] | ||
| Dolly | [113] | |||
| Hollywood Squares | 1976–79 | [114] | ||
| The Brady Bunch Hour | 1977 | [114] | ||
| The Lynn Anderson Special | television special | [113] | ||
| Starsky & Hutch | Sue Ann Grainger | [39] | ||
| The Wreck on the Highway | 1990 | Betsy Hall | [55] |
Anderson received many awards during the course of her career. This includes two from theAcademy of Country Music,[115] one from theCountry Music Association[116] and one from theGrammy Awards.[117]
