One of the top-ranked female vocalists in any genre, Lynn Anderson is often referred to as a singer's singer. Lynn's strong, husky vocals have garnered her more awards and accolades than many country artists combined, and an audience that spans both country and popular music. She is considered one of the finest entertainers in country music and is often called The Great Lady of Country Music.
Lynn has sung for five U.S. Presidents, most recently President Jimmy Carter on his 75th Birthday Celebration in October, 1999, the Queen of England, HRH Charles Prince of Wales, Prince Rainier and Prince Albert of Monaco, King Hussan and has been featured on The Tonight Show, The Carol Burnett Show, Solid Gold, Good Morning America and three Bob Hope Specials as well as acted on episodes of Starsky and Hutch, Country Gold and an NBC Movie of the Week. Lynn has also starred in her own CBS television special.
Lynn appeared as both a presenter and a performer at the 1999 Academy of Country, the star-studden Reunion at The Ryman and her performance on the Tammy Remembered show brought her two standing ovations.
Throughout her career she has served as an ambassador for country music, both broadening its appeal and proving that a country artist could have a major success on national television.
Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and raised in California, Lynn's love of country music can be attributed to her mother, songwriting great Liz Anderson. Liz composed such hits as "The Fugitive" and "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers" for Merle Haggard. Haggard's band, The Strangers, was named for the latter hit.
Lynn's first foray into the music world was when, as a teenager, she entered a singing contest sponsored by the Country Corners program in Sacramento. By the time she turned 20, Lynn had been with a national recording company for three years, scoring a string of hits: "That's A No No," "Rocky Top," "Promises, Promises," "I've Been Everywhere," and "Big Girls Don't Cry." She was a regular on a top-rated network TV show, and when Lynn signed a contract with Lawrence Welk, she became the only country performer featured on national television at the time.
In 1970, Lynn moved to Nashville and began turning out a steady stream of well-received recordings. During this time, one of those rare sessions occurred: Lynn and husband/producer Glenn Sutton entered the studio to record Joe South's "Rose Garden." What emerged was a bit of magic. The song climbed to the top of the country charts, cracked the Top Five on the pop charts and transformed the young singer into a national celebrity. At the time this was an unheard-of coup, and has since only been matched by Garth Brooks.
"Rose Garden" made Lynn an international superstar, staying at the top chart spot for five weeks. The album Rose Garden was released in Feb. 1971, and earned Lynn numerous gold albums throughout the world. It went platinum in the U.S. and Lynn brought home the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Female Vocal Performance of the Year. She was named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music (her second) and the Country Music Association as well as Record World's Female Artist of the Decade, just to name a few of the tributes for her phenomenal performance.
The success of "Rose Garden" was followed by a string of hits, including "You're My Man," "How Can I Unlove You," "Cry," "Keep Me In Mind," "What A Man My Man Is," "Rocky Top," (the State Song of Tennessee), "Under The Boardwalk," "You're Welcome To Tonight," with Gary Morris., and "Top Of The World," which won CMA Song of the Year. "Top of the World" was used extensively in the 1999 professional football season and in a television ad for NFL Special Products. To date Lynn has had eight #1 singles, 18 top-tens and over 50 top 40 releases. She has earned 16 gold albums and won virtually every award available to a female artist, including the American Music Award. Her records have sold in the millions world-wide.
Lynn's personal interests are far-reaching. She is a champion horsewoman and has won 16 National Championships, eight World Championships and several celebrity championships. Her most recent championships include: the National Chevy Truck Cutting Horse Champion, 1999; American U.S. Open Invitational Champion, 2000; and the National Cutting Horse Association Champion, 1999.She has produced a TNN Special, American Country Cowboys, which benefited various handicapped groups. Lynn has worked extensively with the Special Riders of Animaland, a horseback riding therapy program for children. Her philanthropic interests are long-standing--one of her records was chosen for the Christmas Seals Campaign.
The American Rose Society created a beautiful hybrid tea rose (cream finely edged with pink) and named it The Lynn Anderson.
Source: http://www.lynnanderson.net/
