Jean Shepard
Ollie Imogene "Jean" Shepard (November 21, 1933 – September 25, 2016) was an American honky-tonk singer-songwriter who is often acknowledged as a pioneer for women in country music. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the Hot Country Songs chart, one of which reached the number-one spot. She recorded a total of 24 studio albums between 1956 and 1981, and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955.
This article is about the honky-tonk singer and songwriter. For the American writer, raconteur, and radio host, see Jean Shepherd.
Jean Shepard
Ollie Imogene Shepard
November 21, 1933
Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, U.S.
September 25, 2016 (aged 82)
Hendersonville, Tennessee, U.S.
Singer-songwriter
1952–2015
- Capitol
- United Artists
- GRT
- Laserlight
After Kitty Wells's 1952 breakthrough, Shepard quickly followed, and a national television gig and the Opry helped make her a star when few female country singers had enduring success. Her first hit, "A Dear John Letter", a 1953 duet with Ferlin Husky, was the first post-World War II record by a woman country artist to sell more than a million copies.[1]
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