Lynn Anderson

HISTORY WITH BILLY BOB’S: 

Lynn Anderson was the first female to record a “Live at Billy Bob’s” in 1999.

Lynn Anderson cast her hands in cement for the Billy Bob’s Handprint Hall of Fame prior to her “Live at Billy Bob’s” recording.

ABOUT LYNN ANDERSON:

Born September 26, 1947, in Grand Forks, ND, Lynn René Anderson will forever be remembered for the worldwide crossover hit that made her an international star, and the song’s title a global catchphrase, making “(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden” one of the most popular and memorable songs of all time.

Rose Garden was only one chapter in a career and life marked by a string of artistic and personal achievements that created a lasting impact across decades, placing Lynn Anderson among the most important and beloved female artists of the 20th century.

An iconic role model for an entire generation of women, Lynn Anderson’s brilliance reflected the two great passions of her life: the American Quarter Horse and music. As the daughter of hit country-songwriter Liz Anderson and avid equestrian Casey Anderson, she was raised surrounded by both. A lifelong horsewoman, world-class cutting horse champion, and nationally-ranked American Quarter Horse Association breeder, Lynn was a celebrated star in the horse world years before she ever walked into a Nashville recording studio. Her love of horses and riding was as much a part of her DNA as the voice that made her one of country music’s most honored entertainers. In the span of a five-decade career, Lynn broke nearly as many records as she made: 52 stand-alone LPs and nearly 100 singles. Among those 100 singles, 50 placed within the Top-40 on the national charts, 18 in the Top-10, and 12 captured the No. 1 spot.

A distinctive stylist, Lynn Anderson ranks among the top-10 most successful female country artists for all-time record sales, as well as one of the most awarded country artists of her era. She performed for the Queen of England and for four American Presidents, including a special invitation to appear at a Ronald Reagan birthday celebration at the White House. She was the first female country artist featured weekly on national television, appearing as a regular on The Lawrence Welk Show from 1968-69.  She was the first female country singer to perform on The Tonight Show, first to headline & sell out Madison Square Garden and the first to win an American Music Award for Favorite Female Vocalist during the 1970s.

In 1967, she was named Best Female Vocalist by the ACM — an achievement that was repeated in 1970.  In 1971, NARAS presented her with the GRAMMY® for Best Female Country Performance, and the CMA awarded her the coveted Female Vocalist of the Year honor.  The People’s Choice Award named her Favorite Country Artist in 1975.  She was honored as ‘Artist of the Decade’ (1970- 80) by Record World, a major trade publication.

In 1974, she became the unofficial ambassador for the U.S. Marine Corps when ‘We Don’t Promise You a Rose Garden’ was launched as the Corps’ official recruitment slogan. In 1995, The American Rose Society christened its newest hybrid tea rose, ‘The Lynn Anderson,’ giving Lynn the lasting honor of having one of the world’s most beautiful roses named for her. In 2000, Governor Don Sundquist declared June 15 Lynn Anderson Day annually in the state of Tennessee.

Always seeking new musical inspiration, Lynn was excited over her long-awaited, newly recorded gospel album, ‘Bridges’, released in early June of 2015.  “Bridges” received rave reviews, some critics calling it the best work of her storied career.  Unfortunately, Lynn passed away on July 30, 2015, bringing one of country music’s most legendary careers to an end. Like the rose that bears her name, the music, memory, and legacy of Lynn Anderson continue to bloom in the hearts of fans young and old around the world.

Posthumous accolades and honors continue for Lynn Anderson. In 2017, the Country Music Hall of Fame  & Museum honored the country music icon with a long-running exhibit, “Keep Me in Mind,” named after Lynn’s No.1 hit.  In 2018, she was inducted into the  National Cowboy Museum’s Hall of Great Western Performers, joining former inductees such as John Wayne and Dale Evans.  In 2018, Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville often referred to as “Cemetery of Country Stars,” created “The Lynn Anderson Rose Garden” – consisting of over 100 Lynn Anderson Hybrid Tea Rose Bushes – as a place of reflection and meditation. In November of 2019, the International Western Music Association made Lynn Anderson the newest member of its prestigious Hall of Fame.

Artist, cowgirl, and inspiration, Lynn Anderson was an American original.