September 26, 2016
NASHVILLE, Tenn (RFD-TV) Country music fans are remembering the life and career of singer and Grand Ole Opry member Jean Shepard, who passed away on Sunday, September 25, at the age of 82, following a lengthy illness.
She was born in rural Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, but raised near Bakersfield, California. As a teenager she sang and played bass in an all-female band and was discovered by country legend Hank Thompson, who helped her get her first recording contract. A string of top singles followed, including “A Dear John Letter,” “A Satisfied Mind,” and “Slippin‘ Away.”
She became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955 and was the first female to be a member of the Opry for 60 consecutive years. Shepard was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011.
Funeral arrangements are still incomplete as of this writing.