Lynn Anderson

American vocalist, instrumental in extending the range of country-western. Born and raised on a horse ranch by a mom who was a C&W singer and songwriter, she had a singing and dancing debut at six. An accomplished horsewoman in her teens, she won more than 1000 trophies, 600 ribbons and two regional championships. She was named California Horse Show Queen at the 1966 state fair.

A radio singer by 1964, she signed with Columbia in 1969, recording over 20 albums and 35 hit singles in the next 20 years. "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" went Gold and won a Grammy 16 March 1971.

She married Glen Sutton on 4 May 1968; three kids. This marriage and a successive one, to Harold Stream; two kids, both ended in divorce.

Lynn wrote a children's book, "Krystal and the Chief," aimed at teaching handicapped kids the joy and freedom of horsemanship through therapeutic riding.

On December 2, 2004 in Denton, TX, police found Anderson passed out in her car which she had parked on the side of a highway. She was charged with drunk driving and released on a $1,000 bail.

The country singer was arrested on January 24, 2005 in Taos, NM and released without bail. She allegedly shoplifted a Harry Potter DVD. In a statement released shortly afterward, she said, “I take full responsibility for my actions. I have a problem dealing with alcohol.”

Anderson died on 30 July 2015 at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee from a heart attack at the age of 67. She had been hospitalized due to pneumonia.