Join me Sunday morning, August 4th, for the music of Jeannie C. Riley on the Country Classic Spotlight at 11 a.m.  The Country Classic Show kicks off at 9 a.m.

Jeannie was born Jeannie Carolyn Stephenson on October 19, 1945.  She became an overnight success in 1968 with her #1 hit Harper Valley PTA.  The song was written by Tom T. Hall and became a huge crossover hit.

That song garnered several awards for Jeannie including a Grammy and a CMA Award.  She was never able to replicate that success but had several Top Ten hits that included The Girl Most Likely, Country Girl  and There Never Was A Time.

In the 1970's she became a born again Christian and began recording gospel music.  In 1980 she published her autobiography titled 'From Valley to Mountain Tops'.

In 1990 she was diagnosed as suffering from clinical depression after she and her husband, Mickey Riley divorced.  She also cut ties with her manager and was basically broke.  She finally recovered after her family staged an intervention.

 

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