Married at age 15, Howard had three sons before she turned 21. After two divorces, she headed to Los Angeles and took on jobs as a waitress and a secretary to support her family. Through singer Wynn Stewart, she met and later married then up-and-coming songwriter Harlan Howard. Although she had no musical training or experience, Harlan convinced her to record demos of his songs. This brought her the attention and encouragement of Johnny Bond and Tex Ritter. In 1959, she and Stewart recorded the duet “Yankee Go Home.” That same year she made her Opry debut; it was one of the first times the $65-a-week secretary had ever sung on stage.
The Howards moved from California to Nashville in 1960. Her first solo single, “The One You Slip Around With,” was a Top 10 hit, and both Billboard and Cash Box magazines named her their Most Promising Country Vocalist.
In 1964, she signed with Decca Records and had another hit in 1965 with “What Makes a Man Wander.” That same year she joined Bill Anderson’s syndicated TV and road show and sang with him regularly on the Opry. For seven years they won many top-duo awards, and she enjoyed her greatest chart success with their duets: “For Loving You” went to No. 1 and was followed by four Top 5 hits.
At the same time, her solo single “Evil on Your Mind” (named one of country music’s 500 greatest singles by the book Heartaches by the Number) went Top 5. “Bad Seed” reached number 10 in 1966, and, over the next seven years, she charted several more singles.
Her single “My Son,” a song that began as a letter to her son Jimmy in Vietnam, was released just a few weeks before he was killed in action in 1968. She wrote of coping with the tragedies of his death and that of her youngest son David in her 1987 autobiography, Sunshine and Shadow.
In 1992, Howard’s efforts on behalf of the armed forces, mental health, the Veterans Administration, Vietnam veterans, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial earned her the Tennessee Adjutant General’s Distinguished Patriot Medal, its highest civilian honor. In 2005, the Commander in Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars presented her with the Medal of Merit, which is awarded for “exceptional service rendered to country, community and humankind.”
A regular guest on the Opry for years, Howard formally joined the cast in 1971. She continued to tour periodically and to work for causes related to military veterans. In 2005, she was recognized by her home state with her induction into the Missouri Country Music Hall of Fame.
She subsequently appeared on albums by other artists. In 2007, she recorded a duet with Bill Anderson and Vince Gill for Anderson's studio release, Whisperin' Bluegrass. In 2017, Howard and Jessi Colter appeared on Jeannie Seely's studio album Written in Song, singing on the track "We're Still Hangin' in There, Ain't We Jessi". In 2019, she celebrated her 90th birthday at the Opry, making her the show's oldest living member. On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Jan Howard among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.
Belle of the Ball
Jan Howard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You once danced with me and whispered tenderly that I was the belle of the ball
The belle of the ball now stands by the wall
You told me you love me and then let me fall
But my heart will yearn until you return and call me the belle of the ball
Young lovers dance by me with stars in their eyes as soft music flows through the hall
I'll keep watching the door till you come back once more
The belle of the ball,
Then I'll be the belle of the ball
Jan Howard's song Belle of the Ball is a poignant and reflective ballad about a woman who is yearning for the return of the man she loves. The song opens with the singer's sorrowful introspection, as she questions where her lover is and if he thinks of her at all. She reminiscences about her past with the man, particularly a dance they shared where he had whispered tenderly to her and declared her the belle of the ball.
Despite her fond memories of the past, the singer is now standing alone by the wall, abandoned by her lover after he had professed his love for her. The songstress declares that her heart will continue to yearn for him, and that he will always have the power to make her feel like the belle of the ball, even when she is standing alone.
Throughout the song, the singer is watching other young couples dance with "stars in their eyes," yearning for her own dancing partner to return to her. The song ends on a hopeful note, as she declares that when he does return, she will once again be the belle of the ball.
Jan Howard's Belle of the Ball is a heart-wrenching portrayal of lost love and longing. The song remains a classic country ballad and has been covered by several country artists, including Tammy Wynette. Its poignant lyrics and emotive performance have made it a favorite among country music lovers worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
Darling oh darling where are you tonight don't you even miss me at all
The singer is questioning where their significant other is at and if they miss being with them.
You once danced with me and whispered tenderly that I was the belle of the ball
The singer recalls a special moment with their significant other where they were told they were the most beautiful person in the room.
The belle of the ball now stands by the wall
The singer is no longer the center of attention and is now just a wallflower.
You told me you love me and then let me fall
The significant other expressed love but then hurt the artist in some way.
But my heart will yearn until you return and call me the belle of the ball
Despite the hurt, the artist's heart still longs for the other person to come back and make them feel special once again.
Young lovers dance by me with stars in their eyes as soft music flows through the hall
The singer is feeling envious of other couples in the room who seem so in love and happy.
I'll keep watching the door till you come back once more
The singer is waiting for the other person to come back and make things right.
Then I'll be the belle of the ball
The artist wants to be the center of attention and feel loved and adored once again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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