Anderson charted 12 No. 1, 18 Top 10, and more than 50 Top 40 hits. In addition to being named "Top Female Vocalist" by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) twice and "Female Vocalist of the Year" by the Country Music Association (CMA), Anderson won a Grammy Award (earning seven nominations), People's Choice Award and an American Music Award (AMA). She was named Billboard's Female Artist of the Decade (1970–1980).
Anderson was the first female country artist to win the American Music Award (in 1974), as well as the first to headline and sellout Madison Square Garden that same year.
Anderson debuted in 1966, at the age of 19, and had her first hit with Ride, Ride, Ride. After a series of Top 10 hit singles on the country charts during the late 1960s, Anderson signed with Columbia Records in 1970. Under Columbia, she had her most successful string of hits. Her signature song, "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden", remains one of the biggest selling country crossover hits of all time. In addition, the song also went to No. 3 on the Billboard Pop Chart and reached the top of the charts in several countries, an unprecedented achievement at the time. CMT ranks "Rose Garden" at No. 83 on its list of the "100 Greatest Songs in Country Music History". Anderson continued to record and remained a popular concert attraction until her death, regularly headlining major casino showrooms, performing arts centers and theaters.
She grew up in Sacramento, California with her mother, acclaimed singer-songwriter Liz Anderson who wrote "The Fugitive" and "(All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers", both Merle Haggard hits, among others. She began her solo career in 1966 with "In Person", followed by a hit with her mother's "If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away)".
In 1968 she married Glenn Sutton, a future Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, with whom she had a daughter, Lisa. (They divorced in 1977.)
Consistent hits followed, and she was a regular on The Lawrence Welk Show during the 1967-68 season. In 1969 Anderson signed to Columbia where her work veered a bit more toward a polished, pop sound. She released her signature song, "Rose Garden" in late 1970. The song, written by Joe South, won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance reached number 1 on the U.S. country charts, and also hit number 3 on the pop charts, as well as being a hit in fifteen countries. Anderson also received Grammy nominations for her recordings "Big Girls Don't Cry" (1968), "That's a No No" (1969), and "How Can I Unlove You" (1971)> Anderson's other hits during this period included "You're My Man", "Listen to a Country Song", "Top of the World" (a number 1 country record for Anderson before becoming a pop hit for The Carpenters), "Cry", "Keep Me in Mind", "What a Man My Man Is" and "Smile For Me". In 1971, she was voted Top Female Vocalist of the year by both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association. Anderson charted eight no.one singles, 18 Top-Tens and earned a total of 17 international Gold records. She was perhaps the most in-demand country female vocalist on network television throughout the 1970's but after 1975 her records usually peaked in the top 20 as opposed to her earlier top ten success.
Anderson married a Louisiana businessman in 1978. The second marriage produced two more children, and she was divorced in 1982.
Anderson remained one of the top female country singers into the 1980's. Her last top ten record was 1984s "You're Welcome to Tonight". During the late 1980's and early 1990s, she received much press for her disputes with her now-divorced second husband. After spending time on her ranch, raising horses and participating in equestrian events, she began recording again in 1992.
"The Bluegrass Sessions", released in 2004, earned Anderson her first Grammy nomination in over 30 years.
That same year Anderson was arrested in Denton, Texas, for drunk driving.
The American Rose Society created and named in her honor a white and raspberry hybrid tea rose.
Anderson released a new CD of original songs entitled "Cowgirl" in 2006, all of the songs penned by her mother, the acclaimed songwriter Liz Anderson.
Ding-a-Ling
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Story of a Christmas bell
That used to shine and chime and ring and
Why we called him Ding a Ling
One of the famous jingle bells is what
He was but then he fell
And broke his pretty harmony and he
Began to ring a key
Because he has a funny ring
And though he rings his note too well
Ding a Ling the Christmas bell
The other bells met secretly and he heard
One say in a real low key
He's sure to ruin our Christmas sound and
We don't want him hangin' around
He overheard the secret boat and walked away
With a lamp in his note
The saddest bell you've ever seen the
Christmas bell called Ding a Ling
They all called him Ding a Ling
The snow is falling in the square
When the children found him there
And placed him on the Christmas tree
For everyone in town to see
As Christmas Eve went to the town
A blinding snow was coming down
And Ding a Ling heard someone say ol'
Santa's sure to lose his way
The thought occured to Ding a Ling to
Ring as loud as he could ring
And when ol' Santa heard the sound
It guided him into the town
Now the children shout and sing and
Everyone loves Ding a Ling
So everything has turned out well for
Ding a Ling the Christmas bell
The lyrics of Lynn Anderson's song "Ding-a-Ling" tell the story of a Christmas bell that was once shiny and would chime and ring, hence earning the name Ding-a-Ling. However, the bell fell and broke, causing it to produce a different, funny sound. Despite this change in its harmony, the bell continued to be called Ding-a-Ling by everyone. The other bells in the group held a secret meeting where they expressed concern that Ding-a-Ling's new sound would ruin their Christmas sound. They didn't want Ding-a-Ling to be around anymore. Unfortunately, Ding-a-Ling overheard their conversation and felt dejected.
The lyrics then introduce a snowy scene where children stumble upon Ding-a-Ling and decide to place him on the Christmas tree for everyone to see. As Christmas Eve approaches, a heavy snowfall blankets the town, and someone comments that Santa might get lost in the blinding snow. Ding-a-Ling has an idea and decides to ring as loud as possible, hoping that his sound will guide Santa into the town. Miraculously, Santa hears Ding-a-Ling's ringing and follows the sound, successfully arriving in the town.
The last verse reveals that, because of Ding-a-Ling's efforts, everything has turned out well. The children are ecstatic, singing and shouting in joy. Ding-a-Ling has gained the love and admiration of everyone in town. The song concludes on a positive note, indicating that Ding-a-Ling, the Christmas bell, has had a happy ending.
Line by Line Meaning
Gather round and I will tell the
Come closer and listen while I narrate
Story of a Christmas bell
Tale about a bell associated with Christmas
That used to shine and chime and ring and
Which previously glowed and made pleasant sounds by repeatedly striking
Why we called him Ding a Ling
The reason for naming him Ding a Ling
One of the famous jingle bells is what
Referring to him as one of the renowned jingle bells
He was but then he fell
Previously he had a high status, but then he dropped
And broke his pretty harmony and he
And damaged his charming melody, so he
Began to ring a key
Started producing a different note
Now we called him Ding a Ling
Consequently, we started addressing him as Ding a Ling
Because he has a funny ring
Due to his unusual and comical sound
And though he rings his note too well
Despite him playing his new note perfectly
Ding a Ling the Christmas bell
He is still known as Ding a Ling, the bell associated with Christmas
The other bells met secretly and he heard
The remaining bells gathered in secret, and he overheard
One say in a real low key
One of them whispered in a hushed tone
He's sure to ruin our Christmas sound and
Expressing concern that he will destroy their festive harmony and
We don't want him hangin' around
They don't want him to be present
He overheard the secret boat and walked away
He accidentally learned about their discussion and departed
With a lamp in his note
Carrying a spark of hope within his sound
The saddest bell you've ever seen the
The most sorrowful bell you have witnessed, the
Christmas bell called Ding a Ling
The bell related to Christmas named Ding a Ling
They all called him Ding a Ling
All of them referred to him as Ding a Ling
The snow is falling in the square
Snow gently descends in the public space
When the children found him there
At that moment, the kids discovered him in that location
And placed him on the Christmas tree
They put him on the festive tree
For everyone in town to see
So that everyone in the town can witness
As Christmas Eve went to the town
As Christmas Eve arrived in the town
A blinding snow was coming down
A heavy snowfall obscured the vision
And Ding a Ling heard someone say ol'
Ding a Ling heard someone utter oh-so-old
Santa's sure to lose his way
Santa is likely to get lost
The thought occurred to Ding a Ling to
Ding a Ling had an idea to
Ring as loud as he could ring
Ring as loudly as possible
And when ol' Santa heard the sound
And when old Santa listened to the noise
It guided him into the town
It directed him towards the town
Now the children shout and sing and
Now the children joyfully cry out and sing, and
Everyone loves Ding a Ling
Everyone adores Ding a Ling
So everything has turned out well for
Hence, everything has resulted positively for
Ding a Ling the Christmas bell
Ding a Ling, the Christmas-associated bell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERRY FOSTER, BILL RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind