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.
I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even when they weren't in style
I remember singin' with Roy Rogers at the movies
When the West was really wild
And I was listenin' to the Opry
When all of my friends were diggin' Rock 'n Roll
And Rhythm & Blues
I was country, when country wasn't cool
I remember circlin' the drive-in, pullin' up
And turnin' down George Jones
I remember when no one was lookin'
I was puttin' peanuts in my Coke
I took a lot of kiddin'
'Cause I never did fit in
now look at everybody tryin' to be what I was then
I was country, when country wasn't cool
I was country, when country wasn't cool
I was country, from my hat down to my boots
I still act, and look the same
What you see ain't nothin' new
I was country, when country wasn't cool
They call us country bumpkins
For stickin' to our roots
I'm just glad we're in a country
Where we're all free to choose
I was country, when country wasn't cool
The lyrics to Lynn Anderson's song, "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool," are a nostalgic reflection on the singer's past, specifically their unapologetic love for country music and country style before it became mainstream. The song takes the listener through a series of memories that showcase the singer's early adoption of country music and fashion, despite it often being ridiculed by their peers. The lyrics reveal a sense of pride in being true to oneself and staying loyal to one's roots, even if it means going against the grain.
The first stanza reminisces about a time when the singer wore straight leg Levis and flannel shirts, and sang along to the likes of Roy Rogers and the Opry, while their friends were more into rock 'n roll and rhythm & blues. The second stanza speaks to the singer's unique interests in country, even when it wasn't popular, such as circling the drive-in and turning down George Jones, and putting peanuts in their Coke. Despite being made fun of for not fitting in, the singer has the last laugh as they reflect on how everyone is now trying to imitate their style.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember wearin' straight leg Levis and flannel shirts
I recall wearing straight leg Levis along with flannel shirts.
Even when they weren't in style
Even during times when they weren't in trend.
I remember singin' with Roy Rogers at the movies
I recall singing with Roy Rogers while watching movies.
When the West was really wild
During the times when Western was really wild.
And I was listenin' to the Opry
Back then I used to frequently listen to the Opry.
When all of my friends were diggin' Rock 'n Roll
While all of my friends were into Rock 'n Roll music.
And Rhythm & Blues
And also Rhythm & Blues.
I was country, when country wasn't cool
I was a country fan when being a fan of country wasn't trendy.
I remember circlin' the drive-in, pullin' up
I reminisce circling around the drive-in and pulling over.
And turnin' down George Jones
And rejecting George Jones' music.
I remember when no one was lookin'
I remember when nobody was watching.
I was puttin' peanuts in my Coke
I used to put peanuts in my Coke.
I took a lot of kiddin'
I was subject to a lot of teasing.
'Cause I never did fit in
Because I never fully fit in with what was trendy.
now look at everybody tryin' to be what I was then
Nowadays, everybody is trying to be something I was back then.
I was country, when country wasn't cool
I was a country lover when liking country wasn't chic.
I was country, from my hat down to my boots
I was country from top to bottom, from my hat down to my boots.
I still act, and look the same
I still have the same attitude and appearance.
What you see ain't nothin' new
What you're seeing isn't anything novel.
I was country, when country wasn't cool
I used to like country when the trend was something completely different.
They call us country bumpkins
We're labeled as country bumpkins.
For stickin' to our roots
Because we are staying true to our heritage.
I'm just glad we're in a country
I'm just happy we live in a country.
Where we're all free to choose
Where all of us are free to make our own choices.
I was country, when country wasn't cool
I was a country lover when being a lover of country wasn't the most fashionable thing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DENNIS W. MORGAN, RHONDA KYE FLEMING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind