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.
Playing With The Queen Of Hearts
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoping it'll take me just a little farther down the line
Moonlight, you′re just a heartache in disguise
You keep my heart from breaking
But it's only for a very short time
Playing with the queen of hearts
Knowing it ain't really smart
Who′ll do anything for you
Laying out another lie
Thinking about a life of crime
′Cause that's what I′ll have to do
To keep me away from you
Honey, I know it makes you mad
Why is everybody talking 'bout
Everything you have done?
Baby, I know it makes you sad
But when they′re handing out the heartaches
Well, you know you got to have you some
Playing with the queen of hearts
Knowing it ain't really smart
The joker is the only fool
Who′ll do anything for you
Laying out another lie
Thinking about a life of crime
'Cause that's what I′ll have to do
To keep me away from you
Playing with the queen of hearts
Knowing it ain′t really smart
The joker is the only fool
Who'll do anything for you
Laying out another lie
Thinking about a life of crime
′Cause that's what I′ll have to do
To keep me away from you
That's what I′ll have to do
To keep me away from you
Oh-oh
The lyrics to Lynn Anderson's "Playing With The Queen Of Hearts" depict a man who finds himself in a difficult position when it comes to a romantic interest that he knows he should stay away from. The opening lines paint a picture of a man waiting for a train in the dead of the night, yearning for a change of scenery to rid himself of his heartache. The moon, however, serves as a bittersweet reminder of his love for this person that he cannot seem to rid himself of. The chorus talks about how the man is "Playing with the queen of hearts" and how he knows it's not smart, but he's willing to go to extreme measures to keep himself away from her.
The man knows that the object of his affection has a troubled past, and he feels as though he needs to do anything to distance himself from her, even if that means resorting to a life of crime. The closing lines of the song suggest that he will do whatever it takes to keep himself away from her. This song speaks to the dangers of getting involved with someone who may not have our best interests at heart and the lengths we sometimes go to protect ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight, and I'm a-waiting on the 12:03
It's late at night, and I'm waiting for the train that will take me further away
Hoping it'll take me just a little farther down the line
I'm hoping the train will take me closer to where I want to be
Moonlight, you're just a heartache in disguise
The moonlight may seem comforting, but it only covers up my heartache temporarily
You keep my heart from breaking, but it's only for a very short time
The moonlight helps me forget my pain for a while, but the feeling doesn't last long
Playing with the queen of hearts
I'm messing around with someone who's powerful and dangerous
Knowing it ain't really smart
I'm aware that what I'm doing is not a wise move
The joker is the only fool who'll do anything for you
The one who makes a joke out of everything is the only one who will blindly support you
Laying out another lie
I'm telling another falsehood
Thinking about a life of crime
I'm considering doing something illegal
'Cause that's what I'll have to do to keep me away from you
If I don't break ties with you, I may have to resort to doing something illegal just to escape your hold on me
Honey, I know it makes you mad
I know that what I do upsets you
Why is everybody talking 'bout everything you have done?
People are talking about your actions and their consequences
Baby, I know it makes you sad
I'm aware that my actions have hurt you emotionally
But when they're handing out the heartaches, well, you know you got to have you some
When life gives you heartbreaks, you have to learn to live with them
That's what I'll have to do to keep me away from you
I have to endure pain to distance myself from you
Oh-oh
A vocal expression without a specific meaning
Writer(s): D Salley
Contributed by Parker B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@laurenurban3942
That beautiful, gorgeous mane of blonde hair…breathtakingly unforgettable. There’s only one Lynn and I miss her.
@chilufyamatipa2165
The song that introduced me to Lynn. She enjoyed her own song as much as we do. Still listening in 2020. May her soul rest in peace.
@ChadWalker-nu9dt
This is my 4th/5th time coming back to watch this. I now remember why she was such a big star in her day. Very entertaining, great voice, & pretty
@kevinbietry7527
Best female country singer forget the timeline
@bobx1034
Lynn is fantastic !!
@MrZluvu4ever
No one can say that they ever had a better head of hair! RIP Lynn Anderson !!!
@teresacogdill1792
RIP, You will be missed by many fans. God Bless you the true Queen of Hearts
@philipscott18115
Hello Teresa...Hope you're doing good and staying safe! Merry Christmas🎄 to you...
@sylvaincollins3728
She was the best
@leslielanger3590
She was a real beauty and a great singer.