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.
Proud Mary
Lynn Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I never lost a minute of sleepin'
Worryin' bout the way things might have been
Big wheels keep on turnin' Proud Mary keeps on burnin'
Rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river
I cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis chopped a lotta cane down in New Orleans
But I never saw the good side of the city till I hitched a ride on a river boat queen
Big wheels keep on turnin' Proud Mary keeps on burnin'
[ strings ]
Now if you come down to the river I bet you gonna find some people who live
You don't have to worry and if you got no money people on the river are happy to give
Big Wheels keep on turnin' Proud Mary keeps on burnin'
Rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river
Rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river
Lynn Anderson’s version of Proud Mary is a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s original song. The song talks about a woman named Mary, who is happy with her simple life on the riverboat, rolling down the Mississippi River. The lyrics suggest that Mary is a symbol of hope for people who are struggling, as they can always visit the riverboat and forget their worries. The song’s title “Proud Mary” also reflects this positivity and pride.
The first stanza of the song explains how the singer left her job in the city to pursue something better. Although she may have been worried at first, she never lost a minute of sleep over it. The next few stanzas talk about her experiences on the riverboat, working hard along the way, but finally finding a good life. The chorus repeats the phrase, “Big wheels keep on turning, Proud Mary keeps on burning, rolling on the river,” emphasizing the never-ending nature of life on the riverboat.
The final stanza suggests that the riverboat is a place of community and generosity. Anyone is welcome, and people are happy to share what they have. The song ends with the chorus once again, repeating the idea that no matter how hard life gets, Mary will always be rolling on the river, giving hope to those who need it.
Line by Line Meaning
I left a good job in the city workin' for the man every night and day
I quit a decent paying job in the city where I had to work day and night for someone else
But I never lost a minute of sleepin', Worryin' bout the way things might have been
However, I never worried about what could have been and didn't lose any sleep over it
Big wheels keep on turnin', Proud Mary keeps on burnin'
Life goes on no matter what and Proud Mary continues to move forward despite challenges
Rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river
Proud Mary keeps moving forward on the river
I cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis chopped a lotta cane down in New Orleans
I worked hard doing odd jobs such as dishwashing and cutting sugarcane in different places
But I never saw the good side of the city till I hitched a ride on a river boat queen
However, I never experienced the positive aspects of the city until I took a ride on a riverboat
Now if you come down to the river I bet you gonna find some people who live
If you visit the river, you will come across people who call it their home
You don't have to worry and if you got no money people on the river are happy to give
You don't need to worry about money as people on the river are generous and willing to help
Rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river
Proud Mary keeps moving forward on the river
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Cameron Fogerty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind