One of ten children, Jean Shepard learned to sing by listening to Jimmie Rodgers records, and joined the Melody Ranch Girls while still at school. She signed to Columbia as a solo artist, and her 1953 single "Dear John Letter" topped the U.S. country charts for 23 weeks. Shepard had further country hits -- becoming one of the best-selling female country singers of all time -- and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955. She was married to Hawkshaw Hawkins, who was killed in 1963 in the plane crash that also took the life of Patsy Cline; Shepard was eight months pregnant with their second child. She returned to country music in 1964 with "Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)" and several more hits, before focusing more on her live touring show during subsequent years. ~ TiVo Staff