Lynn Anderson dies at 67

Friday, July 31, 2015 – Lynn Anderson, best known for her hit "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden," died today at 67 following a heart attack in Nashville.

Anderson had a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s with a country pop sound. She enjoyed 12 number 1 songs, 18 top 10s and more than 50 Top 40 hits. Anderson twice was awarded Top Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music as well as Female Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association.

Anderson had been hospitalized after suffering pneumonia following a trip to Italy.

Anderson was born in Grand Forks, N.D. on Sept. 26, 1947 and was raised in California. Her parents were country music songwriters. Merle Haggard recorded one of her mother's songs, "All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers" in 1965, which became a top 10 hit. Anderson went to Nashville with her mother and met the owner of a small Nashville label, Chart Records. Anderson signed with the label in 1966.

She had her first hit single in 1967 with "If I Kiss You (Will You Go Away)" and "Promises, Promises." With a few more hits under her belt, Anderson performed regularly on The Lawrence Welk Show.

Anderson signed with Columbia Records in 1970, although she ended up having more hits with Chart because the label continued releasing her songs.

Anderson enjoyed success on the country and pop charts with Joe South's "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden." Her then husband Glenn Sutton produced the song, although he needed convincing that she should record it. Anderson had more number one singles in 1971 with "You're My Man" and "How Can I Unlove You."

By the end of the 1970s, Anderson's hit making ability diminished with her final album for Columbia, "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" in 1980.

Anderson later recorded with Permian Records label starting in 1983 before signing with MCA and Mercury Records. Her last top 10 hit was in1983 with "You're Welcome to Tonight," recorded with Gary Morris. In 1989, she put out her last charting single with "How Many Hearts," although it was not a hit.

After a recording gap, she released "The Bluegrass Sessions" in 2004, her first in 12 years. She re-recorded hits from the '60s and '70s bluegrass style. She was nominated for a Grammy for the release. Anderson's most recent release was the country gospel disc, "Bridges," which came out June 15.

Anderson had acting roles including on "Starsky & Hutch" and a BBC Scotland TV drama, "The Wreck of the Highway." She also had a longstanding equestrian career.

Anderson was married twice and leaves behind three children.