Jody Miller was an icon in country music. Her lyrics and melodies resonated with millions around the country. But for the last few years of her life, she mainly kept to herself. And now news of her death has rocked fans all across the world.
Jody Miller’s road to success started with her song “He Walks Like a Man,” which she followed with another big hit titled, “Queen of the House.” The second smash hit single actually earned her a Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in the year 1966.
She is often credited as the pioneer of artists who shift from the pop/folk genre into the country music sphere. She essentially paved the way for artists who came later and made similar switches. These artists include Linda Ronstadt, Anne Murray, and many others.
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“Jody Miller’s talent cannot be overstated. She had this innate, God-given ability to interpret and communicate with the most beautiful tones and inflection,” Jody’s representative Jennifer McMullen who has been with her for years said in a statement she issued on Thursday. The statement continued, “She made it look and sound so easy that it sometimes takes a moment to realize the greatness of what you are hearing. But she was just as authentic and exceptional in her own life as she was on stage and on record.”
Her career was interspersed with several musical hits well-loved across the country. Some of her most notable musical contributions include, “Baby I’m Yours,” “There’s a Party Goin’ On,” “Darling, You Can Always Come Back Home,” “Home of the Brave,” and “He’s So Fine.”
She retired from touring in the 1980s and went to live a secluded life with her husband Monty Brooks, on a horse ranch they owned in Blanchard. She became a born-again Christian and started a new career as a gospel singer and continued to perform as such till late in her life.
She died at her home in Blanchard, Oklahoma, reportedly due to complications from Parkinson’s disease, something she had been battling for a while.
She leaves behind her daughter Robin Brooks Sullivan and several grandchildren, who are all presumably devastated by her loss.
The loss of Jody Miller is honestly heartbreaking. Our condolences go out to her family and friends who are undoubtedly mourning her loss.
