Jean Shepard, "the grand lady of the Grand Ole Opry" who had a long recording career as an influential female in country music, died Sunday, according to an Opry spokeswoman. She was raised near Bakersfield, California, where she listened to the Grand Ole Opry, the show she later performed on. According to the Grand Ole Opry website, Western swing musician Hank Thompson saw her at age 14, singing and playing bass in the Melody Ranch Girls, an all-girl band, and helped her begin recording. In 2005, she became the first female singer to reach 50 years as a Grand Ole Opry member, according to the Opry's website. Shepard was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011 as she continued to perform regularly on the Grand Ole Opry.

Source: CBC News September 25, 2016 20:37 UTC