Here we take a look at Interesting Crystal Gayle facts. Country music songbird Crystal Gayle is best known for her long floor-length hair and smooth voice. The most popular song of her career is without a doubt the classic hit “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”
Enjoy a vintage live performance of the tune and see interesting facts below!
Crystal Gayle Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
Interesting Crystal Gayle Facts
Check out these additional Crystal Gayle facts!
1. She was named after a burger joint
Crystal Gayle’s real name is Brenda Gail Webb. There was already a singer named Brenda Lee and Decca Records didn’t want to have confusion with two Brendas. After seeing a sign for Krystal hamburgers, her famous sister Loretta Lynn suggested the name Crystal.
2. She has Native American heritage.
The country artist was awarded The Cherokee Medal of Honor in Tahlequah, by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Her mother Clara Marie Ramey was of Scots-Irish and Cherokee ancestry. On October 20, 2001, Crystal joined the Native American Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
3. She has worked as a voice over actress.
Crystal Gayle was the voice of ‘Emily’ in the 1993 cartoon “The Country Mouse & the City Mouse: A Christmas Tale” opposite acclaimed actor John Lithgow.
4. She was the only child in her family to be born in a hospital.
If you’ve paid attention to the lyrics of Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” you know that Crystal Gayle and her numerous siblings grew up impoverished in the Appalachian Mountains. Crystal was the only child to be born in a hospital. Her parents eventually moved the family to Indiana to live in a retired miner’s colony.
5. “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” was originally written for another recording artist.
Composer Richard Leigh originally intended to have Dame Shirley Bassey record the song. Crystal convinced him to let her sing it and it’s certianly one of the best bargains she’s ever made.
6. Younger Sister of Loretta Lynn – Crystal Gayle is the younger sister of country music legend Loretta Lynn, but she carved out her own distinct sound in the genre.
7. Signature Long Hair – She became known for her incredibly long hair, which often reached the floor, making her an iconic figure in country music fashion.
8. First Female Country Artist to Go Platinum – Her 1977 album “We Must Believe in Magic” was the first album by a female country artist to achieve platinum status.
9. Biggest Hit: “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” – This song became a massive crossover hit, topping the country charts and reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.
10. Grammy Award Winner – Crystal won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” in 1978.
11. Crossover Country-Pop Sound – Unlike her sister Loretta, who stuck to traditional country, Crystal embraced a more pop-influenced country style, which helped her gain mainstream success.
12. Hollywood Walk of Fame Star – In 2009, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to music.
13. Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee – In 2017, Crystal Gayle was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, a well-deserved recognition of her influence on the genre.
14. Diverse Musical Collaborations – Over the years, she has collaborated with artists from multiple genres, including Tom Waits, Eddie Rabbitt, and Gary Morris.
15. Theme Song for a Soap Opera – She sang “Another World,” the theme song for the long-running soap opera of the same name, gaining her further recognition outside country music.
16. First Female Artist to Host a National Television Special – She became one of the first female country artists to headline her own TV specials in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
17. Multi-Genre Success – In addition to country and pop, she has also recorded gospel, folk, and bluegrass music, showing her versatility as an artist.
18. Independently Successful – While her family name brought recognition, Crystal had to work hard to distinguish herself and was even advised by her sister Loretta to adopt a different stage name.
19. Grand Ole Opry Member – In 2017, Crystal Gayle was finally invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
20. Influence on Future Artists – Many modern country and crossover artists cite Crystal Gayle as an influence, particularly her smooth vocal delivery and elegant image.
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