Ollie Imogene “Jean” Shepard was born on November 21, 1933, and died on September 25, 2016.

She was an American honky tonk singer-songwriter.

Ollie pioneered for women in country music.

Jean released a total of 73 singles to the Hot Country Songs chart, one of which reached the No. 1 spot.

Shepard recorded a total of 24 studio albums between 1956 and 1981 and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955.

Following the Kitty Wells’ 1952 breakthrough, Shepard quickly followed, and a national television gig and the Opry helped make her a star when few female country singers had enduring success.

Shepard’s first hit, “A Dear John Letter”, a 1953 duet with Ferlin Husky, which was the first post-World War II record by a woman country artist to sell more than a million copies.

Jean Shepard passed away at 82 years old.