51 Years Ago: Lynn Anderson Records ‘(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden’
Fifty-one years ago today, Lynn Anderson recorded what became her first No. 1 single and her career-defining song. It was on this day, Sept. 10, in 1970 that Anderson recorded "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden."
"Rose Garden," written by Joe South, was recorded by several other artists, including Freddy Weller, Billy Joe Royal and Dobie Gray, before Anderson recorded it and made it the title track of her 10th studio album.
"It was popular because it touched on emotions," she told the Associated Press of the song, which was originally written for a man. "It was perfectly timed. It was out just as we came out of the Vietnam years, and a lot of people were trying to recover.
"This song stated that you can make something out of nothing," she continued. "You take it and go ahead. It fit me well, and I'll be proud to be connected to it until I die."
The Rose Garden album stayed at the top of the charts for several weeks and became the No. 1 album for 1971. The song "Rose Garden" earned Anderson a Grammy Awards trophy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and helped her win a CMA for Female Vocalist of the Year and an ACM for Top Female Vocalist. It was included on several of Anderson's compilation albums, including Lynn Anderson's Greatest Hits in 1972, Greatest Hits in 2005 and The Essential Lynn Anderson in 2014.
Anderson died in 2015. Of her friend, Dolly Parton said, "She's blooming in God's rose garden now."