Jan Howard obit

Jan Howard, Singer and Writer of Country Hits, Dies at 91

A female star in Nashville when there weren’t many others, she found success as Bill Anderson’s duet partner and as a solo artist singing about the heartache she knew all too well.

 

 She was not on the list.

Artist, song writer, and Grand Ole Opry member, Jan Howard, age 91 of Gallatin passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 28, 2020. She is preceded in death by her parents, Rolla and Linnie Johnson; two sons, James Van Howard and David B. Howard; two sisters, Minnie Downen and Beulah Slama; and five brothers, Bill Johnson, Pete Johnson, Junior Johnson, Richard Johnson, and Bob Johnson. She is survived by one son, Carter A. Howard (Pamela); two grandchildren, Mitsi H. Lindsay (Keith), Anita H. Simpson (Travis), and three great-grandchildren, Cole, Alli and Charlie; and Nephew Michael Downen (Stacy). Graveside services for Jan will be conducted from the grounds of Spring Hill Cemetery and are private. A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Overwatch Alliance Veterans Foundation, 1000 NorthChase Drive, Goodlettsville, TN, 37072. Arrangements by Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5110 Gallatin Road, Nashville, TN, 37216, A Nashville landmark since 1785 “Where Nashville Comes to Remember To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ms. Jan Howard please visit our Sympathy Store.

She was an author, as well as a country music singer and songwriter. As a singer, she placed 30 singles on the Billboard country songs chart, was a Grand Ole Opry member and was nominated for several major awards. As a writer, she wrote poems and published an autobiography. She was married to country songwriter Harlan Howard.

Howard was mostly raised in West Plains, Missouri. The family moved to various homes during her childhood. Marrying in her teens, Howard and her husband relocated various times, including Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, and Missouri. She took several part-time jobs to support her growing family, which included three children. Howard divorced her first husband in 1953. She met and married her second husband the same year. Moving to his military base, the couple and her three children lived a suburban lifestyle. In 1955, Howard discovered that he was a bigamist and she resettled with her children in Los Angeles, California.

In 1957, she met and married Harlan Howard. Early in their marriage, he discovered that she could sing. Impressed by her voice, Harlan arranged for her to record demonstration tapes. These tapes were heard by other country artists and led to her first recording contract with Challenge Records. Howard had her first major country hit in 1960 with "The One You Slip Around With". As her husband's songwriting became more successful, Howard's recording career followed suit. She had her biggest success after signing with Decca Records. Howard had major hits with the singles "Evil on Your Mind" (1966) and "My Son" (1968). She also had several hits after teaming up with Bill Anderson, including the number-one hit "For Loving You" (1967). The pair continued recording and touring together until the mid-1970s.

By 1973, two of Howard's children had died and she divorced Harlan Howard. In a depressive state, she nearly gave up her career. Upon the encouragement of other performers, she released several more albums and singles into the 1980s. At the same time, she began devoting time to other interests including writing. In 1987, Howard published her best-selling autobiography entitled Sunshine and Shadow. She also started writing poems and short stories, and remained active in other ways, including regular appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. She also worked with United States military veterans through various programs. She donated to charities and spoke at fundraisers.