Jeanne Pruett
January 30, 1937
2023 Inductee
Jeanne Pruett was born Norma Jean Bowman in Pell City, Alabama in 1937. At a young age, she listened to the Grand Ole Opry, harmonized with her siblings, and sang in high school music programs. After high school, she married her childhood sweetheart, Jack Pruett; and in 1956, the couple moved to Nashville, TN. Pruett’s husband was a guitarist and joined legendary country artist Marty Robbins’ band. While Jack was on the road with Robbins’ band, Jeanne began writing songs.
In 1963, she started recording a lot of her own songs like, “Count Me Out” for RCA Records, her first label. She also was appearing regularly on the Grand Ole Opry. Pruett switched to Decca/MCA Records in 1969, and by 1972 she was hitting the Top 40 with her self-penned “Love Me” (later a big hit for Marty Robbins). Pruett was established as a songwriter, writing for Marty Robbins Publishing Co., and for artists Robbins, Tammy Wynette, Nat Stuckey, and Conway Twitty. But her own recording, “Satin Sheets,” was about to make Jeanne Pruett a household name.
When Jeanne Pruett walked into Bradley Barn Recording Studios on December 29, 1972 to record her new album, she could not have known that one particular song recorded that day would catapult her career to a whole new level. Producer Walter Haynes had gathered Music Row’s :A Team” of session musicians and selected the songs. One, “Satin Sheets,” was written by a relatively unknown Minnesota native John “Jack” Volinkaty.
Pruett commented recently about that session, “I had great faith in Haynes that he would find good songs. "‘Satin Sheets’, I’d never heard, but I liked the lyrics and the melody.” There has always been a “mystique” on Music Row as to what turns out a good song into a universal hit record and a forever “classic country song.”
Producer/arranger Haynes, along with Grady Martin, Ray Edenton, Harold Bradley, Jerry Shook, Pete Wade, Bob Moore, Jerry Smith, and Buddy Harmon began “working out” the arrangement for “Satin Sheets.” Haynes added background vocals - The Jordanaires, Duane West, Winnifred Breast, Laverna Moore, and Millie Kirkham. Pruett said, “guitarist Grady Martin is incredible - he has the tone and touch, sometimes, of a blues musicians; and Ray Edenton’s rhythm guitar is awesome!” When the musicians kicked off that killer intro into “Satin Sheets” and Pruett’s powerhouse voice kicked in, it sent chills throughout the studio. It’s that magic moment when everyone realizes, “we just cut a monster hit record?” Jeanne said, “As I left Bradley Barn that day, I know that “Satin Sheets” was going to make me a star!”
“Satin Sheets” hit country radio in February 1973. It topped the international country charts in May and stayed at #1 for multiple weeks. It was a Top 30 crossover hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Since its release, “Satin Sheets” has become one of the greatest and most remember Country records of all time. It has been featured on many Country music albums and TV compilations. It is one of those records so uniquely described in the music industry as a “career-defining signature song.” Pruett’s career hit a level she never dreamed could happen when this record went worldwide. It was the CMA Top Country Record in 1973, and ultimately became one of country music’s all-time classic country songs.
In 1973, after the release of “Satin Sheets,” Pruett was a CMA nominee for Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year. Also in 1973, Pruett was a Music City News nominee for Top Female Vocalist and nominee for Single of the Year. That same year, Pruett was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. She was the 63rd member of the Opry, and the last female artist to join the Opry while it was located in the world-famous Ryman Auditorium.