Rockabilly Queen Wanda Jackson Announces Retirement from Performing
The curtain has closed on the touring and performing career of one of America’s most iconic women of music, whose influence has been incredible in both the country and rock world, and who’s considered one of the greatest living legends of music still alive. Wanda Jackson, a.k.a. the Queen of Rock and the Queen of Rockabilly is hanging up her red boots for good. This was the news coming down Tuesday evening (3-26). Her retirement is effective immediately.
“After over 60 years of touring, Wanda Jackson wishes to announce her retirement from performing,” a statement read from the Wanda Jackson camp. “This retirement is solely based on health and safety. It has been a wild ride. Thank you all for all the years of continued fandom and support. This is not the end, just the beginning of a new chapter. Join us as we congratulate the Queen of Rockabilly on over six decades of rip roaring live performances, priceless stories and countless shimmies.”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had scheduled appearances coming up at Viva Las Vegas in April, and the Nashville Boogie Vintage Weekender in May. At 81-years-old, she’s been touring since the age of 16, once hitting the road with Elvis Presley, and even dumping the King of Rock after a short fling.
Wanda Jackson started her career singing with Hank Thompson’s Brazos Valley Boys in the early 1950’s. Thompson discovered Jackson while in her home state of Oklahoma, where she was singing on a local radio show. When Jackson chose to venture out on her own, she was famously told by Capitol Records producer Ken Nelson, “Girls don’t sell records,” so Wanda promptly signed with Decca, and proved Ken Nelson wrong.
Though mostly known for rockabilly, Wanda Jackson was one of the first women to record rock music, and made it her own with her signature growl. She shot to the top of the charts with numerous hits, and even went international when her song “Fujiyama Mama” became a #1 song in Japan. Later as the hits began to slow down for Wanda, she returned to her country and rockabilly roots.
There was also a large gulf in Wanda Jackson’s career where she rarely toured or performed outside of Oklahoma. But in recent years, Wanda enjoyed a resurgence and became a fixture of old school rockabilly and vintage country events. Her 2011 album The Party Ain’t Over produced and recorded with Jack White introduced Wanda to a brand new generation, as did her 2012 followup Unfinished Business produced by Justin Townes Earle. Wanda Jackson’s husband and right-hand-man, Wendell Goodman, passed away in May of 2017, and in recent years, Wanda’s public performances had slowed down.
Wanda Jackson continues to be revered as both a pioneer and a legend of American music.
March 26, 2019 @ 8:53 pm
She is a treasure. A perhaps little know fact, she released several gospel albums. Her 1984 album, My Kind of Gospel, is truly a masterpiece in the country gospel genre.
March 29, 2019 @ 11:39 pm
she did Hank’s “I Saw The Light” last time i saw her and we were all clapping along. such a good show! ????
March 27, 2019 @ 12:49 am
Her rockabilly stuff still sounds great today.
March 27, 2019 @ 1:12 am
That is really too bad, but she has definitely earned a rest. I guess she’s “Gonna Have a Retirement Party”.
March 27, 2019 @ 1:38 am
At 81, it’s time to celebrate the cessation of sixty years choking down $30 room service cheeseburgers. Roll on Wanda! BTW Trigger, I followed the link to the March 2014 article. Good one. Today, I was reminded of “Fujiyama Mama”. My memory of it was a bit fuzzy and the Youtube link was broken, so, I googled it. Listen to the lyric again…..to think it was #1 in Japan is quite a revelation and the source of my early morning chuckle.
Good on ye, Wanda. Here’s to 20 or 30 more get off my lawn years.
March 27, 2019 @ 2:37 am
A queen. She and Janis Martin are the best female rockabilly artists ever
March 27, 2019 @ 4:57 am
Have you seen her paintings? She pulled them out of the trunk of her Cadillac to show me. She had one of Elvis and the one with Roy O. was named Pretty Woman and had a picture of her in her younger days. Beautiful Lady!!!
March 27, 2019 @ 2:48 am
She is a legend.
March 27, 2019 @ 3:52 am
Even with her success in rock and roll and her brilliant rockabilly records, Jackson has always remained a huge fan of country music. Every live show of hers I’ve been to, she sings Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams. Much less talked about these days are the slew of country records she released on Capitol. Look it up, you will be amazed.
I have a friend who is a record dealer and she took a box of original unplayed Wanda Jackson 45’s from back in the day, to one of her shows. She asked Wanda if she had these in her own archive. Nope! She then handed the box to Wanda and said, now you do! Wanda was moved to tears and extremely appreciative. If you meet her, she will talk your ear off!
March 27, 2019 @ 5:02 am
I wouldn’t have thought of her for twenty bucks. If I had I’d have thought she was dead. She and Willie should get together and celebrate being so old and still kicking. Enjoy the retirement, I sure have enjoyed mine.
March 27, 2019 @ 6:19 am
I wonder if this has anything to do with Jerry Lee having a stroke.
March 27, 2019 @ 7:17 am
Sad to hear. Love her, she’s played more shows in Sweden than any other rockabilly/country singer. Thank you for all these years Wanda.
March 27, 2019 @ 8:54 am
We met her & her husband in Branson. She wanted to be a part of our show, but the cost was too high for our show. We hated it because she was & I’m sure still is a great lady! Right or Wrong, super song, doesn’t matter if you like country, rock, rockabilly, a great song is a great song! Just like the super legend who performed it!
March 27, 2019 @ 9:25 pm
Wanda has definitely earned the right to retire; she goes out with the distinction of being arguably the first real female rocker (the “female Elvis” perhaps?), a whole passel of early rock and roll and rockabilly hits, and that trademark “growl” of hers (listen to Elle King’s “Ex’s And Oh’s” for Wanda’s more recent influence).
And as a sidebar: One of the early songs for Wanda, in 1956, was “Silver Threads And Golden Needles”, which many female artists have recorded since then, including Jody Miller and Skeeter Davis in the 1960s and, most notably (twice) Linda Ronstadt, in 1969 and 1973 (the second recording became Linda’s first country hit in early 1974, peaking at #20).
March 28, 2019 @ 1:39 pm
Sad news though she deserves a rest, I just hope her health is not a major issue. Wanda is one of the true great female vocalists of both rock and country, good to know at least the rock field fully appreciates her.
Her autobiography EVERY NIGHT IS SATURDAY NIGHT was published last year and it’s a terrific read and has dust jacket blurbs from Adele, Elvis Costello, and other rock stars. She mentions at the conclusion she was in the studio again with Joan Jett producing, hope this session was completed and will be released this year.
March 29, 2019 @ 11:35 pm
saw her a little less than a year ago. she had to be helped to her stage position and had to sit while performing but she still howls like there is no tomorrow. LOVE Wanda. glad she gets to enjoy her golden years ????