Country singer Jody Miller dies at age 80 after suffering complications from Parkinson’s Disease

Country singer Jody Miller has died at the age of 80 after suffering complications from Parkinson’s Disease.

The Grammy-award winner passed away in her hometown of Blanchard, Oklahoma on Thursday, seven years after being diagnosed with the disease, according to The Oklahoman.

She was surrounded by her family at the time of her death.

Miller is known as a trailblazer for female artists who have achieved success after going crossover, according to Tulsa Road. 

‘I started out as a folk singer… and what got me into country music, actually, was that Grammy,’ she previously told The Oklahoman. 

She received a Grammy for her 1965 track Queen of the House, which landed at No. 5 on the country chart and at 12th place on the Billboard Hot 100, according to Tulsa Road.

Her other hits include Home Of The Brave, Look At Mine, and If You Think I Love You Now (I Just Started). 

Miller has been recognized as a pioneer for female artists who have achieved success after going crossover

In addition to country and folk, she made gospel records later in her life. She was also inducted into The Country Gospel Music Association’s Hall of Fame. 

Recalling her career, she previously told Tulsa Road: ‘I’d say next to Queen of the House, the biggest record for me was He’s So Fine, (in 1971), a remake of the old Chiffons hit.

‘I really came back on that one, and I got the Billboard award (for Artist Resurgence of the Year). It sold as many as Queen of the House did, and told people on Music Row down in Nashville that there was another audience out there that might pick up on country music.’ 

Miller pictured with fellow Grammy winners Johnny Mandel and Herb Alpert 

Miller was born in Phoenix, Arizona as her family traveled to Oakland, California, according to The Oklahoman. She was raised in Blanchard, Oklahoma, though did live in Los Angeles for eight years. She returned to Blanchard in 1969. 

Not long after moving to Los Angeles, Miller signed a recording contract with Capitol after reaching out to Western actor Dale Robertson who helped her land an audition with the company. Robertson was also connected with the family of Miller’s husband, Monty Brooks. 

‘It’s a Cinderella story. … I got in L.A. and I had been married six months. It was in the summer of ’62, and by that next year, I had a contract with Capitol,’ she said. 

Miller tied the knot with Monty Brooks in 1962 and was married to him until his death in 2014, according to The Oklahoman.