Gene Watson's Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson's Peers, who were contacted by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2006, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Pretty Miss Norma Jean, which she submitted to this site on Friday 30 June 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Pretty Miss Norma Jean who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Pretty Miss Norma Jean
This quote was submitted on Friday 30 June 2006.
'Gene Watson is one of the finest artists we've ever had in the music business, and such a credit to us all!'
Thank you, Pretty Miss Norma Jean, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Pretty Miss Norma Jean...
Pretty Miss Norma Jean was born Norma Jean Beasler into a hard-working farm family near Wellston, Oklahoma on Sunday 30 January 1938.
As a child, Norma wanted to be a country music star like Kitty Wells (Saturday 30 August 1919 - Monday 16 July 2012) and made her professional debut singing 'If Teardrops Were Pennies', when she was twelve years old, on the radio in Oklahoma City.
While in high school, Norma toured with a few Western Swing bands, including those of Billy Gray and Merle Lindsay.
Norma Jean's big break came in 1958 when she became a cast member of the Springfield, Missouri-based ABC-TV show 'Ozark Jubilee', where Red Foley (Friday 17 June 1910 - Thursday 19 September 1968) suggested shortening her name to 'Norma Jean'.
Norma Jean recorded briefly for Columbia Records and then moved to Nashville in 1960, where she became a backup vocalist for the touring and television shows hosted by Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007).
Norma Jean's new level of exposure led to Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 - Saturday 30 June 2001) signing her to a recording contract with RCA Victor Records, where she achieved her first chart single; 'Let's Go All The Way'; the song reached No.11 on the American country music singles chart in 1963.
An album of the same name was produced; the album, 'Let's Go All The Way' (RCA Victor Records, 1964), which was released in October 1964, spawned two more Billboard Top 40 country music hit singles, starting with 'I'm A Walking Advertisement (For The Blues)' (No.32, 1964), which was followed by 'Put Your Arm Around Her' (No.25, 1964). Because of the singles' success, Norma Jean was invited to join The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
In November 1965, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Pretty Miss Norma Jean' (RCA Victor Records, 1965), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Go Cat Go' (No.8, 1964)
'I Cried All The Way To The Bank' (No.21, 1965)
'I Wouldn't Buy A Used Car From Him', which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 - Sunday 3 March 2002) (No.8, 1965)
Norma Jean's 'Pretty Miss Norma Jean' (RCA Victor Records, 1965) also included the following tracks:
'He's Gone Gone Gone'
'Still'
'Love's Gonna Live Here'
'I'm No Longer In Your Heart'
'He Thinks I Still Care' (written by Dickey Lee and Steve Duffy)
'You Don't Hear'
'Happy You, Lonely Me'
'You Have To Be Out of Your Mind'
'Together Again', which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 - Saturday 25 March 2006)
Norma Jean's 'Pretty Miss Norma Jean' (RCA Victor Records, 1964) was the most successful album of her career, reaching No.3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1965.
In December 1965, Norma Jean saw the release of 'The Country's Favorite' (Harmony Records, 1965), which included the following tracks:
'Gambler & The Lady'
'Just Like I Knew'
'Why Don't You Love Me'
'Chapel Bells'
'I Didn't Mean It'
'Honolulu Queen'
'What Does A Poor Girl Do'
'Always A Bridesmaid'
'You Called Me Another Woman's Name'
'Someplace To Cry'
In May 1966, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Please Don't Hurt Me' (RCA Victor Records, 1966), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'You're Driving Me Out of My Mind' (No.41, 1965)
'Then Go Home To Her' (No.48, 1965)
'Shirt' (No.28, 1966)
Norma Jean's 'Please Don't Hurt Me' (RCA Victor Records, 1966) also included the following tracks:
'Will You Be Here Tomorrow'
'Woman's Gotta Make A Stand'
'A-11'
'Crying Time'
'Right Or Wrong (I'll Be With You)'
'Watch Where You're Going'
'Here We Go Again'
'Box It Came In'
'Please Don't Hurt Me'
Norma Jean's 'Please Don't Hurt Me' (RCA Victor Records, 1966) reached No.8 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1966.
In November 1966, Norma Jean saw the release of 'A Tribute To Kitty Wells' (RCA Victor Records, 1966), which included the following tracks:
'It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels'
'Amigo's Guitar'
'I Heard The Jukebox Playing'
'Three Ways (To Love You)'
'Mommy For A Day'
'Searching (For Someone Just Like You)'
'Meanwhile Down At Joe's'
'Making Believe'
'I'll Repossess My Heart'
'You Don't Hear'
'Heartbreak USA'
'I Don't Claim To Be An Angel'
Norma Jean's 'A Tribute To Kitty Wells' (RCA Victor Records, 1966) reached No.23 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1966.
In January 1967, Norma Jean, Bobby Bare & Liz Anderson (Monday 13 January 1930 - Monday 31 October 2011) saw the release of 'The Game of Triangles' (RCA Victor Records, 1967), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'The Game of Triangles' (No.5, 1966) / this track earned Norma Jean, Bobby Bare and Liz Anderson (Monday 13 January 1930 - Monday 31 October 2011) a Grammy Award nomination
'Homesick' (No.38, 1967)
Norma Jean, Bobby Bare & Liz Anderson's 'The Game of Triangles' (RCA Victor Records, 1967) also included the following tracks:
'One Among The Three of Us'
'Wife of The Party'
'Pursuing Happiness'
'Guess I'll Move On Down The Line'
'Bye Bye Love'
'Fairy Tale'
'Three Mixed Up Hearts'
'Don't Let That Doorknob Hit You'
'Which One Is To Blame'
Norma Jean, Bobby Bare & Liz Anderson's 'The Game of Triangles' (RCA Victor Records, 1967) reached No.18 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1967.
Between 1965 and 1967, Norma Jean continued to be very successful on Porter Wagoner's show; on television, Norma Jean projected a wholesome image, singing hurting and cheating songs which were relevant to her personal life.
Norma Jean's seven year association with Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007) ended in 1967, when she was replaced by Dolly Parton. Norma Jean continued to appear on The Grand Ole Opry, between 1965 and 1969, and recorded more singles for RCA Records.
In March 1967, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Norma Jean Sings Porter Wagoner' (RCA Victor Records, 1967), which included the following tracks:
'Dooley'
'Eat Drink & Be Merry (Tomorrow You'll Cry)'
'Country Music Has Gone To Town'
'Misery Loves Company'
'Company's Comin'
'I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand'
'Howdy Neighbor Howdy'
'I Just Came To Smell The Flowers'
'Satisfied Mind'
'What Would You Do (If Jesus Came To Your House)'
'Your Old Love Letters'
'I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name'
Norma Jean's 'Norma Jean Sings Porter Wagoner' (RCA Victor Records, 1967) reached No.19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1967.
In July 1967, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Jackson Ain't A Very Big Town' (RCA Victor Records, 1967), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Pursuing Happiness' (No.28, 1966)
'Don't Let That Doorknob Hit You' (No.24, 1966)
'Conscience Keep An Eye On Me' (No.38, 1967)
'Jackson Ain't A Very Big Town' (No.38, 1967)
Norma Jean's 'Jackson Ain't A Very Big Town' (RCA Victor Records, 1967) also included the following tracks:
'Walk Through This World With Me'
'You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)'
'Ride Ride Ride'
'Your Alibi Called Today'
'Try Being Lonely'
'It's About Time'
'From The Church To The Barroom'
'Now It's Every Night'
Norma Jean's 'Jackson Ain't A Very Big Town' (RCA Victor Records, 1967) reached No.11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1967.
In February 1968, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Heaven Help The Working Girl' (RCA Camden Records, 1968), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Heaven Help The Working Girl' (No.18, 1967)
Norma Jean's 'Heaven Help The Working Girl' (RCA Camden Records, 1968) also included the following tracks:
'What Locks The Door'
'Woman In Love'
'Pick Me Up On Your Way Down'
'No One's Gonna Hurt You Anymore'
'Don't Put Your Hands On Me'
'Don't Put Your Hurt In My Heart'
'What Kind of A Girl (Do You Think I Am)'
'Little Bitty Tear'
'Your Elusive Dreams'
In May 1968, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Body & Mind' (RCA Victor Records, 1968), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Truck Drivin' Woman' (No.53, 1968)
Norma Jean's 'Body & Mind' (RCA Victor Records, 1968) also included the following tracks:
'In The Park After Dark'
'Woman Hungry'
'Ramblin' Man'
'Dime At A Time'
'All of Me Belongs To You'
'Once More I'll Let You In'
'Promises Promises'
'Body & Mind'
'Tippy Toeing'
'I Threw Away The Rose', which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 - Wednesday 6 April 2016)
'Yesterday All Day Long Today'
Norma Jean's 'Body & Mind' (RCA Victor Records, 1968) reached No.37 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1968.
In November 1968, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Love's A Woman's Job' (RCA Victor Records, 1968), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'You Changed Everything About Me But My Name' (No.35, 1968)
Norma Jean's 'Love's A Woman's Job' (RCA Victor Records, 1968) also included the following tracks:
'Just Treat Me Kind'
'I Cried Myself Awake'
'Welcome Home To Nothing'
'Future Ex-Mrs. Jones'
'Throw Your Hat In First'
'Recipe For Marriage (On The Rocks)'
'Love's A Woman's Job'
'D-I-V-O-R-C-E'
'I Can't Leave Him'
'I Got You'
'No, Another Time'
Norma Jean's 'Love's A Woman's Job' (RCA Victor Records, 1968) reached No.39 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in early 1969.
In late 1968, Norma Jean saw the release of a non-album single, 'One Man Band', which was written by Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 - Sunday 23 November 2008), Rayburn Thomas Anthony (1937 - Saturday 21 April 2018) and Tony Edwin Austin (Saturday 29 October 1938 - Saturday 8 November 2014), reached No.61 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
In May 1969, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Country Giants' (RCA Victor Records, 1969), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Dusty Road' (No. 44, 1969)
Norma Jean's 'Country Giants' (RCA Victor Records, 1969) also included the following tracks:
'Hey, Good Lookin'
'Make The World Go Away', which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010)
'Harper Valley PTA', which was written by Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 - Friday 20 August 2021)
'Slowly'
'Don't Come Home A Drinkin', which was written by Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 - Tuesday 4 October 2022)
'Here Comes My Baby Back Again', which was written by Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 - Wednesday 4 September 1991) and Bill West (1933 - Thursday 19 September 2013)
'Still' (written by Bill Anderson)
'Yours Love'
'Crazy Arms'
'Once A Day' (written by Bill Anderson)
'I've Got A Tiger By The Tail', which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 - Saturday 25 March 2006)
Norma Jean's 'Country Giants' (RCA Victor Records, 1969) reached No.36 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1969.
In October 1969, Norma Jean saw the release of 'The Best of Norma Jean' (RCA Victor Records, 1969), which included the following tracks:
'Let's Go All The Way' (No.11, 1963)
'Shirt' (No.28, 1966)
'Go Cat Go' (No.8, 1964)
'Dusty Road' (No.44, 1969)
'Conscience Keep An Eye On Me' (No.38, 1967)
'Jackson Ain't A Very Big Town' (No.38, 1967)
'Truck Drivin' Woman' (No.53, 1968)
'Heaven Help The Working Girl' (No.18, 1967)
'I Wouldn't Buy A Used Car From Him', which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 - Sunday 3 March 2002) (No.8, 1965)
'You Changed Everything About Me But My Name' (No.35, 1968)
'You're Driving Me Out of My Mind' (No.41, 1965)
Norma Jean's 'The Best of Norma Jean' (RCA Victor Records, 1969) reached No.26 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1969.
In the late 1960s, Norma Jean left the roster at RCA Records and returned to Oklahoma.
In April 1970, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Another Man Loved Me Last Night' (RCA Victor Records, 1970), which included four tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Home Made Love' / this track was released as a single in 1969, but it did not chart
'Long Ago Is Gone' / this track was released as a single in 1969, but it did not chart
'Two Good Reasons' / this track was released as a single in 1970, but it did not chart
'Another Man Loved Me Last Night' / this track was released as a single in 1970, but it did not chart
Norma Jean's 'Another Man Loved Me Last Night' (RCA Victor Records, 1970) also included the following tracks:
'What More Can I Do'
'Somebody's Gonna Plow Your Field'
'I Wish I Didn't Have To Miss You'
'You Wouldn't Know Love'
'Is Anybody Going To San Antone', which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004) and Glenn W. Martin (Thursday 30 June 1932 - Sunday 12 May 2019)
'You're At Your Best (When You Lie)'
'All I've Got Left'
In October 1970, Norma Jean saw the release of 'It's Time For Norma' (RCA Victor Records, 1970), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Whiskey Six Years Old' (No.48, 1970)
Norma Jean's 'It's Time For Norma' (RCA Victor Records, 1970) also included the following tracks:
'Same Old Story, Same Old Lie'
'I Never Once Stopped Loving You'
'Midnight Cowboy'
'I'm So Afraid of Losing You Again'
'Rock Me Back To Little Rock'
'Hello Darlin'
'Ever Since We Said I Do'
'Little Unfair'
'I'm Givin' Up'
Norma Jean's 'It's Time For Norma' (RCA Victor Records, 1970) reached No.45 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1970.
In May 1971, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Norma Jean' (RCA Victor Records, 1971), which included the following tracks:
'Heavenly'
'Rose Garden'
'I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me'
'Come Sundown'
'That Song Writin' Man (Has Wrote My Mind)'
'Coal Miner's Daughter'
'If It's All The Same To You'
'Back To Hers'
'Don't Touch Me', which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010)
'Anita, You're Dreaming'
Norma Jean's 'Norma Jean' (RCA Victor Records, 1971) reached No.57 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1971.
In August 1971, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Norma Jean Sings The Songs of Hank Cochran' (RCA Victor Records, 1971), an album which honoured songwriter Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010), and included the following tracks:
'Make The World Go Away'
'I Wish I Didn't Have To Miss You'
'Don't Touch Me'
'What More Can I Do'
'You Wouldn't Know Love'
'Welcome Home To Nothing'
'Your Alibi Called Today'
'Then Go Home To Her'
'Little Bitty Tear'
'You Changed Everything About Me But My Name'
In April 1972, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Thank You For Loving Me' (RCA Victor Records, 1972), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
'Kind of Needin' I Need' (No.42, 1972) / this track was Norma Jean's last Billboard country music chart hit
In the 1980s, Norma Jean inched back into the country music industry with a few recordings and some personal appearances.
In 1982, Norma Jean made a minor chart appearance with Claude Gray with a remake of her 1963 hit, 'Let's Go All The Way'; the track reached No.68 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
In 2005, Norma Jean saw the release of 'The Loneliest Star In Texas' (Heart of Texas Records, 2005), her first album of new music in fifteen years; the album included the following tracks:
'Let's Go All The Way'
'Loneliest Star In Texas'
'Anita, You're Dreaming'
'Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor'
'In The Middle of A Heartache'
'Before The Last Teardrop Dries'
'Crying Over You' (written by Rosie Flores)
'Making Plans'
'Ashes of Love'
'My Heart Skips A Beat'
'Please Come Back With My Heart' (written by Levi Millen)
'Good Morning' (written by Leona Williams)
'Introduction'
'Pretty Miss Norma Jean' (written by Debbie Horton) / this track featured guest vocals from Wanda Jackson
'Go Cat Go'
Norma Jean's 'The Loneliest Star In Texas' (Heart of Texas Records, 2005) also featured backing vocals, on some tracks, from Amber Digby.
In 2011, Joe Paul Nichols saw the release of 'Friends In High Places' (Heart of Texas Records, 2011); one of the included tracks was 'Have i Told You Lately That I Love You' (written by Scotty Wiseman); the track was a duet with Pretty Miss Norma Jean.
In April 2012, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Norma Jean's Cowboy Church Gospel' (Heart of Texas Records, 2012), which included the following tracks:
'Old Country Church'
'What A Day That Will Be'
'Beautiful Life (No Setting Sun)'
'On The Rock Where Moses Stood'
'Gone Home'
'God On The Mountain'
'Feeling Mighty Fine'
'I Believe In You'
'When The Saints Go Marching In'
'Jesus Is A Cowboy'
'Heavenly'
'Thank You For Loving Me'
In November 2013, Norma Jean saw the release of 'Aged To Projection' (Heart of Texas Records, 2013), which included the following tracks:
'I Cried All The Way To The Bank'
'Columbus Stockade Blues'
'Couple More Years'
'My Baby's Gone'
'Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy'
'Satin Sheets' (written by Jeanne Pruett)
'Heaven Help The Working Girl'
'I Can't Stop Loving You'
'Game of Triangles'
'Wabash Cannonball'
'Rose Garden', which was written by Joe South (Wednesday 28 February 1940 - Wednesday 5 September 2012)
'Today I Started Loving You Again', which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 - Wednesday 6 April 2016) and Bonnie Owens (Tuesday 1 October 1929 - Monday 24 April 2006)
Norma Jean's accomplishments include performing at New York's Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden.
• Visit Pretty Miss Norma Jean's official site at prettymissnormajean.com
