Country Music’s Legendary Ladies Show Some Sass In Opry Performance Of ‘Heartbreak Hotel’

Classic Country Music / YouTube

Despite being labeled as a blues and rockabilly song, Elvis Presley‘s “Heartbreak Hotel” was co-written by a woman known as the “Queen Mother of Nashville.” That woman was Mae Boren Axton, who is credited with writing approximately 200 songs over the course of her career. 

Presley’s recording of “Heartbreak Hotel” was Axton’s most successful piece, as it topped the Country and Western Singles chart and the Billboard Hot 100. She is also known for writing the song “Skid Row” for Jerry Lee Lewis, and for working with artists such as Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire, and Blake Shelton.

Since Axton had such a high standing in Nashville, it was no surprise when some of country music’s leading ladies stepped on stage at the Grand Ole Opry to sing “Heartbreak Hotel.” That group was comprised of Jean Shepard, Connie Smith, Jan Howard, and Wilma Lee Cooper.

All of these ladies were some of the most well-respected members of the country music community, and all have gone on to earn a legendary status. So imagine what a treat it must have been to witness them all singing “Heartbreak Hotel” together!

An undated clip shows the group of ladies singing “Heartbreak Hotel” for a crowded Opry house. They packed their performance full of sass, and even danced around a little bit! 

Their performance was short, but they managed to thoroughly entertain the Opry crowd in that small amount of time. Now it’s time for you to be entertained by these legendary ladies and their performance of “Heartbreak Hotel.” Check it out below.

There was so much talent on the stage that day!