Young Jeannie C. Riley Puts Fear In The Eyes Of The ‘Harper Valley PTA’

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Jeannie C. Riley took on the role of a widowed mother victim to cruel gossip by her fellow parents with her iconic 1968 mega hit, “Harper Valley PTA.”

In a televised performance on Hollywood Palace variety series, Riley took on the iconic role of Ms. Johnson, putting fear into the eyes of the “Harper Valley hypocrites.” Donning Ms. Johnson’s infamous miniskirt, Riley blasts into the PTA meeting and proceeded to air every member’s dirty laundry.

The song follows a widower and mother to a teenage daughter attending Harper Valley Middle School, the Parent Teacher Association sending the young girl home one day with a letter for her. The letter scolded her for a series of alleged bad behavior, even deeming her unfit to care for her daughter. However, the mother was not about to let them get away with trying to humiliate her.

“Harper Valley PTA” made Riley the first female artist in history to chart at No.1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and U.S. Hot Country Singles with the same song, remaining the only artist to accomplish such a feat until Dolly Parton‘s “9 to 5.”

You can watch the fiery video below.