Bonie Owens American country singer Date of Birth: 01.10.1929 Country: USA

1. Biography of Bonnie Owens
2. Early Career
3. Marriage to Merle Haggard
4. Later Career and Personal Life

Biography of Bonnie Owens

Bonnie Campbell, known professionally as Bonnie Owens, was an American country singer. She was born on October 1, 1929, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Owens first met Buck Owens when they were both fifteen years old. They played and sang together in a band in Mesa, Arizona, and got married in 1951. They later moved to Bakersfield, California, where they divorced. However, their move to Bakersfield proved to be a great start for both Bonnie and Buck's professional careers.

Early Career

Bonnie Owens' first recording was a duet with Fuzzy Owen titled 'A Dear John Letter,' released on the Mar-Vel Records label in 1950. In the 1950s and early 1960s, she recorded on various labels, including releasing several singles on her own Tally label, owned by Fuzzy Owen and Merle Haggard. Her first solo album, 'Don't Take Advantage Of Me,' was released in 1965 on Capitol Records when Bonnie was already 36 years old. That same year, she was awarded the title of 'Best Female Vocalist of the Year' by the Academy of Country Music.

Marriage to Merle Haggard

Bonnie Owens married Merle Haggard, the leader of 'The Strangers' band and one of the most famous country singers, in her second marriage. Despite being eight years younger than her, their age difference did not hinder them from spending several happy years together. From then on, Bonnie dedicated her life to the career of her talented husband and his children, touring with 'The Strangers' as a backing vocalist.

Later Career and Personal Life

During the early 1960s, several of Bonnie's songs became hits and entered the country music charts, including 'Why Don't Daddy Live Here Anymore?' and 'Don't Take Advantage Of Me.' In 1965, Haggard and Owens recorded the duet 'Just Between the Two of Us,' which became an instant hit and topped the charts. This song remains one of Bonnie Owens' most famous. Additionally, it was the title track of their joint album released in 1966 on Capitol Records.

Bonnie Owens passed away on April 24, 2006, at the age of 76 in a hospital due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. Her first husband, Buck Owens, had passed away a month earlier on March 25, 2006, preceding her death.