At the age of 14, Carol Lee Cooper joined the Grand Ole Opry along with her parents, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, in 1957.
This gives Carol Lee the unique distinction of being the youngest member ever to join the Grand Ole Opry.
As a child, she toured the country performing and
showing her tremendous abilities as a singer and
musician at an early age.
Carol Lee recorded with her famous parents on
several of the trios' great classics such as, "Big
Midnight Special", "Come Walk With Me", and
"Loving You".
During these early years, Carol Lee performed as part of a 40 day tour that crossed Canada featuring such legends as Hank Snow and the Rainbow Ranch Boys, Cowboy Copas, Mother Maybelle Carter and Carol Lee's parents, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper.
They crossed the beautiful Canadian landscape in a five car caravan for 40 straight days. When they arrived in Newfoundland, they traveled by train.
(Picture: Wilma Lee & Stoney with Carol Lee)
When Carol Lee came the Grand Ole Opry with her parents, the roster was filled with many great Country Music Legends.
The list included Patsy Cline, Porter Wagoner, Faron Young, Jim Reeves, Ray Price, Chet Atkins, Roy Acuff,
Minnie Pearl, Rod Brasfield, Jimmy C. Newman, Little Jimmy Dickens, Ernest Tubb, Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, Hank Snow and many, many more.
In 1973, Carol Lee was approached by Opry
Manager, E.W. (Bud) Wendell, to "temporarily
provide the vocal group for the summer" while
the Four Guys toured with Charlie Pride.
This "temporary" job has turned into 36 years
of the Carol Lee Singers being the vocal
group for the Grand Ole Opry.
The Carol Lee Singers
Connie Smith
Not only has Carol Lee been an intrical part of the Grand Ole Opry, she also has recorded on some of the greatest Country Classics of all-time.
For 10 years, Carol Lee along with L.E. White, became an intrical part of the Conway Twitty "trio" sound that was developed by Conway and Owen Bradley and is credited as the inspiration for the trio harmony so commonly heard on today's country recordings.
These great #1 Hits include, "Linda On My Mind",
"Hello, Darlin", "Never Been This Far Before",
"This Time I've Hurt Her More", "There's A Honky
Tonk Angel", and over 20 more #1 hits.
