Beloved ‘Lawrence Welk Show’ Star Who Grew Up Before Millions Turns 83

Kathy Lennon, one of “America’s Sweethearts of Song,” turns 83 today, Aug. 2. As a member of The Lennon Sisters, one of the longest-performing female vocal groups in American pop history, millions watched the singing icon known for beloved recordings including “Tonight, You Belong to Me” and “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)” grow up on The Lawrence Welk Show.

According to The Great American Songbook Foundation, Kathy, just 12 years old, and her sisters, ranging from 9 to 16, made their debut on the TV show on Christmas Eve in 1955, singing an a cappella version of the song “He,” then became overnight sensations.

The single live performance established The Lennon Sisters as a household name, launching their more than 70-year career in the biz and charming millions who couldn’t wait for Saturday night to watch four little girls from Venice, California, sing their hearts out.

The Lennon Sisters continued to appear every weekend on the network show through 1968, becoming synonymous with nostalgia, the holidays, and family-friendly TV viewing. According to their official webpage, The Lennon Sisters also became the third-most-covered personalities of the ’60s—right behind Jackie O. and Elizabeth Taylor, naturally.

Reportedly the longest-running vocal act associated with Welk’s program, The Lennon Sisters branched out into other popular TV shows as well, with their resumes boasting appearances on The George Burns Show,The Tonight Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show. The sisters even scored their own TV variety show, Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters, with their mix of vocal talent and wholesome family values earning them the moniker “America’s Sweethearts of Song.”

But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

In 1969, Kathy and her siblings faced one of the darkest times of their lives. Their father, William Lennon, was tragically murdered at the age of 54 by an obsessed fan and stalker named Chet Young, who had become eerily and unhealthily fixated on Kathy’s older sisterPeggy.

The shocking murder is often cited as one of the nation’s earliest high-profile celebrity stalking incidents on record. But through it all, Kathy kept singing. She and her sisters continued to perform after a period of mourning.

Back in the spotlight, The Lennon Sisters became regulars on The Andy Williams Show and enchanted the Las Vegas Strip with a residency at Caesars Palace, which introduced their more sophisticated side.

Though their legacy is tightly tied to their television tenure, they did show up on the Billboard Hot 100. Their highest-charting single was “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry),” which climbed to No. 56 on the tally in 1961. On the Billboard 200, their best-performing album,Somethin’ Stupid, reached No. 77 in 1967.

By 2001, the quartet had become a trio with Kathy, Janet, and little sister Mimi, who joined after Peggy decided to retire, continuing the act for another 20+ years. Still anchored by their signature harmonies and choral blend, the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.

Over the decades, Kathy and her sisters performed for seven consecutive presidents: from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ronald Reagan. They received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and have had their costumes, artifacts, and memorabilia from their acts preserved in the Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C.

“After 67 years, there is still nothing like sitting on a stage, and looking at your sisters, and as we blend our voices, we just feel as one heart,” Kathy said, per her website.

Dozens of albums and more than a hundred singles later, Kathy continues to share her life with the public on social media and through special interactions. Though the trio is now mostly retired from regular touring, Kathy stays in touch with fans on Facebook and Instagram.

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“It is a very rainy day here in Branson, and I have been thinking how fast Spring is turning into Summer,” Kathy shared in a post back in May. “I pray for your graduation celebrations, and Summer vacations are filled with sunshine and joy. We hope to see more California families, whom we miss so badly throughout the year. The hometown of Venice, SantaMonicaBeach, is always in our hearts. It was always the best.”

At a time when television was becoming the centerpiece of the American living room, Kathy and her sisters offered something rare: four singers whose effortless harmonies and wholesome hearts made them feel like part of the family.

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