Grammy Award nominees, the Rhodes Sisters bring Gene Williams a page from his past as they guest star on to the “Gene Williams Country Music Television Show” to be telecast Dec. 26-27.
“The Rhodes Sisters perform at the Whiter River Hoedown in Mountain View, Ark., and we got together when I was inducted into the George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame along with Loretta Lynn and their late mother, Dot Rhodes. The girls and I go way back to the beginning of my television career. These sisters have a great talent and are carrying on the true country tradition,” said Williams, who is the star and creator of the award-winning “Gene Williams TV Show.”
“The Rhodes Sisters include Brenda Bear Barnett, Sandra Rhodes and Donna Rhodes. The Rhodes Sisters were part of the original Ralph Emery TV show as background singers. Sandra and Donna were nominated for a Grammy for their debut album, ‘The Lonesome Rhodes,’ which was produced by the late Chet Atkins, who appreciated the girls’ sound so much that he gave Sandra one of his guitars. The Rhodes family recorded their only album on my label, Cotton Town Jubilee Records in Memphis. On it were their mother and daddy, Dusty Rhodes, along with their uncles, Speck and Slim Rhodes, and John Hughey. Speck was a member of the Porter Wagoner Show for many years. John Hughey played steel guitar for Conway Twitty and then for Vince Gill. Donna is married to Loretta Lynn’s piano player and they make their home in Paragould, Ark. Slim Rhodes encouraged me to begin my TV show,” Williams said.
The “Gene Williams Country TV Show” features the shows and stars from Branson and country music and is taped live in the NBC affiliate KY3 Studios in Springfield, Mo. Guest audience members are welcome and should arrive at the studio at 1 p.m. The next taping is Jan. 13.
“Gene Williams TV Show” is co-hosted by Katie Lynn who has received the Branson Entertainment Awards Best Support Vocalist twice for her work in the “Mickey Gilley Show.” She has worked with Gilley for more than 10 years and also worked with Jim Owen for seven years. She is finishing her fifth CD release titled Me and Jesus Laughing. In addition to her singing career, she is a real estate agent.
Williams began his country music television show in Arkansas almost 50 years ago and for the past eight years taped the show in Branson live before a studio audience. Guests have included the late Ed McMahon, Mickey Gilley, the Oak Ridge Boys, Chubby Checker, Roy Clark, Johnny Lee, the World Famous Platters, Barbara Fairchild, Sons of the Pioneers, the Osmonds, Johnny Cash’s band The Tennessee Three, the Blackwood Brothers, Helen Cornelius, Leona Williams, Charlie Louvin, Mary Lou Turner, Cal Smith, Stonewall Jackson, Norma Jean, “Diamond” Dave Somerville, Little Jimmy Dickens, the late Porter Wagoner, Jim Owen, Buck Trent and Wanda Jackson.
