Jean Stafford

Jean Stafford (born 1 January 1950) is a country music singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s known for her rich voice and traditional country style. Stafford has won numerous awards and accolades, earning her the title as “Australia’s Queen of Country Music.” Stafford has sold gold and platinum albums throughout her career, along with her hit song Someday I'll Take Home The Roses.

In 1991, Stafford was awarded a ceremonial Key to the City of Nashville by Mayor Bill Boner, in recognition of her significant contributions to country music and her efforts in promoting cultural ties between Australia and the United States — Notably, Stafford is the only Australian to have received this distinction from Nashville.

Stafford also received honorary Tennessean citizenship by the Tennessee Governor Ned McWherter, this honor awarded in recognition of her significant and outstanding service to country music.

Stafford was the first and only female country music artist to have albums with high sales that led to her receiving two Aria nominations at the 1987 Aria Awards inauguration. Stafford has won four Golden Guitar awards and was inducted into the Country Music Awards of Australia's "Roll Of Renown" in 2008.

Stafford was a regular guest on "Midday" a popular Australian television program on the Nine Network hosted by Ray Martin during the 1980s and 1990s with over 40 performances. Alongside midday, her numerous appearances on Australian television shows like "The Mike Walsh Show", "The Ernie Sigley Show" and "It's Country Today", Stafford holds the record for the most appearances by an individual female country music artist in Australian television history.

Early life and career Stafford was born on January 1, 1950. and grew up in the rural country town of Meander in northern Tasmania.

In 1962, at the age of 12, Stafford made her first television appearance on a program called ShowTime a popular series from TNT-9 Launceston, Tasmania at that time. After leaving school in Meander, Stafford worked at a hotel as a kitchen hand in a nearby town of Deloraine, Tasmania, while performing at local dances on weekends, she began to learn her craft as a professional singer.

Stafford began her recording career in 1965, teaming up with Australian country music pioneer Dusty Rankin. Stafford recorded several tracks with Rankin including “Promised To John” for Hadley Recording Company owned and operated by Eric Scott in Tamworth.

In 1970, Stafford recorded two tracks on a special mixed artists L.P. (Country Music Around Australia Volume 1) with Hadley “The Hands You’re Holding Now” and “I Thought Of You”. and at the APRA Music Awards of 1987, the song won Most Performed Australasian Country Work.

At the inaugural ARIA Music Awards in 1987, Stafford received two nominations. She was the sole female nominee in the Best Country Album category and the only country artist nominated for Best Female Artist, becoming the first female country artist to be nominated at the ARIA Awards and breaking new ground for future women in Australian country music.

1990s In 1990, Stafford released the album Classic Jean Stafford before heading to Nashville, Tennessee where she recorded the album, That Says it All; it was released in 1991.

On June 8, 2025, Stafford released a self-penned single titled Wild Hearts, which explores the theme of adversity underlying Cyber Bullying and Domestic Violence. Produced by Matt Fell.

Discography Studio albums Title Details Flowers for Mama Released: 1974 Label: Hadley Records (HLP 1216) Format: LP Jean Stafford Released: 1975 Label: Hadley Records (HLP 1221) Format: LP I'll Sing You a Country Song Released: 1977 Label: Hadley Records (HLP 1236) Format: LP Hello Love Released: 1979 Label: Hadley Records (HLP 1242) Format: LP, Cassette Born Again Released: 1980 Label: Hadley Records (HLP 1246) Format: LP, Cassette The Way I Feel Inside Released: 1981 Label: EMI (EMX 110) Format: LP, Cassette, Digital Someday I'll Take Home the Roses Released: 1982 Label: EMI Music (EMX 116) Format: LP, Cassette Burning Bright Released: 1986 Label: EMI Music (EMX.430040) Format: LP, Cassette Reissue, Digital, Checked Label Services 2025 Classic Jean Stafford Released: 1990 Label: Rich River Records (JSR 1990) Format: LP, Cassette, CD That Says it All Released: 1991 Label: Dino (214) Format: CD, Cassette Welcome To My World Released: 1995 Label: One Stop Country Format: CD Let the Dance Begin Released: 2005 Reissue: 2025 Lebel: Checked Label Services Formats: CD, digital

Compilation albums Title Details The Golden Voice of Country Released: 1988 Label: Axis (AX 701403) Format: LP, Cassette, Digital Reissue: 2015 (UMG) Finest Collection Released: 1993 Label: Dino (271) Format: Cassette, CD Country Girl Released: 1994 Label: Axis (701533) Format: Cassette, CD Queens of Country Music (with Kitty Wells) Released: 1998 Label: Massive (21682) Format: CD Jean Stafford - Finest Collection: 18 of Her Greatest Hits Reissue: 2020 Label: Dino Music (DIN271C) Format: Digital

Singles Other singles + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AUS "What Kind Of A Girl (Do you think I am?)" 1974 1 "Fire At Shepherds Flat" 1981 "Let’s Hear It For The Working Man" 1985 "Rock Me by the Fire” / “The Only Love I Found" 1986 "Along the Razor’s Edge" 1987 "Tassie’s Got It All" 1995 "The Garden"(as Australia Too) 1985 22 "It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"(Duet with Kitty Wells) 1998 "Don’t Bet Your Boots" 2005 "Flowers For Mama"(The 50th Anniversary) 2025 "Wild Hearts" 2025 "I’m On My Way" 2025

Television performances In 1985, Stafford began performing regularly on Midday hosted by Ray Martin on the Nine Network.

In 1993, after 14 seasons and over 47 performances, Stafford ended her final performance on Midday.

Awards and nominations ARIA Awards Stafford had been nominated for 2 ARIA Music Awards

Best Country Album Best Female Artist

APRA Awards At the APRA Music Awards of 1987, Stafford was one of the vocalist in the Australian Supergroup line-up "Australia Too" the song The Garden won Most Performed Australasian Country Work. All Proceeds went to Freedom from Hunger in Ethiopia. The song peaked at number 38 on the Australian singles chart.

Australian Country Music Hall Of Fame

The Wax Museum is housed within the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre at the Big Golden Guitar complex. Established in 1983

1986

Black Opal International Songwriting Competition

The Australian Black Opal International Songwriting Competition was independently administered by A1 High Pty Ltd. Industry and media partners associated with the competition included APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) and MCA Music Publishing. These organisations were involved as partners. 1995

Dusty Boots Awards The Dusty Boots Awards, is an annual event celebrating contributions to the Australian country music industry. Founded and organized by Mal Norton, the awards are held during the Dusty Boots Festival at the Narromine United Services Memorial Club (USMC) in New South Wales.

Dusty Boots Awards 2025

Mo Awards The Mo Awards was an annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognised achievements in live entertainment in Australia. Stafford has won two awards.

NSW Country Music Awards

The Sydney Country Music Festival ran from 1992 to about 1994 and was discontinued by 1995. 1993 2016