Biography
Leona Belle Helton was born January 7, 1943, in Vienna, Missouri. [2] Active in her family's band since childhood, she had a radio program on KWOS in Jefferson City, Missouri, when she was fifteen. [2] Later, she worked as a bass guitarist and backing vocalist in Loretta Lynn's road band. [3]
In 1968, Williams signed to the Hickory record label and released two singles: "Once More" and "Country Girl with Hot Pants On." [2] In 1976, she recorded the album San Quentin's First Lady for MCA Records, which was the first country album recorded by a female artist inside a prison. [2]
In the mid-1970s, Williams joined Merle Haggard's road band The Strangers, supplanting his estranged wife, Bonnie Owens. [3] She wrote several of Haggard's songs, including two of his No. 1 hits, "Someday When Things Are Good", and "You Take Me For Granted". She also wrote songs for Connie Smith ("Dallas"), Loretta Lynn ("Get Whatcha Got And Go"), Tammy Wynette ("Broad-Minded") and George Jones ("Best Friends"), among others. In 1978, Williams and Haggard charted in the country Top Ten with the song "The Bull and the Beaver." [2] In 1981, she charted another duet with Haggard titled "We're Strangers Again." [4]
Williams continues to tour with her son, Ron Williams. [5] In 2017, she won the Honky Tonk Female honour at the Ameripolitan Music Awards. [6]
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