Mom and Dad's Story

Billie Jean and Glen Campbell

Photos courtesy of Linda Sadowski and her mother Barb

Glen and Billie Jean Campbell left Carlsbad, New Mexico for Hollywood to chase their dreams.

Working hard together they made their way to superstardom doing what they loved. Billie Jean’s life revolved around her family, which included her children Travis, Kelli and Kane and Glen’s first daughter Debby. Billie Jean continuously promoted her husband Glen Campbell...the singer, guitarist, songwriter, television host and actor.

In the 1960”s and 1970”s with hit records climbing the music charts, Glen and Billie Jean (along with their children) quickly became one of America’s most loved television family, hosting a music and comedy variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS Television. Campbell released more than 70 albums. He sold 45 million records worldwide and accumulated 12 Gold Albums, four Platinum albums and one Double-Platinum album. Some of his hits included Gentle On My Mind, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, Dreams of the Everyday Housewife, Galveston, Rhinestone Cowboy and Southern Nights.

IBillie Jean Campbell and Glen Campbell divorced after 16 years of marriage. The impact these two made on the music industry will forever live on. Billie Jean Campbell remained a 50% co-owner in all Glen Campbell Music and devoted her life to helping others. Their lives were forever changed by dreaming those impossible dreams, never giving up and always being kind to others.

Glen and Billie Jean Campbell made history in 1967 by winning four Grammys in the Country and Pop categories. For Gentle on My Mind they received two awards in Country Western...By the Time I Get to Phoenix received the same in Pop. Three of his early hits later won Grammy Hall of Fame awards. He owned trophies for Male Vocalist of the Year from both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ADM), and took the CMA’s top award as 1968 Entertainer of the Year. Campbell played a supporting role in the film True Grit (1969) with the legendary John Wayne, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. He also sang the title song, which was nominated for an Academy Award.