Norah Lee Allen, Longtime Opry Vocalist, and Wife Of The Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen, Dies At 76
The Oak Ridge Boys shared a heartfelt statement, revealing “we have lost the matriarch of our family.”
Norah Lee Allen; Photo Provided
Norah Lee Allen, a longtime vocalist in the Grand Ole Opry band and the wife of The Oak Ridge Boys‘ lead singer Duane Allen, has died.
Norah Lee passed away on Easter Sunday, March 31, after fighting an extended illness, according to a statement from The Oak Ridge Boys’ team. She was 76 years old.
On Sunday, just after Norah Lee’s passing, Duane Allen shared the following message with his close friends and family:
This morning, my wife of 54 years and 8 months took her last breath of air on planet Earth.
Norah Lee went to be with Jesus at 7:28 am, Easter morning. She had not been feeling well for some time. Her family all spent the night with her last night at Vanderbilt Hospital. We took time singing with and to her, telling her stories, and loving her every second that God let us share her here on Earth.
Jamie, Dee, and I would like to thank you all for your love and prayers. We have been at her bedside for over nine weeks.
We would like to thank Donna, Ashley, Ginger, GiGi, and Mindy for helping stay some nights with her.
We would like to thank the doctors, nurses, medical workers, and specialty staff who did everything they could to help Norah Lee.
The GRAMMY Award-winning band later shared a heartfelt message on social media.
“All of OAK RIDGE BOYS nation mourns the loss of Norah Lee Allen. We have lost the matriarch of our family. The sweetest soul that any of us have ever known. Please keep ACE and the family in your prayers… UNTIL THE PROMISED DAY …,” they collectively wrote.
Duane, who wed Norah Lee on September 22, 1969, later revealed that Norah Lee’s funeral will be held in two locations: Tuesday, April 2 at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee with visitation taking place between 12-2 pm and a service at 2 as well as Wednesday, April 3 at Stuart’s Chapel in Lewisburg, Kentucky
With visitation from 1-2 pm and a service at 2. He said her burial would take place immediately following the funeral on Wednesday.
Growing up in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Norah Lee was also a singer and formed a trio with her sisters called The Stuart Sisters Trio. It was formed by their father when she was just 3 years old. The family of gospel singers traveled around the country, performing at concerts, revivals, conventions, churches, and more for nearly 17 years.
In 1968, Norah Lee landed a job with the country gospel group Chuck Wagon Gang. This role introduced her to the music industry and within two years, she was hired by Benson Publishing Group in Nashville where she undertook various responsibilities ranging from secretarial duties to contributing background vocals during studio recordings. During this time, she contributed background vocals to projects by artists such as Conway Twitty.
By 1975, Norah Lee had embarked on her professional musical journey, initially starting as a part-time fill-in in the Grand Ole Opry Band. By 1980, she had transitioned into a full-time role as a member of the Grand Ole Opry band, specializing in background vocals. The group, who became known as Norah Lee and the Carol Lee Singers, and later the Opry Staff Singers, mastered numerous songs each night and delivered stellar performances to enthusiastic audiences at the Opry, as well as to viewers and listeners worldwide via television and radio broadcasts.
For more than five decades, Norah Lee shared the Opry stage with iconic country music artists, including Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Garth Brooks, Olivia Newton-John, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Minnie Pearl, Trisha Yearwood, Charlie Daniels, Martina McBride, and Loretta Lynn, among many others.
She was a member of the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and a cherished member of the Nashville music community.
Norah Lee is survived by her husband, Duane Allen, her two children, Jamie Allen (Paul) Martin and Dee Allen, and her four grandchildren, March, Kell, Texas, and Tallant Martin.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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