Zella Lehr
Encyclopedia
Zella Lehr is an American
singer and entertainer. She had hit records on RCA Records
and Columbia Records
, most notably Dolly Parton
's "Two Doors Down
" (which charted for Lehr in early 1978, before Parton herself had released the song as a single). She had been on the Billboard Magazine Country charts for 18 weeks and in 1980 was nominated by the Academy of Country Music
and Cashbox Magazine for the 'Most Promising Female Vocalist' award.
Zella has spent her life on stage, making her debut at the age of seven along with her Mom, Dad and two brothers performing as 'The Lehr Family'. She made guest appearances on the Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson
before becoming a regular on the CBS television show Hee Haw
as the 'unicycle girl'. A TV Guide
article of her exploits led to her first Las Vegas showroom engagement, which in turn resulted in appearances with Wayne Newton
, Sammy Davis Jr., Glen Campbell
, and the Statler Brothers
. After relocating to Reno, Nevada she was named Northern Nevada's Entertainer of the Year for seven years in a row. Lehr went on to own and operate Zella Lehr's Dinner Theater from 2000–2004, and now has a premier entertainment production company and talent agency.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and entertainer. She had hit records on RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
and Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, most notably Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
's "Two Doors Down
Two Doors Down
"Two Doors Down" was a song written and performed by Dolly Parton, which provided a 1978 U.S. country and pop hit for her. The song was sung from the perspective of a woman who has just broken up with her boyfriend and is debating attending a party two doors down the hall from her apartment...
" (which charted for Lehr in early 1978, before Parton herself had released the song as a single). She had been on the Billboard Magazine Country charts for 18 weeks and in 1980 was nominated by the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
and Cashbox Magazine for the 'Most Promising Female Vocalist' award.
Zella has spent her life on stage, making her debut at the age of seven along with her Mom, Dad and two brothers performing as 'The Lehr Family'. She made guest appearances on the Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
before becoming a regular on the CBS television show Hee Haw
Hee Haw
Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
as the 'unicycle girl'. A TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
article of her exploits led to her first Las Vegas showroom engagement, which in turn resulted in appearances with Wayne Newton
Wayne Newton
Wayne Newton is an American singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He performed over 30,000 solo shows in Las Vegas over a period of over 40 years, earning him the nicknames The Midnight Idol, Mr. Las Vegas and Mr. Entertainment...
, Sammy Davis Jr., Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
, and the Statler Brothers
Statler Brothers
The Statler Brothers were an American country music vocal group founded in 1955 in Staunton, Virginia.Originally performing gospel music at local churches, the group billed themselves as The Four Star Quartet, and later The Kingsmen...
. After relocating to Reno, Nevada she was named Northern Nevada's Entertainer of the Year for seven years in a row. Lehr went on to own and operate Zella Lehr's Dinner Theater from 2000–2004, and now has a premier entertainment production company and talent agency.
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country | ||
| 1978 | "Two Doors Down Two Doors Down "Two Doors Down" was a song written and performed by Dolly Parton, which provided a 1978 U.S. country and pop hit for her. The song was sung from the perspective of a woman who has just broken up with her boyfriend and is debating attending a party two doors down the hall from her apartment... " |
7 | 5 |
| "When the Fire Gets Hot" | 31 | 21 | |
| "Danger, Heartbreak Ahead" | 20 | 16 | |
| 1979 | "Play Me a Memory" | 24 | — |
| "Only Diamonds Are Forever" | 59 | — | |
| "Once in a Blue Moon" | 34 | — | |
| 1980 | "Love Has Taken Its Time" | 26 | — |
| "Rodeo Eyes" | 25 | — | |
| "Love Crazy Love" | 34 | — | |
| 1981 | "Feedin' the Fire" | 16 | — |
| 1982 | "Blue Eyes Don't Make an Angel" | 56 | — |
| "What a Way to Spend the Night" | 85 | — | |
| 1983 | "Haven't We Loved Somewhere Before" | 86 | — |
| 1984 | "All Heaven Is About to Break Loose" | 72 | — |
| 1985 | "You Bring Out the Lover in Me" | 66 | — |