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Country Singer Zella Lehr Celebrates 75th Birthday
Lehr beat Dolly Parton to the charts with a Dolly Parton song in 1977.
Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:52pm
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Zella Lehr, a country singer born on March 14, 1951, is celebrating her 75th birthday. Lehr had a successful career in the 1970s and 1980s, including releasing a version of Dolly Parton's "Two Doors Down" in 1977 that reached the top 10 on the country charts before Parton's own version. After moving to Nashville in 1977, Lehr signed with RCA Records and had other hits like "Danger, Heartbreak Ahead" and "Rodeo Eyes." She later jumped to Columbia Records and released her only full-length album, "Feedin' the Fire," in 1981.
Why it matters
Lehr's early success with "Two Doors Down" before Parton's version demonstrates her talent and ability to connect with country music fans. Her diverse background, including a childhood in vaudeville, also makes her an interesting figure in country music history. Lehr's continued work in entertainment production and talent management after her recording career shows her enduring passion for the industry.
The details
Lehr was born in Burbank, California and came from a family of performers. She could juggle and ride a unicycle by age 6 and made her onstage debut at 7 as part of her family's vaudeville act, the Crazy Lehrs Family. After the family act ended, Lehr made guest appearances on shows like The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson before landing a job as a series regular on the CBS variety show Hee Haw in the 1970s.
- Zella Lehr was born on March 14, 1951.
- Lehr released her version of "Two Doors Down" in late 1977, before Dolly Parton's version.
- Lehr's version of "Two Doors Down" spent 18 weeks on the country singles chart, peaking at #7.
- Lehr moved to Nashville in 1977 and signed with RCA Records.
- Lehr released her only full-length album, "Feedin' the Fire", in 1981 on Columbia Records.
The players
Zella Lehr
A country singer born in Burbank, California in 1951 who had a successful career in the 1970s and 1980s, including releasing a version of Dolly Parton's "Two Doors Down" that reached the top 10 on the country charts before Parton's own version.
Dolly Parton
A legendary country singer-songwriter who wrote the song "Two Doors Down" and later released her own version that climbed the pop charts after Lehr's earlier country hit version.
What they’re saying
“I have a weird background, granted. I have a weird name, and it's bizarre to think of me riding a unicycle and juggling in Europe—and then be singing country music.”
— Zella Lehr
The takeaway
Zella Lehr's early success with a Dolly Parton song and her diverse background as a vaudeville performer-turned-country singer demonstrate her talent and ability to connect with audiences. Even after her recording career, Lehr has remained active in the entertainment industry, proving her enduring passion for the field.
