Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

You Need To Check Out These Charley Pride Facts You May Not Know

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

 Here are some interesting Charley Pride facts you probably didn’t know!

The groundbreaking singer was one of country music’s biggest success stories in the late ’60s through the mid-’80s. With his warm, strong baritone voice and a knack for phrasing that gave his performances a down-home sincerity and authenticity, Pride remained a popular live attraction long after his traditional style fell out of favor on country radio.

Check out what we’ve found about the first black superstar of country music.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPBuJtgA0y2/

10. He Is The Fourth Of Eleven Children

Born on March 18, 1934, on a cotton farm in Sledge, Mississippi, where his father was a sharecropper, Pride was the fourth of eleven children. He had seven brothers and three sisters.

9. His Name Wasn’t Supposed To Be Charley

His father originally named him Charl Frank Pride, but due to a clerical error on his birth certificate, his legal name became Charley Frank Pride.

8. He Taught Himself To Play Guitar

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ7jl-Cn_dJ/

When Pride was only fourteen, his mother bought him his first guitar. He taught himself how to play the instrument by listening to country music on the radio.

7. His Lifelong Dream Was To Become A Professional Baseball Player

Though Pride loved music, Pride’s lifelong dream was to become a professional baseball player. In 1952, he finally signed on to play with the Memphis Red Sox of Negro American League. A year later, he signed a contract with the Boise Yankees – New York Yankees’ Class C farm team.

After Pride played ball for two years, he joined the U.S. Army, where he served for two years. Upon his discharge, he meant to return to baseball; however, he sustained injuries that affected his throwing arm. 

Discouraged that he could no longer qualify for the major leagues, Pride ended in Helena, Montana, where he worked in a zinc smelting plant at the same time played in the minors. Eventually, in 1961, he earned a tryout for the California Angels, but they turned him down. The next year, New York Mets rejected him as well.

6. Country Stars Red Foley And Red Sovine Encouraged Him To Join The Music Business

With his baseball career seemingly over, Pride started giving music some attention. In 1963, he sang backstage for Red Foley and Red Sovine at one of Sovine’s concerts. The veteran musicians were impressed with Pride, and they told him he should go to Nashville – which he did!

5. Pride Was The Only Black Country Singer With A Contract From A Major Label Until The Early 1990s

He was also the first African-American performer to appear on the Opry stage since the 1920s when harmonica-playing Deford Bailey debuted on the program.

Though Pride was praised upon the release of his debut song – which even won a Grammy Award – there remained resistance in certain quarters of the country audience to a black performer.

“They used to ask me how it feels to be the ‘first colored country singer,'” Pride revealed in his 1992 interview with The Dallas Morning News.

“Then it was ‘first Negro country singer;’ then ‘first black country singer.’ Now I’m the ‘first African-American country singer.’ That’s about the only thing that’s changed. This country is so race-conscious, so ate-up with colors and pigments. I call it ‘skin hangups’ — it’s a disease.”

4. Willie Nelson Once Kissed Charley Pride On The Lips While Onstage At The Big D Jamboree In Dallas

While the surprising show of affection shocked the entire crowd, it also exhibited Nelson‘s colorblind endorsement of the singer, which caused fans to rethink their assessment of Pride.

In the documentary Charley Pride: I’m Just Me, Pride recreated the moment on Nelson’s bus. Planting a prolonged kiss on Nelson, Pride told his longtime supporter and close friend, “I got you back. I’ve been wanting to do that for so many years!”

3. The First Time Pride Met His Future Wife, Rozene Cochran, He Bought Her a Record

Pride met his wife Rozene Cochran while playing baseball in Memphis, Tennessee. And you can tell the first meeting went well as it ended with Pride buying Cochran a record, which was Ames Brothers’ “It Only Hurts for a Little While.”

“He thought I was gonna go out with somebody else,” Rozene said about their courtship. However, their relationship was interrupted by Pride’s service in the army. When he went home for Christmas, the couple married on December 28, 1956, which was also his father’s birthday. 

2. He Was Mildly Manic Depressive

In 1994, the singer wrote in his autobiography, Pride: The Charley Pride Story, in which he revealed that he had battled manic depression throughout his career as a country music singer. He also disclosed that he has been taking drugs for depression since 1968.

“I still sort of halfway want to deny it,” he said. “But it’s kind of hard to do that, especially with my wife telling me the stuff I’ve done when I really went out of it.” 

1. And He Wanted “To Be Remembered As A Good Person”

“I’d like to be remembered as a good person who tried to be a good entertainer and made people happy, was a good American who paid his taxes and made a good living,” Pride said in 1985. 

“I tried to do my best and contribute my part.”

Latest Stories

Rascal Flatts and the Jonas Brothers collaborate on 'I Dare You,' a powerful heartbreak anthem, ahead of Rascal Flatts' 25th Anniversary Life Is a Highway Tour.

Rascal Flatts and Jonas Brothers Collaborate on New Song “I Dare You”

Rascal Flatts may have built their legacy on heartfelt country anthems. Still, their latest collaboration proves they’re not afraid to shake things up. The iconic trio has teamed up with ...

Cody Johnson opens up about learning to be romantic with his wife, Brandi, after 15 years of marriage, emphasizing the importance of simple gestures.

Cody Johnson Shares How He Learned to Be Romantic With His Wife Brandi

Cody Johnson might be a country music powerhouse, but he’s just a husband trying to get it right at home. Married to his wife, Brandi, since 2008, Johnson has spent ...

Luke Bryan Says Beyonce Is The Greatest Singer Of All Time

Luke Bryan Just Called Beyoncé “The Greatest Singer of Our Lifetime”

Luke Bryan poured gasoline on an already blazing fire by calling Beyoncé “the greatest singer in our lifetime.” As Cowboy Carter continues to divide country music fans, Bryan’s comments feel ...

At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Beyoncé, dressed in a champagne-colored gown, sits wide-eyed and open-mouthed in her seat, displaying visible shock as Taylor Swift announces her as the winner for Best Country Album. In the background, Kacey Musgraves, wearing a white tank top, claps with a neutral expression, her face showing no visible emotion.

The Real Reason Beyoncé Won a Grammy for Best Country Album

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter winning Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammys was never about the music. It was about power, control, and pushing an agenda unrelated to country music. The ...

Whoopi Goldberg passionately defends Beyoncé's Grammy win for Best Country Album on 'The View.' Seated at the show's panel, Goldberg gestures emphatically, her expression animated as she addresses the camera. She wears a patterned blouse and round glasses, conveying determination. Co-hosts listen attentively, and the studio backdrop features 'The View' logo. Goldberg's body language underscores her firm stance against critics of Beyoncé's achievement.

Whoopi Goldberg Sides With Beyoncé’s Country Grammy Win and Tells Critics to “Sit Down”

Whoopi Goldberg has a long history of running her mouth without understanding the issue. Still, this time, she’s stomping all over country music like it’s just another Hollywood punchline. On ...

Wynonna Judd raising her granddaughter Kaliyah as her daughter Grace Kelley navigates ongoing legal challenges.

Wynonna Judd Reveals She’s Raising Her Granddaughter After Daughter’s Legal Troubles

In two weeks, Wynonna Judd’s world changed forever. She lost her mother. She became a grandmother. And somewhere in the middle of grief and joy, she stepped into a role ...

Alan Jackson's fans on his Last Call tour go viral for dressing in Chattahoochee-inspired outfits, catching the attention of Jackson himself.

Alan Jackson Fans Go Viral for Dressing in “Chattahoochee” Outfits at Concert

Alan Jackson’s “Last Call: One More for the Road” tour has been an emotional farewell for fans who have spent decades following his legendary career. With this being his final ...

Randy Travis releases 'Horses in Heaven,' his second AI-assisted single, blending nostalgia, faith, and classic country storytelling to fans' delight.

Randy Travis’ New Single “Horses in Heaven” Is Touching Hearts Everywhere

Randy Travis has done it again. The country legend just released his brand-new single, “Horses in Heaven,” marking his second new song in over a decade. Fans have been eagerly ...

A TikTok singer reimagines Eric Church's 'Springsteen' from a female perspective, captivating fans and earning praise from Eric himself, sparking hopes for a full version.

TikTok Singer’s Version of “Springsteen” Is Taking the Internet by Storm

Eric Church’s Springsteen isn’t just a song—it’s a feeling. It’s the track that instantly transports you back to when love was young, summer nights felt endless, and a single song ...

Chris Stapleton delivers powerhouse performances of 'South Dakota' and 'It Takes a Woman' on Austin City Limits, celebrating the show's 50th anniversary season.

Chris Stapleton Delivers Stunning ‘Austin City Limits’ Performances of ‘South Dakota’ and ‘It Takes a Woman’

Chris Stapleton never does anything halfway, and his latest appearance on Austin City Limits proves just that. The long-running PBS show is celebrating its 50th anniversary season, and they brought ...