Penny Jackson: What happened to Ray Stevens' Wife?

Penny Jackson was the wife of singer Ray Stevens. Penny Jackson’s husband is known for his Grammy-winning recordings “Everything Is Beautiful” and “Misty”, as well as novelty hits such as “Gitarzan” and “The Streak”. The American country and pop singer-songwriter and comedian has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Christian Music Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Penny Jackson: Bio Summary

Who is Ray Stevens’s wife?

Penny Jackson was born on November 2, 1943, in Elkin, North Carolina, United States of America. She was the daughter of Dewitt and Kathleen Jackson and sister, Twinkle Eve Jackson. Years later,  she moved from Elkin to Atlanta to be with her sister Twinkle in 1960. 

Ray Stevens and Penny Jackson have been married for more than 60 years

Known for hit songs “Everything Is Beautiful,” “The Streak,” “Misty,” among others, Stevens was married to Penny Jackson Ragsdale for over 60 years. On March 30, 1961, she married Stevens in a beautiful wedding ceremony in the presence of their friends, families, and loved ones. The couple moved to Nashville in 1962 to follow his rising star in the music business while Ray worked for Mercury Records. 

Though Ray Stevens and Penny Jackson preferred to keep their private lives out of the spotlight, their relationship has been an inspiration to many fans. Penny was very supportive of his musician husband as he pursued his career displaying his talent to the world. She went as far as accepting his Grammy for “Everything is Beautiful” at the ceremony in New York because Ray was performing in Australia.

ALSO, READ; Frances Stephens Ragsdale and Willis Harold Ragsdale: Who are Ray Stevens’ parents?

She was also present when Stevens was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019. The couple’s marriage was also blessed with two children-  Suzi Ragsdale and Timi Jones. While her husband was on the road, the devoted mother worked hard to enable her children to enjoy a “normal” life away from the music business.

What happened to Ray Stevens’s wife, how did she die?

Penny Jackson Ragsdale passed away on December 31, 2021, at the age of 78. She died shortly before midnight. According to reports, she died following a prolonged battle with cancer. Two days prior, he had canceled his New Year’s Eve concert at CabaRay, due to Penny’s rapidly declining health. Weeks before her death, a statement shared on Stevens’ Facebook page informed fans that Ragsdale was nearing her final days.

“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you Ray’s wife, Penny, has had a prolonged illness and has suddenly and rapidly progressed to the end-of-life stage,” the statement read. “Ray is devastated,” the social media statement continued. “His only focus right now is her.“

ALSO, READ; Who are Ray Stevens’ Children: Timi Jones and Suzi Ragsdale?

Preceded in death by her parents, Dewitt and Kathleen Jackson, and sister, Twinkle Eve Jackson, Ragsdale is now survived by her husband of more than 60 years, their two daughters —  Suzi Ragsdale and Timi Jones — four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

For more than fifty years, Ray Stevens has been among the Nashville recording industry’s most talented, versatile, and inventive forces. He may be known as the Clown Prince of Country Music for his novelty hits, but his list of talents is even more impressive: singer, songwriter, session musician, arranger, producer, music publisher, TV star, and real estate developer. Stevens did all this with the support of his wife Penny Jackson Ragsdale.

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