The lasting legacy of The Lennon Sisters serves as a beacon of inspiration in the world of music and entertainment. For more than six decades, their angelic voices and unwavering bond have captivated audiences, transcending generations and leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of millions. As the sisters grace the stage with their timeless tunes, they remind us of the enduring strength of family, resilience, and the joy of sharing music with the world.
It’s been sixty-eight years since the world first heard the live voices of the Lennon sisters.
The sisters are still alive, married, and closer than ever. They range in age from 67 to 83, and three of them continue to perform and captivate audiences with their preserved vocals. Two of them have grandchildren.
A glimpse into their lives so far.
Arguably the most enduring singing girl group in America is The Lennon Sisters, who first appeared in the 1950s. The sisters, who are incredibly talented, come from a Catholic musical family of eleven children and have been singing since they were young.
The sisters were born in Venice, California.
Although not all eleven siblings shared a passion for show business, the four older sisters—DeeDee, Peggy, Kathy, and Janet Lennon—always enjoyed singing and harmonizing.
The quartet was founded by Lawrence Welk Jr., the son of American singer and broadcaster Lawrence Welk. Dianne Lennon, Lennon’s oldest sister, began dating Welk Jr. after they both attended the same school.
Welk Jr. took the sisters home to play for his father one day after school.
Their talent caught the attention of Welk Sr. who invited them to come on “The Lawrence Welk Show.”
During their appearance on the 1955 Christmas Eve telecast of the show, the band wowed the audience with their acapella performance of “On”. The quartet’s musical abilities and popularity were quickly recognized.
When girls first entered the industry, they were still quite young. Kathy and Janet, the youngest sisters, remembered how young they were—only twelve and nine.
Although the artists were previously child stars, their youth was never compromised. Janet, the youngest member of the group, says the sisters had a great upbringing and wouldn’t mind going back and experiencing it all again.
The Lennon sisters grew up in a nurturing, safe, and stable home where duties and chores were highly valued. Kathy, the group’s second youngest sibling, gave a glimpse into what their daily routine will entail after their shows:
“Even though we were in plays and a weekly TV show every Saturday night for 13 years, apart from our own shows Mum and Dad did it as a typical childhood.” After singing, we washed the dishes, changed our younger siblings’ clothes, finished our homework, and went back to regular school.’
Welk Jr. built a recreation complex and theater in Branson, Missouri, where the show was taped. Even after the engagement and wedding, the sisters continued to perform.
The angelic-sounding performers were featured in the pages of TV Radio Mirror magazine in 1968, posing in wedding gowns. Which sister had the “happiest” married life was the subject of an article. It also revealed which of them had the hardest time adjusting to married life.
The four sisters looked gorgeous in their individually designed white wedding dresses. All the dresses were accessorized with veils and tiaras and the four sisters looked happy in the pictures.
After the wedding, the sister singing group remained closer than before. As they continued to perform, they maintained a close relationship as siblings and with their family.
They were also very content with their modesty and living simple, grounded lives filled with gratitude and realism. Peggy, the second oldest sister, revealed that she and her siblings were instilled with the need to uphold family values ​​and be grounded rather than succumbing to the lure of celebrity:
We were not television viewers; we were family Many sent us wedding gifts after the wedding.”
The sisters continued to live near each other in Los Angeles, about fifteen minutes apart, even after they married and started their own families. Despite being working mothers in the entertainment industry, they made sure their families were taken care of.
Siblings are responsible for their financial behavior in terms of their spending patterns. Their older sister Peggy confirms the fact that they face the same difficulties as any other mother in the United States:
“Despite working for 26 years, none of us have a significant amount of money in our savings. Saving a million dollars is not nearly as important as the responsibility that comes with being a mother.”
In a sense, we suffer in the same way as every other American woman.”
The Lennon Sisters began their career in the music business sixty-eight years ago.
After long years spent off the stage, admirers pondered the fate of the stunning performers.
But the group — now a trio — appeared on KMOV in 2020 to talk about taking over the lead on “The Andy Williams Ozark Mountain Christmas Show.” In addition, the sisters sang a Christmas song that immediately took fans back to the group’s heyday.
Admirers of the Lennon Sisters were quick to flood the comments section of the YouTube video with heartfelt notes. Some observers pointed to the band’s long absence from live performances; one even speculated that the sisters may have died.
Many people even assumed that the group had retired and stopped performing altogether. When one fan learned the group was still active, they were ecstatic, writing: “The Lennon sisters!? God oh God! I’m glad they’re still with us.”
They received even more praise for their endless singing abilities as their admirers continued to show their love for them. The ability of the singers to retain their amazing, angelic voices from the early years of their careers has delighted many fans.
Comments on their vocals sounding “heavenly”, “amazing” and “young” dominated the conversation. Viewers of seasoned beauties expected their presentation to sound different from the previous one.
The group currently performs as a trio of sisters, consisting of Kathy, Janet, and Mimi, who took over for Peggy after she retired in 1999. Diane passed away in 2001.
The Lennon sisters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1987 in recognition of their service to the television industry. In 2001, the group was additionally inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
The sisters remained staunch confidantes, helping each other weather the storms life threw at them. The sudden and horrific death of their father, William Herbert Lennon, was one of their biggest setbacks. A crazed admirer and stalker killed him because they thought he was married to one of the sisters.
The siblings persevered through strength, faith, and unity during this extremely difficult time, even though the family was going through a lot. Regarding the unfortunate incident, Kathy Lennon had the following to say:
“Even though the tragedy changed our lives, we all came out of it knowing we had each other.” We were blessed together [by our mom].
That being said, each of the Lennon sisters is married and several of them have children.
In addition, two of the sisters are now grandmothers. Janet had three children with Lee Bernhardi after their marriage in 1966. However, they parted ways in 1976 and Janet later married John Bahler.
In 1967, Kathy married Mahlon Clark, her first husband. But in 1981 they divorced. She married James Daris the following year.
Mimi handled fan letters for The Lennon Sisters before joining the group. Together with her husband Daniel Macias, she is the mother of two children. After exchanging vows in 1977, Mimi and Daniel are now the happy grandparents of four grandchildren.
Currently retired, Diane enjoys the affection and company of her husband, children, and grandchildren. The sisters’ unshakable friendship endures because they are best friends with the most precious hearts and put their family first before anything else.
The legendary musical trio continues to perform today, entertaining audiences at the venues they regularly travel to, even after their debut on Welk’s show.
The enduring legacy of the Lennon Sisters is a testament to the timeless appeal of their angelic voices and unwavering sibling bond. For more than six decades, they have captivated audiences with their harmonies and enchanted fans with their warmth and humility. Despite personal tragedies and the passage of time, the sisters remain united and share a deep family bond that transcends fame and fortune.
Their commitment to family values ​​and their devotion to each other has been the foundation of their success and resilience in the ever-changing environment of show business. From their humble beginnings in a large Catholic family to being inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Lennon Sisters have left an indelible mark on the music industry and the hearts of millions around the world.
As they continue to perform and inspire new generations with their timeless tunes, their story serves as a reminder of the enduring power of love, sisterhood, and the beauty of the harmonious voices raised in song. The Lennon Sisters may have aged gracefully over the years, but their music remains as timeless and captivating as ever, ensuring their legacy lives on for generations to come.