 Today is the day to be set free from what holds you captive. Jesus holds the key. Faith is the foundation and the most important aspect of her life. Country and gospel music artist Barbara Fairchild has entertained millions with her vibrant personality, beautiful voice, love for humor, and storytelling. She's been nominated twice for the prestigious Grammy Award, one for her number one country hit, the Teddy Bear Song, and the Lullaby for Teddy. Along with sharing Jesus, her passion and commitment to work for the veteran causes has awarded her the title she treasures, The Veteran's Sweetheart. This is her story. This is Today's Nashville. This is Faith. Barbara, what a blessing and honor to have you on Today's Nashville. This is Faith. Welcome. Thank you. I'm happy to be here. I'm glad to meet you. Well, you know what? We kind of know each other through some people. Yeah. We got some mutual friends. Yes. Tanya Sykes, Goodman Sykes, and Candy Christmas. Absolutely. Tell me about that. Well, I tell you, I ended up recording with them. I'm a hunter singer because the Teddy Bear Song has been my signature song. People still love that one. We just celebrated 50 year anniversary on that song last year. But anyway, so I had known Tanya and her husband by and Candy for a long time. And so they did a beautiful album with Sherry Easter and they called their group Air Loom. And so I had moved, lived in Texas prior and moved back to Nashville. And I would do Ralph Emery's show a lot, you know. And so I was out there and I have a friend that worked with all the backstage stuff. And she had, just prior to doing Ralph's show that time, I'd gone out to Rusty Goodman's house and he'd been diagnosed with cancer, but it was his birthday. And of course that's Tanya's daddy. And met a guy named Norman Holland that was with a gospel label at that time. And it just had a nice little conversation. Well, he had an artist out in Nashville now, just a couple of nights after I had done the show. And my friend Vicki Diles said, you should record Barbara Fairchild on your label because she really loves the Lord. And he said, I met her the other day and I really like her. So he, I don't know if she gave him my number or gave me hers. So I told him, I said, I really am not interested in a career in gospel music. And I said, I got a country career. I'm not really interested in that either. But, and you know, I had told the Lord when I lived in Texas before I moved back. I said, I'm not interested in just like getting into full blown country career again. But I said, what I am interested in the Lord is if I could be a light for you, you know, where, I mean, he's the light, but he can shine out in us. Then I wouldn't mind getting back in music. So I prayed that little prayer. Me and Norman met. And he said that, you know, he said, and I told him, I didn't like, I really wouldn't look in David Gauss's career. And I said, I got a country career. No, I'm not really interested in. And I told him that what I had told the Lord. And he said, well, I really like you. I'd like to do something with you, but I don't really know what it would be. Well, you know, so I left that meeting and say, he's a really nice man, but you don't really think much is going to come of that. Well, he had to give me this album that Sherry and Tanya and Candy had done. So I'm on my way home, listening to it. Got to cry because it was so annoying and so wonderful. I pulled off on the side of the road and sat there and cried, listening to the music. And I said to the Lord, how wonderful it must be to sing songs like that about you. So when I could see the drive, I drove on home. Okay, so a few days passed and I went out to California and done some ministry. And one of the things I did was in these friends home and a man was there and he said, I don't know anything about you. But he said, I think God showed me he's going to open some doors for you and gospel music. And I said, well, that's interesting since I had met with Norman, you know. And I get home and I have a message to call Tanya. And so she said, we put this album out. They put out Prayer Warrior and it's like a number one record said, we just want to make a gospel album together. And now they're wanting us to travel. And Sherry said, I can't do that because I've traveled with my husband Jeff, you know, Jeff and Sherry Easter. So I said, I think he should replace me before this thing gets any bigger. And so she said, so Candy and I were talking and said, who in the world would we replace Sherry with? It wouldn't diminish the group. So I said, so we prayed about it. And so would you pray about whether you'd want to be part of airline? I said, no. And I heard her like, you know, and I said, I don't have to pray about this. I know this is God. And so that I was able to do, you know, two or three albums with them and just is and get to sing those songs that they recorded even. So that's and eventually Norman did a solo album on me. And the ironic thing was, I got a song. I didn't write it, but it was called The Light. And that's what they titled the album. So when I thought about my conversation with Jesus, you know, and that's what they called the album. I just, I knew he was just making those things happen. He gives us the desires of our hearts. Yes, he does. What happened after that? I never said like, I'm not going to do country music. I've always because, because you can be a witness for the Lord, you know, and God knows that people need to hear about Jesus. No matter what walk of life they're in. And so I ended up going to Branson. I got Mailtales one of me come and work at his new theater he built there. So I had a contract just for one season. I sang about three or four songs in the second half of his show. Never thinking I would live in Branson. So with Johnny Minick and his wife Sherry would come in and the Willie Nelson Theater. Now y'all Willie didn't own the theater, but a lot of these artists would make deals with the owners. They put their names on it and stuff. And Willie asked Johnny if he'd come and do a Sunday service in there when he was there. Because he basically just, you know, Willie wasn't there full time, but they did other stuff. He's there every, some every week, you know. So they come in and do this service. And then after lunch they'd leave. Well he asked me to be a guest on there. And I won't get into all of the time friends should take forever. Well I want to talk about that too because even when you're in Branson you were going out to sing. But God had other plans for you too also and we're going to talk about it when we come back. Barbara let's talk about that year you spent in Branson. They ended up, you know, that you're home now. I never left. So the service, you know, we was talking about that me, Johnny was doing. And he asked me to come and be a guest. And we went to lunch after that. And he'll be his wife, Sherry. And so I said are y'all going to do this all to the end of the season? And he said, well no. He actually said we won't be here after July. And because we've got dates we've had on the books. And so we will do the service after that. Well it was such a wonderful service. I kept feeling like well it shouldn't end. Because they'd had a lot of people saved. And their audience would be anywhere between 200 to 600, you know. And you know when it's the Lord and he's prompting and you sure look back and go well that really was God. And so I said it didn't seem right that it should end if you're having that many people come to Christ. And so I said what if I took it? Now I wasn't thinking I was going to be the preacher. I figured I'd sing some and I'd get a preacher to come over here and do the talking. And they said boy that would be great because we've really been feeling bad about it ending. And so I knew this couple and I thought he'd make a good preacher for this. Johnny called me and said can you start sooner? Because he said we got offered some dates. If you start sooner then we'll take these days. And I said how much sooner? It was 10 days from the time that and I'm like but I just know this guy will do this preacher. So I knew some musicians and singers and stuff like that. The wonder of them loved the Lord. Talked to them about doing it. Well the preacher when I asked him he said we just put our ministry under this other covering. And the guy that's in charge of this is in South America on a mission trip. We won't even be able to talk to him for at least two weeks. And I don't think we should say yes without talking to him. So that left me with no preacher. So I ended up doing the talking. The interesting thing we threw this thing together. And of course I could always share my testimony and stuff like that. I didn't have any trouble talking about Jesus. But that first Sunday we had 735 people. That was with no advertising. We passed a few hand bills out just around some of the motels that were there. And I would not let them put my name on the sign. But it did say Sunday service or whatever. Because I didn't want to think that it is about me, you know. And we were just astounded how that service went. All of us because it was so put together so quick. But the Holy Spirit was so present there. So this friend of mine said there's some friends of mine here from Texas. They goddess give them something to share with you and they won't get with you. Well the very next day after that service was the Jerry Lewis telethon. And they were using Mel's theater in Mel where they would throw to him, you know, like they go to different locations in his new theater and all that. And so I was supposed to sing at 9.30 in the morning. I'm in an evening gown and TV makeup and hair and all that stuff. Well, 9.30 comes and goes. And I had told my friend, you know where I live so tell these people to be there at 11. And of course those telethons things are very fluid. So it is like five minutes to 11. I don't know their names. They don't have their phone numbers. They don't have mine. And I said Mel, I said there's some people who's been at my house at 11. And I said, can I run down there and see them? And he said, yeah, but any of these little stuttering wait, don't mess up your hair and your makeup. So I go out there. My car's blocked in because of all of the entertainers. And there's an old, the security guy has his old car kind of beat up. And I said, does your car have air conditioning? He said, if you roll down the window and drive a hundred. And so I said, well, can I use it for, you know, to run just right down the street? I got people coming to my house and this thing's running long and all this. So I drive down their face. I can go with the window partly down. And they're standing in the driveway confused. I said, look, come with me. I can't explain. So they'd follow me down there. And here we are in a setting area in my dressing room. And I said, there will be ladies going back there to change. I said, just ignore them. I said, what does Jesus want you to say to me? And they said, God has chosen you to do this service because you walk a child like faith and you will let his Holy Spirit move and not get in the way. You will be criticized for doing it. And people will say, who in the world does she think she is doing that? But they said, don't look left or right. Just look at Jesus and just follow him. And said, he's going to fill that theater. Okay. So the next Sunday, every seat was full. It held 1442 people. And we were back there just like trying to get our songs together and stuff. And they said, we have to open the doors and let the people in. I said, well, can't you just kind of hold them in the lobby like you did last week? And they said, no. They said, because the lobbies packed and cars are pouring down this hill. So we got to let them in. So that ain't because of who I was. Because my name wasn't even on the sign. What was going through? Jesus brought them. He filled the theater just like he said. And it was wonderful. We did the service for like 26 years. 26 years. And the only reason we quit is, and there was a lot of changes and stuff in Branson. So we were praying. And I also did a show. I was only with male that one year. And he changed his show because Roger Miller died. And they were great friends. And he had written a musical that they performed either on the off-Broadway or Broadway or something. And the next year, Mel wanted to honor him and he did part of that musical. Well, I was in the second half. But God didn't send me there to be on Mel's show for years. He sent me there to do that service. 26 years. And I did my own show after that. And ended up selling my house in Tennessee and staying in. I had to buy a house because you couldn't find a place to live. And you know what? We're going to talk about what God did after that when we come back. Barbara, let's go back a little bit. Okay. Tell me about the Teddy Bear. And your Teddy Bear song and the number one. And that's really been the signature song for my career. And it was written by two friends of mine. And so that was a real blessing. And Don Earl, who was a homicide detective. And my dad moved just to St. Louis when I was a freshman in high school. So we went from Arkansas to St. Louis. And I used to sing with a guy, the other guy that wrote Teddy Bear. His name was Nick Nixon. So we sang a lot locally. Well, when I got my contract in Nashville. And there was a guy named Jerry Crutchfield. He was my producer. I mean, I couldn't say enough about him. He was wonderful. And I had a friend named Ruby. And we wrote songs together. And those songs opened the door for my career. And we met Jerry in a parking lot coming out of Decker Records building. My dad had taken us down there. And we was going to visit some publishing companies with our songs. My friend Ruby said, I think I know that guy. And so we didn't have any better sense into asking who are you? You know. And he said Jerry Crutchfield turned out she had met his brother. When her and her sister had been down pitching their songs and stuff. So that's why he listened to her songs. And at that time I had helped her write two songs. She was teaching me. So he said, I like this one song and I like your voice. I was about 16 at that time. And he said, if you go home and write me seven more, as good as this one, come back. Then give me a call. Come back. We went home. And in two months we wrote 16 songs. Her husband was an awful cheater. I can say that now. I found out he's passed away. She finally divorced him. And interestingly enough, I wrote a song that I'm going to record a new album about him being a cheater. Anyway, I want to honor him. That's coming out, right? Yeah. Okay. But anyway, so that's how it got started. Jerry, I would record the demos. And he got me a record contract. And that's how this all come about. And so I ended up on Columbia Records. And I think that Teddy Bear was on my third album that I'd done. And in Don and Nick wrote it, so it was really wonderful. And real quick, it did so well and went to number one. And people still love it. Grammy nominations? Yeah. And to this day, people just love it. Last year was the 50th anniversary of that song being number one. And it's just a marvelous song, so it still opens doors for me. Do you have a passion for veterans, too? Oh, right. Tell me about it. Well, in Branson, we did our show, Tony Orlando. And Tony is very patriotic, a dear friend. And we started having a veterans tribute every year. The vets come in. Tony would do a wonderful show for them. And we'd be part of that with him. And so many of the shows honor our veterans. And so we love them. We go across the country, do things for them. And we have a sweet little friend. And he was 100 years old. And he was a vet. And we were down in Texas. And his grandson got in touch with us. And his name was John McCain. And I'm taller than he. And it said how much his grandpa loved us. And so we were in Houston. And he lived about 40 miles away. And they said, what do we call and sing happy birthday to him? And we said, how about if we come and do it? And so we went to his house. Oh, that is thrilling. And rang the doorbell and he opened the door. And there I was. And I was saying teddy bear. And we became great friends with him. So that's just one example. We have lots of friends who are veterans. You are nicknamed the veterans sweetheart. I love that. I know it. And I tell you, people need to honor these men and women. And because we have a wonderful country because of them. Yes, we do. So we do all that we can for them. We have a few minutes left. Tell me about your faith. And when you first met Jesus. I grew up in church. But you grew up in church and still not know Jesus. You can. And I had my aunt Pula. She got filled with the Holy Spirit. And, you know, there's a lot of... She's poking tongues and all that. And my mother said, she's had a nervous breakdown. Because of church we went to. So, and I, you know, I love Jesus and stuff as much as I knew about him. But later, as you grow up, you need him a lot more. And I went to an all night prayer meeting with a little gal named Peggy Little who was a singer. And Connie Smith had invited her to go to church. I always loved Connie. Once a day come out, my daddy brought her record home. I said, you watch this little girl's gonna be a big star and it's a great song and all that. And I'd always get her albums and learn every song on it. And so, Connie had taken Peggy to church. She had gotten saved. And so, when Peggy said there's an all night prayer meeting, we'd done the opry. And would I go out there? I rode with her, which was good. Because I would have left. And so there's these people, you know, they were praying. It was all night. And I had driven all day to get up there, you know. And so, they started singing. And the church I grew up in didn't believe you should have instruments and all this. They had a bunch of instruments up there. I never did understand why the Lord wouldn't like that. Because it sounded so good. And my friend threw her hands up there and shouted, I love you Jesus. And I said, oh my goodness, I'm in one of them Holy Rollers churches. And I thought if they get too excited, I'll just close my eyes. Well, it a little bit, the preacher said, let's all come to the altar and pray. And so I went. Now, I won't get into how uncomfortable I was. But there was a time there that he come down. Because I thought, I can't pray. I'm going to hell. Mother thought I was at that time. And the preacher walked down the steps there and said, Barbara, he said, you want the Lord to forgive you of your sins? And I said, yes. He said, all you have to do is ask. So I said, I said a little prayer, Lord, I'm sorry for every bad thing I've ever done against you. I didn't mean it. That was my prayer. I'm going to roll forward. Because I eventually went to sleep on the back pew. But God had started working on me. I just didn't understand. And I went back to church Sunday morning and enjoyed it. I enjoyed the music and all that. And he said, let's all find a place to kneel and pray. I was with Peggy. She walked three pews. She's on third pew on the left hand side. And she walked to the front pew. And as she knelt down, I knelt down beside her. And I just broke. I was racked with tears. And I did not know why. And I heard this sweet voice say, thank you, Jesus. I looked up. I said, thank you for what? Because I didn't know. And it was Connie. And she prayed with me. She took me in the back and prayed with me. And I gave my heart to Jesus. He said it ever since. And Barbara, what a wonderful ministry that he has given you. And I'm just so honored and thankful that you're here today to share it with others. Thank you for coming. Thank you. My friend, are you living in darkness? Do you need Jesus? Jesus, He is the light of the world. Walk in His light today. This is today's Nashville. This is faith.