Priscilla Mitchell was a country singer who rose to fame in the 1960s as a duet partner of Roy Drusky. She was also the wife of Jerry Reed, a country star and actor. She died on September 24, 2014, at the age of 73. What was the cause of her death and how did she live her life? Here is a brief overview of her biography and death.
Early Life and Career
Priscilla Mitchell was born on September 18, 1941, in Marietta, Georgia. She started singing at the age of four on a local radio station, performing songs like “Pistol Packin’ Mama”. She graduated from Sprayberry High School in 1959 and married Jerry Hubbard, who later adopted the stage name Jerry Reed, in the same year. They moved to Nashville to pursue their careers in music.
Priscilla Mitchell signed a contract with Mercury Records and began as a rock ‘n’ roll singer in the 1950s. She also worked as a background singer for NRC Records. She became most popular as a duet performer when she recorded a series of hits with Roy Drusky, a country singer and Grand Ole Opry star, in the 1960s. Their best-selling recordings were country music “cheating songs”, such as “Yes, Mr. Peters”, which reached number one on the country charts in 1965. They also released three albums together: Love’s Eternal Triangle, Together Again, and We Belong Together.
Priscilla Mitchell also recorded pop music under the name “Sadina”. Some of her singles were “It Comes and Goes” and “I Want That Boy”. She also had some solo country hits, such as “He’s Not for Real” and “Your Old Handy Man”, written by Jerry Reed and Dolly Parton, respectively.
Family and Personal Life
Priscilla Mitchell and Jerry Reed had two daughters, Seidina and Lottie, who also became singers. Seidina sang a duet with her father on “You Know What” in 1977, and Lottie performed on one of his TV specials. Priscilla Mitchell also appeared in her husband’s 1985 movie What Comes Around and later toured with him as a backing vocalist and keyboard player.
Jerry Reed was a successful country singer, songwriter, actor, and session guitarist. He had several crossover hits in the 1970s, such as “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” and “Amos Moses”. He also starred in movies like Smokey and the Bandit and The Waterboy. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
Priscilla Mitchell and Jerry Reed were married for 49 years until his death on September 1, 2008, from complications of emphysema. Priscilla Mitchell was devastated by his loss and rarely made public appearances after that. She lived in Tennessee and was close to her family and friends.
Priscilla Mitchell Cause of Death
Priscilla Mitchell died on September 24, 2014, following a short illness, six days after her 73rd birthday. She was surrounded by her family and friends at the time of her death. The exact cause of her death was not disclosed, but it was reported that she had been suffering from health problems for some time.
Priscilla Mitchell was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, next to her husband Jerry Reed. She is survived by her daughters, her sister, and her two grandchildren. She is remembered as a talented and beautiful singer who had a sweet and gentle personality.
According to MusicRow, Robert K. Oermann, a music critic and historian, wrote a tribute to Priscilla Mitchell, saying: “She was a lovely lady with a lovely voice. She was a devoted wife and mother. She was a part of country music history.”
