Judy Canova (November 20, 1913 – August 5, 1983), (Another source gives her birth date as November 20, 1916.) born Juliette Canova, (some sources indicate Julietta Canova), was an American comedienne, actress, singer, and radio personality. She appeared on Broadway and in films. She hosted her own self-titled network radio program, a popular series broadcast from 1943 to 1955.

Biography

Early career

She was born in Starke, Florida, one of seven siblings, to Joseph Francis Canova (1873-1926), a businessman, and Henrietta E. Canova (née Perry; 1872-1930), a singer. Young Juliette (or Julietta) became "Judy" and began her show-business career with a family vaudeville routine, joining her sister Annie and brother Zeke. Their performances as the Three Georgia Crackers took them from Florida theaters to the Village Barn, a Manhattan club. Canova sang, yodeled, and played guitar, and she was typed as a wide-eyed likable country bumpkin, often barefoot and wearing her hair in braids, sometimes topped with a straw hat. Sometimes she was introduced as The Ozark Nightingale or The Jenny Lind of the Ozarks. In an interview with Rosemary Clooney she said that her family came from the Pyrenees Mountains of Spain, though other sources say the island of Minorca.