Judy Canova

Judy Canova (born November 20, 1913 – died August 5, 1983) was an American comedienne, actress, singer, and radio personality.

Born Juliette Canova in Starke, Florida, she began a career in entertainment doing a vaudeville act with her sister Annie and brother Zeke that took them from theaters in Florida to a club in a New York City. Calling themselves the "Three Georgia Crackers", Canova sang, yodeled, and played guitar. The standout in the family, she developed her persona as a wide-eyed likeable country bumpkin often wearing her hair in braids and sometimes topped with a straw hat. After seeing her perform, saxophonist crooner Rudy Vallee offered Canova a guest spot on his radio show that opened the door to a career that spanned more than five decades.

The popularity of the Canova family led to numerous performances on radio in the 1930s and made a Broadway debut in the revue, "Calling All Stars". An offer from Warner Bros. saw her appear in several bit parts until signing to star with Republic Pictures. During her career she would appear in more than two dozen Hollywood films and make numerous records on the RCA Victor label. In 1943 she got her own radio show that lasted for a dozen years. During World War II, she closed her show with the song "Good Night Soldier" and used her free time to sell U.S. War Bonds. When he radio program ended in 1955, Canova did comedic work on Broadway, television, and in nightclubs through the early 1970s.

Judy Canova died in 1983 and was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. Her daughter, Diana Canova, is also an actress who is best known for her role on the ABC television sitcom, Soap.

Judy Canova has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the motion picture industry at 6821 Hollywood Blvd. and a second star for her work in radio at 6777 Hollywood Blvd.