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Oklahoma Country Singer Jude Northcutt of Jude 'n' Jody Dies At 89

"The Jude 'n' Jody Show" album cover
Ryan LaCroix
/
OPMX
"The Jude 'n' Jody Show" album cover

Oklahoma country music and television legend Jude Northcutt has died following a stroke. He was 89.

Northcutt was born on May 14, 1932, and raised on a cotton farm in Slaughterville. He later attended high school in Noble before being drafted into the Korean War and serving in the Air Force.

Shortly after leaving the Air Force, Northcutt and Jody Taylor started playing together at pie suppers and cake walks, before auditioning for TV shows.

Together, they formed the country and western music group Jude 'n' Jody.

From 1954 to 1982, the group appeared weekly on Oklahoma City television stations, first with "Country Social' and then, "The Jude 'n' Jody Show."

They performed at the Grand Ole Opry and played alongside with Buck Owens, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings, Wanda Jackson, Hank Thompson and Conway Twitty.

Jude and Jody were also business partners off-stage, selling furniture at Jude & Jody and Sons in south Oklahoma City, where they had a famous slogan, "We Love Folks."

In 2015, The Oklahoman conducted an interview with Northcutt:

This report was produced by the Oklahoma Public Media Exchange, a collaboration of public media organizations. Help support collaborative journalism by donating at the link at the top of this webpage.

Ryan LaCroix joined KOSU’s staff in 2013. He hosts All Things Considered, Oklahoma Rock Show, Oklahoma Rock Show: Rewind, and Oklahoma Music Minute.
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