Gene Autry (1907–1998) was a multifaceted American figure: actor, singer, entrepreneur, and a top-selling country and western recording artist. Autry's journey began in Texas and Oklahoma, with early singing aspirations. His career took off after a debut on a local radio show in 1928, leading to national popularity and a film debut in 1934. Autry starred in dozens of cowboy movies, complemented by hit recordings like "Back in the Saddle Again" (1939). During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Beyond entertainment, Autry was a successful businessman, owning hotels, oil wells, broadcasting stations, and the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. In 1988, he founded the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles.

What was Gene Autry famous for?

Gene Autry (1907–1998) was an American actor, singer, entrepreneur, and a famous singing cowboy in Hollywood. He was the best-selling country and western recording artist of the 1930s and early 1940s. Autry's career took off after his first hit single, "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine," in 1931. His popularity grew through his appearances on the National Barn Dance radio program and his debut as a singing cowboy in films like Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935). He recorded over 600 songs, including his signature song, "Back in the Saddle Again" (1939). Autry also gained fame for holiday classics such as "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and "Frosty the Snow Man".

What kinds of movies did Gene Autry star in?

Gene Autry was a famous actor, singer, and entrepreneur, particularly known as a singing cowboy in Hollywood. His film debut was in In Old Santa Fe (1934), which led to a successful career as a cowboy actor. Autry's first starring role was in the sci-fi western The Phantom Empire (1935), but he is best known for his many cowboy movies, such as Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935), continuing until Last of the Pony Riders (1953). In these films, his horse, Champion, and his sidekick, Smiley Burnette, often played alongside him.

What are some famous songs performed by Gene Autry?

Gene Autry, born in 1907, was a famous American actor, singer, and entrepreneur, who became known as one of Hollywood’s premier singing cowboys. Autry's first hit single, which he co-wrote, was “That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine,” in 1931. His fame grew significantly after he joined the National Barn Dance radio program in Chicago. Some of his famous songs include: * "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" (1935) * "Back in the Saddle Again" (1939) * "Here Comes Santa Claus" (1947) * "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1949) * "Frosty the Snow Man" (1950) He recorded over 600 songs, and in 2024, his recording of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.

How did Gene Autry influence country and western music?

Gene Autry significantly impacted country and western music as a singer, actor, and entrepreneur. Known as Oklahoma’s Yodeling Cowboy, Autry gained popularity on the National Barn Dance radio program and through his numerous cowboy movies after his debut in In Old Santa Fe (1934). His recording success grew with hits like "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine" (1931), "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" (1935), and "Back in the Saddle Again" (1939). By 1940, Autry was a top movie and music star, having recorded over 600 songs, many of which he wrote or co-wrote. His contributions solidified his place as one of the best-selling country and western recording artists of the 1930s and early '40s.

What other businesses or activities was Gene Autry involved in besides acting and singing?

Gene Autry was not only a famous actor and singer but also a savvy entrepreneur. His business ventures were quite diverse, including hotels, oil wells, broadcasting stations, music-publishing companies, several ranches, and even a flying school. In 1960, Autry expanded his portfolio by becoming the owner of the Los Angeles Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) Major League Baseball team. Further, he established the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum (now the Autry Museum of the American West ) in Los Angeles in 1988.

Gene Autry

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

Gene Autry, wearing a cowboy hat and Western suit, smiles while playing an acoustic guitar.

Black-and-white movie poster for South of the Border (1939) featuring Gene Autry grabbing a man with a gun, with film title, cast names, and a scene of people gathered below a balcony.

Quick Facts

Original name:: Orvon Grover Autry

Bynames:: the Singing Cowboy and Oklahoma’s Yodeling Cowboy

Born:: September 29, 1907, near Tioga, Texas, U.S.

Died:: October 2, 1998, Los Angeles, California (aged 91)

Awards And Honors:: Grammy Award

Gene Autry

American actor, singer, and entrepreneur

Also known as: Oklahoma’s Yodeling Cowboy, Orvon Grover Autry, the Singing Cowboy(Show More)

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Sep. 28, 2026 •History

Top Questions

Who was Gene Autry?
Gene Autry (1907–1998) was a multifaceted American figure: actor, singer, entrepreneur, and a top-selling country and western recording artist.

Autry's journey began in Texas and Oklahoma, with early singing aspirations. His career took off after a debut on a local radio show in 1928, leading to national popularity and a film debut in 1934. Autry starred in dozens of cowboy movies, complemented by hit recordings like "Back in the Saddle Again" (1939). During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces.

Beyond entertainment, Autry was a successful businessman, owning hotels, oil wells, broadcasting stations, and the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. In 1988, he founded the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles.
1 Britannica Source
1. Gene Autry
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What was Gene Autry famous for?
Gene Autry (1907–1998) was an American actor, singer, entrepreneur, and a famous singing cowboy in Hollywood. He was the best-selling country and western recording artist of the 1930s and early 1940s.

Autry's career took off after his first hit single, "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine," in 1931. His popularity grew through his appearances on the National Barn Dance radio program and his debut as a singing cowboy in films like Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935). He recorded over 600 songs, including his signature song, "Back in the Saddle Again" (1939). Autry also gained fame for holiday classics such as "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and "Frosty the Snow Man".
1 Britannica Source
1. Gene Autry
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What kinds of movies did Gene Autry star in?
Gene Autry was a famous actor, singer, and entrepreneur, particularly known as a singing cowboy in Hollywood. His film debut was in In Old Santa Fe (1934), which led to a successful career as a cowboy actor. Autry's first starring role was in the sci-fi western The Phantom Empire (1935), but he is best known for his many cowboy movies, such as Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935), continuing until Last of the Pony Riders (1953). In these films, his horse, Champion, and his sidekick, Smiley Burnette, often played alongside him.
1 Britannica Source
1. Gene Autry
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some famous songs performed by Gene Autry?
Gene Autry, born in 1907, was a famous American actor, singer, and entrepreneur, who became known as one of Hollywood’s premier singing cowboys.

Autry's first hit single, which he co-wrote, was “That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine,” in 1931. His fame grew significantly after he joined the National Barn Dance radio program in Chicago.

Some of his famous songs include:
* "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" (1935)
* "Back in the Saddle Again" (1939)
* "Here Comes Santa Claus" (1947)
* "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1949)
* "Frosty the Snow Man" (1950)

He recorded over 600 songs, and in 2024, his recording of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.
1 Britannica Source
1. Gene Autry
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Gene Autry influence country and western music?
Gene Autry significantly impacted country and western music as a singer, actor, and entrepreneur. Known as Oklahoma’s Yodeling Cowboy, Autry gained popularity on the National Barn Dance radio program and through his numerous cowboy movies after his debut in In Old Santa Fe (1934).

His recording success grew with hits like "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine" (1931), "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" (1935), and "Back in the Saddle Again" (1939). By 1940, Autry was a top movie and music star, having recorded over 600 songs, many of which he wrote or co-wrote. His contributions solidified his place as one of the best-selling country and western recording artists of the 1930s and early '40s.
1 Britannica Source
1. Gene Autry
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What other businesses or activities was Gene Autry involved in besides acting and singing?
Gene Autry was not only a famous actor and singer but also a savvy entrepreneur. His business ventures were quite diverse, including hotels, oil wells, broadcasting stations, music-publishing companies, several ranches, and even a flying school. In 1960, Autry expanded his portfolio by becoming the owner of the Los Angeles Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) Major League Baseball team. Further, he established the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum (now the Autry Museum of the American West) in Los Angeles in 1988.
1 Britannica Source
1. Gene Autry
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Gene Autry (born September 29, 1907, near Tioga, Texas, U.S.—died October 2, 1998, Los Angeles, California) was an American actor, singer, entrepreneur, one of Hollywood’s premier singing cowboys, and the best-selling country and western recording artist of the 1930s and early ’40s.

Autry, who grew up in Texas and Oklahoma, had aspired to be a singer since before he acquired a guitar at the age of 12. While working as a telegraph agent for the railroad, Autry journeyed briefly to New York City, where he tried unsuccessfully to become a professional singer. His real performing debut came in 1928 on a local radio show in Tulsa, Oklahoma: billed as Oklahoma’s Yodeling Cowboy, he told stories and sang Jimmie Rodgers’s hit songs. He also recorded popular Rodgers songs, but Autry’s first hit single, in 1931, was one that he had cowritten, “That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine.”

Autry’s recording success led to a position on the National Barn Dance radio program on WLS in Chicago, which made him nationally popular. In his film debut he sang a song in the Ken Maynard vehicle In Old Santa Fe (1934), and it launched his career as a cowboy actor. His first starring role was in the peculiar sci-fi western The Phantom Empire (1935), but the more conventional Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935) was the first of his dozens of cowboy movies, ending with Last of the Pony Riders (1953). His horse, Champion, and his sidekick, Smiley Burnette, usually starred with him. Aided by the popularity of his films, Autry had a string of hit recordings, including “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” (1935) and his signature song, “Back in the Saddle Again” (1939). He recorded more than 600 songs altogether, many of which he wrote or cowrote. By 1940 he was one of the top movie and music stars in the country. The Gene Autry Show aired on television from 1950 to 1956.

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During World War II Autry enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942 and served until 1945, after which he resumed his movie and recording career. Though his popularity had begun to wane, he had hits with holiday classics such as “Here Comes Santa Claus” (1947), “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1949), and “Frosty the Snow Man” (1950). In 2024 the U.S. Library of Congress added his recording of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to the National Recording Registry, a list of audio recordings deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Autry was an astute businessman, and he amassed a business empire that included hotels, oil wells, broadcasting stations, music-publishing companies, several ranches, and a flying school. In 1960 Autry became the owner of the Los Angeles Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) Major League Baseball team, and in 1988 he opened the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum (now the Autry Museum of the American West) in Los Angeles.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Gene Autry

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