Ronee Blakley

Ronee Sue Blakley (born August 24, 1945) is an American actress, singer-songwriter, composer, producer and director, she is perhaps best known for her work as an actress. Her most well-known role was the fictional country superstar Barbara Jean in Robert Altman's 1975 film Nashville, for which she won a National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress and was nominated for an Academy Award. She also had a role in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). 2Life and career Blakley was born in Nampa, Idaho, one of four children born to Ronald Blakley, a civil engineer (February 22, 1921 – April 5, 2015), and his wife Carol (née Brown; 1923–2009). She had three siblings, brothers John and Stephen Blakley, and a sister Marthetta. Stephen Blakley died of AIDS in 1996, at age 44.Carol Blakely became a champion of gay rights after her son Stephen came out to their religious family. Blakley's early years were spent in the Pacific Northwest where she was selected as Idaho's representative to Girl's Nation while in high school. She studied at Mills College, Stanford University, and went to New York to attend Juilliard for post-graduate work.Blakley began in New York improvising vocally with Moog synthesizers in Carnegie Hall to music by Gershon Kingsley. Her first soundtrack was composed for the 20th Century Fox film Welcome Home, Soldier Boys and earned her a spot in Who's Who in America. 31970s In 1972, Blakley released her self-titled debut album on Elektra Record