Betty Amos: Bluegrass Banjo Trailblazer

In the story of bluegrass and early country, some names get repeated endlessly—while others quietly shaped the road underneath the whole genre. Betty Amos belongs to that second group: a musician who had the talent, nerve, and stage presence to step into spaces where women were rarely expected to lead.

Amos was a guitarist, banjo player, singer, songwriter, and bandleader whose career ran straight through the working heart of mid-century country and bluegrass—from major touring acts to radio stages, from novelty-country hits to hard-driving bluegrass sets. And she did it while becoming recognized as one of the earliest women to play Scruggs-style banjo.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Betty Amos was born July 27, 1934, near Roanoke, Virginia, into a musical family. She played guitar in her family group, the Buck Mountain Ramblers, and learned Scruggs-style banjo from her brother Ed.

Even early on, she wasn’t interested in being a copy of anyone. She worked to develop her own approach and voice on the instrument—something that mattered in a time when women picking banjo (especially in that style) were still an exception, not the norm.

Trailblazing with The Carlisles

In 1952, Betty Amos joined The Carlisles, replacing Martha Carson. During this period she was billed as “Betty Carlisle,” presented as Bill Carlisle’s niece.

With The Carlisles—an act known for its novelty-country energy and comic edge—she appeared on Billboard-charting hits including “No Help Wanted” and “Is Zat You Myrtle.” It was a high-visibility proving ground, and it put her musicianship in front of a wide audience at a time when that kind of spotlight was rarely handed to a young woman with a banjo.

She left the group in 1954 and began building her own path.

Solo Years: Mercury, The Louisiana Hayride, and the Working Circuit

After leaving The Carlisles, Amos returned to her birth name and signed with Mercury Records. Leading a band called the Lump Boys, she became a regular presence in the world of touring country music and appeared on the Louisiana Hayride, where she shared bills with major rising stars, including Elvis Presley.

During this era she recorded a number of singles, and she also gained recognition as a songwriter. One of her best-known songwriting successes is “Second Fiddle to an Old Guitar,” which became a major hit for Jean Shepard in 1964, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard country chart.

Leading Her Own Band: The Rhythm Queens (Betty Amos with Judy and Jean)

In 1960, after meeting Judy Alice Schreiber (known professionally as Judy Lee) at the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree, Amos formed a group called the Rhythm Queens.

The trio featured:

• Betty Amos on electric rhythm guitar and banjo
• Judy Lee on electric lead guitar
• Jean Amos (Betty’s sister) on bass

After signing with Starday Records in 1963, they were credited as “Betty Amos with Judy and Jean.” Their show was built for real-world stages: they could lean into country material with electric instruments, then shift into bluegrass with banjo-driven sets—tight, professional, and road-ready.

They recorded a run of Starday singles, including fan favorites like “Eighteen Wheels A-Rolling” and “Franklin County Moonshine.”

Life on the Road: USO Shows and the 1961 Plane Crash

The group wasn’t just a studio act—they worked. They played USO shows and military bases, and at times traveled overseas.

In 1961, Betty, Judy, and Jean survived a plane crash while traveling to a USO show near Labrador. The story that follows is pure road-musician grit: despite the crash, they still went on and performed using instruments borrowed from the troops.

The trio remained together until 1977, and later reunited for the Louisiana Hayride Reunion Show in 2003.

Influence and Legacy

Betty Amos is remembered for more than one “first”—but even beyond milestones, her career is powerful for what it represents:

• A woman playing Scruggs-style banjo early enough to stand out in the core era of the music
• A performer who moved from major touring acts into leading her own group
• A musician who could work both country and bluegrass stages with equal authority
• A songwriter whose work reached the top tier of the charts through Jean Shepard

She passed away on September 30, 2021, at the age of 87—leaving behind a story that’s bigger than any one label or one band name.

Conclusion

Betty Amos wasn’t a novelty—she was the real thing: musician, bandleader, and working-stage professional in an era that didn’t make it easy for women to hold the center of the room.

From The Carlisles, to the Louisiana Hayride years, to the road-tested power of Betty Amos with Judy and Jean, she earned her place the hard way—by playing well, showing up, and leading.

And that’s exactly how bluegrass history gets made.