Country Artists We’ve Lost in 2011: Wilma Lee Cooper

Wilma Lee Cooper was as familiar of a face around the Grand Ole Opry as Little Jimmy Dickens. Known as the 'First Lady of Bluegrass,' Cooper enjoyed her greatest success as an artist with her husband, Stoney Cooper. Over 30 years, they built a resume that included hits like 'Cheated Too,' 'There's a Big Wheel' and 'Come Walk With Me.' She also wrote 'Big Midnight Special.' Stoney died in 1977, but Wilma Lee Cooper continued to perform on the Opry stage until she suffered a stroke in 2001. She died of natural causes in September 2011 at her Sweetwater, Tenn. home.