Conway Twitty Net Worth

What was Conway Twitty's Net Worth?

Conway Twitty was an American singer and songwriter who had a net worth of $14 million at the time of his death in 1993. That's the same as around $31 million today after adjusting for inflation.

After beginning his career in rock and roll, he reached the peak of his fame as a country artist in the 1970s, when he had such hit songs as "Hello Darlin'," "You've Never Been This Far Before," "Linda on My Mind," and "The Games That Daddies Play." Twitty also had success recording many duets with fellow country artist Loretta Lynn.

Estate Lawsuits

Conway Twitty died on June 5, 1993, leaving behind an estate valued between $12 and $14 million. Because his will predated his 1987 marriage to Delores "Dee" Henry Jenkins, she was not named as a beneficiary. This led to a lengthy legal battle between Jenkins and Twitty's four children. In a split decision, the Tennessee Court of Appeals ultimately ruled that Jenkins was entitled to one-third of the estate under state law, as well as a share of the income the estate had generated since Twitty's death. However, the children retained full rights to his intellectual property—including song royalties and name and image rights—after winning a court-ordered bidding process. The estate also became entangled in other lawsuits, including one in which the estate unsuccessfully sued two of Twitty's daughters over alleged unpaid loans, and separate suits by former employees who claimed Twitty had verbally promised them lifetime support. Much of the estate, including Twitty City and personal memorabilia, was liquidated. In the end, the children retained control of their father's creative legacy, but only after a public, years-long court battle that fragmented the estate and strained family relationships.

Early Life

Conway Twitty was born Harold Lloyd Jenkins on September 1, 1933 in Friars Point, Mississippi. When he was ten years old, he moved with his family to Helena, Arkansas. There, Jenkins performed on the radio and formed the singing group the Phillips County Ramblers. In high school, he was a skilled baseball player, and after he graduated he was offered a contract with MLB's Philadelphia Phillies. However, after accepting the offer, Jenkins was drafted into the US Army. Serving in East Asia, he put together a group called the Cimmarons to entertain his fellow soldiers. Although the Phillies renewed their offer when Jenkins finished his service, Jenkins decided to pursue a career in music instead.

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Career Beginnings in Rock and Roll

Inspired by Elvis Presley, especially his song "Mystery Train," Jenkins started writing rock-and-roll music in the 1950s. He formed a band called the Rockhousers and did a few recordings at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee with Sun's founder Sam Phillips. In 1957, Jenkins adopted the stage name Conway Twitty, a combination of the cities Conway, Arkansas and Twitty, Texas. He went on to record briefly for Mercury Records before he had his career breakthrough in 1958 with the song "It's Only Make Believe." A number-one hit in the United States and several other countries, the song sold over four million copies and was certified Gold by the RIAA. Twitty subsequently had success with "Lonely Blue Boy" and a cover of "Danny Boy." He continued performing and recording as a rock-and-roll artist until 1965, when he had become so disenchanted with the genre and its fans that he left the stage in the middle of a show in New Jersey.

Country Music Fame

Twitty reached the height of his fame as a country artist. In 1965, he moved to Oklahoma City to work in the genre, and by the end of the decade he had such hit country songs as "The Image of Me," "Next in Line," "Darling You Know I Wouldn't Lie," "I Love You More Today," and "To See My Angel Cry." Twitty released the biggest hit song of his career, "Hello Darlin'," in 1970. It spent four weeks at number one on the country chart and became Twitty's signature song. He subsequently began a highly successful partnership with fellow country artist Loretta Lynn, with whom he would record several duets during the 1970s. Among the duo's hit songs were "After the Fire is Gone," "Lead Me On," "As Soon As I Hang Up the Phone," and "Feelins'." Between 1971 and 1976, Twitty and Lynn together won five Academy of Country Music Awards and four consecutive Country Music Association Awards.

In addition to his duets with Loretta Lynn, Twitty had a plethora of solo number-one hit songs on the country chart in the 1970s. Among them were "You've Never Been This Far Before"; "Linda on My Mind"; "This Time I've Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me"; "After All the Good is Gone"; "The Games That Daddies Play"; "Don't Take it Away"; and "Happy Birthday Darlin'." He continued his solo success in the 1980s, beginning with the number-one country hit "I'd Love to Lay You Down." Twitty had further top country hits with the songs "Tight Fittin' Jeans," "Red Neckin' Love Makin' Night," "The Clown," "Slow Hand," and "Don't Call Him a Cowboy," among many others. His final chart-topper was "Desperado Love," which was released in 1986. However, Twitty still enjoyed consistent success after that with such songs as "Julia," "That's My Job," and "She's Got a Single Thing in Mind." In the early 1990s, he had success with the songs "Fit to Be Tied Down," "Crazy in Love," and "I Couldn't See You Leavin'."

(Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)

Other Endeavors

Before hitting it big as a singer, Twitty appeared in some B movies, including the 1960 films "Platinum High School," "College Confidential," and "Sex Kittens Go to College." Later, during the peak of his music career in the 1970s, he became an investor in the Minor League Baseball team the Nashville Sounds. Twitty also often hosted celebrity softball games for charity. In other endeavors, he had a short-lived fast food chain called Twitty Burger.

Personal Life

Twitty was married a total of four times. He wed his first wife, Ellen Matthews, in 1953; they had a son named Michael before divorcing the following year. Twitty went on to marry Temple Medley in 1956. They had three children named Kathy, Joni, and Jimmy before divorcing in early 1970. However, the couple remarried later that year, and remained in an on-and-off relationship until they divorced for a second time in 1984. Twitty's fourth and final wife was his much-younger office secretary Dee Henry, whom he married in 1987.

Twitty lived in Oklahoma City for much of his career, and also resided in Norman. He later lived for many years in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where he built the entertainment complex Twitty City. The complex included an auditorium and a museum, as well as homes for Twitty, his mother, and his children. Twitty City shut down in 1994 and was purchased at auction by the Trinity Broadcasting Network, becoming Trinity Music City.

Death

On June 4, 1993, Twitty fell ill while performing in Branson, Missouri, and subsequently collapsed on his tour bus. He was rushed to the hospital for surgery, but died from an abdominal aortic aneurysm in the early hours of June 5. Twitty was interred at Sumner Memorial Gardens in Gallatin, Tennessee.

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