02/16/2026
Happy Birthday today to one of our "living legends", and "Queens" of Gospel Music, Jeanette Cooke!
She was born one of eleven children to Rev Gordon and Martha Ellen Freeman in Norton, Virgina on February 16, 1935. Jeanette began her singing ministry as a young child traveling with her Daddy to revivals. She would sing while playing her guitar and her Daddy would preach. One evening while Jeanette was singing, a young man, Hubert Cooke stood outside the church window and listened. Hubert knew he needed to meet Jeanette, so he asked if he could carry her guitar to the car after the service. She agreed and they began dating, fell in love and later married. God Blessed them with three sons, James, Ronny and Donny. Then in 1962, with two guitars, a dream, and a lot of faith, Jeanette and Hubert started their music ministry as "The Cooke Duet." In the 1970's, once the boys reached the age of 14, they joined Mom and Dad on stage. In 1975, with the purchase of their first new tour bus and no longer a Duet their name was changed to "The Singing Cookes." In 1977, the release of "He Rows Me Over the Tide" to the radio stations took Jeanette and The Singing Cookes to a new level giving them national recognition by staying in The Singing News National Charts for 24 months. Jeanette's lifelong passion for singing and songwriting led her to receive The Naomi Sego Living Legend Award in 2010, The JD Sumner Living Legend Diamond Award in 2022, Tri-State Gospel Music Hall of Fame Induction in 2024 and several fan nominations through the years. Jeanette's compassion and love for people has never been dulled through the years. She is often referred to as Mama Cooke by her fans and her peers of all ages to this day. Jeanette has had the privilege to travel ministering to souls all over the United States, Canada, British Virgin Islands, and seven other Countries. In 2018, Jeanette lost her husband, Hubert, who requested her to continue singing with the Boys. God has blessed Jeanette to have traveled over six decades with her family.
She was inducted into the SGMA Hall of Fame last year in the Class of 2025. Click here to view her induction video...Jeanette Cooke was born one of eleven children to Rev Gordon and Martha Ellen Freeman in Norton, Virgina on February 16, 1935. Jeanette began her singing ministry as a young child traveling with her Daddy to revivals. She would sing while playing her guitar and her Daddy would preach. One evening while Jeanette was singing, a young man, Hubert Cooke stood outside the church window and listened. Hubert knew he needed to meet Jeanette, so he asked if he could carry her guitar to the car after the service. She agreed and they began dating, fell in love and later married. God Blessed them with three sons, James, Ronny and Donny. Then in 1962, with two guitars, a dream, and a lot of faith, Jeanette and Hubert started their music ministry as "The Cooke Duet." In the 1970's, once the boys reached the age of 14, they joined Mom and Dad on stage. In 1975, with the purchase of their first new tour bus and no longer a Duet their name was changed to "The Singing Cookes." In 1977, the release of "He Rows Me Over the Tide" to the radio stations took Jeanette and The Singing Cookes to a new level giving them national recognition by staying in The Singing News National Charts for 24 months. Jeanette's lifelong passion for singing and songwriting led her to receive The Naomi Sego Living Legend Award in 2010, The JD Sumner Living Legend Diamond Award in 2022, Tri-State Gospel Music Hall of Fame Induction in 2024 and several fan nominations through the years. Jeanette's compassion and love for people has never been dulled through the years. She is often referred to as Mama Cooke by her fans and her peers of all ages to this day. Jeanette has had the privilege to travel ministering to souls all over the United States, Canada, British Virgin Islands, and seven other Countries. In 2018, Jeanette lost her husband, Hubert, who requested her to continue singing with the Boys. God has blessed Jeanette to have traveled over six decades with her family.
She was inducted into the SGMA Hall of Fame in the "CLass of 2025". Click here to view her induction video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gykHgs4qz6E&t=5s
Happy Birthday, "Mama" Cooke!
