Background
She was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1864. Her father, Richard Boone Cheatham, was a Tennessee politician who was the mayor of Nashville from 1860 to 1862, and her mother was Frances Ann Bugg.
She was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1864. Her father, Richard Boone Cheatham, was a Tennessee politician who was the mayor of Nashville from 1860 to 1862, and her mother was Frances Ann Bugg.
She later went on to study in New York, Paris, and Berlin. Her professional stage debut was made in London, England in 1904, where she performed renditions of African-American folk songs. She is credited with having helped preserve these traditional songs and bring them to European audiences.
However, it is her contributions to children"s music for which Cheatham is best known as a musician, as she became popular throughout the world by performing children"s songs and stories.
She published two collections of her songs, Kitty Cheatham: Her Book in 1915, and A Nursery Garland in 1917. Her repertoire included over 1000 songs in nine languages.
She was also a speaker who created a series of "illustrated lectures" which focused on her travels throughout Europe. On June 28, 1930, she was invited by Alþing, the parliament of Iceland, to give a speech at their country"s Millennial Celebrations.
She also spoke before the delegates of the International Women's Congress, of which she was the honorary vice-president, in Budapest, Hungary in 1937.
Death
She died on January 5, 1946 in New York City, and was buried in Mountain. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
While in London, she was introduced to and befriended members of the British Royal Family, for whom she would go on to perform many times.