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The Official Website for Gene Autry
America's Favorite Singing Cowboy
Known as America's Favorite Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry's career spanned some 70 years in the entertainment industry. He became famous in radio, records, film, television, and live tour performances including rodeo. From the late 1920s through the early 1950s, Gene Autry recorded and wrote hundreds of songs; he was the most successful singing cowboy, appearing in 93 movies and starring in 91 episodes of his television series. Gene Autry was ranked among the most celebrated film stars, and for years was considered to be the most popular Western film actor. In his later years, Gene Autry owned television and radio stations across the country and was the original owner of the Angels Major League Baseball team in Anaheim, California.
Gene Autry Activities and Events
Updated March 8, 2026
- Autry Museum of the American West
Visit the museum co-founded by Jackie and Gene Autry and Joanne and Monte Hale where you can discover the art, history, and cultures of the American West. Read More.
Gene Autry YouTube Clip of the Week
Posted March 30, 2026
Seventy-six years ago this week Gene Autry performed the song "The Funny Little Bunny (With The Powder-Puff Tail)" for the very first time on his Melody Ranch radio show. It was the flipside of his new hit record "Peter Cottontail." Gene had recorded both tracks just a few weeks earlier, so you'll have to forgive Gene for mis-singing "Christmas" for "Easter" in this debut performance. (It's okay because you can catch Gene laughing at the end!)
Learn the history of Gene Autry's Easter recordings in the article "Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Gene Autry's 'Peter Cottontail'" written by his official biographer Holly-George Warren. Read it here.
Visit the Gene Autry Official YouTube Channel for more fun Gene Autry musical clips from his radio, movie, and television career. Be sure to subscribe so you'll receive updates whenever Gene Autry Entertainment uploads new videos.
Gene Autry News - Maxine Hansen
Posted March 15, 2026
Maxine Hansen, Executive Assistant to Jackie and Gene Autry, passed away on March 7, 2026, at her home in Sunland, California. She was 74.
Maxine Joy Hansen
Maxine Hansen, Gene Autry & Karla Buhlman
Maxine Hansen in Oklahoma
Born Maxine Joy Singer on June 21, 1951, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada she moved to Florida in 1975, eventually settling in Los Angeles. Maxine became a United States citizen on October 2, 1998.
Since 1981, Maxine worked closely with Gene and his media legacy, starting at Golden West Broadcasting and eventually becoming his Executive Assistant in the mid-1980s. This also began her longstanding relationship with Gene’s fans, managing fan mail and requests for autographs. Around this same time, the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum was founded, and Maxine took on the role of Museum Secretary for Co-Founders Joanne Hale and Jackie Autry alongside her existing role working with Gene.
As Executive Assistant, Maxine was the first point of contact for the business world and personal relations of both Gene and Jackie Autry. Whether it was the CEO of the Walt Disney company, the President of the United States, or Gene’s many co-stars, Maxine was known for the positivity and kindness she brought to her profession. As the main contact between the Autry Office and the Los Angeles Angels, Maxine’s loyalty and commitment to the Angels baseball players, staff, and broadcasters on behalf of the Autrys was legendary. Read the full article on our website.
Gene Autry's Recording of Everyone's Favorite, "Peter Cottontail"
Posted March 15, 2026
With spring time flowers blooming all around and jelly beans and chocolate bunnies in the stores, you know its time for the perennial classic: Gene Autry's recording of everyone's favorite, "Peter Cottontail." To celebrate last year's 75th anniversary of this recording, Gene Autry Entertainment commissioned Gene's official biographer Holly George-Warren to write an article on the history of this Columbia Records hit release.
Gene Autry Circa 1950
Record Sleeve for “Peter Cottontail” 1950
Record Label for “Peter Cottontail” 1950
Spring and Easter signify rebirth and new beginnings, and for Gene Autry it was only natural that he’d record an Easter song. After all, he’d had massive success with holiday smashes “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Way),” in 1947, and “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 1949. Soon after, kicking off a new decade, Gene would create the most enduring secular Easter song of all time, “Peter Cottontail,” beloved by generations of children of all ages. The year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of the perennial classic: Gene Autry’s recording of everyone’s favorite, “Peter Cottontail.”
Who doesn’t love adorable Easter bunnies? Certainly, kids and parents alike. And by 1950, when Gene cut “Peter Cottontail,” his huge audience had expanded from his original fans who’d been watching his movies since the 1930s to a huge new generation of baby boomers – the children of his original audience – who loved America’s Favorite Singing Cowboy’s movies, his brand-new television show, his weekly CBS radio programs, his comic books – and, of course, his recordings. Read the full article on our website.
Gene Autry Social MediaUpdated March 8, 2026
Gene Autry connected with his fans during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s via letters, phone calls, and so on...
Gene Autry connected with his fans during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s via letters, phone calls, official Fan Club magazines, and of course personal appearances. Today fans can connect with Gene's music, movies, and more via official Social Media outlets like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Folks can also subscribe to streaming services like Spotify for Gene's music and Shout! TV for Gene's films and television series.
For information on how to sign up for and use Gene Autry's official social media and streaming sites. Read more on our website here.
Facebook
Follow our Gene Autry Official Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/GeneAutryOfficial
Instagram
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Shout! TV
Stream Gene Autry's movies and television series on Shout! TV:
Movies:
https://watch.shout-tv.com/section/Gene%20Autry%20Film%20Collection
TV Series:
https://watch.shout-tv.com/series/1629
Wild West TV:
https://shoutfactorytvlive.com/wild-west-tv
Spotify
Follow Gene Autry's Profile on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/artist/5ixB75BQR3ADoWQkcHQJTs
Youtube
Subscribe to the Gene Autry YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/user/GeneAutryOfficial
Gene Autry circa 1939
Gene Autry's Cowboy Code
Posted January 1, 2026
Gene Autry's movies, radio dramas, television episodes, and comic books always had storylines with Gene doing the right thing or helping folks make the right choices in tough situations. In the late 1940s a formal code of ethics emerged and was known by his fans as "Gene Autry's Cowboy Code" or the "Cowboy Commandments."
Gene Autry's Cowboy Code with Republic s Era Gene Autry photo
Gene Autry's Cowboy Code with Columbia Pictures Era Gene Autry photo
You can read about the history of Gene Autry's Cowboy Code from biographer Holly George-Warren, check out a YouTube clip of Gene reciting an early version of the Cowboy Code on his radio show, and buy merchandise relating to Gene Autry's Cowboy Code on our website here.
Jackie and Gene Autry Collection at the Autry Museum
Store
Updated March 8, 2026
Several items from Jackie Autry's jewelry collection are for sale in the Jackie and Gene Autry Collection. Each of these pieces meant a great deal to Mrs. Autry and were worn by her on very special occasions such as the Autry Museum Galas and special Western events she attended with Gene.
Gene Autry Social Media
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