Enduring Strength and Grace: Rozene Cohran and the Pride Family

Basic Information

A Life Woven with Music, Baseball, and Family

Before the bright lights and standing ovations, there was a Sunday-afternoon kind of love story. In the mid-1950s, when Charley Pride was still chasing baseball dreams with the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro Leagues, he met Ebby Rozene Cohran. Their connection was steady and sure, the kind that would anchor a life lived partly on tour buses and stages. On December 28, 1956, they married—beginning a 64-year partnership that would stretch across cities, decades, and musical eras.

Rozene trained as a cosmetologist. That practical skill—hands-on, precise, and quietly indispensable—mirrored her approach to family life. As Charley’s music career gathered momentum in the early 1960s, Rozene was the constant: managing the home front, balancing schedules, and offering counsel when the road felt long. The couple welcomed three children—Carlton “Kraig,” Charles “Dion,” and Angela—and built a life that moved from the wide-open Montana years to a long-rooted home in Texas.

The numbers tell a story of endurance. Sixty-four years of marriage. Three children, multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Countless shows, photo lines, and meet-and-greets where Rozene appeared beside her husband with a poised smile and the quiet authority of a partner who had seen it all and helped shape the path. When Charley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000, Rozene was there. When he received career honors decades later, she was there too—still steady, still anchoring the moment.

When Charley died on December 12, 2020, tributes poured in from every corner of music and sport. In the days that followed, Rozene became the keeper of memory and momentum. She attended tributes, stood at statue unveilings, and greeted friends and admirers who saw in her not just the spouse of a legend but the co-author of a family’s story.

The Pride Family at a Glance

The names are more than a roster—they’re a living lineage. Family gatherings for the Prides are multigenerational and musical, with stories that span minor-league dugouts, honky-tonk stages, and award-show backrooms.

Timeline: Milestones and Markers

• Mid-1950s: Rozene meets Charley in Memphis during his Negro-League baseball years.
• December 28, 1956: Marriage in the thick of winter—a partnership that would weather every season.
• Late 1950s–1960s: The couple welcomes three children: Kraig, Dion, and Angela; the family spends meaningful years in Montana before settling in Texas.
• 1960s–1990s: Charley’s career rises; Rozene appears regularly by his side at touring and industry events.
• 2000: Charley is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame; Rozene’s presence is a constant through ceremonies and celebrations.
• 2010s: The couple attends major industry events and medallion ceremonies, often photographed together.
• November 2020: Charley receives a top industry honor; Rozene shares in the moment.
• December 12, 2020: Charley dies; Rozene is recognized as his widow and the family’s central pillar in public tributes.
• 2021–2024: Rozene attends dedications, tributes, and commemorations, ensuring the family story remains visible and vibrant.

Roles Beyond the Spotlight

Rozene’s public identity has often been framed as “Charley Pride’s wife,” but that shorthand misses the texture. Trained as a cosmetologist, she carried professional discipline into family life: attention to detail, preparation, and a gift for making others shine. During lean years and peak years alike, Rozene was the first call and final word—guarding time, safeguarding home, and setting the rhythm that let a touring artist remain a husband and father.

She wasn’t a press-conference regular or a headline seeker, yet her presence was unmistakable—on red carpets, at theater doors, at the side of her children and grandchildren, in pews and banquet halls alike. If Charley’s baritone supplied the melody, Rozene provided the harmony that held every note in place.

Stewardship, Memory, and Family Continuity

Since 2020, Rozene’s role has been part archivist, part ambassador, and always mother and grandmother. She has appeared at ceremonies, memorial performances, and public unveilings that honor Charley’s life and work. Family mentions and public reporting also link her to estate and family matters that often follow a figure of Charley’s stature, including a paternity claim that drew headlines; through it all, Rozene’s approach has reflected the same steadiness she brought to six decades of marriage.

Meanwhile, the next generation carries the tune forward. Dion performs; Kraig and Angela contribute to a growing family line. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren bear the names and stories of those who came before, some literally carrying “Ebby” and “Carlton Kraig” into a third generation. For Rozene, the measure of a life is found in the faces around the table and the songs still sung.

FAQ

When did Rozene Cohran marry Charley Pride?

They married on December 28, 1956, beginning a 64-year partnership that lasted until Charley’s death in 2020.

How many children do Rozene and Charley have?

They have three children: Carlton “Kraig,” Charles “Dion,” and Angela Rozene.

What is Rozene’s professional background?

She trained and worked as a cosmetologist and later focused on family and behind-the-scenes support.

Where has the family lived?

They spent time in Montana before establishing a long-term home in Texas, particularly in the Dallas area.

What has Rozene’s public role been since 2020?

She has attended tributes, statue unveilings, and commemorations, supporting the preservation of her family’s story.

Is there a verified public figure for Rozene’s net worth?

No verified public filings disclose her personal net worth.

Which grandchildren and great-grandchildren are publicly named?

Public mentions include grandchildren Carlton Kraig Pride, Jr., Malachi Pride, Syler Pride, Ebby Pride, and Arrentino Vassar, and great-grandchildren Skyler Pride and Carlton Kraig Pride III.

Did Rozene and her family take part in public honors for Charley Pride?

Yes, Rozene and family have been photographed and noted at ceremonies, tributes, and public events celebrating Charley’s contributions.

What is Dion Pride known for?

Dion is a musician who performs and often participates in tributes honoring his father’s work.

How would you describe Rozene’s impact on the family’s story?

She has been the steady hand and heartbeat—organizing, encouraging, and anchoring the family through decades of change.