The Singing Nun was the name that Jeanine Deckers was sometimes known as. Deckers, born on October 17, 1933 was a Belgian Nun whose hit song “Dominique” propelled her to international fame in 1963. At her convent, she used to write and sing music and she convinced her superiors to let her make an album. She became an overnight success using the name Soeur Souirire (Sister Smile). She appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.

Deckers left the monastery in 1967 to pursue her musical career. She produced additional albums, but they were not successful. She became critical of the Roman Catholic church’s position on birth control and she agreed with John Lennon’s statement that Christianity will shrink and vanish.

In the 1970s, Deckers opened a school for autistic children, but that venture failed when the Belgium government claimed she owed money for back taxes. She ran into more financial problems and tried again to score a hit with the disco version of “Dominique” in 1982.

On March 29, 1985, Deckers and her companion of ten years, Anna Pecher, committed suicide by taking an overdose of barbiturates. A note left by Deckers said she committed suicide due to her financial difficulties.

A movie supposedly based on her life, was released in 1966 starring Debbie Reynolds. Decker called the movie “fiction.” Here is a clip from the movie: