Mae was born September 14, 1914 in Bardwell, Texas, however, she was reared in Oklahoma and attended the University of Oklahoma where she earned a journalism degree. Mae was the sister of David Boren, one of Oklahoma’s most celebrated politicians as he served as state senator, governor, and U.S. Senator from the state, as well as serving as current president of the University of Oklahoma.
After college, Mae worked as a reporter for Life Magazine and married John T. Axton and they had two sons, Hoyt and Johnny.
When Mae and her family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, she began writing songs with local songwriters Glen Reeves and Tommy Durden, as well as serving as publicist for country singer Hank Snow.
In 1955, Mae and Durden co-wrote the lyrics to “Heartbreak Hotel,” one of Elvis Presley’s major hits. They were inspired by an article in the Miami Herald newspaper about a man who had committed suicide in a local hotel. The song went on to become Elvis’ first single for RCA Victor and his first number 1 hit on the Billboard charts. The song was the biggest selling hit on the Billboard charts in 1956 and eventually won a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 1995.
Mae’s further success as a songwriter continued, but with limitations. She wrote material for several other artists such as Patsy Cline’s “Pick me up on your way Down,” Wanda Jackson’s “Honey Bop,” and Hank Snow’s “What do I Know Today.” In addition, her songs have been recorded by a vast array of artists including The Animals, J.J. Cale, Little Jimmy Dickens, Albert King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roger Miller, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty, Faron Young, and Doc Watson.
Mae died April 9, 1997 at her home in Hendersonville, Tennessee at the age of 82.
She was well known and noted for helping boost the careers of such legends as Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Blake Shelton. In her memory, Garth Brooks recently donated $1 million to the city of Nashville to establish a children’s zoo named in honor of Mae Boren Axton.