The Southern Maid donut company has a fascinating and star-studded history. According to the official website, Southern Maid Donuts was started by the Hargroves, a married couple from the United States who started out in 1937 with just their recipes and a dream close to so many of our hearts: To bring a better kind of donut to the masses.
During the terrible times of the Great Depression, sugary, doughy treats surely helped make lives a little brighter, and the donuts caught on quickly. The Hargroves had strong ties to the Louisiana Hayride Show, and their modest beginnings reportedly inspired the name of the brand.
In a time before Internet advertising and the unparalleled power of going viral, however, word of mouth often needed a helping hand. Johnny Cash was one star who sung a jingle for Southern Maid Donuts over the years, per the official website, and Elvis Presley was another.
