Marijohn Wilkin, born Marijohn Melson on July 14, 1920, in Kemp, Texas, was a prominent American songwriter known for her significant contributions to country and gospel music. Raised in Sanger, Texas, she was the daughter of a baker who played the fiddle. Wilkin pursued a career in education before turning her focus to songwriting. Her first husband, Bedford Russell, died in World War II, and she later remarried twice, with her third marriage being to Art Wilkin, Jr.

Wilkin's songwriting career took off after she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1958. She co-wrote major hits such as "Waterloo" for Stonewall Jackson and "The Long Black Veil" for Lefty Frizzell. Her work extended beyond country music, with songs recorded by pop and rock artists like Ann-Margret, Rod Stewart, and Mick Jagger. She also recorded under the names Marijohn and Romi Spain.

In the 1970s, Wilkin co-wrote "One Day at a Time" with Kris Kristofferson, a gospel song that became a major hit and won a Dove Award in 1975. This song was pivotal in her career as a gospel recording artist. Wilkin was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975 and was affectionately known as "The Den Mother of Music Row" for her mentorship of other songwriters, including Kris Kristofferson and Ed Bruce.

Marijohn Wilkin passed away on October 28, 2006, in Nashville, Tennessee, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most successful female country songwriters. Her autobiography, "Lord, Let Me Leave a Song," co-authored with Darryl E. Hicks, is considered an important work about Nashville's music industry.