While in California, they became members of a house band lead by David Frizzell.  David and the Frizzell's toured around the southwest until he was offered a recording contract.  David asked Shelly to sing on Loving On Borrowed Time, a duet that producer Snuff Garrett found for him.  The rest, as they say, is history.

David and Shelly became one of the most popular duos in country music.  Their first single, You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma, would become their first #1 hit.  It won Song of the Year from the Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM), which also awarded them the Duo of the Year in 1981.  They also received accolades from the Country Music Association (CMA), Billboard Magazine, Cashbox Magazine, and Radio & Records for Duo of the Year.

They would have another big hit in 1982 with the top five smash I Just Came Here To Dance.  Again they were awarded with Duo awards from the

By 1985, Allan and Shelly had divorced, which probably didn't help her duet partnership with David.  The material dwindled and so did the hits.  David and Shelly would part ways, but continued to have chart success as solo artists.  David's biggest hit was I'm Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home.  The two paired up again in 1988 for a series of concerts.

Shelly would have her first solo hit in 1983 with Jose Cuervo, which went to #1 on the Billboard Country Music chart.  She later followed with the top 5 hit Flight 309 to Tennessee.  She also received praise for her album West By West.  Shelly's last chart entry was in 1986 with Love Don't Come Any Better Than This.  Shelly would later marry Garry Hood and have twin sons.  She had a daughter, Tess Marie, with Allan in 1982.

In 1990, she would join mom on the road for a series of concert dates and interviews.  The girls were a big hit on the road.  Since Dottie's passing, Shelly has mostly disappeared from the music scene, content to stay at home and raise her family.

In 2005, CMT honored Shelly and David with the #6 spot on their 100 Greatest Duets special.  They didn't perform the song, though.  Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert were chosen and didn't do too bad of a job.  It would have been nice to see Shelly and David on stage again, especially since they were there in the audience.