When she was eight, Chien participated in an Ilan folk song competition sponsored by the Central Broadcasting System, and she earned first place. Many recording companies wanted to sign her to a typical pop singer's contract. But her father had other plans. He wanted her to become a teacher, and so she went to Taipei Teacher's College and became a teacher in accordance with his will.
八歲時，簡文秀參加中廣電台在宜蘭縣舉辦的民謠比賽，獲得第一名，很多唱片公司登門希望她能簽約成基本歌星，但父親不同意，要她好好讀書去當老師，因此她去讀了台北師專，畢業後當國小老師，完成父親的心願。