Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Remember How K.T. Oslin’s “Do Ya” Gave You The Thrill You Need?

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

The year 1987 turned out to be a life-changing one for K.T. Oslin, who became one of the most popular female country singers around. Her sophisticated, distinctly modern persona was quite unlike any of her peers, and she matched it with utterly contemporary country-pop production that is nothing but impressive.

Her third single, “Do Ya,” from the album 80’s Ladies became Oslin’s third country hit and the first of four singles to hit No. 1 on the country chart. The single went to No. 1 for a week and spent a total of sixteen weeks on the country chart.

K.T. Oslin Rose From Being An Unlikely Star To Guaranteed Hit-Maker

Written by K.T. Oslin herself, “Do Ya” is a song about a married woman wondering if his man still loves her. 

“Do you still get a thrill when ya see me comin’ up the hill? Honey, now do ya? Do ya whisper my name just to bring a little comfort to ya? Do ya? Do ya still like the feel of my body lyin’ next to ya? Well, I guess what I’m askin’. Do you still love me?” the song begins.

But did you know Oslin was already in her mid-40s at the time of her signing with the label? It was far from the younger “New Traditionalist” movement, personified by such acts like Reba McEntire and Patty Loveless

Oslin has the longtime RCA label chief Joe Galante to thank for her success. “I thought it was my last chance at doing anything in this business, which was all that I knew how to do,” Oslin said. 

“I would have ended up selling gloves at Macy’s if it weren’t for Joe Galante. I was so naïve about the business. You can’t know about it unless you’re in it. You don’t take a course in it. You can’t know it unless you’re there. I thought, ‘Here is my last shot,’ and that was scary. I was almost 50 years old, but I didn’t let myself think it was impossible.”

Oslin debuted in 1987 with 80’s Ladies, whose anthemic title track topped out at No. 7, and won her a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal. Not only that, but it also stamped her with the feisty, wry, brassy, image that kept her a hot item into the ’90s. Her follow-up singles, “Do Ya” and “I’ll Always Come Back,” hit No. 1, and so did the album, which went on to sell over a million copies. 

RELATED: Check Out K.T. Oslin Songs That Made Her Into A Big Star

From there, Oslin went from unlikely star to guaranteed hit-maker. The talented artist was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.

But Oslin Actually Started From Stage Acting

Before turning to country music, Oslin had done some stage acting. Her gift for acting actually served her well in a series of music videos. The one for “80’s Ladies,” which centered on a supposed reunion of old friends, was a mini-movie. It became the first of a two-part music video story. 

In 1993, Oslin played a substantial role in the country music-oriented movie, The Thing Called Love, alongside actor-musician River Phoenix. However, the remainder of her chart career found her slipping farther and farther down the listings. Oslin’s last song country charter was “Live Close By, Visit Often,” which peaked at No. 53 in 1996.

Check out K.T. Oslin’s performance of “Do Ya” during her glory days in the music video below.

Latest Stories

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together in a bar setting for their duet “A Song to Sing.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton’s “A Song to Sing” Duet Feels Like an Instant Classic

Sometimes country music gives you a line so pure it feels like it’s been here forever, and that’s exactly what Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton just pulled off with “A ...

Blake Shelton and Noah Cyrus standing side by side with microphones, performing their new country duet together.

Noah Cyrus Teams Up With Blake Shelton for New Country Duet and Fans Are Loving It

Sometimes country music needs a little shot of something wild, and Noah Cyrus just poured it straight into Blake Shelton’s glass. It’s not every day you see the Voice coach ...

George Strait performing on stage with his guitar and cowboy hat, pictured at a previous event not related to the upcoming Strait From the Heart benefit concert.

George Strait Will Play “Strait to the Heart” Benefit Concert to Raise Money for Flood Victims

Some kings wear crowns, some kings wear boots, and show up when the water’s rising. George Strait, the King of Country himself, is stepping up once again for the people ...

Blake Shelton smiles on stage with guitar and mic during Vegas show, putting his own spin on George Strait’s classic.

Blake Shelton Nails George Strait Classic With His Own Spin on “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”

Sometimes you don’t mess with a George Strait classic, unless you’re Blake Shelton standing under the Vegas lights with a grin that says you’re about to pay tribute and stir ...

Dolly Parton smiles during Khloé podcast interview, sitting by mic and lamp as she shares why she won't stop sharing faith.

Dolly Parton Says People Tell Her To Stop Talking About Her Faith But She Won’t Listen

If there’s one thing you can count on Dolly Parton for, it’s that she’ll say exactly what’s on her heart and not give a single rhinestone what anyone thinks. In ...

Little Mississippi boy in plaid shirt smiles at mic during preschool graduation where he recited New Testament books and sang a George Strait classic.

4-Year-Old Boy Recites New Testament Books Then Belts Out ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’

If there’s ever been a preschool graduation that screams “God bless the South,” this is it. Somewhere in Mississippi, a four-year-old kid just made the entire congregation beam with pride ...

Young George Strait smiling on stage playing guitar in 1987 when “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” hit No. 1 and proved he ran country.

On This Day in 1987, George Strait Hit No. 1 with ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’ and Proved He Ran Country

Sometimes a song just cements your throne forever, and for George Strait, it was a little tongue-in-cheek love letter that made every Texan proud to claim him as their king. ...

Scotty McCreery with his wife and both grandmothers, who he revealed passed away hours apart in a heartbreaking double loss.

Scotty McCreery Reveals Both His Grandmothers Died Hours Apart in Heartbreaking Double Loss

You just don’t see some country heartbreaks coming, and this one hit Scotty McCreery straight in the soul. This week, the North Carolina native and Opry favorite shared the gut-wrenching ...

Brooks & Dunn performing on stage together, fitting their story about admitting they struggled to get along for years.

Brooks and Dunn Admit They Struggled to Get Along for Years and Tried to Blow It Real Hard

Country music’s greatest duo was basically a bar fight waiting to happen. When Brooks & Dunn stormed out of the gate with “Brand New Man” in 1991, it looked like ...

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian smiling outdoors, not taken when she spoke about feeling hated after their affair scandal.

LeAnn Rimes Says So Many Women Hated Her After Affair With Eddie Cibrian and She Felt Like a Target

Ain’t every country ballad pretty, and LeAnn Rimes knows her verse is messy as hell. View this post on Instagram A post shared by leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) Back in ...