Kitty Wells | Photo credit: nationalpost.com
Exactly six years ago today, The Queen of Country Music Kitty Wells saddened the entire country music industry with her passing. But, she certainly didn’t leave her fans and supporters unhappy at all as her rich musical heritage thrives through the years. It will only wither the moment we let it so in our memory. Wells died at 92 on July 16, 2012, less than a month before her birthday. In remembrance of her sixth death anniversary, we’ll have a quick reminiscence of Wells’ golden years in country music.
The First Female Country Superstar
Kitty Wells belongs to the group of women country singers who attained huge successes before the 1960’s. Her confederates, the likes of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, among others became famous in their own rights. But in some ways, Wells had the most significant achievements. Her early entrance into the music industry enabled her to experience a couple of the ‘firsts’ in the music world. She’s been a reluctant performer in many ways. Yet, Wells managed to become the first female country musician to reach consistent success. Her megahit record in 1952 called “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” has set the success stage for her career.
Wells went on to record more hits, mostly centered on a woman’s sentiments over a sorrowful heartbreak. A few of those recordings include “I Heard the Juke Box Playing,” “Release Me,” “Heartbreak USA.” From solo performance, Wells partnered with some of the biggest male country stars for duet records. She was lucky enough to be paired with Red Foley (“One by One”) and Roy Acuff (“Goodbye Mr. Brown”) in the mid-1950’s.
All in all, Wells had 84 singles that entered the Billboard music chart. Thirty-eight of it reached the chart’s Top 10. Her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame transpired in 1976. She made her final major recording project, the “Honky Tonk Angels Medley” in 1989. Said was a collaborative recording with other renowned stars including K.D. Lang, Loretta Lynn, and Brenda Lee. It earned her a Grammy nomination. She became the first female country star to receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991.
Listen once again to the Kitty Wells’ most notable record below.
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