The Original “Queen Of Country Music,” Kitty Wells, Dies at 92
Kitty Wells, the original “Queen of Country Music” passed away this morning from complications following a stroke. The singer, 92, was the first woman to top the charts with her hit “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” in 1952.
“She was the undisputed queen of country music,” singer Marty Stuart said Monday. “There’s more to being a queen than just calling yourself a queen — it’s a title that goes with an entire lifetime of service and influence. You check the careers of anyone in this town [of Nashville], and you won’t find anyone with a more spotless career than Kitty Wells.”
Loretta Lynn expressed the same sentiment on her website earlier today. “Kitty Wells will always be greatest female country singer of all times. She was my hero. If i had never heard of Kitty Wells, I don’t think I would have been a singer myself. I wanted to sound just like her, but as far as I am concerned, No one will ever be as great as Kitty Wells. She truly is the Queen of Country Music.”
Barbara Mandrell, a longtime friend of Kitty Wells, offered her comments on her mentor’s life and work. “Kitty Wells was every female country music performer’s heroine. She lead the way for all of us and I feel very grateful and honored to have known her. She was always the most gracious, kind and lovely person to be around. I so appreciated her being a part of my life and a mentor to me.”
During her career, Kitty had 35 Billboard Top 10 singles and is credited for opening the door for many more female singers, like Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton and others. She also broke traditional thinking when she began headlining shows in the 1950s and ’60s. Kitty was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976 and received the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991.
Other country music stars offered their condolences today on Twitter.
Martina McBride posted, simply saying” “Sad to hear of the passing of the Queen of Country, Kitty Wells.” Kellie Pickler tweeted “My heart cries over the loss of Ms Kitty Wells. She is and always will be the true Queen of Country Music.” Jerrod Niemann also said in reply to someone’s tweet “I just heard. A piece Nashville will never be the same w/o her.#wemissyou”
