Country’s Kitty Wells Dies At 92
She may have spent her life singing country music, but the doors she opened for women transformed the entire music business. Kitty Wells has passed away at the age of 92, due to complications from a stroke.
It was an "answer song" - an outdated style in modern days - that put her on the map. Hank Thompson had had a huge country hit with the song "The Wild Side Of Life" in 1952. The song was critical of the growing independence and freedom that women in the early 50's were showing. Later that same year, Kitty Wells performed the "answer song" - "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" - which suggested that the men in Thompson's song take a long look in the mirror. It was an instant success -- which was outside of the norm in the 1950's music world - country or otherwise.
"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" went to Number One on Billboard's Country Singles chart - making Kitty Wells the first female to do so. She soon took a band on the road to support the single (along with her husband Johnny Wright) and flew the doors open for women in the music business.
Although they may not recognize it, performers like Diana Ross, Stevie Nicks, Barbara Streisand, Pat Benatar, Whitney Houston - and yes - even modern female stars like Ke$ha and Lady Ga Ga - owe their careers to Kitty Wells.
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