She was "The Queen of Country Music." Born and raised in Nashville, Ellen Muriel Deason found her voice in church. She married Johnnie Wright, a musician, and got her professional start singing with him. He gave her the name "Kitty Wells" for the heroine of an old favorite song. When she started singing on her own, she was something of a pioneer. Mother Maybelle Carter was an early woman country music star, but she stayed in the context of The Carter Family. Kitty was the first to make it big solo. She was an inspiration for the next generation of women in country music, including Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. She was also known for her duets with male stars like Red Foley and Webb Pierce.
The video above, courtesy of academic51, has audio of her singing one of my favorite songs of hers, "Will Your Lawyer Talk to God?", with a montage of still photos. Kitty Wells died on Monday, at the age of 92.
I believe she was always called "Miss" Kitty Wells. thanks for noticing her passing. (God didn't make) Honky Tonk Angels was her best.
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