Triple Grammy-winner K.T. Oslin, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, has died at age 78
She made music history by becoming the primary middle-aged woman to rise to stardom in Nashville. Oslin was 45 years old when she scored a blockbuster with the feminine anthem “80’s Ladies” in 1987. The song made her the primary female songwriter in history to win the CMA’s Song of the Year prize. She was the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1988
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During her career, she also earned four Academy of country and western honors, also as her three Grammys. In 2014, she was inducted into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame. She was voted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018
Oslin had been affected by Parkinson’s disease in recent years and had been living in an assisted-living facility since 2016. Last week, she was diagnosed with COVID-19, but it's unclear whether this contributed to her death on Monday morning Dec. 21
She was born Kay Toinette Oslin in Crossett, Arkansas on May 15, 1942. She grew up in Houston, Texas. Oslin sang ethnic music during a trio with Guy Clark (1941-2016) as a young adult in her hometown
Both made their disc debuts on the local 1964 Jester Records compilation LP, Look, It’s Us! Oslin and duet partner Frank Davis subsequently recorded an unreleased album in l. a
After starring with Rudy Vallee in an equity production of the way to achieve Business Without Really Trying, she auditioned for the road company of the musical Hello Dolly! in 1966. She toured with its star Carol Channing until the show returned to ny , and remained with the musical on Broadway when it starred Betty Grable
Settling in Manhattan, Oslin subsequently appeared in Promises, Promises, within the Lincoln Center revival of side Story, and in lesser-known musicals like the Vincent Price vehicle Darling of the Day. Oslin also performed in TV commercials for cleaning products, denture adhesives, soft drinks and other products
During the long stretches between theatrical auditions, Oslin began writing songs in her ny apartment. SESAC executive C. Dianne Petty (1946-2007) thought they sounded “country” and commenced shopping them around Nashville. Oslin began making trips to Music City, performing showcases and singing backup on old flame Guy Clark’s 1978 self-titled LP
Oslin was signed by Elektra Records, which issued “”Clean Your Own Tables” and “Younger Men” as “Kay T. Oslin” country singles in 1981-82. Neither made any waves. She remained in ny and worked as an additional in Bruce Springsteen’s 1985 video of “Glory Days,” additionally to singing ad jingles
Meanwhile back in Nashville, her songs began attracting attention. They were successfully recorded by Gail Davies (“Round the Clock Lovin,’” 1982), Sissy Spacek (“Lonely But just for You,” 1983), Dottie West (“Where may be a Woman to travel ,” 1984), Judy Rodman (“Come Next Monday, 1985) and therefore the Judds (“Old Pictures,” 1987)
K.T. Oslin was signed by RCA Records, which issued “Wall of Tears” as her debut single for the label in 1987. It became her first top-40 hit. “80’s Ladies” made her a star later that year. Fans were charmed by her down-home banter, brassy sense of humor, witty personality and breezy moxie. many women identified together with her unlikely rise to fame
She followed “80’s Ladies” with back-to-back No. 1 records, “Do Ya” and “I’ll Always Come Back” in 1988. Her third No. 1 hit was 1989’s “Hold Me,” which won two Grammy Awards. She also hit No. 1 because the guest vocalist on Alabama’s 1988 hit “Face to Face
“Hey Bobby” and “This Woman” continued her top-10 streak in 1989. In 1990, her singles “Didn’t Expect It to travel Down This Way” and “Two Hearts” were followed by her fifth chart topper, “Come Next Monday.” This was amid a hilarious, “Bride-of-Frankenstein” music video. Her other six videos showcased her dramatic abilities, also as her comedic timing
Meanwhile, Oslin’s songs continued to be recorded by other stars. Among them were Dan Seals (“Fool Me Once,” 1988), Anne Murray (“Who But You,” 1989), Trudy Lynn (“Still On My Mind,” 1991), The Forester Sisters (“Wanda,” 1992), Dorothy Moore (“Do Ya,” 1992), Aimee Comeaux (“Moving Out,” 1994) and Dusty Springfield (“Where may be a Woman to travel ,” 1995). This activity has continued into recent years with Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan recording a duo version of “Do Ya” in 2017
K.T. Oslin’s own recordings became million-sellers. Her 80’s Ladies and This Woman albums earned Gold records in 1988 and have become Platinum sellers the subsequent year. In 1991, Love during a village won a Gold record award, as did a compilation of her videos
Her stage background served her well as she easily made the transition to television acting. Oslin guest-starred on such TV series as Paradise and Evening Shade. She had a prominent role within the made-for-TV movie Poisoned by Love opposite Harry Hamlin. She portrayed a nightclub owner within the 1993 feature The Thing Called Love, directed by Peter Bogdanovich as Sandra Bullock’s first starring vehicle
Carol Burnette invited K.T. Oslin to co-star on her NBC variety series Carol & Company. Oslin also became an enormous favorite on the talk shows of Johnny Carson, Arsenio Hall, Joan Rivers, Ralph Emery, Oprah Winfrey and more. She was within the spotlight on ABC’s 20/20 and on her own TNN special USO Celebrity Tour
She was sidelined by quadruple coronary bypass surgery surgery in 1995. When she returned to recording, Oslin became increasingly experimental
In 1996, she became an early mainstream country star to embrace the emerging Americana music movement. Her CD My Roots Are Showing showcased a spread of roots-music genres and was the primary of her releases that she co-produced
She performed a pops concert with the Nashville symphony in 1999. She issued a disco single with 2000’s dance-floor mixture of the Rosemary Clooney oldie “Come On-a My House.” She teamed up with Raul Malo to offer a Latin tinge to a number of the tracks on her 2001 collection Live accessible , Visit Often. After 2005, she made only occasional public appearances. By 2008, Oslin was focused on her painting and crafts. She sold hand-painted tableware and created tableaux of miniature furniture. She wrote and tried out a one-woman monologue-with-music autobiographical theatrical piece and appeared at benefit events from time to time
In 2013, she celebrated the 25th anniversary of 80’s Ladies with a sold-out show at the Franklin Theater. She was also successful at a sold-out 2015 show at the town Winery to salute the discharge of her final CD, titled Simply
She retired from performing and recording then . K.T. Oslin is survived by her aunt, Reba Byrd, in Austin, Texas, and by alittle group of loving Nashville friends. Funeral arrangements haven't been announced