Legendary country singer-songwriter K.T. Oslin has reportedly died at the age of 78.
Oslin had reportedly been living in an assisted-living facility since 2016 while battling Parkinson's Disease and had been diagnosed with COVID-19 recently, although it is unclear whether the virus contributed to her death, MusicRow.com reports.
Oslin became the first middle-aged woman to achieve country superstardom, scoring her first hit single with 'Wall of Tears' and her signature single, '80's Ladies,' in 1987 at the age of 45. In 1988, Oslin was named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and '80's Ladies' won the award for CMA Song of the Year, with Oslin also being nominated for her hit 'Do Ya.'
Oslin, a native of Crossett, Arkansas who grew up in Houston, also won four Academy of Country Music awards and three GRAMMY awards during her career, before being inducted into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.
Prior to her country music career, legendary singer-songwriter Oslin sang folk music in a trio with Guy Clark in Houston at a young age. Both singer-songwriters made their recording debuts on the local 1964 Jeter Records compilation album, Look, It's Us! while Oslin also recorded a separate unreleased album with duet partner Frank Davis in Los Angeles.
Oslin also starred in several theatre productions, which included an equity production of 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really trying' alongside Rudy Vallee and touring alongside Carol Channing in a production of 'Hello Dolly!' continuing to work as a cast member when the musical made it to Broadway with Betty Grable as its lead role.
Oslin began writing songs while working as a theatre actress in Manhattan, which were shopped around Nashville after SESAC executive C. Dianne Petty told her the songs sounded "country." The Arkansas native began performing in Nashville in showcases and worked as a backup singer on Clark's self-titled 1978 album, while still living and working in New York.
Oslin was signed by Elektra Records and released her first two singles, 'Clean Your Own Tables' and 'Younger Men' under the name Kay T. Oslin in 1981-82, but neither charted. However, her songs began attracting attention and recorded by other several country stars including Gail Davies ('Round the Clock Lovin',) Sissy Spacek ('Lonely But Only For You,') Dottie West ('Where is a Woman to Go,') Judy Rodman ('Come Next Monday,') and The Judds ('Old Pictures') before Oslin signed to RCA Records and released her debut single in 1987.
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