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Country music legend, Kitty Wells, passed away this morning (July 16) at her home in Nashville after complications from a stroke. She was 92.

Kitty Wells was born Ellen Muriel Deason in Nashville on August 30, 1919. As a teenager, she performed with her sisters and a cousin in a group called the Deason Sisters, before marrying Johnnie Wright in the late 1930s and touring with Wright and his sister, Louise, as Johnnie Wright and the Harmony Girls. Singer Jack Anglin married Louise and before long formed the Johnnie and Jack duo with Wright. It was in this period that Johnnie chose the stage name Kitty Wells for his wife, who was singing backup vocals for the duo.

Wells first attempt at striking out as a solo artist wasn’t successful and RCA Records dropped her after a couple of singles failed to hit the charts. The big break came with Decca in 1952 and the hit single “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,” which topped the country charts, making Wells the first female singer to achieve this. In 2008, the song was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry.

“It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” – Kitty Wells

Many hit records followed in the next few years, including “Paying For That Back Street Affair”, “Hey Joe,” “Cheatin’s A Sin,” “Release Me” and “Thou Shalt Not Steal”. There were also popular duets with Red Foley, including “As Long As I Live” and the number one hit “One By One”.

In 1956, Wells achieved another female-first by becoming the first female country singer to release an LP. The greatest hits package, “Kitty Wells’ Country Hit Parade” was followed by a string of successful studio albums on Decca over the next 15 or so years.

In 1969, Wells became the first female country star to have her own syndicated television show, which she hosted with her husband.

In total, Wells achieved 35 Billboard Top Ten records and 81 charted singles, making her the sixth most successful female vocalist in the history of Billboard’s country charts. This success was recognised in 1976 when Wells was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Fifteen years later, she was honoured with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award.

Wells performed her final show in 2007.

Country music star, Loretta Lynn, paid a heartfelt tribute to Wells in a statement earlier today: