Country Star K.T. Oslin Dead At 78

K.T. Oslin

K.T. OSLIN, one of the most iconic and defining voices in Country music, passed away yesterday (12/20), at the age of 78.

OSLIN came to notoriety in the '80s with her female anthem “80's Ladies,” earning her two CMA Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Song of the year in 1988. In addition to three GRAMMYS and multiple ACM AWARDS, K.T. was inducted into the TEXAS SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME in 2014 and was voted into the NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME in 2018.

Her other hits included “I’ll Always Come Back,” “Hold Me,” “Do Ya,” “Two Hearts,” “Hey Bobby,” “Didn’t Expect It to Go Down This Way” and “This Woman.”

While her cause of death was not released, friend and NASHVILLE journalist ROBERT K. OERMANN told the ASSOCIATED PRESS that OSLIN had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease and living in an assisted-living facility since 2016. She had triple bypass surgery in 1995, and reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

Commented COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION CEO SARAH TRAHERN, “K.T. OSLIN had one of the most soulful voices in Country music and was a strong influence for women with her hit, ‘80's Ladies.' I was fortunate to work with K.T. on a number of television shows in the late '90s. She was always gracious to the crews and up-and-coming talent performing alongside her. She truly had one of the best voices in the history of our format. Our thoughts go out to her loved ones at this difficult time.” 

Fellow Country stars paid tribute, with PAM TILLIS saying, “Did we look up to her? Did we admire her? Hell, we studied her. As a young artist I knew she knew things I wanted to know. I met K.T. OSLIN on her terms and never regretted it. We all just loved her.”

Added LORRIE MORGAN, "I was a huge K.T. OSLIN fan and just recorded one of her songs on my last album with PAM TILLIS. She was a big inspiration to me [with] her writing about the strength of women. I also know she had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. She was a great lady from a great time of great music, one who will truly be missed by me and many fans." 

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