24. Kathy Mattea

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Published in Country Modern
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As with a lot of other people on this list, Kathy began singing by being a part of her parents’ church choir. She joined a bluegrass band while in University, which she says helped to shape her sound and roots as an artist. After dropping out of school, she moved to Nashville. She took odd jobs while trying to make her way in the business: waitress, secretary, and tour guide at the Hall Of Fame itself. Signing her record contract in 1983, it took a few years for her radio singles to start taking off. Throughout her song catalogue, she enjoyed trying out some different sounds like honky-tonk, country-pop, bluegrass, and even Celtic ballads. Being loved by fans and critics alike, she was able to have a decade of radio hits, get 15 CMA nominations/8 Grammy nominations, and continues to record music today. After working at the Hall Of Fame, could she eventually get a plaque on the wall someday?

The Bullet Points

Eligible Since: Sunday, 01 January 2006
Country of Origin: South Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.A.
Why they will get in: Earned a number of hits and lots of critical praise
Why they won't get in: Hasn’t done a huge amount in the mainstream scene for a while
Radio Career: 1986-1995
Top Twenty Hits: 21
Album Sales: Over 4 million
Essential Albums: Love At The Five And Dime (From Walk The Way The Wind Blows, 1986)
Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses (From Untasted Honey, 1988)
Where’ve You Been (From Willow In The Wind, 1989)
She Came From Fort Worth (From Willow In The Wind, 1990)
Walking Away A Winner (From Walking Away A Winner, 1994)