Country music singers are known to deliver emotive, moving lyrics that explore themes such as love, heartache, hard work and pride in a deeply personal manner. Many employ confessional techniques or feature duets within their performances.
2022 saw the passing of some influential country musicians and songwriters, such as Naomi Judd and Troy Gentry. View this list to know who has passed on recently.
K.T. Oslin
K.T. Oslin made her mark in Nashville’s male-dominated music world as one of only a few female country music singers to rise to the top of the charts after reaching middle age, becoming one of only a few female country artists to hit number one in 1987 with two albums; 80’s Ladies and This Woman reached number one respectively and Oslin earned several CMA Awards for her work. Oslin stood out amongst her peers with songs that weren’t laments for girlhood or complaints of woe; instead they came from strong women’s perspectives that many others were simply incapable of making their mark; Life magazine wrote that one writer described Oslin’s songs as laments for women who had to make their own way but that were far more distinctive and anything but forlorn.
Oslin was born Kay Toinette Oslin in Crossit, Arkansas in 1942 and studied drama at junior college. Once she relocated to Houston she performed as a singer in musical theater productions and formed a folk trio; additionally she sang commercial jingles for television commercials – though this work could provide enough income that her creative thirst wasn’t satisfied; thus Oslin began composing her own material and writing songs herself.
Oslin signed with Elektra Records in 1980, scoring several minor hits until making her big debut with RCA in 1986 and their release of 80’s Ladies which catapulted her onto the national scene and provided another chart-topper, Do Ya, from her follow up album the following year.
Oslin continued writing and recording music despite diminishing chart success; she even wrote hits for other artists such as Dottie West, Sissy Spacek and the Judds. Her final recording was 2015’s Simply. Unfortunately she experienced health problems in later years that caused her death from COVID-19 on December 21 at age 78.
Country music has many incredible stories of late bloomers finding success after having passed their prime. One such success story was Justin Townes Earle, a prolific Americana artist at an unusually young age who became beloved among fans. Born to legendary musician Steve Earle and leaving behind a wife and 3-year-old daughter, he will be sorely missed.
Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins was one of the greatest country singers ever. His long career included many hits in the ’50s and ’60s as well as frequent performances at the Grand Ole Opry, with him also being an accomplished song writer, actor, and stock car racer. Robbins died from heart failure at 57, after growing up in Glendale, Arizona with twin sister Mamie and experiencing hardship and poverty during his early life. At 14 he decided to quit school to work as a cowboy. He eventually joined the Navy, learning guitar during his three-year service. Once war was over, he resumed work as a musician while hosting radio and TV programs in Phoenix. While guesting on Jimmy Dickens’ program in Arizona, Jimmy helped secure him an recording contract with Columbia Records.
Robbins excelled in many genres of music, including pure honky tonk, rockabilly, gospel, straight-ahead pop and Hawaiian. But his most beloved tracks include Western tracks such as “El Paso,” “Big Iron” and “The Hanging Tree.” In 1959 he released Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs which showcased his storytelling talents as a cowboy storyteller.
Although Robbins achieved considerable commercial success, he never settled for following trends; instead, he often surprised his peers. For instance, in the ’70s and ’80s he dabbled with rock music, played fiddle, wrote dramatic love songs with dark themes like alcoholism or rape, among others.
While many fans mourned Robbins’ sudden and mysterious passing, others rejoiced in his accomplishments and legacy. Rumors swirled that his death may have been due to blood clots; nonetheless, his loss will be felt for generations.
Cowboy Copas
Lloyd Estel Copas was a beloved Grand Ole Opry singer in the 1940s, with hits like Filipino Baby and Alabam reaching number one on country music’s charts. Tragically, on March 5, 1963 his private plane carrying himself, Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins crashed near Camden Tennessee killing all three singers aboard it.
Cowboy Copas was born between Blue Creek and Lynx, Ohio to coal miners and housewives, respectively. At fourteen, he began performing on local radio at KVOO in Tulsa with partner Natchee through the Depression before joining Fred ‘Fiddlin’ Red’ Herron and Rusty Gabbard of Nashville’s Boone County Jamboree at WLW’s Boone County Jamboree on WLW. Additionally he performed with Gold Star Rangers both WNOX Knoxville as well as Huntington West Virginia stations as part of his Gold Star Rangers group.
Cowboy Copas made his mark in country music during the late ’40s and early ’50s by touring with Pee Wee King and the Country Music Revue, appearing at Grand Ole Opry shows 1956 and 1957 and recording for Syd Nathan’s King Records label – his initial release charting high up the country charts was his cover of Billy Cox and Cliff Hobbs’ Filipino Baby.
Copas shot to prominence when his only No. 1 hit, Alabam, held onto its spot for three months in 1960. While his popularity declined later that decade, in 1966 he made another breakthrough when Goodbye Kisses reached the Top Ten charts and brought him back into public view.
Copas was traveling home from a benefit concert in Kansas City when his plane crashed near Camden, killing all aboard including Patsy Cline, Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins. All were aboard in an aircraft piloted by Hawkshaw Hawkins – Copas’ son-in-law and manager Hawkshaw Hawkins piloting it under its Piper Comanche tail number 247 piloted by him and Hawkshaw Hawkins who performed three shows to raise money for Jack ‘Cactus’ Call’s family after his untimely death earlier that year. Due to severe weather, Hawkshaw Hawkins lost control and crashed near Camden; all aboard were killed – Patsy Cline along with Hawkshaw Hawkins being among them all.
Jan Howard
On Sunday afternoon, Jan Howard passed away at her Gallatin, Tennessee residence at age 91. Born in West Plains, Missouri and one of 11 siblings, Howard married at 16 and had three sons before divorcing at 18. After moving to Los Angeles and meeting Harlan Howard (country music songwriter), who encouraged her to pursue singing professionally on Challenge Records before eventually teaming up with Bill Anderson to achieve success as part of their trio in the late ’60s and early ’70s.
“My Son,” nominated for a Grammy, was an emotional tribute to her son who was serving in Vietnam at the time. It was written after having had a vivid dream in which she begged him to come back home safely; unfortunately two weeks after its release he was killed in combat.
Howard was an outspoken champion for military veterans, frequently speaking out on their issues. Additionally, she published two autobiographies: Sunshine and Shadow in 1984 and Life of a Country Girl Singer in 1987. Additionally, Howard performed frequently at shows across the US while recording over 40 albums – she even went so far as appearing as herself during performances!
Howard wrote songs for other artists as well, such as Ronnie Milsap and George Jones. She was honored with induction into the Missouri Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and became a Grand Ole Opry member from 1971 despite experiencing divorce, infidelities, financial hardship and mental illness in her life. Still an inspiration to fans and loved by peers alike despite these hardships; Howard will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace Jan Howard! You were an incredible artist and we will all miss you.