Kathy Mattea, a highly esteemed female country star, emerged as a successful hitmaker blending folk, bluegrass, gospel, and singer/songwriter elements into her music. Her versatility is evident in albums like ‘Willow in the Wind’ in 1989, showcasing her dedication to country pop, mining songs, honky-tonk, and Celtic ballads. Throughout the ’90s, Mattea’s musical range expanded, reflecting in multiple Top 20 singles and albums. Her peak success in the decade was the 1993 album ‘Walking Away a Winner,’ setting new benchmarks in her career.
Born in 1959 in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, Kathy Mattea’s journey started with classical voice training in junior high, alongside learning the guitar to explore folk music. Upon joining the bluegrass band Pennsboro in college, she ventured to Nashville in 1978, where she eventually secured a record deal with Mercury based on the strength of her demo tape. Mattea’s breakthrough came with the 1986 album ‘Walk the Way the Wind Blows,’ featuring hits like ‘Love at the Five and Dime.’ Her artistic evolution continued with chart-topping albums like ‘Untasted Honey’ and ‘Willow in the Wind.’ Later, Mattea’s exploration of Scottish folk traditions influenced her more eclectic works, leading to critically acclaimed albums such as ‘Time Passes By’ and ‘Lonesome Standard Time.’