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K.T. Oslin, ’80s Ladies’ Singer and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer, Dies at 78

The music community is reeling over the loss of K.T. Oslin. The singer/songwriter, who the Country Music Association deemed “one…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

December 21, 2020

1:11 pm

K.T. Oslin

The music community is reeling over the loss of K.T. Oslin. The singer/songwriter, who the Country Music Association deemed “one of the most iconic and defining voices in country music,” died today, Monday, December 21, at the age of 78.

Oslin rose to fame in the 1980s with her female empowerment anthem, “80’s Ladies,” which earned her two CMA Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year in 1988. Oslin was a Grammy Award and ACM Award winner as well as a member of the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Oslin went on to release chart-topping hits such as “Do Ya,” “I’ll Always Come Back,” “Hold Me” and “Come Next Monday.”

According to Music Row, the singer/songwriter had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease in recent years and resided in an assisted-living facility since 2016. Oslin’s friend and country music historian, Robert K. Oermann, revealed that she has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the days before her death, however, it is currently unknown if the virus contributed to her death.

K.T. Oslin is survived by her aunt, Reba Byrd, as well as close friends in Nashville. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.