Kitty Wells

Kitty Wells sang gospel as a child, learned guitar at 14, and made her radio-singing debut in 1936, paying years of dues as a featured singer. But In 1952, Wells—then a 33-year-old mother—recorded her biggest hit, “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” It was an answer to Hank Thompson’s “Wild Side of Life,” and gave voice to a generation of women tired of men pinning their relationship woes on them. Wells' plaintive, rebellious wail spent six weeks at the top of the country charts (despite being banned on NBC radio for its “suggestive” content) and crossed over to the Top 40—helping to overturn the notion that women couldn't headline or sell records in male-dominated Nashville. Wells' work effectively kicked the door open for torch-bearers like Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton. While the King of Country Music title may be up for debate, the Queen, however, is undisputed.