Artist Information
She is by far best known for her recordings. In the 1980s her hits included "'80s Ladies," "Do Ya" and "I'll Always Come Back." "'80s Ladies" won a Grammy in 1988 for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and that same year, K.T. became the first female songwriter in history to win a CMA for Song of the Year (for "'80s Ladies"). The following year, K.T.'s "Hold Me" won the same Grammy award plus the Grammy for Best Country Song.
In the 1990s K.T. hit No. 1 with "Come Next Monday." In the new millennium, she released the album Live Close By, Visit Often, the first collection that surveyed all her musical skills as a composer, interpreter, producer and storyteller. The album was produced by The Mavericks' Raul Malo, with its diverse musical textures ranging from country, soul, and Latin to pop, dance and swing.
Born in Arkansas and raised in Houston, Texas, Kay Toinette Oslin initially performed as a folk singer with fellow Texan Guy Clark. She moved to New York and worked as a chorus girl in such musicals as Promises Promises, Darling of the Day and revivals of Hello Dolly and West Side Story. Then she began doing ad-jingle singing, which led to appearances in TV commercials.
Her songwriting talent led her to Nashville. She sang backup on Guy Clark's 1978 album for Warner Bros. Records, then had a brief stint as an Elektra Records artist in 1981-82. Meanwhile, K.T.'s songs were being recorded by performers including Gail Davies, Dottie West, Sissy Spacek, Judy Rodman and The Judds.
K.T. continues to perform around the country, including appearing on the Grand Ole Opry.
