Kathy Mattea Biography
Kathy Mattea (born Kathleen Alice Mattea) is American country music and bluegrass singer. Active since 1984 as a recording artist, she has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
This includes Goin’ Gone, Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses, Come from the Heart, and Burnin’ Old Memories, plus twelve more that charted within the top ten. Furthermore, she has released fourteen studio albums, two Christmas albums, and one greatest hits album.
10 Quick Facts About Kathy Mattea
- Name: Kathy Mattea
- Age: Not Available
- Birthday: June 21
- Zodiac Sign: Not Available
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Singer
- Marital Status: Married
- Salary: Under Review
- Net worth: $3 million
Kathy Mattea Education
She attended West Virginia University, and in 1976, she joined a bluegrass band, and two years later dropped out of school to move to Nashville. During this time, Mattea also listened to folk and bluegrass, which she would later say “formed her roots” as an artist.
She worked as a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and then as a secretary and a waitress, in order to support herself while working as a demo singer. Songwriter, publisher, and record producer Byron Hill discovered her and helped her sign to Mercury Records in 1983.
Kathy Mattea Career
Mattea’s self-titled first appearance came out in 1984, with Hill and Rick Peoples as the album’s producers. She later noted that “there were no budgets” when she was recording the album, as she was unable to afford a $75 makeup session, and the front cover featured her wearing a jacket which she had purchased at Kmart. Even so, four of its singles made the Hot Country Songs charts, starting with “Street Talk”, which charted at No. 25
Her second album, From My Heart, was also her first under the production of Allen Reynolds, who is best known for his work with Crystal Gayle and Garth Brooks. It was released in 1985 and it produced the chart singles “It’s Your Reputation Talkin'”, “He Won’t Give In”, and “Heart of the Country”, which peaked at numbers 34, 22, and 46 respectively on Hot Country Songs.
Breakthrough
Her breakthrough both critically and commercially, was her 1986’s Walk the Way the Wind Blows. Four singles were released from the album. First was “Love at the Five and Dime”, written and originally recorded by Nanci Griffith on her 1986 album The Last of the True Believers.
Walk the Way the Wind Blows followed it, “You’re the Power”, and “Train of Memories”. All four of these songs reached the top 10 of the country music charts between 1986 and 1987. The B-side to “You’re the Power” was a rendition of “Song for the Life”, written by Rodney Crowell and later a top 10 hit for Alan Jackson in 1995.
She had her first Number 1 single in late 1987 to early 1988 with “Goin’ Gone”. This song also previously appeared on The Last of the True Believers, Co-written by Pat Alger and Fred Koller. Mattea’s version was the lead single to her third album Untasted Honey.
Kathy Mattea Age
Kathleen Alice Mattea was born in South Charleston, West Virginia, the U.S. on June 21, 1959. Her nationality is American and of white ethnicity.
Kathy Mattea Family
Parents
Mattea was born in South Charleston, West Virginia, as the only daughter of three children. Her father John Mattea worked in a chemical plant and her mother Ruth Mattea was a homemaker. She sang in her parents’ church as a child, and in high school, she performed at school shows and family gatherings.
Siblings
She has two siblings; Michael Mattea. However, the name of the other brother is not mentioned.
Kathy Mattea Husband
Mattea is a married woman, she has been married to songwriter Jon Vezner since February 14, 1988. He started a publishing company underneath the apartment in which Mattea lived in the 1980s, and the two met after he jump-started her car. Vezner wrote four of Mattea’s singles: “Where’ve You Been”, “Whole Lotta Holes”, “Time Passes By”, and “A Few Good Things Remain”, along with singles by Diamond Rio and Clay Walker.
Additionally, she is known for her roles in AIDS activism. In 1992, many televised awards shows were handing out red ribbons to participants in honor of AIDS awareness, but the Country Music Association chose to hand out green ribbons promoting environmental awareness instead. Mattea chose to wear three red ribbons that night, each one honoring a friend of hers who had died of the disease, along with the green ribbon.
She also participated in charity concerts and made public appearances at activism campaigns. Additionally, she received the inaugural Harvard AIDS Initiative award in 1994.
Kathy Mattea Body Measurements
- Height: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
- Weight: Not Available
- Shoe Size: Not Available
- Body Shape: Not Available
- Hair Colour: Dark brown
Kathy Mattea Salary
Working as a country singer, it’s obvious that she makes a good sum of money. However, according to our reliable sources, her estimated annual salary is still under review.
Kathy Mattea Net Worth
Mattea has an estimated net worth of $3 million, which she makes entirely from her music career.
Kathy Mattea Discography|Songs
Singles (Hot Country Songs)
- Goin’ Gone (1987–88)
- Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses (1988)
- Come from the Heart (1989)
- Burnin’ Old Memories (1989)
Kathy Mattea Albums
- Kathy Mattea (1984)
- From My Heart (1985)
- Walk the Way the Wind Blows (1986)
- Untasted Honey (1987) (RIAA gold)
- Willow in the Wind (1989) (RIAA gold)
- Time Passes By (1991) (RIAA gold)
- Lonesome Standard Time (1992) (RIAA gold)
- Walking Away from a Winner (1994) (RIAA gold)
- Love Travels (1997)
- The Innocent Years (2000)
- Roses (2002)
- Right Out of Nowhere (2005)
- Coal (2008)
- Calling Me Home (2012)
- Pretty Bird (2018)
Christmas albums
Good News (1993)
Joy for Christmas Day (2003)
Kathy Mattea Pretty Bird
Fly away you little pretty bird
Fly fly away
Fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you’ll always stay
I see in your eyes a promise
Your own tender love you’d bring
But fly away little pretty bird
Cold runneth the spring
Loves own tender flames warm this meeting
And love’s tender songs you’d sing
But fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you’ll always stay
I cannot make you no promises
For love is such a delicate thing
But fly away little pretty bird
For he’d only clip your wings
Fly fly away you little pretty bird
Fly fly away
Fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you’ll always stay
Fly far beyond the dark mountain
To where you’d be free evermore
Fly away little pretty bird
Where the cold winter winds don’t blow
Kathy Mattea Awards and Achievements
- 1991 Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance
for Where’ve You Been - 1990 Academy of Country Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year
- 1990, 1989 Academy of Country Music Award for Song of the Year
for Where’ve You Been, Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses - 1988 Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year
for Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses - 1990, 1989 Country Music Association Award for Female Vocalist of the Year
- 1997 Country Music Association Award for Music Video of the Year
for 455 Rocket - 1989 Academy of Country Music Award for Single Record of the Year
for Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses
Frequently Asked Questions About Kathy Mattea
Who is Kathy Mattea?
She is an American country music and bluegrass singer.
How old is Kathy Mattea?
She is 60 years of age as of 2019, and she was born on June 21, 1959, in South Charleston, West Virginia, the U.S.
How tall is Kathy Mattea?
She stands at a height of 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Is Kathy Mattea married?
She married her lovely husband songwriter Jon Vezner since February 14, 1988.
How much is Kathy Mattea worth?
She is an accomplished bluegrass singer with an estimated net worth of $3 million.
How much does Kathy Mattea make?
Her estimated annual salary is still under review.
Where does Kathy Mattea live?
Currently, she resides in Charleston South Carolina.
Is Kathy Mattea dead or alive?
Mattea is still alive and in good health.
Where is Kathy Mattea now?
She is currently concentrating on her music.
Why is Kathy Mattea famous?
Mattea is one of the most respected female country stars, a commercially successful hitmaker who was able to bring elements of folk, bluegrass, gospel, and singer/songwriter intimacy to her music. You can also read about Kathy Orr.
Kathy Mattea Contacts
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