Kathy Mattea’s mother dies

[davidinalameda]

http://wvgazette.com/section/News/Other%20News/2005081133

Ruth Mattea, mother of country music star Kathy Mattea, died Wednesday. She was 84 and had Alzheimer’s disease.

In a 1995 interview, Ruth Mattea said it was nice to have a place where her famous daughter could come home and be “just Kathy.”

Still, she said strangers would sometimes stop to photograph their Cross Lanes home — a startling reminder of her daughter’s fame.

I'm a big fan of Kathy and my thoughts go out to her and her family

you can go to her website--there's a sympathy thread up--you'll have to register to post but that takes like 3 seconds


http://www.mattea.com/phpBB2/index.php

[Redstone]

1. My condolences. She's one of my favorites; a voice like warm honey.

Redstone

[SnowGoose]

2. Country music generally gives me hives, but

I found her song "where have you been" (at least I think that's the title) extraordinarily touching. My heart goes out to her.

[TahitiNut]

3. I agree. I usually detest C&W 'music' ... but I've seen Kathy in person

... and have corresponded with her. She's MARVELOUS! Rather than sing the praises of dysfunction and codependency, Kathy's steadfastly affirmative and empowering. She also comes across as a mensch -- with self-esteem rather than narcissistic ego and respect rather than condescension.

[NuckinFutz]

4. I never really considered her music to be country...

It seems more Folk than country. She's covered a few of Nanci Griffith's songs during her career. Neither of them get enough radio play in the mainstream.