Kitty Wells, born Ellen Muriel Deason, was an American country music singer who broke ground as the first female superstar of the genre. Her music was characterized by its honky-tonk style and her distinctive, plaintive vocals. Wells' 1952 hit "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" was a response to Hank Thompson's "The Wild Side of Life," and not only became a number one hit, but also marked a significant departure from the typically submissive roles of women in country music. Her influence on female country music artists is profound, with many citing her as a trailblazer in the industry.