Kitty Wells – “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels”
When Kitty Wells recorded “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” in 1952, she had no idea she was about to change the course of country music history. The song not only became the first No. 1 country hit by a female solo artist on the Billboard charts, but it also opened doors for generations of women in a genre that had long been dominated by male voices.
Written by J.D. “Jay” Miller, the song was conceived as an answer to Hank Thompson’s 1952 hit “The Wild Side of Life.” Thompson’s song portrayed women who frequented honky-tonks as the reason men strayed from their marriages. Miller believed there was another side to the story and wrote lyrics defending women who had been blamed for the failures of relationships. The unforgettable opening line, “It wasn’t God who made honky tonk angels,” immediately challenged the prevailing double standard in country music.
Born Ellen Muriel Deason in Nashville, Kitty Wells had been recording for years with only modest success. In fact, she was considering stepping away from music to focus on raising her family when she was offered the chance to record the song. Initially, she wasn’t enthusiastic about it, but producer Paul Cohen persuaded her to give it a try. Recorded in a single session, Wells delivered the song in her straightforward, heartfelt style, allowing the powerful lyrics to take center stage.
Upon its release, the song generated immediate controversy. Some radio stations refused to play it, believing its lyrics were too provocative for the era. The Grand Ole Opry initially banned the song, and several broadcasters considered it too controversial because it directly challenged traditional ideas about marriage and morality. Ironically, the controversy only fueled public curiosity, and listeners began requesting the song in overwhelming numbers.
The gamble paid off in spectacular fashion. “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard country chart in 1952, making Kitty Wells the first female solo artist to top the country charts. Its success proved that audiences were eager to hear women’s perspectives, not just men’s, on love, heartbreak, and relationships.
The song’s impact stretched far beyond the charts. It helped pave the way for artists such as Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, and countless others who would tell stories from a woman’s point of view. Wells became known as the “Queen of Country Music,” and her success demonstrated that female artists could be just as commercially successful as their male counterparts.
More than 70 years after its release, “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” remains one of the most influential recordings in country music history. Its bold message, timeless melody, and Kitty Wells’ sincere performance transformed a controversial answer song into a landmark recording that forever changed the role of women in country music.
