Kathy Mattea Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Kathy Mattea, an American country and bluegrass artist, was born on June 21, 1959, in South Charleston, West Virginia. Known for her rich alto voice, Mattea's music career spans several decades, featuring a blend of country, folk, and bluegrass influences.

Mattea's journey to stardom began in the 1980s. Her breakthrough came with her second album, "From My Heart" (1985), which saw two of its singles, "Love at the Five and Dime" and "Walk the Way the Wind Blows," reach the top 10 on the country charts. She reached the peak of her popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, during which she released a series of hits including "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses," "Come From the Heart," and "Burnin' Old Memories," all of which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Her album "Willow in the Wind" (1989) was certified platinum, and she was awarded the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year in 1989 and 1990.

As her career progressed, Mattea became known for her willingness to take musical risks. In the 2000s, she gravitated towards bluegrass and traditional folk music, with albums like "Roses" (2002) and "Right Out of Nowhere" (2005) reflecting this shift. In 2008, she released "Coal," a collection of songs about coal mining, inspired by her own family's roots in the industry. The album was critically acclaimed and received a Grammy nomination.