AUGUST 23, 1952 – Kitty Wells (August 30, 1919 – July 16, 2012) became the first woman to reach #1 on the Billboard country chart with “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” Wells was disenchanted with her career prospects and was actually considering retirement, but agreed to the May 3rd session at Owen Bradley’s studio because of the $125 union scale recording payment.Written by J. D. “Jay” Miller, the song was a response to Hank Thompson’s “The Wild Side of Life”, and its lyrical treatment of seductive, wayward women wherein he sings “I Didn’t Know God Made Honky Tonk Angels.” Wells’ recording became the first #1 Billboard country hit for a solo female artist and skyrocketed her to fame.
LYRICS:
As I sit here tonight, the jukebox playin’
The tune about the wild side of life
As I listen to the words you are sayin’
It brings memories when I was a trustful wife
It wasn’t God who made honky tonk angels
As you said in the words of your song
Too many times married men
Think they’re still single
That has caused many a good girl to go wrong
It’s a shame that all the blame is on us women
It’s not true that only you men feel the same
From the start
Most every heart that’s ever broken
Was because there always was a man to blame
It wasn’t God who made honky tonk angels
As you said in the words of your song
Too many times married men
Think they’re still single
That has caused many a good girl to go wrong
