Women songwriters in country music have come a long way in the last 30 years. One of the first and most awarded is Kye Fleming.
Rhonda Kye Fleming moved to Nashville in 1977, and within a few months she had begun what would be an amazing 6 year presence at the top of the country charts. That was extraordinary for any songwriter, but for women songwriters in country music, it marked a beginning.
Kye has been awarded over 42 BMI awards, BMI songwriter of the year in
1981,’82, ‘83, NSAI songwriter of the year 1981,’82 , BMI song of the year, CMA Triple Play Award as well as multiple CMA, ACM, DOVE and GRAMMY nominations for various songs.
And this year, 2009, Kye is being inducted into the NSAI songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
A few of her hits are:
Smoky Mtn. Rain,
I Wouldn’t Have Missed it for the World
Sleeping Single in a Double Bed
I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,
Nobody
Kansas City Lights
Give Me Wings
Some of the artists who have recorded Kye’s songs are:
Barbara Mandrell, Sylvia, The Judds, Kathy Mattea, Suzy Boguss, Wynonna, Crystal Gayle, Amy Grant, Tina Turner, Bette Midler, Janis Ian,
Ronnie Milsap, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, Steve Wariner, Michael Johnson, and Joe Cocker.
As a publisher, Kye has mentored and developed young songwriters. She has been thrilled to help many of them realize their own dreams with a number of ASCAP and BMI awarded songs, including Michael Dulaney’s ASCAP song of the year by Faith Hill.
She believes in developing and publishing songwriters the “old way”, knowing that success grows out of close relationships, mentoring and inspiring writers to listen to their own guidance.
And now, after 30 years of experience in the business, there’s something new to add to her collection of musical hats.
In 2007, Kye was judging a song contest for NSAI when she heard talented band from her home state of Arkansas who caught her attention. She coaxed the young trio to move to Nashville and together they began an exciting adventure. Kye says her decision to develop and now manage Edens Edge, is another journey for the absolute joy of it.
So, when asked about her achievements, Kye says “It’s clear to me that life is not about where we’ve been, it’s about where we’re going!
