Joy McKean
Mildred Geraldine Joy Kirkpatrick OAM (née McKean; 14 January 1930 – 25 May 2023), known professionally as Joy McKean, was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and wife and manager of Slim Dusty. Her daughter is country singer and musician Anne Kirkpatrick.
Joy McKean OAM | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mildred Geraldine Joy McKean |
| Born | 14 January 1930 Singleton, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 25 May 2023 (aged 93) |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician, talent manager |
| Years active | 1940–2023 |
| Formerly of | The McKean Sisters (1948–1956) |
| Spouse(s) | Slim Dusty |
McKean was known as the Queen of Australian country music, and considered a pioneer in the industry, recognized as one of Australia's leading songwriters and bush balladeers and wrote several of Dusty's most popular songs. In 1973, she was awarded the first ever Golden Guitar, for writing "Lights on the Hill". Several documentary films tell of the couple's success and adventures as performers, including The Slim Dusty Movie and Slim and I.
The McKean-Dusty partnership produced over 100 albums, and sold eight million records in Australia alone.
McKean was awarded the OAM in 1991, with the citation "services to the entertainment industry".
In 2014, a bronze statue of McKean and Slim Dusty was unveiled in Tamworth, New South Wales
McKean won several APRA Awards and was inducted into the Australian Roll of Renown in 1983. She was the first winner of the Golden Guitars, an award she would win 45 times in her career.