Joy McKean, popularly known for being one of the trailblazers of country music in Australia together with her husband Slim Dusty, has passed away at the age of 93.
According to Billboard, her family issued a message confirming the tragic news, writing, "Joy passed away peacefully last night with family by her side."
The country star reportedly battled cancer prior to her death, but it's unclear which type of medical condition she was diagnosed with.
Joy McKean Life & Career
Born Mildred Geraldine Joy McKean on January 14, 1930, in Singleton, New South Wales, in Australia, the musician spent her early days in a farm. (via History of Country Music in Australia)
Her father was a country school teacher and her family would often move from region to region during her childhood.
Her love for music started at an early age as one member of her family was a steel guitar player. Some of her first inspirations were the Carter Family and Jimmie Rogers.
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She later learned how to play several instruments including the accordion, steel guitar, and the piano. On the other hand, her sister Heather McKean also loved music as she played the ukelele.
Both of them would later form a group called The McKean Sisters, who were popularly known for their yodeling skills.
Throughout her solo career, McKean was able to become a two-time Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown. She also won several awards like the Industry Achiever Award.
Joy McKean, Slim Dusty: A Power Couple in the Australian Country Music Scene
McKean later got married to her husband Slim Dusty and it was the beginning of their life-long collaboration as musicians.
Aside from being a singer on her own, she also became her partner's manager for over 50 years and they collaborated on dozens of songs together.
Throughout his career, Slim Dusty was able to release more than a hundred albums and sold eight million copies until his passing in 2003 at the age of 76. (via The Weekly Times Australia)
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Dusty, whose real name is David Gordon Kirkpatrick, died at his home after a battle with cancer.
The couple had two children named Anne and David Kirkpatrick; both of which followed their parents' footsteps as they became renowned singer-songwriters.
