Bluegrass songwriting great Dixie Hall dead at 80

Bluegrass legend Dixie Hall has died, aged 80. The songwriter and wife of Tom T. Hall passed away on Friday (16Jan15) at her home in Nashville, Tennessee.
Born Iris Violet May Lawrence in England, Dixie moved to Nashville in the early 1960s and befriended Mother Maybelle Carter, the matriarch of country music’s first family, The Carters, who became an early mentor.
She enjoyed success with songs such as Truck Drivin’ Son of a Gun and Troublesome Waters, which was recorded by Johnny Cash, among others.
Dixie also made her mark as a journalist and wrote for publications including Music City News.
She met Tom T. Hall in the mid-1960s and the future couple began a career as a hitmaking country and bluegrass songwriting team.
They were awarded a distinguished achievement honour from the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2004.