First popularized by country singer,
Hank Thompson in his 1976 hit "Wild Side of Life", Honky Tonk Angel refers to a beautiful woman, somewhat out of place in a dirty bar, with a casual attitude toward sex but kind and pure at
heart. Also known to be fun-loving and attracted to party life. The Honky Tonk Angel is attractive and kind, often making it easy for men to fall for them, but ultimately aren'
t able to commit to a monogamous relationship and find life as a housewife boring. In the song,
Hank tells of how he fell for one such woman who
broke his
heart when she left him to return to "the wild side of life".
Female country singer
Kitty Wells sang an answer song to The Wild Side of Life only 2 months after its release called "
God Didn't Make Honky Tonk Angels". In the song, she spoke of how men shouldn't blame Honky Tonk Angels for their disloyal ways as "most every
heart that's ever broken was because there always was a man to blame." She talks about how she used to be a trustful wife but her husband thought he was still single, citing his wandering around for the reason she became a Honky Tonk Angel. Both songs topped the Billboard at #1 that year and became twinned classics, setting off a number of songs, albums and other references to Honky Tonk Angel.
