Grammy-winning folk singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith dies

Nanci Griffith, left, and John Prine perform at the Americana Music Association awards in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 17, 2009. Griffith, the Grammy-winning folk singer-songwriter from Texas whose literary songs like “Love at the Five and Dime” celebrated the South, has died. She was 68. A statement from her management company on Friday confirmed her death, but no cause of death was provided. (Josh Anderson/Associated Press file)

Josh Anderson

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Nanci Griffith, left, and John Prine perform at the Americana Music Association awards in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 17, 2009. Griffith, the Grammy-winning folk singer-songwriter from Texas whose literary songs like “Love at the Five and Dime” celebrated the South, has died. She was 68. A statement from her management company on Friday confirmed her death, but no cause of death was provided. (Josh Anderson/Associated Press file)

Josh Anderson

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nanci Griffith, the Grammy-winning folk singer-songwriter from Texas whose literary songs like “Love at the Five and Dime” celebrated the South, has died. She was 68.

A statement from her management company on Friday confirmed her death, but no cause was provided.

“It was Nanci’s wish that no further formal statement or press release happen for a week following her passing,” Gold Mountain Entertainment said in a statement.

Griffith worked closely with other folk singers, helping the early careers of artists like Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris.

Griffith was also known for her recording of “From a Distance,” which would later become a well-known Bette Midler tune. That cover appeared on her first major label release, “Lone Star State of Mind” in 1987.