MUSIC : COUNTRY WESTERN : ‘When Fallen Angels Fly’ Lifts Singer Patty Loveless to New Career Heights : Newly crowned album of the year winner will perform Sunday in Thousand Oaks.

After her first marriage broke up in 1985, country diva Patty Loveless returned to Nashville to give the music business another try. During the ensuing decade the 38-year-old Kentucky native cut five albums that all met with commercial and critical success and generated a string of hits. And Loveless garnered numerous nominations from the Grammy awards, Country Music Assn., Academy of Country Music, Music City News and the American Music Awards along the way.

Yet despite such accolades, the auburn-crested singer seemed destined to always be the bridesmaid, falling just short of bouquet-tossing status.

That is until the 29th annual CMA (Country Music Assn.) Awards show televised from Nashville last week.

When the dust had settled, the 65th member of the Grand Ole Opry returned to her dressing room to the applause of roommates Pam Tillis, Trisha Yearwood and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Loveless has carried off the best album of the year award--for “When Fallen Angels Fly,” on the Epic label--from Music City’s most prestigious competition. She is the only woman since Anne Murray took the title in 1984 to do so.

Loveless, a distant cousin of Loretta Lynn, won over heavy-hitting nominees John Michael Montgomery, George Strait, touring buddy and five-time male vocalist of the year Vince Gill, and Alan Jackson, who was named entertainer of the year. And the honor was more significant because Loveless is known as an interpreter of other people’s songs in a town where recording artists are also expected to exercise their songwriting muscles.

Recently heralded by Time magazine as one of the “finest country stylists,” the award validated Loveless’ hybrid body of work as much as the content and level of maturity in “When Fallen Angels Fly.”

Loveless will bring her show to the Civic Arts Plaza Auditorium in Thousand Oaks on Sunday evening. There’s no opening act--just 100% Patty and her crew with a show that works for all ages.

In a recent interview, Loveless, who was gracious, soft-spoken and generous in acknowledging the talents of her band and colleagues, had this to say about her music, image, touring, family and the recent award.

Your husband, Emory Gordy Jr., produced this album for Epic and he’s worked with other artists including George Jones, Bill Monroe and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. How did you chose the title “When Fallen Angels Fly”?:

At first the label wanted to call the album “Here I Am.” And I understood what they were trying to say--that Patty had finally arrived. For me that title sounded too egotistic (laughs nervously) and a little bit too self-centered. And I don’t consider myself like that even though it’s a wonderful song.

“When Fallen Angels Fly” has a gospel, spiritual feel. I’ve been there. Here I am with Emory. He’s been through a divorce, I’ve been through a divorce. And there’s a time in our lives when you start to think there’s not gonna be that special someone, and all of a sudden this angel comes into your life. And I consider Emory one of my earthly angels. I wanted people to feel that you can get back up. You can fly again.

What do you look for in choosing material to perform?

I just always try to look for songs that have realism in them--that deal with today. I keep in my mind that the reason I’m here is the music. I enjoy what I do and the songs are very, very important to me. And without the songs we wouldn’t have anything at all.

I’ve heard that when you first heard “You Don’t Know Who I Am” you didn’t care for the man-versus-woman theme.

That is true. I don’t like songs that lyrically--if I hear or even suspect--that it’s male bashing, I don’t like that. When I heard the first verse and the chorus, I went, “OK, the melody’s wonderful but lyrically it’s one of those he-left-her, the jerk.” And now she’s the victim. I don’t like to be the victim.

Did you ask the writers to redo it?

No! I continued to listen and it got to the second verse and turned it around totally. OK, the guy has time to tell his side of the story.

You are almost reverent about carrying on the tradition of country music and its Appalachian bluegrass roots. What are some favorite songs you’ve recorded?

I enjoy doing “Here I Am” so much because it was a No. 1 song for me on the radio. I thought I wasn’t gonna be accepted for the Appalachian or the music I do. But I’m finally getting attention. I love that.

So after all those fashion make-overs have you found the right window dressing for those pipes? Do we know who you are at last?

(Laughs) If I finally try to say who I am, I’m afraid that I might limit myself. There’s variety on the album--some bluegrass, some rock ‘n’ roll, or rockabilly, some gospel, spiritual feel. And I’m glad to mix it up on the record.

I guess the person I am is the songs I sing.

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DETAILS

* WHAT: Country recording artist Patty Loveless will perform her string of hits, including songs from CMA best album of the year, “When Fallen Angels Fly.”

* WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday.

* WHERE: Civic Arts Plaza Auditorium, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

* HOW MUCH: $47, $37, $27.

* CALL: (805) 449-2787.