Billie Letts, Best-Selling Author and Mother of Tracy Letts, Dies at 76

Best-selling author Billie Letts has died at an Oklahoma hospital following a brief illness. She was 76.

Letts' novels include "Where the Heart Is," which was turned into a movie starring Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, Stockard Channing and Joan Cusak. Letts also taught English and creative writing at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant.

She was married to professor-turned-actor Dennis Letts until his death in 2008, and is the mother of playwright/actor Tracy Letts, jazz musician/composer Shawn Letts, and Dana Letts.

She is survived by three sons - Dana Letts, musician Shawn Letts and playwright and actor Tracy Letts. Tracy Letts won a Pulitzer Prize for his play "August: Osage County," which was also made into a movie starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.

Johnson says funeral services are pending.

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