Margo Smith, a renowned country singer, has passed away at the age of 84. She was known for her energetic and successful country songs in the late 1970s. Margo, who later earned the nickname "The Tennessee Yodeler," had a remarkable collection of both country and Christian music hits.
Smith, originally known as Betty Lou Miller, was born in Dayton, Ohio. Her passion for performing was ignited after watching a television show in her local area. At a young age, she even acquired the skill of yodeling. However, despite her aspirations of becoming a country star, she ultimately chose to pursue a career as a teacher.
According to AllMusic, her unique journey towards fame started when she began singing in her classroom and later during meetings organized by the parent teacher association. This ultimately led to opportunities for radio performances, which further paved the way for her to create a demo record and ultimately secure a recording contract.
From 1979 onwards, Smith started to openly express her femininity. Her song "Still a Woman" from the album A Woman, which reached the Top 10 charts, was incredibly audacious.
In the chorus, she sings "Please close the door and switch off the light. The plane is about to take off tonight. Hold on tightly, as we're embarking on this journey. Remember, I am still a woman."
Smith's album Just Margo, released in 1979, had a bold cover that showed her wearing a satin robe. At that time, it was considered daring, although in 2024 the outfit might be seen more like a housecoat. Despite her declining popularity on country radio, her willingness to discuss topics related to sex and her more provocative performances on stage helped increase ticket sales.
Suddenly, she reverted back to being the teacher from Ohio and expressed feelings of remorse for this particular phase in her life. According to Music Row, in 1983 she began embracing the identity of the Tennessee Yodeler, but as time went on, she transitioned into more conservative beliefs. Alongside her daughter Holly, she adopted the stage names Margo Smith and Holly, and together they achieved recognition and accolades as a successful Christian country duo.
During the later part of her life, Smith made a decision to relocate to Florida where she dedicated her time to yodeling. She was able to earn money by sharing her yodeling skills and teaching others how to yodel. One of her notable students was Taylor Ware, who was the runner-up on America's Got Talent in 2006. Eventually, Smith returned to Nashville and sadly passed away on January 23 at the age of 84.
Recently, she had experienced a stroke only a couple of days ago. Smith's family consists of her husband, Richard Cammeron, as well as one son, two daughters, and other relatives who will continue to live on.
Instead of giving flowers, the family is requesting that individuals make a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
40 country singers and songwriters who passed away at a young age are being commemorated in this article. The credit for the accompanying gallery goes to Billy Dukes.
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