Renowned country singer Margo Smith, who was famously referred to as "The Tennessee Yodeler," has passed away at the age of 84. Throughout her career, which peaked in the late 1970s, she impressed audiences with her vibrant country music and also achieved success in the Christian music genre. She leaves behind a remarkable collection of country and Christian hit songs.
Smith, originally named Betty Lou Miller, was born in Dayton, Ohio. Her passion for performing was ignited by a television show in her local area. Despite developing the skill of yodeling at a young age, she made the conscious choice to pursue a career in teaching rather than pursuing her dream of becoming a country star.
According to AllMusic, the singer's unique journey to success started when she began singing in her classroom and later during meetings held by the parent teacher association. This eventually led to opportunities for radio performances, which then resulted in the creation of a demo record and ultimately securing a recording contract.
Smith started to openly express her femininity in a more noticeable manner in 1979. One of the standout tracks from her album A Woman, titled "Still a Woman," achieved significant success by reaching the Top 10 charts. This song showcased Smith's daring
In the chorus, she sings, "Simply close the door and switch off the light / The plane is going to take off tonight / Hold on tight as we begin our journey / I am still a woman."
In 1979, Smith's album Just Margo had a bold cover featuring her wearing only a satin robe. This was considered daring at the time, although in 2024, the outfit might be seen more as a housecoat. Despite her declining popularity on country radio, her willingness to discuss and incorporate sex and provocative elements in her concerts helped boost ticket sales.
After a sudden change, she went back to being the teacher from Ohio and showed remorse for this particular phase in her life. According to Music Row, she began adopting the Tennessee Yodeler persona in 1983, but ten years later, she transitioned into more conservative beliefs. Alongside her daughter Holly, she transformed into Margo Smith and Holly, a successful Christian country duo that received awards.
As she grew older, Smith relocated to Florida where she dedicated herself to yodeling and made a living by imparting her yodeling skills to others. One of her most notable students was Taylor Ware, the runner-up of America's Got Talent in 2006. After some time, she returned to Nashville and passed away on January 23 at the age of 84.
She had recently experienced a stroke a few days ago. Smith is survived by her husband, Richard Cammeron, as well as one son, two daughters, and other family members.
Instead of sending flowers, the family is requesting that you make a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
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Acknowledgement: Gallery credit goes to Billy Dukes
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