Renowned country artist Margo Smith, who gained popularity in the late 1970s and was famously referred to as "The Tennessee Yodeler," has passed away at the age of 84. Throughout her career, she created a substantial collection of country and Christian music hits, leaving behind a remarkable body of work.
Betty Lou Miller, originally from Dayton, Ohio, had a passion for performing that was ignited by a television program in her local area. She even acquired the skill of yodeling at a young age. However, instead of pursuing her dream of becoming a country star, she opted to pursue a career in teaching.
According to AllMusic, her journey towards fame took a unique route, starting with her singing in her classroom and later during parent-teacher association gatherings. This eventually led to opportunities for radio performances, which in turn led to the creation of a demo record and ultimately securing a recording contract.
Smith started to openly express her femininity more prominently in 1979. The song "Still a Woman," which was a successful track from her album A Woman, was particularly daring.
In the chorus, she sings, "Simply close the door and switch off the light / The airplane is going to take off tonight / Hold on tightly as we embark on this journey / Remember, I am still a woman."
In 1979, Smith's album Just Margo had a bold cover that portrayed her wearing only a satin robe. At that time, this was considered daring, although in 2024, it may be seen more as a casual housecoat. Despite her declining popularity on country radio, her openness about sex and her provocative stage performances helped boost ticket sales.
Suddenly, she reverted back to being the teacher from Ohio and expressed remorse for this phase in her life. According to Music Row, in 1983 she began adopting the persona of the Tennessee Yodeler, but ten years later she transitioned into more conservative beliefs. Alongside her daughter Holly, she formed a successful Christian country duo known as Margo Smith and Holly.
As she got older, Smith relocated to Florida where she dedicated herself to yodeling and made money by teaching others this skill (notably, Taylor Ware, the runner-up of America's Got Talent in 2006, was her most renowned student). Eventually, she moved back to Nashville and passed away on January 23 at the age of 84.
Just days before, she had experienced a stroke. Smith is survived by her husband Richard Cammeron, as well as a son, two daughters, and other relatives.
Instead of sending flowers, the family is kindly requesting that any contributions be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
In memory: 40 talented country singers and songwriters who passed away before their time. Credit for the gallery goes to Billy Dukes.
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