Renowned country singer, Margo Smith, has passed away at the age of 84. Throughout her career, she gained recognition for her chart-topping hits in the late 1970s and was later affectionately referred to as "The Tennessee Yodeler." Smith's musical legacy includes a collection of successful country and Christian songs.
Betty Lou Miller, who later became known as Smith, was born in Dayton, Ohio. Her passion for performance was ignited by a television show she watched in her local area. She even acquired the skill of yodeling at a young age. However, instead of pursuing her dreams of becoming a country star, she chose to follow a different path and become a teacher.
According to AllMusic, the unique journey towards fame for this individual started when she began singing in her classroom and later at parent-teacher association gatherings. This eventually led to opportunities to perform on the radio, which then resulted in her creating a demo record and ultimately securing a recording contract.
Starting in 1979, Smith started to openly express her femininity in more noticeable ways. "Still a Woman," a popular song from her album A Woman, was incredibly daring.
In the chorus, she sings, "Simply close the door and switch off the light / The airplane is set to take flight tonight / Brace yourself, we're about to soar high / Remember, I am still a woman."
In 1979, Smith's album called "Just Margo" had a bold cover featuring her wearing only a satin robe. At that time, it was considered daring, although in 2024, the outfit might be seen as more of a casual housecoat. While her popularity on country radio was declining, her willingness to discuss sex and incorporate provocative elements into her concerts helped boost ticket sales.
Suddenly, she returned to being the teacher from Ohio and showed remorse for this phase of her life. Music Row notes that in 1983, she began adopting the persona of the Tennessee Yodeler, but ten years later she transitioned into a more conservative mindset. Alongside her daughter Holly, she formed the duo Margo Smith and Holly, which gained recognition and accolades in the Christian country music genre.
Smith relocated to Florida during her older age and decided to dedicate her time to the art of yodeling. She found a source of income by teaching others how to yodel, with one of her notable students being Taylor Ware, the runner-up of America's Got Talent in 2006. Eventually, she returned to Nashville and unfortunately passed away on January 23 at the age of 84.
A stroke had occurred to her only a few days ago. Smith is survived by her spouse, Richard Cammeron, as well as one son, two daughters, and other relatives.
Instead of sending flowers, the family is kindly requesting that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
In loving memory: 40 talented country singers and songwriters who left us too soon. The credit for the gallery goes to Billy Dukes.
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