Renowned country singer Margo Smith has passed away at the age of 84. Smith, who gained popularity in the late 1970s and was affectionately called "The Tennessee Yodeler," had a successful career with numerous country and Christian music hits. Her extensive collection of songs will always be remembered.
Betty Lou Miller, originally from Dayton, Ohio, had a passion for performing from an early age. She found inspiration from a television show in her local area and even acquired the skill of yodeling. However, despite her dreams of becoming a country star, she made the decision to pursue a career as a teacher instead.
According to AllMusic, her journey to fame took a unique turn when she first started singing in her classroom and later at parent-teacher association gatherings. This eventually led to opportunities for radio performances, which then resulted in her creating a demo record and ultimately signing a recording contract.
In 1979, Smith started to openly express her feminine characteristics. One of her songs called "Still a Woman," which was included in her A Woman album, gained popularity and was considered quite daring.
In the chorus, she sings about shutting the door and turning off the light before the plane takes off. She emphasizes the need to hold on tight because she is still a woman.
In 1979, Smith's album "Just Margo" had a bold cover featuring her wearing only a satin robe. At that time, this was considered daring, although in 2024, the outfit might be perceived more as a housecoat. While her popularity on country radio was declining, her willingness to discuss sex and incorporate provocative concert performances helped boost ticket sales.
After a sudden change, she reverted back to being the teacher from Ohio and expressed sadness about this phase in her life. According to Music Row, in 1983 she began adopting the Tennessee Yodeler identity, but ten years later she transitioned into a more conservative stance. Alongside her daughter Holly, she formed the acclaimed Christian country duo Margo Smith and Holly.
Smith relocated to Florida during the latter part of her life, where she dedicated her time to perfecting her yodeling skills. She also found a source of income by offering yodeling lessons to aspiring individuals, with her most notable student being Taylor Ware, who was the runner-up on America's Got Talent in 2006. However, Smith eventually returned to Nashville and sadly passed away at the age of 84 on January 23rd.
A stroke had occurred to her a few days ago. Smith is survived by her husband, Richard Cammeron, as well as one son, two daughters, and other relatives.
Instead of sending flowers, the family is kindly requesting that you contribute a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
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