Renowned country musician 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 left a lasting legacy with her extensive collection of country and Christian music hits.
Betty Lou Miller, later known as Smith, was born in Dayton, Ohio. Her passion for performing was ignited after watching a television show in her local area. She even acquired the skill of yodeling at a young age. However, rather than pursuing a career as a country star, she opted to become a teacher.
According to AllMusic, the unique journey to fame for this individual started when she began singing in her classroom and later at parent-teacher association gatherings. This eventually led to opportunities for radio performances, which in turn resulted in the creation of a demo record and ultimately securing a recording contract.
From 1979 onwards, Smith started to openly embrace her femininity in a more pronounced manner. One of the standout moments was the release of "Still a Woman," a daring and successful song from her album titled A Woman.
In the chorus, she sings, "Simply close the door and switch off the light. The airplane is scheduled to take off tonight. Brace yourselves tightly as we soar through the sky. Remember, I am still a woman."
In 1979, Smith's album Just Margo had a bold cover that showed her wearing a satin robe, which was considered daring at the time. However, in 2024, the outfit would be more reminiscent of a housecoat. As her popularity on country radio declined, Margo's openness about sexuality and her provocative stage performances helped boost ticket sales.
Then unexpectedly, she reverted back to being the teacher from Ohio and expressed sadness about this time in her life. Music Row notes that in 1983 she began embracing the persona of the Tennessee Yodeler, but ten years later she transitioned into a more conservative stance. Alongside her daughter Holly, she formed a successful Christian country duo named Margo Smith and Holly, which received awards.
During the latter part of her life, Smith relocated to Florida where she dedicated her time to yodeling. She supported herself by imparting her yodeling skills to others, 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 passed away on January 23 at the age of 84.
A few days ago, she experienced a stroke. 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 donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
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Credit for Gallery: Billy Dukes
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