Renowned country artist Margo Smith has passed away at the age of 84. This talented musician, who rose to fame in the late 1970s, was affectionately referred to as "The Tennessee Yodeler" and had a remarkable collection of successful country and Christian tracks.
Smith, originally named Betty Lou Miller, was born in Dayton, Ohio. Her passion for performing was ignited by a television show in her locality. Despite acquiring 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 music sensation.
According to AllMusic, her journey towards fame took an unconventional route as it started with her singing in her classroom and later at parent-teacher association meetings. This eventually led to opportunities for radio performances, which then resulted in her creating a demo record and ultimately signing a recording contract.
From 1979 onwards, Smith started to openly express her femininity in more noticeable manners. One of the tracks from her A Woman album titled "Still a Woman" gained significant popularity, reaching the Top 10 charts, and was praised for its daring and
She sings in the chorus, "Simply close the door and switch off the light / The airplane is set to take off tonight / Hold on tightly as we soar through the sky / Remember, I am still a woman."
In 1979, Smith's album called "Just Margo" had a bold cover that showed her wearing only a satin robe. At that time, it was considered daring, although in 2024, the outfit would be seen more like a housecoat. Despite her declining popularity on country radio, her open discussions about sex and her provocative concert performances boosted ticket sales.
Suddenly, there was a change and she reverted back to being the teacher from Ohio. She expressed feelings of disappointment for this particular 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 towards a more conservative stance. Alongside her daughter Holly, she formed a Christian country act called Margo Smith and Holly, which received awards for their music.
Smith relocated to Florida during her later years, where she dedicated her time to yodeling and made a living by imparting her yodeling skills to others. One of her notable students was Taylor Ware, who became the runner-up in America's Got Talent in 2006. After some time, she returned to Nashville, but sadly passed away on January 23 at the age of 84.
Only a few days ago, she experienced a stroke. 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 requesting for individuals to make a contribution to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Remembering the lives lost too early: 40 talented country singers and songwriters who have passed away. The credit for the gallery goes to Billy Dukes.
Additional content from Taste of Country can be found on their website. For more updates