Margo Smith, who was fondly known as ‘The Tennessee Yodeler,’ has passed away.
Margo Smith, an American country and Christian music singer-songwriter, died on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. She was 81 years old at the time of her tragic passing. Margo was a successful country music singer in the 1970s, during which her songs made the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
What happened to Margo Smith?
Margo Smith passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. She suffered a stroke two days earlier and passed away from complications associated with it. She was 81 years old at the time of her tragic demise. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this challenging time.
Who was Margo Smith?
Margo Smith was an American country music legend and Christian music singer-songwriter. She reigned the country music scene during the 1970s and gave two number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. In the 1990s, she transitioned towards Christian music and released two successful albums. She was also known for her yodeling vocal skills and was often called ‘The Tennessee Yodeler.’
Born as Betty Lou Miller in Dayton, Ohio, on April 9, 1942, she adopted the stage name Margo Smith. During her childhood, she learned to sing and yodel. She graduated from Wittenberg University with a major in elementary education and chose to pursue the teaching profession after graduating. But her love for music found its way into her life. She would incorporate music into her classroom and often wrote songs that would be embedded into her lessons. She learned to perform a ukulele and often used it to calm energetic children in her class.
After nearly a decade-long career in education, she found her calling in music and began her singing and songwriting career in her thirties. In 1971, she released her first album, ‘I’m a Lady,’ which was well-received. By 1975, she had signed with 20th Century Fox Records and scored her first major hit on the country charts with the song ‘There I Said It.’ The song also ranked in Canada’s Top 20 RPM Country Singles chart. She had several hits in the 1970s, such as ‘Take My Breath Away’ and ‘Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You.’
In 1975, she released an album, ‘Margo Smith,’ which included ten self-penned tracks. The project was her first to chart on the Billboard Country Albums list. Her single ‘Paper Lovin,’ reached the top 40 of the country songs survey. Her most recent album was 2005 ‘Nothing to Lose.’
In 1990, she transitioned towards Christian music and recorded two albums with her daughter, Holly. The mother-daughter duo won many awards for their music and performed for several years. She won many accolades for her contribution to music, including the 2001 Living Legend Award in the CCMA Awards and the 1979 ASACP Awards for Country Artist of the Year.