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Iconic Champaign County native receiving posthumous award in Nashville
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A woman originally from the Miami Valley is receiving a posthumous award in Nashville, Tennessee for her contributions to Christian and country music.
During the 43rd Annual Sunday Mornin' Country at the Grand Ole Opry on June 8, Margo Smith will be posthumously inducted into the Ohio Country Music Hall of Fame. At the event, her daughter, Holly Watson, will accept on behalf of her mother.
Smith was born in Mutual, Champaign County, as Bette Lou Miller in 1939. While in the area, she spent time as a kindergarten teacher and obtained a degree from Wittenberg University.
Watson told that music came naturally to her mother.
'She always loved music and always sang in high school,' said Watson. 'She was in a little music group with a friend of hers and called themselves Corey and Sadie, the Apple Sisters, and they would wear like burlap sacks.'
Smith believed she had more potential with singing after singing to her students.
'She would sing to her students, her little kids,' Watson said. 'When they would get really unruly, she would take out her ukulele and start singing and yodeling, and it just captured their attention and she kind of got them to behave and listen.'
One of the places Smith started out with showing her talent professionally was at the Crystal Pistol on North Broad Street in Fairborn.
When Smith was in her 30s, she headed to Nashville to try and make it as a singer-songwriter. She knocked on some of the agency doors, and eventually landed a recording contract.
The artist had her name legally changed from Bette Lou to Margo when she signed her record deal, as she was told she couldn't use her own name in the country music world.
'Don't Break the Heart That Loves You,' 'It Only Hurts For a Little While' and 'Little Things That Mean a Lot' are some songs Smith was best-known for, according to Spotify.
Smith has been featured on a number of national broadcasts of shows like 'Hollywood Squares,' 'Larry's Country Diner,' 'Pop! Goes the Country,' 'The Porter Wagoner Show' and others.
In the 1990s, Watson joined her mother to become a Christian Country Duo called 'Margo Smith and Holly.' In 1994, they received Vocal Duo of the Year from the Christian Country Music Association.
'They didn't quite know what to do with our music because Christian country, it was a thing, but it hadn't become really popular,' said Watson. 'And so we were marketed in the Southern gospel sector.'
Smith earned the name 'The Tennessee Yodeler' during her career, as she helped pave the way for music, especially yodeling.
On Jan. 23, 2024, Smith passed away.
Watson said she believes the award she is accepting for her mother would mean the world to her, as she adored her Ohio heritage.
'I think it would mean a tremendous amount to her just to be recognized by the people of Ohio, her home state, because, you know, we're all a product of we we are a product of our upbringing and and the places that we've lived and the experiences that we've had,' said Watson.
According to Watson, receiving the award on behalf of her mother is something she is grateful to do to honor her mother's legacy.
'I'm just thrilled to be able to accept it on her behalf. And anything I can do to honor my mama and has people remember her,' said Watson.
You can share memories of listening or even interacting with Smith here. To find various videos of Smith's performances, click here.
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