Topic: Connie Smith

Constance June Meador, known by her professional name as Connie Smith (born August 14, 1941 in Elkhart, Indiana, USA) is a country and gospel singer and songwriter who had her biggest success in the 60s and 70s.

In less than a year, Connie Smith moved from being a small town Ohio housewife to country music stardom, propelled by the success of her #1 hit, "Once a Day," which spent 8 weeks at the top of the Billboard Country Chart, the longest of any female country artist to date. The song's success made Smith an overnight star, making her one of the most successful female country singers during the 1960s and early 70s along with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette.

Discovered by country singer-songwriter, Bill Anderson in 1963, he wrote a string of Smith's hit singles following "Once a Day," including "Cincinnati, Ohio" and "Tiny Blue Transistor Radio." These hit singles followed on the success by Patsy Cline, during the time when female country singers were beginning to gain recognition and respect in the country music industry. While Smith was considered attractive by her fans, she was also considered a full-bodied vocalist by her counterparts.