She was found by Bill Anderson who took her to producer Bob Ferguson to sign a recording locate RCA in 1963. A month when she hit number 1 place in the united states chart by using "Once a Day" (written by Bill Anderson). This mass produced her a foremost debuting female united states star to email there is no. I by having a number one individual. "Once a Day" spent Octonary weeks at first, the large hit by a female vocalizer ever on the Billboard country chart. Nightlong she became a united states music queen in the level by owning the large female list in the business: Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, Skeeter Davis, and Jean Shepard. Her more major 1960's hits include "Then and Only Then" (1965), "Ain't Had No Lovin'" (1966), & "Cincinnati, Ohio" (1967). 3 of her albums hit first in Hoarding's united states album chart. All told, she situated 31 albums in Hoarding's united states chart betweem 1965 & 1976.

Smith remained at a top of a united states field into the 1970's, switching to the Columbia label within 1973. She moved in to Monument Records inside 1977 using less chart profits & decided inside 1980 to last into semi-retirement to spend supplementary period with her babies, singing single gospel songs in her appearances at a Grand Ole Opry. Reknown in the united states music industry for her hard religious convictions, she has recorded gospel music thorougout her career, however her home life has seen it's ups & downs, including many abortive mariages. Since 1997 she has been married to Marty Stuart, a united states star Seventeen years her junior. Stuart produced Smith's 1998 comeback album on the Warner Brothers Records label. A duo oftentimes tour together & two remain popular acts on the Opry.