Connie Smith

Constance June Meador (also known as Connie Smith; born August 14, 1941) is an American singer. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity has been noted between her vocal style and that of Patsy Cline.

Smith was discovered in 1963. She signed with RCA Victor Records in 1964. She remained with the label until 1973. Her first single "Once a Day" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in November 1964. It was at the top position for eight weeks. "Once a Day" became Smith's biggest hit.

Smith was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

Smith's success continued with another 19 top-ten hits during the 1960s and 1970s. Those included "Ain't Had No Lovin'", "Cincinnati, Ohio" and "I Never Once Stopped Loving You."

Smith was nominated for eleven Grammy Awards.

Smith was born in Elkhart, Indiana. She later lived in West Virginia and Ohio.

 Awards, nominations and honors 
Smith has won two awards from both Billboard Magazine and Cash Box. Besides her nominations from music magazines, she has been nominated for 11 Grammy Awards, one award from the Academy of Country Music, and three awards from the Country Music Association, as well as several nominations from the fan-voted Music City News Awards including one win.

 Year  Association  Category  Result   1964  Billboard Magazine Most Promising Female Country Artist Escott, Colin, Born to Sing, p. 36. 1965 Grammy Awards Best Country and Western Single – "Once a Day"  Best New Country and Western Artist  Best Country & Western Vocal Performance, Female – "Once a Day"  Billboard Magazine Most Promising Female Country Artist  Billboard Magazine Favorite Female Country Performer  Favorite Album (1964–1965) – Connie Smith  Cash Box Most Promising Female Country Vocalist  Country Music Review Most Promising Female Singer  1966 Grammy Awards Best Sacred Recording – Connie Smith Sings Great Sacred Songs  Best Country and Western Vocal Performance, Female – "Ain't Had No Lovin'"  Billboard Magazine Favorite Female Country Performer  Favorite Country Album – Cute 'n' Country  Cash Box Most Programmed Female Artist  Country Music Life Award Favorite Female Artist  Record World Top Female Vocalist  Most Outstanding Female Country and Western Vocalist  1967 Billboard Magazine Top Country Artist, Female Vocalist  Cash Box Most Programmed Female Artist  Record World Top Female Vocalist  Country Music Association Awards Female Vocalist of the Year  1968 Grammy Awards Best Country & Western Solo Vocal Performance, Female – "Cincinnati, Ohio"  1969 Academy of Country Music Top Female Vocalist  Grammy Awards Best Country Vocal Performance, Female – "Ribbon of Darkness"  1970 Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year  1971 Grammy Awards Best Sacred Performance – "Whispering Hope" (with Nat Stuckey)  1972 Music City News Awards Top Female Vocalist  Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year  1974 Grammy Awards Best Inspirational Performance – "All the Praises"  Music City News Awards Top Female Vocalist  1975 Music City News Awards Top Female Vocalist  1976 Grammy Awards Best Gospel Performance – Connie Smith Sings Hank Williams Gospel  1979 Music City News Awards Gospel Group/Act of the Year  2002 Country Music Television 40 Greatest Women of Country Music – Rank (#9)  2007 Country Universe 100 Greatest Women – Rank (#24)  2010 Grammy Awards Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – "Run to You" (with Marty Stuart)  2012 Country Music Association Country Music Hall of Fame induction   2017 Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time – Rank (#69) 

References

Category:1941 births
Category:Singers from Indiana
Category:Singers from Cincinnati
Category:Singers from West Virginia
Category:American country singers
Category:Living people
Category:People from Elkhart, Indiana