Connie Smith was a housewife from Ohio who just wanted to sing. She started out singing at PTA, Grange meetings and square dances around her home town. In 1963, Connie won a talent contest at a local show where she met Bill Anderson. With Anderson's encouragement, Connie went to Nashville and auditioned for Chet Atkins who signed her to a contract with RCA.

Working with producer Bob Ferguson, Connie headed into the studio for her first recording session. This session yielded "Once A Day," a song which Anderson had written.

"Once A Day" spent eight weeks at #1 making her the first female artist to have her debut record reach the top spot. She was also the only female artist to have a number one hit since Patsy Cline's 1962 release of "She's Got You." No other woman had a number one hit again until Loretta Lynn's 1967 classic, "Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)."

Connie's wholesome Christian girl-next-door image was part of her charm which won over fans everywhere. Connie's first commitment was to her family. She was a wife and mother first, singing sensation second.

In 1965, she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry where Roy Acuff dubbed her the "Sweetheart of the Grand Ole Opry." Now married to fellow Grand Ole Opry member Marty Stuart, Connie appears regularly on the world famous radio show.