Goldie Hill

Pioneering Female Country Music Singer

American country music singer born Argolda Voncile Hill, January 11, 1933 Kames City, Texas and died February 24, 2005 from complications of cancer. Member of the KWKH Louisiana Hayride and the WSM Grand Ole Opry. She was one of the first women in country music, becoming one of the first women to reach the top of the country music charts with her No. 1 1953 hit, "I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes". Along with Kitty Wells, she set the standard for later women in country music, such as Patsy Cline, Skeeter Davis, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton. Her musical career had plenty of life in it when she turned it all down in 1957, marrying country singer Carl Smith. She then retired to living on their horse farm south of Nashville, raising her children. She made a short-lived comeback in the late 1960s on the label Epic Records under the name Goldie Hill Smith. However, her songs and albums failed to make any major impact. Only one of the songs, "Lovable Fool", released in 1968, barely charted. Under Epic, she released two albums which failed gaining any success; Goldie Sings Again and Country Gentleman's Lady. She then returned to home life on their farm. In the 1970s, following her husband's retirement, Smith and Hill showed their horses professionally.