Goldie Hill was one of the pioneers of country music, who rose to fame in the 1950s with her hit song “I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes”. She was also the wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Carl Smith, and the mother of three children. But her life was cut short by cancer, which claimed her life on February 24, 2005. Here is a brief overview of her life, career, and death.
Early Life and Career
Goldie Hill was born as Argolda Voncile Hill on January 11, 1933, in Karnes City, Texas. She was the sister of singer Tommy Hill, who wrote several hit songs for Webb Pierce. She started singing with her brothers at a young age, and joined Pierce’s band in 1952. She also auditioned for Decca Records, and got signed immediately.
Her first single, “Why Talk to My Heart”, was an answer song to Ray Price’s “Talk to Your Heart”. It did not chart, but her second single, “I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes”, was a huge success. It was another answer song, this time to Perry Como’s “Don’t Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes”. It reached No. 1 on the country charts, and made her one of the first women to top the country charts. She was dubbed “The Golden Hillbilly” by the press.
She followed up with more singles, some of them duets with Justin Tubb and Red Sovine. She also performed regularly on the Louisiana Hayride, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Ozark Jubilee. She was one of the leading female country singers of the era, along with Kitty Wells and Jean Shepard.
Marriage and Retirement
On September 19, 1957, Hill married Carl Smith, who was also a popular country singer and a former husband of June Carter Cash. They settled in Franklin, Tennessee, and had three children: Carl Jr., Larry Dean, and Lori Lynn. Hill decided to retire from show business to focus on her family. She rarely recorded or performed after her marriage, except for some occasional appearances on the Opry.
She made a brief comeback in the late 1960s, when she signed with Epic Records and released two albums under the name Goldie Hill Smith. Her only charting single from this period was “Lovable Fool”, which reached No. 73 in 1968. She did not record or perform after that, and lived a quiet life with her husband and children.
Death and Legacy
In 2005, Hill was diagnosed with cancer, and underwent treatment at the Baptist Hospital in Nashville. She died on February 24, 2005, at the age of 72. Her husband survived her by five years, and died in 2010. They are buried together at the Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville.
Hill was one of the trailblazers of country music, who paved the way for later female stars like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. She was known for her distinctive voice, her catchy songs, and her glamorous style. She was also a devoted wife and mother, who chose to sacrifice her career for her family. She is remembered as one of the legends of country music, and as a role model for women in the industry.
