“God is Abundant”
By the late ’60s, the trappings of stardom left Smith feeling helpless until the Christian faith changed her world view for the better. Later albums with RCA Victor and her eventual jumps to Columbia and Monument found the weary yet mighty voice that really knew about a “Long Line of Heartaches” recording more hymns and gospel albums–without abandoning her talent for emoting great country songs.
Her self-titled 1998 comeback album on Warner Brothers Records–just her second full-length release since 1978 — was co-produced by Marty Stuart. The two country singers married the prior year. Since then, the couple has bolstered each other’s careers as co-stars of The Marty Stuart Show and as two of the most visible ambassadors for old-time country music.
Faith keeps furthering her career, too, with the 2003 trio album Love Never Fails, featuring Barbara Fairchild and Sharon White, ranking among the top ten country-gospel albums of the century.
Smith’s legacy as a country artist and her real-life Cinderella story landed her a deserved spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
