Connie Smith never wanted to be famous. Bill Anderson discovered her at a talent contest, handed her a hit song called 'Once a Day,' and watched it spend eight consecutive weeks at number one—the longest run for a debut single by a female country artist in history. Smith responded to this extraordinary success by trying to walk away from it. Smith's reluctance wasn't a pose or a negotiating tactic. She genuinely preferred her private life to the demands of stardom, and she spent decades in a quiet tug-of-war between her remarkable talent and her desire to be left alone. George Jones called her the best female country singer of all time. She wished he hadn't. • The talent contest discovery that launched a record-breaking debut single • Why eight weeks at number one with a debut single didn't translate to ambition • The lifelong tension between extr ...