Kate Smith

Nicknamed “The First Lady of Radio” and “The Songbird of the South,” Kate Smith (1907-1986) grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. She soon drew attention for her strong, disciplined contralto voice. Though she started out on Broadway, she eventually found her greatest stardom on radio, singing and performing comedy sketches. Her rendition of “God Bless America” made her a national treasure during World War II, but her reputation started to be re-evaluated in the late 2010s, in light of the racist content of songs of hers such as “That’s Why Darkies Were Born” and “Pickaninny Heaven.”