Though best known as a country singer, she had a long string of pop hits in the early 1960s, most notably "I'm Sorry," a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit in 1960. "I'm Sorry" never charted on Billboard's country singles chart, though has received heavy airplay in the years since as both a recurrent and a classic oldie.

Until Billy Gilman charted his first hit in 2000, was the youngest person to place a song on Billboard's country singles chart. At age 12, she hit in 1957 with "One Step at a Time."

Her biggest country hits include "Nobody Wins" and "Sunday Sunrise" (1973); "Four Poster Bed" (1974); "Rock On Baby" and "He's My Rock" (1975); "Tell Me What It's Like" (1979); "The Cowboy and the Dandy" and "Broken Trust" (1980); and "Hallelujah, I Love You So" (a 1985 duet with George Jones).

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Her children are named Jolie and Julie.

Recorded the famous Christmas classic, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", with legendary guitar player Hank Garland.