Watch this vintage performance of a country music icon appear live on television for the very first time

It was 1965 when a somewhat shy yet talented Connie Smith went in front of the television camera and in front of the nation to perform her 1964 country hit “Once a Day,” which would eventually turn out to be the first debut single by a country female to reach No. 1 on the country singles chart.

And that same year, she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

And now, fifty years later, Smith still remains the holder of one of country music’s most memorable voices and one of the Opry’s most prized possessions.

On August 8, Smith’s 50^th anniversary as an Opry member was recognized with an hour-long segment, as Smith’s husband Marty Stuart, Jeannie Seely, The Whites, Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, and Mel Tillis were on hand to watch.

“I am so proud to be here tonight. It’s hard to believe that I actually get a chance to be here at all. Much less to have been here 50 years,” said Smith. “I got to be here in the era of Roy Acuff, Ms. Kitty Wells, Minnie Pearl, Grandpa Jones, Marty Robbins, Dottie West and so many wonderful folks. The Opry is one of the great loves of my life and has been since I was five years old. I said ‘someday I’m going to sing on the Grand Ole Opry.’ Dreams do come true, I have presented all five of my children and all eight of my grandchildren on this stage or on the Ryman stage.  It’s such a big part of my heart.”