Changes

==Background==

==Background==

A [[Virginia]] native who dropped out of nursing school to pursue a singing career, Smith was a [[radio]] personality from 1930 to 1951. From 1950 to 1954, she hosted an afternoon weekday program on [[NBC]] television. The program was co-produced by Barry Wood and Smith's long-time manager, Ted Collins, formerly an officer of Columbia Records. One of the segments called "Cracker Barrel" is an interview of her guests. The program also features segments entitled "The House in the Garde," "America Sings," and "Ethel and Albert," a domestic comedy strip.<ref name=totalt/>

A [[Virginia]] native who dropped out of nursing school to pursue a singing career, Smith was a [[radio]] personality from 1930 to 1951. From 1950 to 1954, she hosted an afternoon weekday program on [[NBC]] television. The program was co-produced by Barry Wood and Smith's long-time manager, Ted Collins (1900-1964), formerly an officer of Columbia Records. One of the segments called "Cracker Barrel" is an interview of her guests. The program also features segments entitled "The House in the Garde," "America Sings," and "Ethel and Albert," a domestic comedy strip.<ref name=totalt/>

In the 1951-1952 season, Smith hosted ''The Kate Smith Evening Hour'' on NBC, produced by Greg Garrison, later of ''The Dean Martin Show.''.<ref name=totalt/> This program aired on Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m. Eastern opposite CBS's ''Arthur Godfrey and Friends.''

In the 1951-1952 season, Smith hosted ''The Kate Smith Evening Hour'' on NBC, produced by Greg Garrison, later of ''The Dean Martin Show.''<ref name=totalt/> This program aired on Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m. Eastern opposite CBS's ''Arthur Godfrey and Friends.''

In 1956, Ted Collins sustained a critical [[heart attack]]. Smith cancelled all engagements and determined to leave television permanently. She spent months either in the hospital or at home praying for Collins' recovery. Collins was married, and Smith was single; there was no romantic connection between the two.<ref name=ksmith>{{cite web|url=http://www.magiclink.com/web/lostheroines/webdoc5.htm|title=Kate Smith|publisher=magiclink.com|accessdate=December 1, 2010}}</ref>

In 1956, Ted Collins sustained a critical [[heart attack]]. Smith cancelled all engagements and determined to leave television permanently. She spent months either in the hospital or at home praying for Collins' recovery. Collins was married, and Smith was single; there was no romantic connection between the two.<ref name=ksmith>{{cite web|url=http://www.magiclink.com/web/lostheroines/webdoc5.htm|title=Kate Smith|publisher=magiclink.com|accessdate=December 1, 2010}}</ref>