Patti Page, 'Tennessee Waltz' singer, dies at 85

LOS ANGELES

Page died on New Year's Day in Encinitas, Calif., according to a publicist. "Tennessee Waltz" was her biggest hit, reaching No. 1 on the pop, country and R&B charts.

Her classic, "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window," also went to No. 1. In 2008, she recorded a special version of it to raise money for the Humane Society.

Flowers were placed on Page's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday. Next month, Page will receive a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.

Page never kept track, but was told late in life that she'd recorded more than 1,000 songs. Page once said she was a kid from Oklahoma who never wanted to be a singer but was told she could sing and things just snowballed.

She was popular in pop music and country and became the first singer to have television programs on all three major networks, including "The Patti Page Show" on ABC. She also appeared in films such as "Dondi" and "Boy's Night Out."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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