Tanya Tucker (from Seminole, Texas--where the heck is Seminole?) was only 13 years old when this song became her first hit, going to #6 on the U.S. country chart. And I was only 8. This and her song "What's Your Mama's Name?"--which would also be suitable for this week's theme--were among the first songs I ever memorized just from hearing them repeated on the radio. I had no idea at the time that she was only 5 years older than I.
She was supposed to record "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.," but chose this song instead because she had heard Bette Midler sing it on the "Tonight Show" (according to wikipedia). "Happiest Girl" went on to become a major hit for Donna Fargo.
P.S. Seminole is in far west Texas, almost in New Mexico. It's also the birthplace of Larry Gatlin.