Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith, born in Alderson, made her stage debut at age five in Uncle Tom's Cabin and was performing on the vaudeville circuit by 16. Nicknamed "Bricktop" for her striking red hair, she became a legendary figure in entertainment.

In the 1920s, her time in Paris cemented her reputation. She performed at top venues and opened the Music Box nightclub, which became Bricktop's, a hotspot for artists. It's rumored that Cole Porter wrote "Miss Otis Regrets She's Unable to Lunch Today" for her. During World War II, she continued her career in France before returning to the U.S.

In 1970, Bricktop recorded "So Long, Baby" with Cy Coleman. She also co-wrote an autobiography and, in 2013, was posthumously inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.