Sammi Smith (August 5, 1943 - February 12, 2005) was a country music singer and songwriter. Born Jewel Fay Smith, she is best known for her 1971 country/pop crossover hit, "Help Me Make It Through the Night", which was written by Kris Kristofferson. She became one of the few women in the "outlaw country" movement during the 1970s. .