in january 1976, collins hired sylvia jane hutton (née kirby) as his receptionist, then in her 20s. prior to moving to nashville from kokomo, indiana, she aspired to be a singer and practiced singing into a deodorant bottle "microphone" in front of a mirror. she repeatedly asked collins if she could make a record for him. she was 35 pounds overweight at 5' 5", wore no makeup, and had a history of surviving on a diet of krispy kreme doughnuts and cornflakes.