In 1982, Newton received two Grammy nominations for Best Female Vocalist: one for 'Angel of the Morning' in the Pop category, and another for 'Queen of Hearts' in Country. 'Angel of the Morning' and 'The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)' each reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, where Newton would chart regularly for the next several years. Juice sold more than a million copies in the United States and 300,000 copies in Canada. A fourth Country hit, 'Ride 'Em Cowboy', was culled from Juice in 1984 to support Newton's first Greatest Hits album. It spawned three consecutive Top-10 pop hits: 'Angel of the Morning' (written by Chip Taylor) 'Queen of Hearts' and an updated version of 'The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)' (the original version appeared on the 1975 Silver Spur debut album), which earned Newton the first of several #1 Country singles. In 1981, Newton's third solo album, simply titled Juice, was released. Both of Newton's initial solo efforts performed with modest success but failed to have lasting impacts on the album charts. The latter became Newton's second top-40 single on the country charts (in 1980), with 'You Fill My Life' reaching #41 and 'Until Tonight' reaching #42. Later that year, the album Take Heart featured five modestly charting singles: 'Until Tonight', 'Any Way That You Want Me', 'You Fill My Life', 'Lay Back In The Arms of Someone' and 'Sunshine'. Capitol's investment in Newton began to pay off in 1979, when Newton had her first Top-40 Country hit with 'Let's Keep It That Way' (another one-off single). Neither the record nor its sole single ('Hey Baby') charted, though Capitol Records proceeded to renew Newton's contract. The album cultivated a rock sound, and it stands as Newton's most rock-oriented record, to date.

Newton's solo debut album, Well Kept Secret, was released later in 1978. Also in 1978 The Carpenters version of the Newton/Young-penned song 'Sweet Sweet Smile', which reached the Top 10 on both the Country and Adult Contemporary charts, and #44 on the Hot 100 chart. In 1978, Newton released the song in the United States, and it became the first of her 11 'Hot 100' pop hits. Later in 1977, the one-off single 'It's a Heartache' became Newton's first solo record and a major hit in Mexico, where it was eventually certified Gold. In 1978, Newton went solo (but remained with Capitol Records), although Silver Spur would remain the name of her backup band until 1982. The band signed with Capitol Records in 1977, but disbanded shortly after releasing one album for the label. The group released two RCA albums (in 19) and scored only one charting country single with 'Love Is a Word'. In the early 1970s, Newton, Otha Young and Tom Kealey formed a band that would eventually be called Juice Newton and Silver Spur that was signed to RCA Records. Newton graduated from First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 3 Career evolution: from pop to country.

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