 In 1939, she was one of two winners of the regional "Gateway to Hollywood" competition in Louisville, which enabled her to go to Hollywood to compete at the program's next level.Byron sang on alternate days on "Kentucky Karnival", a program that originated at WGRC beginning on August 30, 1943, and was distributed nationally via the Mutual Broadcasting System.She also sang with Tommy Dorsey's band, followed by a stint with Jan Savitt's group.