In 1942 Lee had her first No. 1 hit, "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place", followed by 1943's "Why Don't You Do Right?" which sold over 1 million copies and made her famous.
A comezos de 1942, Lee conseguiu o seu primeiro número 1, "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place," seguido en 1943 por "Why Don't You Do Right?" (orixinalmente cantado por Lil Green), canción que vendeu máis dun millón de copias e a fixo famosa.