1969 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 1969.

1969 in music
By location
By genre
By topic
  • List of albums released
List of years in country music (table)

Events
  • January 4 – Dolly Parton becomes a member of The Grand Ole Opry.
  • January 29 – The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour premieres on CBS, for what will be a three-year run.
  • February 16 – George Jones and Tammy Wynette marry in Ringgold, Georgia, after telling others that their marriage was in August 1968. They quickly earn the titles such as "The First Couple of Country Music", "Country's Sweethearts" and "The President and First Lady".
  • February 24 – Johnny Cash records his second live album behind prison walls in as many years at San Quentin State Prison. The resulting album is At San Quentin, and contains his hit "A Boy Named Sue." The concert is also taped for television broadcast.
  • June 7 – The Johnny Cash Show premieres on ABC; the series will run through 1971.
  • June 15 – The summer replacement series Hee Haw airs for the first time on CBS. The first guests to Kornfield Kounty – for what will be a 23-year run, the bulk of which will be in syndication – are Charley Pride and Loretta Lynn.
  • October – The Country Music Association airs its awards program live for the first time (the previous year's ceremony was taped, with the show airing a few weeks later). The annual awards show — at the time airing in October on NBC – quickly becomes one of country music's most eagerly anticipated events of the year.

No dates

Top hits of the year

Number-one hits

United States

(as certified by Billboard)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 CAN peak Spec. Note
January 4 Daddy Sang Bass Johnny Cash 6
February 15 Until My Dreams Come True Jack Greene 2 5
March 1 To Make Love Sweeter For You Jerry Lee Lewis 1 4
March 8 Only the Lonely Sonny James 3
March 29 Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass Buck Owens 2
April 12 Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone) Loretta Lynn 1 —
April 19 Galveston Glen Campbell 3
May 10 Hungry Eyes Merle Haggard 1 2
May 17 My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To) Bill Anderson 2 2 [1]
May 31 Singing My Song Tammy Wynette 2
June 14 Running Bear Sonny James 3
July 5 Statue of a Fool Jack Greene 2 3 [B]
July 19 I Love You More Today Conway Twitty 1 2
July 26 Johnny B. Goode Buck Owens 2 4
August 9 All I Have to Offer You Is Me Charley Pride 1 3 [A]
August 16 Workin' Man's Blues Merle Haggard 1
August 23 A Boy Named Sue Johnny Cash 5
September 27 Tall Dark Stranger Buck Owens 1
October 4 Since I Met You Baby Sonny James 3 3
October 25 The Ways to Love a Man Tammy Wynette 2
November 8 To See My Angel Cry Conway Twitty 1
November 15 Okie From Muskogee Merle Haggard 4 3
December 13 (I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again Charley Pride 3
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
  • A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.

Canada

(as certified by RPM)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 U.S. peak Spec. Note
January 13 Wichita Lineman Glen Campbell 2
January 27 I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am Merle Haggard 3 3 [2]
  • Stayed at No. 1 for 2 weeks in late 1968.
  • Fell to #2 on the week of January 13, 1969.
February 3 The Carroll County Accident Porter Wagoner 3 2 [A]
February 24 Mr. Brown Gary Buck 3 — [2]
  • Fell to #2 on the week of March 3.
March 3 Daddy Sang Bass Johnny Cash 1
March 10 The Girl Most Likely Jeannie C. Riley 1 6 [B]
March 31 While Your Lover Sleeps Leon Ashley 1 25 [C]
April 7 Kaw-Liga Charley Pride 2 3 [A]
April 21 The Name of the Game Was Love Hank Snow 1 16 [A]
April 28 Only the Lonely Sonny James 1
May 5 Who's Gonna Mow Your Grass Buck Owens 1
May 12 My Woman's Good to Me David Houston 1 4
May 19 Galveston Glen Campbell 1
May 26 Let It Be Me Bobbie Gentry and
Glen Campbell		 1 14 [A] – Bobbie Gentry
June 2 It's a Sin Marty Robbins 1 5
June 9 Who Drinks My Beer When I'm Gone Mercey Brothers 1 —
June 16 Cajun Love Lucille Starr 1 — [B]
June 23 Ribbon of Darkness Connie Smith 1 13 [A]
June 30 Singing My Song Tammy Wynette 1
July 7 Rings of Gold Dottie West and
Don Gibson		 1 2 [A] – Dottie West
[A] – Don Gibson
July 14 Running Bear Sonny James 1
July 21 The Days of Sand and Shovels Waylon Jennings 1 20
July 28 One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart) Jerry Lee Lewis 1 3
August 2 Canadian Pacific George Hamilton IV 3 25 [A]
August 23 A Boy Named Sue Johnny Cash 4
September 20 True Grit Glen Campbell 1 9
September 27 Workin' Man's Blues Merle Haggard 1
October 4 Invitation to Your Party Jerry Lee Lewis 2 6 [2]
  • Fell to #5 on the week of October 11.
October 11 Muddy Mississippi Line Bobby Goldsboro 1 15 [B]
October 18 Tall Dark Stranger Buck Owens 1
October 25 The Ways to Love a Man Tammy Wynette 1
November 8 To See My Angel Cry Conway Twitty 1 [A]
November 15 Get Rhythm Johnny Cash 2 23
November 29 Groovy Grubworm Harlow Wilcox 1 42 [C]
December 6 Try a Little Kindness Glen Campbell 1 2
December 13 She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye Jerry Lee Lewis 1 2
December 20 Diggy Liggy Lo Doug Kershaw 1 70 [C]
December 27 (I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again Charley Pride 1
Notes
  • 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
  • A^ First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.

Other major hits

Singles released by American artists
US CAN Single Artist
9 — All for the Love of a Girl Claude King
72 16 All Heaven Broke Loose Hugh X. Lewis
16 — Always, Always Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
25 2 Another Day, Another Mile, Another Highway Clay Hart
14 — April's Fool Ray Price
11 — Are You from Dixie (Cause I'm from Dixie Too) Jerry Reed
51 7 The Auctioneer Brenda Byers
16 21 A Baby Again Hank Williams, Jr.
4 22 Back in the Arms of Love Jack Greene
26 4 Back to Denver George Hamilton IV
4 4 The Ballad of Forty Dollars Tom T. Hall
5 — Be Glad Del Reeves
3 — Big Wind Porter Wagoner
13 38 Bring Me Sunshine Willie Nelson
19 — But for Love Eddy Arnold
2 6 But You Know I Love You Bill Anderson
3 — Cajun Baby Hank Williams, Jr.
11 — California Girl (And the Tennessee Square) Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
14 — Custody Hank Williams, Jr.
15 — Cut Across Shorty Nat Stuckey
2 2 Darling You Know I Wouldn't Lie Conway Twitty
27 11 Don't It Make You Want to Go Home Joe South
9 — Don't Let Me Cross Over Jerry Lee Lewis and Linda Gail Lewis
23 17 Don't Wake Me I'm Dreaming Warner Mack
16 — Each Time Johnny Bush
11 27 Flattery Will Get You Everywhere Lynn Anderson
18 14 Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife Claude King
20 — From the Bottle to the Bottom Billy Walker
2 — Games People Play Freddy Weller
10 4 George (And the North Woods) Dave Dudley
16 — God Bless America Again Bobby Bare
18 — Good Deal, Lucille Carl Smith
3 20 Good Time Charlie's Del Reeves
22 17 A Hammer and Nails Jimmy Dean
47 10 Happiness Hill Kitty Wells
11 3 Haunted House The Compton Brothers
5 — Homecoming Tom T. Hall
17 40 Honey, I'm Home Stan Hitchcock
8 5 I Can't Say Goodbye Marty Robbins
14 — I Love You Because Carl Smith
19 — I Want One Jack Reno
4 6 I'd Rather Be Gone Hank Williams, Jr.
2 2 I’ll Share My World with You George Jones
8 — I'll Still Be Missing You Warner Mack
3 4 I'm Down to My Last "I Love You" David Houston
6 16 If Not for You George Jones
50 12 In the Ghetto Dolly Parton
— 12 It's My Time Frank Ifield
66 5 Jesus Is a Soul Man Billy Grammer
13 — Joe and Mabel's 12th Street Bar and Grill Nat Stuckey
12 — Just Hold My Hand Johnny & Jonie Mosby
5 20 Just Someone I Used to Know Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
9 6 Kay John Wesley Ryles
6 — Leave My Dream Alone Warner Mack
20 — Let the Whole World Sing It with Me Wynn Stewart
10 17 Little Boy Sad Bill Phillips
23 11 MacArthur Park Waylon Jennings and The Kimberlys
17 — Man and Wife Time Jim Ed Brown
4 7 (Margie's At) The Lincoln Park Inn Bobby Bare
12 3 Me and Bobby McGee Roger Miller
4 10 Mr. Walker It's All Over Billie Jo Spears
20 — My Big Iron Skillet Wanda Jackson
14 — My Grass Is Green Roy Drusky
15 28 My Son Jan Howard
25 13 "Never More" Quote the Raven Stonewall Jackson
8 11 None of My Business Henson Cargill
15 16 Old Faithful Mel Tillis
12 — One More Mile Dave Dudley
18 3 Our House Is Not a Home (For It's Never Been Loved In) Lynn Anderson
10 3 Please Don't Go Eddy Arnold
10 6 Please Let Me Prove (My Love for You) Dave Dudley
14 — Raining in My Heart Ray Price
20 — Restless Carl Perkins
46 12 Reuben James Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
23 12 River Bottom Johnny Darrell
39 2 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
40 4 September Song Roy Clark
18 34 Seven Lonely Days Jean Shepard
19 — Ship in the Bottle Stonewall Jackson
5 9 Smokey the Bar Hank Thompson
12 — Smoky Places Billy Walker
19 — Something's Wrong in California Waylon Jennings
7 42 Such a Fool Roy Drusky
8 4 Sweet Thang and Cisco Nat Stuckey
11 8 Sweetheart of the Year Ray Price
38 14 Take My Hand for a While George Hamilton IV
2 2 That's a No No Lynn Anderson
16 11 That's Why I Love You So Much Ferlin Husky
5 12 There Was Never a Time Jeannie C. Riley
12 — There Wouldn't Be a Lonely Heart in Town Del Reeves
20 — There's Better Things in Life Jerry Reed
5 — These Are Not My People Freddy Weller
9 13 These Lonely Hands of Mine Mel Tillis
10 2 They Don't Make Love Like They Used To Eddy Arnold
34 3 Things Go Better with Love Jeannie C. Riley
14 17 This Thing Webb Pierce
3 4 To Make a Man (Feel Like a Man) Loretta Lynn
44 2 Truck Stop Jerry Smith
15 5 Vance Roger Miller
20 — We Had All the Good Things Going Jan Howard
19 — What Are Those Things (With Big Black Wings) Charlie Louvin
2 2 When the Grass Grows Over Me George Jones
6 4 When Two Worlds Collide Jim Reeves
14 14 Where Have All the Average People Gone Roger Miller
10 16 Where the Blue and Lonely Go Roy Drusky
19 — Which One Will It Be Bobby Bare
18 — Who's Gonna Take the Garbage Out Ernest Tubb and Loretta Lynn
10 11 Who's Julie Mel Tillis
17 — Why You Been Gone So Long Johnny Darrell
2 3 Wine Me Up Faron Young
20 — Woman Without Love Johnny Darrell
19 — World-Wide Travelin' Man Wynn Stewart
9 2 Yesterday, When I Was Young Roy Clark
6 — You and Your Sweet Love Connie Smith
7 — You Gave Me a Mountain Johnny Bush
20 — Young Love Connie Smith and Nat Stuckey
4 — Your Time's Comin' Faron Young
5 5 Yours Love Waylon Jennings
9 — Yours Love Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton

Singles released by Canadian artists
US CAN Single Artist
— 13 Baby's Come Home Debbie Lori Kaye
— 3 Back in Town to Stay Mona Vary
— 9 Bittersweet Donna Ramsay
— 13 Can't Find a Space Tommy Hunter
— 6 The Entertainer Ray Griff
— 13 I'm Gonna Let George Do It Dianne Leigh
— 8 Keep the Home Fires Burning Dianne Leigh
— 16 The Laughing Song B. J. Berg
— 10 No Lonelier Than You Billy Charne
— 3 Ordinary Peeping Tom Mercey Brothers
— 20 Pineville Country Jail Harry Rusk
— 17 The Revenuer's Daughter Bob King
— 11 Some Kind of Lonesome Country Tigers
— 8 Susie's Better Half Billy Charne
— 19 Sweet Sweet Feeling Clint Curtiss
— 18 Wanderin' Through the Valley Ray Griff
— 9 When You Were a Lady Billy Charne
— 14 Wishing Tree Lynn Jones
— 19 You're My Woman Blake Emmons

Top new album releases
Single Artist Record Label
At Home with Lynn Lynn Anderson Chart
The Carroll County Accident Porter Wagoner RCA
It's A Sin Marty Robbins Columbia
Jan Howard Jan Howard Decca
My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy Dolly Parton RCA
My Life/But You Know I Love You Bill Anderson Decca
Songs That Made Country Girls Famous Lynn Anderson Chart
The Bill Anderson Story: His Greatest Hits Bill Anderson Decca
With Love, from Lynn Lynn Anderson Chart
Yearbooks and Yesterdays Jeannie C. Riley Plantation

Births
  • January 3 – Nikki Nelson, female lead vocalist of the band Highway 101 (on and off since the early 1990s).
  • March 28 – Rodney Atkins, singer-songwriter since the mid to late 2000s (decade).
  • March 29 – Brady Seals, singer, keyboardist and member of Little Texas from 1988 to 1994.
  • April 20 – Wade Hayes, honky tonk-styled singer of the mid-to-late 1990s.
  • August 19 – Clay Walker, neotraditionalist who began enjoying hits in the mid-1990s.
  • September 28 – Karen Fairchild, member of Little Big Town.
  • October 12 – Martie Maguire, member of the Dixie Chicks (she plays the fiddle, mandolin and viola).
  • October 13 – Rhett Akins, singer who enjoyed most of his success in the mid-1990s, and later became a prolific songwriter; father of Thomas Rhett.
  • October 15 – Kimberly Schlapman, member of Little Big Town.

Deaths
  • September 11 – Leon Payne, 52, singer and prolific songwriter ("I Love You Because," "You've Still Got a Place in My Heart" and many others).
  • November 23 – Spade Cooley, 59, singer/songwriter/fiddler of the 1940s; best known for "Detour" and "Shame on You." (heart attack)

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Major awards

Grammy Awards

Academy of Country Music

Country Music Association

Further reading
  • Kingsbury, Paul, "The Grand Ole Opry: History of Country Music. 70 Years of the Songs, the Stars and the Stories," Villard Books, Random House; Opryland USA, 1995
  • Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947–1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
  • Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
  • Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005.
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