1979 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1979.

1979 in music
By location
By genre
By topic
  • List of albums released
List of years in country music (table)

Events
  • March 2 - Queen of Country Music, Loretta Lynn is named ACM Artist of the Decade after the dominant hold Lynn held on the charts during the decade. Lynn is the only female ACM Artist of the Decade.
  • March 3 — The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) would telecast an entire Saturday night live from the Grand Ole Opry for the very first time – the show would last until 12:30 am with a half-hour break between the two shows at 9 pm CDT. The show featured many acts including Del Reeves, Barbara Mandrell, Bill Monroe, Hank Snow, Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Don Gibson and many others. The telecast became the most popular one of the year for PBS, and was a part of their March fundraising campaigns.
  • December 21 — The Electric Horseman, starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, premieres. Willie Nelson is a supporting character in the film, and he will contribute to the movie's soundtrack.

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 6 Tulsa Time Don Williams 1
January 13 Lady Lay Down John Conlee 1 2 [A]
January 20 I Really Got the Feeling/Baby I'm Burning Dolly Parton 1
January 27 Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For Crystal Gayle 2
February 10 Every Which Way but Loose Eddie Rabbitt 3
March 3 Golden Tears Dave & Sugar 3 2 [B]
March 24 I Just Fall in Love Again Anne Murray 3 [1]
April 14 (If Loving You Is Wrong)
I Don't Want to Be Right		 Barbara Mandrell 1 Cover of the Luther Ingram hit.
April 21 All I Ever Need Is You Kenny Rogers
and Dottie West		 1 2 Cover of the Sonny and Cher hit.
April 28 Where Do I Put Her Memory Charley Pride 1
May 5 Backside of Thirty John Conlee 1 5
May 12 Don't Take It Away Conway Twitty 1
May 19 If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body
Would You Hold It Against Me		 The Bellamy Brothers 3 24 [A]
June 9 She Believes in Me Kenny Rogers 2
June 23 Nobody Likes Sad Songs Ronnie Milsap 1
June 30 Amanda Waylon Jennings 3
July 21 Shadows in the Moonlight Anne Murray 1
July 28 You're the Only One Dolly Parton 2
August 11 Suspicions Eddie Rabbitt 1
August 18 Coca-Cola Cowboy Mel Tillis 1 3
August 25 The Devil Went Down to Georgia The Charlie Daniels Band 1 [C]
September 1 Heartbreak Hotel Willie Nelson
and Leon Russell		 1 [C] – Leon Russell

Cover of the Elvis Presley hit.

September 8 I May Never Get to Heaven Conway Twitty 1
September 15 You're My Jamaica Charley Pride 1
September 22 Just Good Ol' Boys Moe Bandy and
Joe Stampley		 1 8 [A] – Moe Bandy
[B] – Joe Stampley
September 29 It Must Be Love Don Williams 1 2
October 6 Last Cheater's Waltz T. G. Sheppard 2 7
October 20 All the Gold in California Larry Gatlin and
the Gatlin Brothers		 2 2
November 3 You Decorated My Life Kenny Rogers 2
November 17 Come with Me Waylon Jennings 2
December 1 Broken Hearted Me Anne Murray 1
December 8 I Cheated Me Right Out of You Moe Bandy 1 [B]
December 15 Happy Birthday Darlin' Conway Twitty 3 13
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.
  • C^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist to date.

Canada

(as certified by RPM)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 U.S. peak Spec. Note
January 13 Burgers and Fries Charley Pride 1 2
January 20 Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's
Done Got Out of Hand		 Waylon Jennings 1 5
January 27 Tulsa Time Don Williams 1
February 3 Your Love Had Taken Me That High Conway Twitty 1 3
February 10 I Really Got the Feeling/Baby I'm Burning Dolly Parton 1
February 17 Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For Crystal Gayle 1
February 24 Every Which Way but Loose Eddie Rabbitt 3
March 17 Back on My Mind Again Ronnie Milsap 1 2
March 24 You Made My Day Tonight Canadian Zephyr 1 — [A]
March 31 I Just Fall in Love Again Anne Murray 2
April 14 It's a Cheating Situation Moe Bandy with
Janie Fricke		 1 2 [A] – Moe Bandy
[A] – Janie Fricke
April 21 Sweet Memories Willie Nelson 1 4
April 28 (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right Barbara Mandrell 1
May 5 Where Do I Put Her Memory Charley Pride 2
May 19 Don't Take It Away Conway Twitty 1
May 26 I'm Getting High Remembering Carroll Baker 1 —
June 2 Sail Away The Oak Ridge Boys 4 2
June 30 Nobody Likes Sad Songs Ronnie Milsap 1
July 7 She Believes in Me Kenny Rogers 1
July 14 Amanda Waylon Jennings 1
July 21 You're the Only One Dolly Parton 4 [1], [2]
  • Fell to #2 on the week of August 4.
August 4 Shadows in the Moonlight Anne Murray 1
August 11 (Ghost) Riders in the Sky Johnny Cash 1 2
September 1 Suspicions Eddie Rabbitt 1
September 8 The Devil Went Down to Georgia Charlie Daniels 2 [C]
September 22 'Til I Can Make It on My Own Kenny Rogers and
Dottie West		 1 3 [B] – Dottie West
September 29 Heartbreak Hotel Willie Nelson and
Leon Russell		 1 [C] – Leon Russell
October 6 You're My Jamaica Charley Pride 1
October 13 I May Never Get to Heaven Conway Twitty 1
October 20 Before My Time John Conlee 1 2 [A]
October 27 Stolen Moments R. Harlan Smith and
Chris Nielsen		 1 — [B] – R. Harlan Smith
[C] – Chris Nielsen
November 3 Dream On The Oak Ridge Boys 1 7
November 10 You Decorated My Life Kenny Rogers 2
November 24 Broken Hearted Me Anne Murray 1
December 1 Come with Me Waylon Jennings 1
December 8 Half the Way Crystal Gayle 1 2
December 15 I Cheated Me Right Out of You Moe Bandy 1
December 22 Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound Hank Williams, Jr. 2 2
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by RPM.
  • 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
16 16 Alibis Johnny Rodriguez
16 32 All-Around Cowboy Marty Robbins
10 4 Are You Sincere Elvis Presley
12 14 As Long as I Can Wake Up in Your Arms Kenny O'Dell
9 21 Barstool Mountain Moe Bandy
6 16 Blind in Love Mel Tillis
6 7 Blue Kentucky Girl Emmylou Harris
25 17 Buenos Dias Argentina Marty Robbins
3 3 Come On In The Oak Ridge Boys
16 10 Crazy Arms Willie Nelson
17 — Crazy Blue Eyes Lacy J. Dalton
14 25 Daddy Donna Fargo
18 36 Darlin' David Rogers
17 — Della and the Dealer Hoyt Axton
5 3 Do You Ever Fool Around Joe Stampley
10 — Don't Let Me Cross Over Jim Reeves with Deborah Allen
6 13 Down on the Rio Grande Johnny Rodriguez
16 60 Down to Earth Woman Kenny Dale
14 7 Everlasting Love Narvel Felts
10 11 Fall in Love with Me Tonight Randy Barlow
4 16 Family Tradition Hank Williams, Jr.
5 9 Farewell Party Gene Watson
19 22 Feet Ray Price
4 5 Fooled by a Feeling Barbara Mandrell
3 14 Fools Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius
17 44 Fools for Each Other Johnny Rodriguez
14 21 Gimme Back My Blues Jerry Reed
8 6 Happy Together T. G. Sheppard
11 28 Here We Are Again The Statler Brothers
25 11 Hound Dog Man Glen Campbell
7 18 How to Be a Country Star The Statler Brothers
10 18 I Ain't Got No Business Doin' Business Today Razzy Bailey
3 2 I Can't Feel You Anymore Loretta Lynn
16 33 I Don't Do Like That No More The Kendalls
12 21 I Don't Lie Joe Stampley
5 4 I Had a Lovely Time The Kendalls
16 65 I Hate the Way I Love It Johnny Rodriguez and Charly McClain
5 5 I Just Can't Stay Married to You Cristy Lane
10 12 I Know a Heartache When I See One Jennifer Warnes
26 10 I Lost My Head Charlie Rich
18 40 I Love How You Love Me Lynn Anderson
21 9 I Will Survive Billie Jo Spears
20 55 I'd Rather Go on Hurtin' Joe Sun
14 7 I'll Love Away Your Troubles for Awhile Janie Fricke
3 2 I'll Wake You Up When I Get Home Charlie Rich
13 8 I'm Gonna Love You Glen Campbell
18 6 I'm the Singer, You're the Song Tanya Tucker
14 16 I've Been Waiting for You All of My Life Con Hunley
7 5 I've Done Enough Dying Today Larry Gatlin
5 2 I've Got a Picture of Us on My Mind Loretta Lynn
13 12 If Everyone Had Someone Like You Eddy Arnold
4 8 If I Could Write a Song (As Beautiful as You) Billy "Crash" Craddock
18 — If I Fell in Love with You Rex Allen, Jr.
10 45 If I Give My Heart to You Margo Smith
6 33 If Love Had a Face Razzy Bailey
6 9 In No Time at All Ronnie Milsap
10 7 Isn't It Always Love Lynn Anderson
12 13 It's Time We Talk Things Over Rex Allen, Jr. and The Byrds
11 4 Just Like Real People The Kendalls
10 10 Just Long Enough to Say Goodbye Mickey Gilley
9 21 The Lady in the Blue Mercedes Johnny Duncan
3 2 Lay Down Beside Me Don Williams
14 17 Liberated Woman John Wesley Ryles
16 25 Lovin' On The Bellamy Brothers
2 3 Lying in Love with You Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius
7 4 Maybellene George Jones and Johnny Paycheck
9 — Me and My Broken Heart Rex Allen, Jr.
19 3 Mississippi Charlie Daniels
20 65 Mr. Jones Big Al Downing
11 20 My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own Debby Boone
4 4 My Own Kind of Hat Merle Haggard
8 62 My Silver Lining Mickey Gilley
4 7 My World Begins and Ends with You Dave & Sugar
17 13 Next Best Feeling Mary K. Miller
— 10 Nickels and Dimes Nana Mouskouri
17 38 No Memories Hangin' Round Rosanne Cash with Bobby Bare
7 5 No One Else in the World Tammy Wynette
10 33 Nothing as Original as You The Statler Brothers
5 7 The Official Historian on Shirley Jean Berrell The Statler Brothers
17 — The One Thing My Lady Never Puts Into Words Mel Street
7 20 Only Love Can Break a Heart Kenny Dale
5 2 Pick the Wildwood Flower Gene Watson
11 44 Play Together Again, Again Buck Owens with Emmylou Harris
9 9 Put Your Clothes Back On Joe Stampley
4 2 Red Bandana Merle Haggard
13 — Reunited Louise Mandrell and R. C. Bannon
16 34 Robinhood Billy "Crash" Craddock
18 34 Rockin' My Life Away Jerry Lee Lewis
14 — A Rusty Old Halo Hoyt Axton
16 — Sail On Tom Grant
4 20 Save the Last Dance for Me Emmylou Harris
26 18 Save the Last Dance for Me Jerry Lee Lewis
10 — Say You Love Me Stephanie Winslow
18 17 Second-Hand Satin Lady (And a Bargain Basement Boy) Jerry Reed
2 4 Send Me Down to Tucson Mel Tillis
15 5 September Song Willie Nelson
15 38 Sharing Kenny Dale
3 6 Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy) Gene Watson
10 26 Simple Little Words Cristy Lane
20 42 Since I Fell for You Con Hunley
17 22 Slippin' Up, Slippin' Around Cristy Lane
6 8 Slow Dancing Johnny Duncan
6 5 Somebody Special Donna Fargo
11 — Someone Is Looking for Someone Like You Gail Davies
14 18 Son of Clayton Delaney Tom T. Hall
13 26 The Song We Made Love To Mickey Gilley
20 7 Spanish Eyes Charlie Rich
6 — Stay with Me Dave & Sugar
26 13 Steady as the Rain Stella Parton
7 17 Still a Woman Margo Smith
19 46 Sweet Dreams Reba McEntire
10 14 Sweet Melinda Randy Barlow
7 6 Sweet Summer Lovin' Dolly Parton
8 18 Tell Me What It's Like Brenda Lee
5 3 Texas (When I Die) Tanya Tucker
18 44 That's the Only Way to Say Good Morning Ray Price
20 21 There Is a Miracle in You Tom T. Hall
6 3 There's a Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In) Elvis Presley
6 6 They Call It Makin' Love Tammy Wynette
20 15 This Is a Love Song Bill Anderson
6 5 Tonight She's Gonna Love Me (Like There Was No Tomorrow) Razzy Bailey
13 12 Too Far Gone Emmylou Harris
18 59 Touch Me (I'll Be Your Fool Once More) Big Al Downing
15 18 Touch Me with Magic Marty Robbins
12 18 Tryin' to Satisfy You Dottsy
6 51 Two Steps Forward and Three Steps Back Susie Allanson
22 13 Walking Piece of Heaven Freddy Fender
31 18 Walking the Floor Over You Ernest Tubb and Merle Haggard
16 — What a Lie Sammi Smith
11 31 When a Love Ain't Right Charly McClain
3 3 When I Dream Crystal Gayle
12 3 Whiskey River Willie Nelson
20 24 Who Will the Next Fool Be Jerry Lee Lewis
8 — Wisdom of a Fool Jacky Ward
8 7 Words Susie Allanson
18 35 World's Most Perfect Woman Ronnie McDowell
5 11 You Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie The Bellamy Brothers
14 26 You Can Have Her George Jones and Johnny Paycheck
10 8 You Don't Bring Me Flowers Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius
4 20 You Feel Good All Over T. G. Sheppard
12 28 You Pick Me Up (And Put Me Down) Dottie West
11 26 You Show Me Your Heart (And I'll Show You Mine) Tom T. Hall
20 24 You Were Always on My Mind John Wesley Ryles
20 66 You're a Part of Me Charly McClain
14 — You're My Kind of Woman Jacky Ward
16 27 You've Got Somebody, I've Got Somebody Vern Gosdin
7 14 Your Kisses Will Crystal Gayle

Singles released by Canadian artists
US CAN Single Artist
— 6 The Ballad of the Duke Dallas Harms
— 13 Bingo and Another World Rex Hemeon
— 5 Build My Life Around You Carroll Baker
— 9 Easy Eddie Eastman
— 20 Easy Does It Rondini
— 10 Every Woman Van Dyke
— 18 Everyone's Laughin' but Me Chris Nielsen
— 9 Four States to Go Alex Fraser
— 17 Half of What You've Been to Me R. Harlan Smith
— 13 Hell Bent for Mexico Mercey Brothers
— 12 High on You Dick Damron
— 7 I Picked a Daisy Dallas Harms
— 16 Kelly Green Glory-Anne Carriere
— 16 Love Catch Fire Ian Kemp
— 8 Love Is Such an Easy Word to Say Eddie Eastman
— 3 Love When It Leaves Here Canadian Zephyr
— 6 Loving You Mike Graham
— 8 Mes Amis O Canada Laura Vinson
— 15 Mighty Big to Me Alex Fraser
— 6 Rachel I'm Just Not That Strong David Thompson
— 7 Silver and Shine Dick Damron
— 19 Some Kind of Woman The Good Brothers
— 10 Sorry and the Hobo Orval Prophet
— 4 Stay with Me Family Brown
— 9 Stranger Mercey Brothers
33 19 Takes a Fool to Love a Fool Burton Cummings
— 15 Time to Go Terry Carisse
— 9 Willie Boy Wayne Rostad
100 6 You Can't Make Love to a Memory Iris Larratt

Top new album releases
Single Artist Record Label
3/4 Lonely T. G. Sheppard Warner Bros./Curb
All Around Cowboy Marty Robbins Columbia
Alone Too Long Charly McClain Epic
Are You Sincere Mel Tillis MCA
Blue Kentucky Girl Emmylou Harris Reprise
Classics Kenny Rogers and Dottie West United Artists
Cross Winds Conway Twitty MCA
The Electric Horseman Willie Nelson Columbia/CBS
Encore! Jeanne Pruett IBC
Great Balls of Fire Dolly Parton RCA
I Don't Lie Joe Stampley Epic
Images Ronnie Milsap RCA
It's a Cheating Situation Moe Bandy Columbia
Jim Ed and Helen Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius RCA Victor
Just for the Record Barbara Mandrell MCA
Just Good Ol' Boys Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley Columbia/CBS
Kenny Kenny Rogers United Artists
Ladies Choice Bill Anderson MCA
Love Notes Janie Fricke Epic
Love Lies Cristy Lane LS
Loveline Eddie Rabbitt Elektra
New Kind of Feeling Anne Murray Capitol
Million Mile Reflections The Charlie Daniels Band Epic
Miss the Mississippi...and You Crystal Gayle United Artists
Mr. Entertainer Mel Tillis MCA
The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived Oak Ridge Boys MCA
One for the Road Willie Nelson and Leon Russell Columbia/CBS
The Originals Statler Brothers Mercury/Polygram
Out of a Dream Reba McEntire Mercury/Polygram
Outlaw is Just a State of Mind Lynn Anderson Columbia
The Performer Marty Robbins Columbia
Portraits Don Williams MCA
Rides Again Vol. 2 Statler Brothers Mercury/Polygram
See You When the Sun Goes Down Johnny Duncan Columbia
Simple Little Words Cristy Lane United Artists
Sings Kris Kristofferson Willie Nelson Columbia/CBS
Songs We Made Love To Mickey Gilley Playboy
Stay with Me/Golden Tears Dave & Sugar RCA Victor
Straight Ahead Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers Columbia
Straight From Texas Johnny Duncan Columbia
Take Heart Juice Newton Capitol
The Two and Only The Bellamy Brothers Warner Bros./Curb
We Should Be Together Crystal Gayle United Artists
What Goes Around Comes Around Waylon Jennings RCA
Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound Hank Williams Jr. Warner Bros.
You Don't Bring Me Flowers Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius RCA Victor
You're My Jamaica Charley Pride RCA

Christmas albums
Single Artist Record Label
Light of the Stable Emmylou Harris Reprise
Pretty Paper Willie Nelson CBS

Births

Deaths

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees
  • Hubert Long (1923–1972)
  • Hank Snow (1914–1999)

Major awards

Grammy Awards

Juno 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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