Sign up to receive our communications, please fill in the following fields and hit submit. As for George Strait, the title of his debut album,Strait Country, says it all: He didnt have to fit the Hollywood mold of a cowboy he already was one. In 2013, Kacey Musgraves emergence onto the country music scene hinted at changes that would arrive over the next five years. He covered an impressive amount of territory in 14 tracks, from a hard-twanging, line dance-friendly number featuring his country songwriter dad to dejected, conversational balladry, surging, EDM-style synths, quiet storm seduction and mellowed-out dancehall grooves, some of his production choices aligning closely with the aesthetics taking center stage in the pop world. Morris wasn't terribly interested in adopting an attitude that radio would consider sufficiently agreeable for a woman; she was slightly brash and sexually frank, and her initial breakthrough brought little airplay. Glossier. Brooksco-wrote the song with Kent Blazy for his self-titled freshman album. 1. In 2013, Kacey Musgraves emergence onto the country music scene hinted at changes that would arrive over the next five years. Aside from Dolly, this list of '80s country hits also features songs from top classic country artists such as Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, The Judds, and Willie Nelson. 1 hit, Cant Even Get the Blues, in 1982. In this May 6, 2007 file photo, inductee Sonny James is presented his medallion at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. James, who recorded romantic ballads like "Young Love" and turned pop songs into country hits, died Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, in a Nashville hospice facility at age 87, according to a family friend, Gary Robble, who was also the lead singer of James' backing band, the Southern Gentlemen. I have never gotten to see or meet them, but I imagine it was. Says RaeLynn, "I felt with my other records, 'This has to sound like this.' By the time 1980s rolled in, Kenny Rogers was already a household name. For fans of: Dixie Chicks, Lee Ann Womack, Choice cuts: "Highway 40 Blues," "Honey (Open That Door)," "Uncle Pen". Netflixs Pamela Anderson Documentary: Did We Judge Her Too Harshly? It was his first single to go to the top of the charts following his death. Some of modern country's most frequently invoked archetypes, Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, were initially viewed as interlopers, their modernizing of studio and show production, self-presentation and songwriting disrupting the genre's status quo and grabbing ears beyond it. Erika Stolt (SE) Felicity Urquhart GayLynn Robinson Gillian Welch Gina Jeffreys Gina Lee Ginny McIlmoyle Gretchen Peters Gretchen Wilson Hannah Bethel Hannah McNeil Heather Morgan Heather Myles Heather Richards Heather Whitney Heidi Newfield Heidi Raye Hillary Reese Hollie Brian Holly Dunn The trio actually did it twice at once: with their 1981 albumFeels So Rightand 1982'sMountain Music. Thanks, and welcome! Armed with polished harmonies and an arsenal of love songs, these guys were radio favorites throughout the late 1980s. Most Authentic Country Music Artists of the '80s By Steve Peake Updated on 05/06/19 Though the Nashville country music machine certainly held sway in the genre during much of the decade, '80s country music also harbored more than a few talented, visionary artists who made their greatest contributions during the decade. While some traditionalists considered it easy listening music, but she still racked up a long succession of country hits by balancing lighthearted tunes with breakup ballads and, occasionally, social commentary. Perkins, whose song "Blue Suede Shoes" and lightning-quick guitar-playing influenced a slew of performers, died Jan. 19, 1998, at age 65 after a series of strokes. Alabama was definitely my fave from the 80s. Chris LeDoux, right, performs with Garth Brooks, left, and Charlie Daniels, center at the 32nd Academy of Country Music Awards on April 23, 1997, in Universal City, Calif. rank it your way Country music had a major impact on the motion picture industry throughout the year, with no less than four major box office hits released during the year: April 2 Bobby Estell, radio personality of the 2010s-onward who uses the on-air name, Kingsbury, Paul, "The Grand Ole Opry: History of Country Music. ", their gold-certified freshman album together, The Judds hit No. The Highwaymen: Country's Coolest Supergroup. 1 songs, starting with Tennessee River and ending with Youve Got the Touch. No other country act has come close to breaking the record. Since participating in the country world has always been as much a matter of cultural identification as musical identification, and as much about being claimed by the audience as branded for the marketplace, artists also face a tension between engaging with popular trends and conveying a sense of connection to country's lineage and core values. Country fans, if you were "country when country wasn't cool," there's more than two hours of music for you to enjoy here. Cajun music star Jimmy C. Newman is seen in this May 15, 1989, photograph. The Highwaymen was a group which comprised of Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. This is because it was the era where the pop-country genre became an even bigger economic force. In 1981, she released her breakthrough solo album, Juice, which brought about the top 10 hit "Angel of the Morning" and the top 40 hit "Queen of . Essential Album: "Honky Tonk Heroes". Yet in retrospect, many artists from that era recorded a superb catalog of hits that still hold up, even 20 or 30 years later. By opting-in, you agree to receive updates and offers via text at your mobile number. Morris made a long, slow, 10-month climb to her first solo No. Country pop and the birth of Outlaw Today's New Country Only the biggest hits and best new Country. List of country performers by era - Wikipedia Eddy Arnold, whose mellow baritone on songs like "Make the World Go Away" made him one of the most successful country singers in history, died May 8, 2008, at the age of 89. She was also called upon to lend her voice to a cross-genre collaboration with the DJ Zedd and a euphoric, dance-pop-influenced hit that signaled the stylistic repositioning of one of country's ascendant superstars, Thomas Rhett. Some other really cool bands to come out of the 80s were the Statler Brothers, the Desert Rose Band, Highway 101, the Forrester Sisters, Shenandoah, Confederate Railroad and, one of my personal favorites, the Highwaymen. Feb. 14, 1985:Randy Travis signs with Warner Bros. Records. 1. Web Accessibility. More than 80,000 people attended, kicking off an annual event that has, as of 2015, raised over $48 million. Singer Hank Thompson, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, died of lung cancer on Nov. 6, 2007. His vocal style shared little with the boxier rapping other country artists had tried, so much so that Brad Paisley made Hunt's delivery a punchline during a CMA Awards monologue. 10 Of The Most Famous Female Country Singers Of The '80s With the benefit of hindsight, however, it's easy to see that the '80swere a transitional decade for country music: a time when artists could try out different styles and approaches -- and, by extension, adopt new traditions that would come to reverberate in the '90s and beyond. 17. Buck Owens, left, with "Hee Haw" co-host Roy Clark, is one of the artists credited with starting "Bakersfield Sound," a more honky-tonk-driven presentation that sparred with Nashville's smoother "Countrypolitan" sound for country music supremacy in the 1960s. Country music was undoubtedly having a moment in the 1970s as the rest of the nation took note of the genres many superstars who rose to fame in the era. Singer Eddie Rabbitt, who topped the country charts with bouncy hits such as "I Love A Rainy Night," died May 7, 1998, of lung cancer at the age of 56. Most Authentic Country Music Artists of the '80s - LiveAbout She died on Sept. 4, 1991, at age 58, from injuries suffered days earlier in a car accident. The song was written by Don Schlitz and Paul Overstreet and obviously was made famous by country star Randy Travis. In 1980, 43 different singles topped the chart, then published under the title Hot Country Singles, in 52 issues of the magazine, based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores. 1 hits in the 1980s, they emerged as the most popular country group in history, singing about the simple delights of mountains, rivers and love that feels so right. He also wrote "I Told You So," which Carrie Underwood will be singing forever and ever, amen. That's why it's taken years for the stylistic shifts anticipated by Kacey Musgraves, Sam Hunt and Maren Morris to actually arrive. He'd begun applying lessons learned from the suave showmanship of Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake on his 2015 album, finding his greatest success as a crooning romantic, but now felt even freer to try out any pop flavor that captured his attention. For fans of: Blake Shelton, Jamey Johnson, Choice cuts: "Amarillo by Morning," "The Chair," "All My Ex's Live in Texas". 23. I'll Be Coming Back for More. "That was the Walker Hayes story. Hunt's music had pensiveness and finesse and felt a little ahead of the country curve. And, of course, let's not forget about the king of pop himself, Michael Jackson. They have all left a lasting impression on country music and are still beloved by fans today. Top 10 Country Artists of the 1980s - The Boot 1 song. The following are the 51 best 80s country songs you may consider checking out: 1. Individuals involved in making or promoting the music have ideas about where they'd like to see the genre go, what elements they want to add to the mix, what the multi-generational audience will identify with. 24. "Now that I know what's possible, if I meet an artist that somebody else thinks just does not fit, that makes me really drawn to 'em," McAnally explains. CMT Reveals New Series "CMT Summer Sessions" Featuring Ashley McBryde, Tanya Tucker, Jordan Davis and More, CMT announced summer shows "CMT Summer Sessions," "CMT Summer Camp" with Tyler Hubbard and "CMT Hot 20" episodes with Luke Bryan and Brad Paisley, CMT Premiere: Tanya Tucker Emotionally Explores What Happens To Cowboys "When The Rodeo Is Over" In New Video, Tanya Tucker: "It just gave me chills. April 8, 1989:Keith Whitley's "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" hits No. 1 hit. Larry Stewart's confident vocals belied the complex arrangements of their six consecutive No. Keith Whitley had three No. Over 27K music fans have voted on the 130+ Top Female Country Singers. He was 89. "Body Like a Back Road," a breezy, braggy number with slinky organ and guitar licks over a bass-and-handclaps groove, was the one that received all the promotion. Although he has a well-deserved reputation as a nice guy, Wariner often returned to the well of regret and foolish decisions for inspiration. Dec. 6, 1984:Johnny Cash,Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson record "Highwayman." "Drinkin'" was meant to feel like it was ripped straight from the pages of his life. Morris self-released an EP in the summer of 2015 whose surprise success on Spotify landed her on a major label that fall and led to a full-length debut the following year that was sleekly rhythmic, casually irreverent and slyly sensual. 1 singles in country music history before being passed by George Strait. To hear CMT's favorite new country songs of the week, check out our Roundup playlist in this story. 1 songs, starting with "Tennessee River" and ending with "You've Got the Touch." No other country act has come close to breaking the record. Guide to the Top Country Music Artists of the 80s | Mental Itch From Texas to Tennessee, Appalachia to Bakersfield, Whiskey Riff is THE unapologetic voice of the country music fan. He was 90. Terms & Conditions | During the episode, in addition to her hosting and performance duties, the country legend also appeared in several sketches, including "Planet of the Enormous Hooters" and "Celebrity Restaurant.". Oh, yeah, and he scored the first of many No. In this 2007 photo, Ray Price performs at the Aladdin Theater for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas. "Every time someone starts to make a real noise or pisses people off, later they get revered for it," observes Shane McAnally, now one of Nashville's most influential writer-producers and developers of new talent. Both "Unwound" and "If You're Thinking You Want a Stranger" landed in the Top 10, with the latter peaking at No. Country music from the 1980s often gets a bad rap because of the sour aftertaste from Urban Cowboy. The best playlists in country musicperiod. A lifestyle so perfectly captured by the country greats of yesterday, but still alive and well today in artists who truly get it. The celebrated country giant, whose career spanned 40 years, had postponed and canceled concert dates in the months leading up to his death, citing a previous case of pneumonia in both lungs. He makes it seem effortless, which is why countless imitators have cropped up since "Unwound" in 1981. Many classic songs were released during that decade, and many of them still hold up today. 1 singles from his 1988 album "Don't Close Your Eyes," but died on May 9, 1989, from alcohol poisoning at the age of 34. Alabama Duet wth K.T. 50 Essential '80s Country Songs - Taste of Country Alan Jackson signs his first record deal. Dec. 19, 1980:Dolly Parton makes her move debut in9 to 5. Rant with us. Eight of those songs made it all the way to #1. Charlie Rich, the soulful, silver-haired balladeer who topped the country music charts with the songs ``Behind Closed Doors'' and ``The Most Beautiful Girl'' in 1973, died on July 25, 1995 at the age of 62. The label had initially turned him down. He was 81. Likewise, the title track of Rhett's album Life Changes was a droll summation of his journey from aimless college kid to country headliner whose fans follow his wife on Instagram. He'd release his debut album one year later. 100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time - Rolling Stone It was certified gold in September of that year. RaeLynn had spent her first several years in Nashville searching for middle ground between her inclinations and the whims of country radio. The song is the title track of their platinum-selling first album. The 50+ Best Country Singers Of The 1980s, Ranked 1 song. November 18 The country-variety TV series. hide caption. She blended deliciously arch and detailed songcraft with western kitsch and indie irreverence with a low-key insistence on tolerance, an approach to making social statements that helped map the coming changes in country discourse (see the accompanying timeline). Choice cuts: "Mountain Music," "Lady Down on Love," "Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)". They were great performers and four really nice gentlemen. Keith Whitley's "I Wonder Do You Think of Me" hits No. NEXT: All of Garth Brooks' Albums, Ranked, Dolly Parton serves as host and musical guest on. Tammy Wynette appears with duet partner and former husband George Jones in Nashville, Tenn. in 1995. The arena-headlining duo Florida Georgia Line did the same, teaming up with a newbie country hit-maker, guesting on EDM pop and trop-house singles and pulling off a reverse crossover move with pop singer Bebe Rexha. In the 1980s, she made marriage seem like the worst possible outcome for a happy couple. Privacy Policy | But as the old parable goes, The circle cant be broken, and a new crop of talent emerged who heralded an era of neo-traditionalism.. Forever and Ever, Amen was released with Travis album Always & Forever and acted as the albums first single. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. 1 song. On This Date: Randy Travis' "Forever and Ever, Amen" Was #1 On Country Musically inspired by Frank Sinatra and Bob Wills, the handsome Texan can croon about love gone wrong while the twin fiddles break your heart. He has a passion for the country music business Brit has toured and opened up for some of the best from the 90's including John Berry, Bryan White, Shawn Mullins, Jamie O'Neal & Lila McCann. No Crying On Sunday 4 listeners Country Go! Choice cuts: "Forever and Ever, Amen," "Deeper Than the Holler," "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart". 80s Male Country Singers. Rogers, the singing ``King of the Cowboys'' whose straight-shooting exploits in movies and television made him a hero to generations of young fans and No. Radio's decision-makers claimed that their market research proved playing women was a liability to the format, a commercial justification that nonetheless had substantial social impact, marginalizing female voices and viewpoints. hide caption, Sam Hunt and Maren Morris arrived on the scene in the years that followed, each of them possessing fluency in the postures and cadences of millennial pop that turned heads and blurred boundaries. He also found success as a solo singer before dying on March 25, 2009, at age 61 from cancer complications. I was into rock music in the 80s but I remember my mom loving Statler Brother, Oak Ridge Boys and Kenny Rogers, We Have A Ghost Review: Why You Need To See It, Bamboozle Festival Lineup: New Artists Announced, The 2023 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Lineup Includes Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Nickel Creek & More, 10 Things To Do Outside In Goldsboro, North Carolina, Reese Witherspoon & Ashton Kutcher Star In Your Place Or Mine, Check Out The New SISU Trailer, Stills & Poster, New & Exciting Things To Do In Gulf Shores, Alabama, 80 For Brady: Kicking Ageism and Sexism Out Of Bounds. Shifts from glittery, pop-friendly cowboy music to neo-traditionalism and back to pop invited artists of many outside genres. Each of the artists in The Boot's Top 10 Country Artists of the 1980s list, though, prioritized songs above all else, which ensured that their careers -- and legacy -- endure. He had started his career back in the '50s. 1 hit. Conway Twitty, with Loretta Lynn holding their trophies at the American Music Awards in 1977, held the record for the most No. She also worked as a radio deejay for 10 years and grew up in Southeastern, Va, a melting pot of different musical styles and traditions. Juice Newton. While she famously drew on personal experience as the wife and daughter of country artists, it's safe to say she still wrote for a radio audience because the melodies are captivating rather than navel-gazing. Listen Closer, whether it could legitimately be called country, she was slightly brash and sexually frank, his greatest success as a crooning romantic. 3. 1980s Country - Listen to Free Radio Stations - AccuRadio 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 19471989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (, Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (. 1 hit by a woman soloist on the country music charts. Pay reverence to Don Williams, Troy Gentry and other country music singers who've died since 1989. Though their careers may have begun in different decades (the 1980s for some, the 1970s for others, and the 1990s for a select few), these accomplished and beautiful women have the common trait of being overlooked, underappreciated, and possibly nearly forgotten. Country radio continues to ignore the work of modern female. Sign up to receive exclusive discounts from Whiskey Riff Shop and breaking news. The acoustic arrangements intrigued country fans, but their nostalgic ballads secured their place in music history. Feb. 19, 1897:Willie Nelson'sRed Headed Stranger movie debuts. Events. . Randy Travis signs with Warner Bros. Records. That wasn't just business speak. 1 at the box office, died Monday, July 6, 1998. "Forever and Ever, Amen .
