1969 in country music

none May 2015 May 2015 This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 1969. 1969 1969 country music 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. December 23 – Willie Nelson's home near Ridgeview, Tennessee, burns to the ground. Nelson enters the burning house to retrieve his guitar (later nicknamed "Trigger") and a pound of Colombian grass.McCall, Sheryl, "Willie Nelson: Yesterday's Outlaw", People, September 1, 1980. Retrieved 03-10-2025. No dates Tammy Wynette, who during the year becomes a member of the Grand Ole Opry, becomes the first female country artist to sell over one million copies of a single recording with her Tammy's Greatest Hits collection. Top hits of the year Number-one hits United States (as certified by Billboard) DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1CAN peakSpec. NoteJanuary 4Daddy Sang BassJohnny Cash6February 15Until My Dreams Come TrueJack Greene25March 1To Make Love Sweeter For YouJerry Lee Lewis14March 8Only the LonelySonny James3March 29Who's Gonna Mow Your GrassBuck Owens2April 12Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)Loretta Lynn1—April 19GalvestonGlen Campbell3May 10Hungry EyesMerle Haggard12May 17My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)Bill Anderson22ref_1[1]May 31Singing My SongTammy Wynette2June 14Running BearSonny James3July 5Statue of a FoolJack Greene23ref_B[B]July 19I Love You More TodayConway Twitty12July 26Johnny B. GoodeBuck Owens24August 9All I Have to Offer You Is MeCharley Pride13ref_A[A]August 16Workin' Man's BluesMerle Haggard1August 23A Boy Named SueJohnny Cash5September 27Tall Dark StrangerBuck Owens1October 4Since I Met You BabySonny James33October 25The Ways to Love a ManTammy Wynette2November 8To See My Angel CryConway Twitty1November 15Okie From MuskogeeMerle Haggard43December 13(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You AgainCharley Pride3 Notes 1endnote_1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard. Aendnote_A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist. Bendnote_B^ Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist. Canada (as certified by RPM) DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1U.S. peakSpec. NoteJanuary 13Wichita LinemanGlen Campbell2January 27I Take a Lot of Pride in What I AmMerle Haggard33ref_2[2] Stayed at No. 1 for 2 weeks in late 1968. Fell to #2 on the week of January 13, 1969.February 3The Carroll County AccidentPorter Wagoner32ref_A[A]February 24Mr. BrownGary Buck3—ref_2[2] Fell to #2 on the week of March 3.March 3Daddy Sang BassJohnny Cash1March 10The Girl Most LikelyJeannie C. Riley16ref_B[B]March 31While Your Lover SleepsLeon Ashley125ref_C[C]April 7Kaw-LigaCharley Pride23ref_A[A]April 21The Name of the Game Was LoveHank Snow116ref_A[A]April 28Only the LonelySonny James1May 5Who's Gonna Mow Your GrassBuck Owens1May 12My Woman's Good to MeDavid Houston14May 19GalvestonGlen Campbell1May 26Let It Be MeBobbie Gentry andGlen Campbell114ref_A[A] – Bobbie GentryJune 2It's a SinMarty Robbins15June 9Who Drinks My Beer When I'm GoneMercey Brothers1—June 16Cajun LoveLucille Starr1—ref_B[B]June 23Ribbon of DarknessConnie Smith113ref_A[A]June 30Singing My SongTammy Wynette1July 7Rings of GoldDottie West andDon Gibson12ref_A[A] – Dottie Westref_A[A] – Don GibsonJuly 14Running BearSonny James1July 21The Days of Sand and ShovelsWaylon Jennings120July 28One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart)Jerry Lee Lewis13August 2Canadian PacificGeorge Hamilton IV325ref_A[A]August 23A Boy Named SueJohnny Cash4September 20True GritGlen Campbell19September 27Workin' Man's BluesMerle Haggard1October 4Invitation to Your PartyJerry Lee Lewis26ref_2[2] Fell to #5 on the week of October 11.October 11Muddy Mississippi LineBobby Goldsboro115ref_B[B]October 18Tall Dark StrangerBuck Owens1October 25The Ways to Love a ManTammy Wynette1November 8To See My Angel CryConway Twitty1ref_A[A]November 15Get RhythmJohnny Cash223November 29Groovy GrubwormHarlow Wilcox142ref_C[C]December 6Try a Little KindnessGlen Campbell12December 13She Even Woke Me Up to Say GoodbyeJerry Lee Lewis12December 20Diggy Liggy LoDoug Kershaw170ref_C[C]December 27(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You AgainCharley Pride1 Notes 2endnote_2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot. Aendnote_A^ First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist. Bendnote_B^ Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist. Cendnote_C^ Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist. Other major hits Singles released by American artists USCANSingleArtist9—All for the Love of a GirlClaude King7216All Heaven Broke LooseHugh X. Lewis16—Always, AlwaysPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton252Another Day, Another Mile, Another HighwayClay Hart14—April's FoolRay Price11—Are You from Dixie (Cause I'm from Dixie Too)Jerry Reed517The AuctioneerBrenda Byers1621A Baby AgainHank Williams, Jr.422Back in the Arms of LoveJack Greene264Back to DenverGeorge Hamilton IV44The Ballad of Forty DollarsTom T. Hall5—Be GladDel Reeves3—Big WindPorter Wagoner1338Bring Me SunshineWillie Nelson19—But for LoveEddy Arnold26But You Know I Love YouBill Anderson3—Cajun BabyHank Williams, Jr.11—California Girl (And the Tennessee Square)Tompall & the Glaser Brothers14—CustodyHank Williams, Jr.15—Cut Across ShortyNat Stuckey22Darling You Know I Wouldn't LieConway Twitty2711Don't It Make You Want to Go HomeJoe South9—Don't Let Me Cross OverJerry Lee Lewis and Linda Gail Lewis2317Don't Wake Me I'm DreamingWarner Mack16—Each TimeJohnny Bush1127Flattery Will Get You EverywhereLynn Anderson1814Friend, Lover, Woman, WifeClaude King20—From the Bottle to the BottomBilly Walker2—Games People PlayFreddy Weller104George (And the North Woods)Dave Dudley16—God Bless America AgainBobby Bare18—Good Deal, LucilleCarl Smith320Good Time Charlie'sDel Reeves2217A Hammer and NailsJimmy Dean4710Happiness HillKitty Wells113Haunted HouseThe Compton Brothers5—HomecomingTom T. Hall1740Honey, I'm HomeStan Hitchcock85I Can't Say GoodbyeMarty Robbins14—I Love You BecauseCarl Smith19—I Want OneJack Reno46I'd Rather Be GoneHank Williams, Jr.22I'll Share My World with YouGeorge Jones8—I'll Still Be Missing YouWarner Mack34I'm Down to My Last "I Love You"David Houston616If Not for YouGeorge Jones5012In the GhettoDolly Parton—12It's My TimeFrank Ifield665Jesus Is a Soul ManBilly Grammer13—Joe and Mabel's 12th Street Bar and GrillNat Stuckey12—Just Hold My HandJohnny & Jonie Mosby520Just Someone I Used to KnowPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton96KayJohn Wesley Ryles6—Leave My Dream AloneWarner Mack20—Let the Whole World Sing It with MeWynn Stewart1017Little Boy SadBill Phillips2311MacArthur ParkWaylon Jennings and The Kimberlys17—Man and Wife TimeJim Ed Brown47(Margie's At) The Lincoln Park InnBobby Bare123Me and Bobby McGeeRoger Miller410Mr. Walker, It's All OverBillie Jo Spears20—My Big Iron SkilletWanda Jackson14—My Grass Is GreenRoy Drusky1528My SonJan Howard2513"Never More" Quote the RavenStonewall Jackson811None of My BusinessHenson Cargill1516Old FaithfulMel Tillis12—One More MileDave Dudley183Our House Is Not a Home (For It's Never Been Loved In)Lynn Anderson103Please Don't GoEddy Arnold106Please Let Me Prove (My Love for You)Dave Dudley14—Raining in My HeartRay Price20—RestlessCarl Perkins4612Reuben JamesKenny Rogers and The First Edition2312River BottomJohnny Darrell392Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to TownKenny Rogers and The First Edition404September SongRoy Clark1834Seven Lonely DaysJean Shepard19—Ship in the BottleStonewall Jackson59Smokey the BarHank Thompson12—Smoky PlacesBilly Walker19—Something's Wrong in CaliforniaWaylon Jennings742Such a FoolRoy Drusky84Sweet Thang and CiscoNat Stuckey118Sweetheart of the YearRay Price3814Take My Hand for a WhileGeorge Hamilton IV22That's a No NoLynn Anderson1611That's Why I Love You So MuchFerlin Husky512There Was Never a TimeJeannie C. Riley12—There Wouldn't Be a Lonely Heart in TownDel Reeves20—There's Better Things in LifeJerry Reed5—These Are Not My PeopleFreddy Weller913These Lonely Hands of MineMel Tillis102They Don't Make Love Like They Used ToEddy Arnold343Things Go Better with LoveJeannie C. Riley1417This ThingWebb Pierce34To Make a Man (Feel Like a Man)Loretta Lynn442Truck StopJerry Smith155VanceRoger Miller20—We Had All the Good Things GoingJan Howard19—What Are Those Things (With Big Black Wings)Charlie Louvin22When the Grass Grows Over MeGeorge Jones64When Two Worlds CollideJim Reeves1414Where Have All the Average People GoneRoger Miller1016Where the Blue and Lonely GoRoy Drusky19—Which One Will It BeBobby Bare18—Who's Gonna Take the Garbage OutErnest Tubb and Loretta Lynn1011Who's JulieMel Tillis17—Why You Been Gone So LongJohnny Darrell23Wine Me UpFaron Young20—Woman Without LoveJohnny Darrell19—World-Wide Travelin' ManWynn Stewart92Yesterday, When I Was YoungRoy Clark6—You and Your Sweet LoveConnie Smith7—You Gave Me a MountainJohnny Bush20—Young LoveConnie Smith and Nat Stuckey4—Your Time's Comin'Faron Young55Yours LoveWaylon Jennings9—Yours LovePorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton Singles released by Canadian artists USCANSingleArtist—13Baby's Come HomeDebbie Lori Kaye—3Back in Town to StayMona Vary—9BittersweetDonna Ramsay—13Can't Find a SpaceTommy Hunter—6The EntertainerRay Griff—13I'm Gonna Let George Do ItDianne Leigh—8Keep the Home Fires BurningDianne Leigh—16The Laughing SongB. J. Berg—10No Lonelier Than YouBilly Charne—3Ordinary Peeping TomMercey Brothers—20Pineville Country JailHarry Rusk—17The Revenuer's DaughterBob King—11Some Kind of LonesomeCountry Tigers—8Susie's Better HalfBilly Charne—19Sweet Sweet FeelingClint Curtiss—18Wanderin' Through the ValleyRay Griff—9When You Were a LadyBilly Charne—14Wishing TreeLynn Jones—19You're My WomanBlake Emmons Top new album releases AlbumArtistRecord LabelAt Home with LynnLynn AndersonChartThe Carroll County AccidentPorter WagonerRCAFrom the HeartDiana TraskDotIt's a SinMarty RobbinsColumbiaJan HowardJan HowardDeccaMiss Country SoulDiana TraskDot Mr. Walker, It's All Over!Billie Jo SpearsCapitolMy Blue Ridge Mountain BoyDolly PartonRCAMy Life/But You Know I Love YouBill AndersonDeccaSongs That Made Country Girls FamousLynn AndersonChartThe Bill Anderson Story: His Greatest HitsBill AndersonDeccaWith Love, from LynnLynn AndersonChartYearbooks and YesterdaysJeannie C. RileyPlantation 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 Gene Autry (1907–1998) Bill Monroe (1911–1996) Major awards Grammy Awards Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "Stand by Your Man", Tammy Wynette Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "A Boy Named Sue", Johnny Cash Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "MacArthur Park", Waylon Jennings and The Kimberleys Best Country Instrumental Performance — The Nashville Brass featuring Danny Davis Play More Nashville Sounds, Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass Best Country Song — "A Boy Named Sue", Shel Silverstein (Performer: Johnny Cash) Academy of Country Music Single of the Year — "Okie from Muskogee", Merle Haggard Album of the Year — Okie from Muskogee, Merle Haggard Top Male Vocalist — Merle Haggard Top Female Vocalist — Tammy Wynette Top Vocal Duo — Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens Top Vocal Group — The Kimberleys Top New Male Vocalist — Freddy Weller Top New Female Vocalist — Donna Fargo Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year — Johnny Cash Song of the Year — "The Carroll County Accident", Bob Ferguson (Performer: Porter Wagoner) Single of the Year — "A Boy Named Sue", Johnny Cash Album of the Year — At San Quentin, Johnny Cash Male Vocalist of the Year — Johnny Cash Female Vocalist of the Year — Tammy Wynette Vocal Group of the Year — Johnny Cash and June Carter Instrumentalist of the Year — Chet Atkins Instrumental Group of the Year — Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass Comedian of the Year — Archie Campbell 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 (0-8118-3572-3) Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (0-06-273244-7) Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005. Other links Country Music Association Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame References External links Country Music Hall of Fame Country Category:Country music by year