411 REFERENCE · Wikipedia
1976 in country music
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
none
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1976.
1976
1976 country music
Events
January 3 — Austin City Limits debuts as a regular series on PBS. For many years, the show is taped at the University of Texas at Austin. Although not exclusively country — styles would range from western swing, Texas blues, Tejano music, progressive country, rock n' roll, jazz, alternative country, alternative rock, folk music and jam band — the show is widely hailed as a showcase of music of diverse styles and would be heavily influential in many country music artists' styles.
No dates
The CB radio craze was sweeping country music, as no less than three No. 1 songs are about citizens-band radios. C. W. McCall's "Convoy" — about a band of truck drivers who fight back against redneck police officers — spends four of its six weeks at No. 1 in January, and goes on to be Billboard's No. 1 country song of 1976. Other top songs where CB radios were central to the plot were:
"The White Knight" by Cledus Maggard & The Citizen's Band, about a lead-footed truck driver who is led into a speed trap by a corrupt state trooper.
"Teddy Bear" by Red Sovine, a sentimental recitation about a fatherless, physically handicapped boy who keeps in touch with truck drivers. He states his lone wish is to ride around with his father, but since that can't happen, other truck drivers make good on the wish by showing up at the young lad's home and giving him rides.
Production began on Dolly Parton's syndicated variety show Dolly! Though Parton was said to have been less than pleased with the end result, and the show only lasted for one season, it expanded her audience at a time when she was in the midst of refocusing her career from that of a specifically country performer to an entertainer with broader pop and mainstream appeal.
Top hits of the year
Number one hits
United States
(as certified by Billboard)
DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1CAN peakSpec. NoteJanuary 31This Time I've Hurt Her More than She Loves MeConway Twitty1February 7SometimesBill Anderson andMary Lou Turner13ref_B[B] – Bill Andersonref_C[C] – Mary Lou TurnerFebruary 14The White KnightCledus Maggard & the Citizen's Band18ref_C[C]
Cledus Maggard & the Citizen's Band is a pseudonym for Jay Huguely.February 21Good Hearted WomanWaylon Jenningsand Willie Nelson35March 13The Roots of My RaisingMerle Haggard17March 20Faster Horses (The Cowboy and the Poet)Tom T. Hall12ref_B[B]March 27'Til the Rivers All Run DryDon Williams1—April 3You'll Lose a Good ThingFreddy Fender1—ref_B[B]April 10'Til I Can Make It on My OwnTammy Wynette1April 17Drinkin' My Baby (Off My Mind)Eddie Rabbitt1ref_A[A]April 24Together AgainEmmylou Harris13ref_A[A]
Cover of the Buck Owens' #1 song in 1964.May 1Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing TimeMickey Gilley1May 8My Eyes Can Only See as Far as YouCharley Pride1May 15What Goes On When the Sun Goes DownRonnie Milsap1May 22After All the Good is GoneConway Twitty1May 29One Piece at a TimeJohnny Cash2June 12I'll Get Over YouCrystal Gayle12ref_A[A]June 19El Paso CityMarty Robbins2July 3All These ThingsJoe Stampley122July 10The Door Is Always OpenDave & Sugar1ref_A[A]July 17Teddy BearRed Sovine3ref_B[B]August 7Golden RingGeorge Jones andTammy Wynette15August 14Say It AgainDon Williams14August 21Bring It On Home to MeMickey Gilley1August 28(I'm A) Stand by My Woman ManRonnie Milsap2September 11I Don't Want to Have to Marry YouJim Ed Brown andHelen Cornelius27ref_C[C] – Jim Ed Brownref_C[C] – Helen CorneliusSeptember 25If You've Got the Money I've Got the TimeWillie Nelson15October 2Here's Some LoveTanya Tucker12October 9The Games That Daddies PlayConway Twitty1October 16You and MeTammy Wynette26October 30Among My SouvenirsMarty Robbins23ref_B[B]November 6Cherokee MaidenMerle Haggard1Cover of the Bob Wills hit.November 13Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)Loretta Lynn2November 27Good Woman BluesMel Tillis2December 11Thinkin' of a RendezvousJohnny Duncan2ref_A[A]December 25Sweet DreamsEmmylou Harris2
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.
Cendnote_C^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist to date.
Canada
(as certified by RPM)
DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1U.S. peakSpec. NoteJanuary 10Easy as PieBilly "Crash" Craddock12ref_B[B]January 17Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)Glen Campbell23ref_B[B]January 31The Blind Man in the BleachersKenny Starr12ref_C[C]February 7This Time I Hurt Her More than She Loves MeConway Twitty1February 14The Happiness of Having YouCharley Pride13February 21Don't Believe My Heart Can Stand Another YouTanya Tucker14February 28Somebody Loves YouCrystal Gayle18ref_A[A]March 6One Way Ticket to a LadyJerry Palmer1—ref_C[C]March 13One Night of Cheatin'Carroll Baker1—March 20On the RoadDick Damron1—March 27Motels and MemoriesT. G. Sheppard17April 3Angels, Roses and RainDickey Lee19ref_C[C]April 10You Are the Song (Inside of Me)Freddie Hart111ref_B[B]April 17(Till) I Kissed YouConnie Smith110ref_B[B]April 24If I Let Her Come InRay Griff111ref_C[C]May 1'Til I Can Make It on My OwnTammy Wynette1May 8Drinkin' My Baby (Off My Mind)Eddie Rabbitt1ref_A[A]May 15Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing TimeMickey Gilley1May 22My Eyes Can Only See as Far as YouCharley Pride1May 29What Goes On When the Sun Goes DownRonnie Milsap1June 5After All the Good is GoneConway Twitty2June 19One Piece at a TimeJohnny Cash1June 26El Paso CityMarty Robbins1July 3I Wouldn't Want It Any Other WayLyle1—ref_C[C]July 10Tonight with LoveCarroll Baker1—July 17The Door is Always OpenDave & Sugar1ref_C[C]July 24Vaya con DiosFreddy Fender17July 31Here Comes the Freedom TrainMerle Haggard110August 7Teddy BearRed Sovine2ref_C[C]August 21The LetterConway Twitty andLoretta Lynn23September 4Rocky Mountain MusicEddie Rabbitt15September 11Bring It On Home to MeMickey Gilley1September 18(I'm A) Stand by My Woman ManRonnie Milsap2October 2Can't You SeeWaylon Jennings14October 9All I Can DoDolly Parton23ref_2[2]
Fell to #4 on the week of October 16.October 16If You Keep Throwing DirtFamily Brown1—ref_A[A]October 30The Games That Daddies PlayConway Twitty1November 6The Wreck of the Edmund FitzgeraldGordon Lightfoot150ref_B[B]November 13Why I Had to Pass This WayCarroll Baker1—November 20A Whole Lotta Things to Sing AboutCharley Pride12November 27Cherokee MaidenMerle Haggard1December 4Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)Loretta Lynn1December 11Living It DownFreddy Fender12December 18Good Woman BluesMel Tillis1December 25Thinkin' of a RendezvousJohnny Duncan1ref_A[A]
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
USCANSingleArtist339,999,999 TearsDickey Lee8—After the StormWynn Stewart916Afternoon DelightJohnny Carver205All the King's HorsesLynn Anderson910Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song)Amazing Rhythm Aces2419Another MorningJim Ed Brown36Baby BoyMary Kay Place1634The BattleGeorge Jones20—Because You Believed In MeGene Watson55Broken LadyLarry Gatlin227A Butterfly for BuckyBobby Goldsboro1713Can You Hear Those PioneersRex Allen, Jr.15—Cheatin' IsBarbara Fairchild810Come on InSonny James53Come on OverOlivia Newton-John136CowboyEddy Arnold42Don't Pull Your LoveGlen Campbell1412Don't Stop Believin'Olivia Newton-John1918Don't Stop in My World (If You Don't Mean to Stay)Billy Walker1718Drop Kick Me JesusBobby Bare1220The End Is Not in Sight (The Cowboy Tune)Amazing Rhythm Aces1226Everything I OwnJoe Stampley2115Feel AgainFaron Young189Flash of FireHoyt Axton1228Fly AwayJohn Denver178Forever LoversMac Davis912Fox on the RunTom T. Hall1814The Good Night SpecialLittle David Wilkins2320Greener Than the Grass (We Laid On)Tanya Tucker23Hank Williams, You Wrote My LifeMoe Bandy33Her Name IsGeorge Jones1523Here Comes That Girl AgainTommy Overstreet1113Here I Am Drunk AgainMoe Bandy1911Hey, Lucky LadyDolly Parton2815Hey Shirley (This Is Squirrely)Shirley & Squirrely52Hillbilly HeartJohnny Rodriguez6—Home Made LoveThom Bresh16—Honey HungryMike Lunsford6—HurtElvis Presley938I.O.U.Jimmy Dean32I Couldn't Be Me Without YouJohnny Rodriguez13—I Don't Wanna Talk It Over AnymoreConnie Smith15—I Loved You All the WayDonna Fargo10—I Met a Friend of Yours TodayMel Street22I Wonder If I Ever Said GoodbyeJohnny Rodriguez117I'd Have to Be CrazyWillie Nelson127I'll Be Your San Antone RoseDottsy32I'm Gonna Love YouDave & Sugar1717I'm So Lonesome I Could CryTerry Bradshaw1625I'm Sorry CharlieJoni Lee2—If I Had It to Do All Over AgainRoy Clark1514In Some Room Above the StreetGary Stewart86Is Forever Longer Than AlwaysPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton1120It's Morning (And I Still Love You)Jessi Colter45Just in CaseRonnie Milsap1939Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)Kenny Rogers35Lawdy Miss ClawdyMickey Gilley512Let It ShineOlivia Newton-John614Let's Put It Back Together AgainJerry Lee Lewis348Like a Sad SongJohn Denver1848Little at a TimeSunday Sharpe11—Lone Star Beer and Bob Wills MusicRed Steagall55Lonely TeardropsNarvel Felts1723Longhaired RedneckDavid Allan Coe164Lookin' for Tomorrows (And Findin' Yesterdays)Mel Tillis1925Love Lifted MeKenny Rogers1115Love RevivalMel Tillis2317Lovin' Somebody on a Rainy NightLaCosta1536Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be CowboysEd Bruce3620A Mansion on the HillMichael Martin Murphey128Me and Ole C.B.Dave Dudley159Mental RevengeMel Tillis54Misty BlueBillie Jo Spears2040Mr. DoodlesDonna Fargo14—My PrayerNarvel Felts2417Negatory RomanceTom T. Hall1828Never Did Like WhiskeyBillie Jo Spears1637The Night Time and My BabyJoe Stampley2317Oh, Sweet TemptationsGary Stewart32One of These DaysEmmylou Harris74Overnight SensationMickey Gilley2616ParadiseLynn Anderson107Peanuts and DiamondsBill Anderson143The Prisoner's SongSonny James2026Red, White and BlueLoretta Lynn17—Redneck! (The Redneck National Anthem)Vernon Oxford26Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming)Willie Nelson17—Sad Country SongThom Bresh10—Save Your Kisses for MeMargo Smith1814See You on SundayGlen Campbell22She Never Knew MeDon Williams126She'll Throw Stones at YouFreddie Hart813Show Me a ManT. G. Sheppard2012Silver Wings and Golden RingsBillie Jo Spears1010Since I Fell for YouCharlie Rich1411Solitary ManT. G. Sheppard1027Somebody Hold Me (Until She Passes By)Narvel Felts95Sometimes I Talk in My SleepRandy Cornor537Standing Room OnlyBarbara Mandrell413StrangerJohnny Duncan1333Sun Comin' UpNat Stuckey22Suspicious MindsWaylon Jennings and Jessi Colter12—The Sweetest GiftLinda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris7—Take My Breath AwayMargo Smith18—Teardrops in My HeartRex Allen, Jr.10—Thank God I've Got YouThe Statler Brothers11—That Look in Her EyesFreddie Hart2717That'll Be the DayLinda Ronstadt1627That's What Friends Are ForBarbara Mandrell72That's What Made Me Love YouBill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner198There Won't Be No Country Music(There Won't Be No Rock 'n' Roll)C. W. McCall2114Think SummerRoy Clark1125The Tracks of My TearsLinda Ronstadt2910Truck Drivin' ManRed Steagall74Walk SoftlyBilly "Crash" Craddock53What I've Got in MindBillie Jo Spears65When Something Is Wrong with My BabySonny James23When the Tingle Becomes a ChillLoretta Lynn1631Whiskey Talkin'Joe Stampley2213Wichita JailCharlie Daniels13—The Wild Side of LifeFreddy Fender13—The WinnerBobby Bare1316Without Your Love (Mr. Jordan)Charlie Ross1617You Are So BeautifulRay Stevens1042You Could Know as Much About a StrangerGene Watson44You Rubbed It in All WrongBilly "Crash" Craddock33You've Got Me to Hold On ToTanya Tucker1319Your Picture in the PaperThe Statler Brothers
Singles released by Canadian artists
USCANSingleArtist—16Baby PicturesChris Nielsen8213Big Big WorldRonnie Prophet—19Bobbie's TrainsRon McLeod—11Breaking Up with BrendaCanadian Zephyr—9California DreamColin Butler195The CallAnne Murray—17Did I Forget to Tell HerJerry Palmer—7Feelin' Kinda Lucky TonightRay Materick—13Go GentlyDianne Leigh4118Golden OldieAnne Murray—3Good Ol' Fashion MemoriesDick Damron—19He Loves Me When He's Got the TimePost Family—17Honest LoveRonnie Kartman—13The HookerGeorge Rowsell—19I Wanna Be BadJulie Lynn—15If You Don't LaughHank Smith—11JessePatti MacDonnell—9Let Me Do Something LordBlake Emmons—8Lisa MaeOrval Prophet—10Lost in a Love SongChristopher Ward—12Lovin' You from a DistanceMercey Brothers—15Mama's VoiceR. Harlan Smith—15Midnight FlightThe Good Brothers—12Mornings Breaking Over CaliforniaBrian Austin—3Mule Skinner BluesJerry Palmer—13My Love for YouNewman Sisters—8Not So Far AwayDonna Moon—20Old Loves Never DieMercey Brothers—8Outlaw HeroesRoy Payne—9Rainin' in My HeartRonnie Burla—15Rusty Come BackR. Harlan Smith—20Sadie the Cleaning LadyCarlton Showband3613Shine OnRonnie Prophet—20That's the Kind of Man I AmThe Good Brothers249That's What I Get (For Doin' My Own Thinkin')Ray Griff2210ThingsAnne Murray—19Traveling Road Show BandTony White—13Two of a KindBurton & Honeyman—15Universal GirlR. Harlan Smith—14You Know I Want YouChris Nielsen
Top Albums
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!width="200"|Album
!width="150"|Artist
!width="75"|Record Label
|-
|All I Can Do
|Dolly Parton
|RCA
|-
|Come on Over
|Olivia Newton-John
|MCA
|-
|Crystal
|Crystal Gayle
|United Artists
|-
|Crystal Lady
|Olivia Newton-John
|MCA
|-
|Dave & Sugar
|Dave & Sugar
|RCA
|-
|Don't Stop Believin'
|Olivia Newton-John
|MCA
|-
|Golden Ring
|George Jones and Tammy Wynette
|Epic
|-
|Harmony
|Don Williams
|ABC
|-
|Here's Some Love
|Tanya Tucker
|MCA
|-
|Hotel California
|Eagles
|Asylum
|-
|Lovin' and Learnin'
|Tanya Tucker
|MCA
|-
|One Piece at a Time
|Johnny Cash
|Columbia
|-
|Sometimes
|Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner
|MCA
|-
|The Sound in Your Mind
|Willie Nelson
|Columbia
|-
|Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
|The Eagles
|Asylum
|-
|The Troublemaker
|Willie Nelson
|Columbia
|-
|Wanted! The Outlaws
||Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter
|RCA
|-
|What I've Got in Mind|Billie Jo Spears
|United Artists
|}
Other new albums
AlbumArtistRecord Label2020 VisionRonnie MilsapRCAAlone AgainGeorge JonesEpicThe Best of Johnny DuncanJohnny DuncanColumbiaI'm Not EasyBillie Jo SpearsUnited ArtistsIf You're Ever In TexasFreddy FenderABC-DotJust For the RecordRay StevensWarner Bros.L. A. SessionsBrenda LeeMCALiveRonnie MilsapRCALynn Anderson's Greatest Hits, Volume IILynn AndersonColumbiaMercy, Ain't Love GoodJean ShepardUnited ArtistsPeanuts and Diamonds and Other JewelsBill AndersonMCARock 'n' CountryFreddy FenderABC-DotSong BirdMargo SmithWarner Bros.Sunday Morning with Charley PrideCharley PrideRCA VictorThinkin' of a RendezvousJohnny DuncanColumbiaThis Is Barbara MandrellBarbara MandrellABC-Dot'Til I Can Make It on My OwnTammy WynetteEpicYour Cheatin' HeartFreddy FenderABC-Dot
Births
March 17 — Kiefer Thompson, of Thompson Square.
June 18 — Blake Shelton, neotraditionalist of the 2000s.
June 18 — busbee (born Michael Busbee), songwriter and producer of the 2010s. (died 2019)
July 17 – Luke Bryan, singer-songwriter who rose to fame with songs like "Someone Else Calling You Baby" and "I Don't Want This Night to End".
October 19 — Cyndi Thomson, female vocalist who enjoyed brief fame in the early 2000s.
October 30 — Kassidy Osborn, member of SHeDAISY.
November 26 — Joe Nichols, neotraditionalist of the 2000s.
December 7 – Sunny Sweeney, female vocalist of the 2010s, with hits like "From a Table Away."
Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees
Paul Cohen (1908–1970)
Kitty Wells (1919–2012)
Major awards
Grammy Awards
Best Female Country Vocal Performance — Elite Hotel, Emmylou Harris
Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "(I'm a) Stand by My Woman Man", Ronnie Milsap
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "The End is Not in Sight (The Cowboy Tune)", Amazing Rhythm Aces
Best Country Instrumental Performance — Chester and Lester, Chet Atkins and Les Paul
Best Country Song — "Broken Lady", Larry Gatlin (Performer: Larry Gatlin)
Juno Awards
Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Murray McLauchlan
Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Anne Murray
Country Group or Duo of the Year — Mercey Brothers
Academy of Country Music
Entertainer of the Year — Mickey Gilley
Song of the Year — "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time", Baker Knight (Performer: Mickey Gilley)
Single of the Year — "Bring It On Home to Me", Mickey Gilley
Album of the Year — Gilley's Smoking, Mickey Gilley
Top Male Vocalist — Mickey Gilley
Top Female Vocalist — Crystal Gayle
Top Vocal Duo — Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
Top New Male Vocalist — Moe Bandy
Top New Female Vocalist — Billie Jo Spears
Country Music Association
Entertainer of the Year — Mel Tillis
Song of the Year — "Rhinestone Cowboy", Larry Weiss (Performer: Glen Campbell)
Single of the Year — "Good Hearted Woman", Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
Album of the Year — Wanted! The Outlaws'', Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser and Jessi Colter
Male Vocalist of the Year — Ronnie Milsap
Female Vocalist of the Year — Dolly Parton
Vocal Duo of the Year — Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
Vocal Group of the Year — The Statler Brothers
Instrumentalist of the Year — Hargus "Pig" Robbins
Instrumental Group of the Year — Roy Clark and Buck Trent
Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Country stars who got a star on the walk of fame in 1976
Johnny Cash
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
External links
Country Music Hall of Fame
Country
Category:Country music by year