1953 in country music

none August 2025 This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1953. 1953 1953 country music Events January 1 — Hank Williams, due to play a New Year's Day show in Canton, Ohio, dies sometime after midnight in the rear seat of his Cadillac, somewhere between Knoxville, Tennessee, and Oak Hill, West Virginia. He was 29. Stories conflict on what happened in the final hours of his life, but what is not disputed is that his death gave rise to the legend. In the 60-plus years following his death, Williams' songs would be covered countless times, singers and songwriters would directly cite him as an influence, and his son – Hank Williams, Jr. - then 3, would become a star in his own right. The last song released in his lifetime was "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive."April 2008 Top hits of the year Number one hits United States (as certified by Billboard) DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1Spec. NoteJanuary 10MidnightRed Foley1Foley's first Billboard Number One since "Goodnight Irene" in 1950.January 24I'll Go On AloneMarty Robbins2ref_A[A], ref_2[2]January 24I'll Never Get Out of This World AliveHank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys1The first of four posthumous Number Ones recorded by Hank Williams.January 31No Help WantedThe Carlisles4ref_B[B]January 31Eddy's SongEddy Arnold3February 7I Let the Stars Get In My EyesGoldie Hill3ref_B[B] With this song, Goldie Hill became the second solo female artist to have a Number One country single.February 21Kaw-LigaHank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys13ref_1[1]April 11Your Cheatin' HeartHank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys6ref_2[2]May 9Mexican JoeJim Reeves9ref_A[A], ref_2[2]June 6Take These Chains from My HeartHank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys4ref_2[2]July 11It's Been So LongWebb Pierce8ref_2[2]August 1Rub-a-Dub-DubHank Thompson and His Brazo Valley Boys3ref_2[2]August 22Hey JoeCarl Smith8ref_2[2]August 29A Dear John LetterFerlin Husky and Jean Shepard6ref_B[B] – Jean Shepardref_2[2]October 17I Forgot More Than You'll Ever KnowThe Davis Sisters8ref_B[B], ref_2[2] The first Billboard Number One by a female country act, a record that would remain until The Judds with "Mama He's Crazy" in 1984. This song became a posthumous Number One hit after the death of member Betty Jack Davis in a car accident in August.November 21There Stands the GlassWebb Pierce12ref_2[2]December 12CaribbeanMitchell Torok2ref_B[B]December 19Let Me Be the OneHank Locklin3ref_A[A], ref_2[2] Notes 1endnote_1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard. 2endnote_2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot. Aendnote_A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist. Bendnote_B^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist. Note: Several songs were simultaneous No. 1 hits on the separate "Most Played in Juke Boxes," "Most Played by Jockeys" and "National Best Sellers" charts. Other major hits USSingleArtist5Bumming AroundJimmy Dean5Bumming AroundT. Texas Tyler4Crying in the ChapelRex Allen4Crying in the ChapelDarrell Glenn7Dear JoanJack Cardwell3Death of Hank WilliamsJack Cardwell9Divorce GrantedErnest Tubb6Do I Like It?Carl Smith8Don't Let the Stars Get in Your EyesRed Foley9Don't Throw Your Life AwayWebb Pierce3Fool Such as IHank Snow10For Now and AlwaysHank Snow4Forgive Me, JohnJean Shepard and Ferlin Husky4Free Home DemonstrationEddy Arnold4The Gal Who Invented Kissin'Hank Snow6Gambler's GuitarRusty Draper2Goin' SteadyFaron Young8Hey JoeKitty Wells8Hey, Mr. Cotton PickerTennessee Ernie Ford7(Honey, Baby, Hurry!) Bring Your Sweet Self Back to MeLefty Frizzell9Honeymoon on a Rocket ShipHank Snow6Hot ToddyRed Foley2 (How Much Is) That Hound Dog in the Window?Homer and Jethro4How's the World Treating YouEddy Arnold5I Can't Wait (For the Sun to Go Down)Faron Young5I Couldn't Keep from CryingMarty Robbins10I Found Out More Than You Ever KnewBetty Cody5I Haven't Got the HeartWebb Pierce10(I Just Had a Date) A Lover's QuarrelGeorge Morgan4I Won't Be Home No MoreHank Williams4I'll Go On AloneWebb Pierce3I'm an Old, Old ManLefty Frizzell2Is Zat You, MyrtleThe Carlisles7Just Wait 'Til I Get You AloneCarl Smith3Keep It a SecretSlim Whitman3KnotholeThe Carlisles4The Last WaltzWebb Pierce4Mama, Come Get Your Baby BoyEddy Arnold10Marriage of Mexican JoeCarolyn Bradshaw9No Help WantedHank Thompson7No Help Wanted #2Ernest Tubb8North WindSlim Whitman3Older and BolderEddy Arnold4Orchids Mean GoodbyeCarl Smith6Paying for That Back Street AffairKitty Wells7Satisfaction GuaranteedCarl Smith7Seven Lonely DaysBonnie Lou6Shake a HandRed Foley8Slaves of a Hopeless Love AffairRed Foley3Spanish Fire BallHank Snow6Tennessee Wig WalkBonnie Lou4That's All RightAutry Inman4That's Me Without YouWebb Pierce9That's Me Without YouSonny James9That's the Kind of Love I'm Looking ForCarl Smith7Till I Waltz Again with YouTommy Sosebee4Too Young to TangoSunrise Ruby2TrademarkCarl Smith7Weary Blues from Waitin'Hank Williams6When Mexican Joe Met Jole BlonHank Snow8Yesterday's GirlHank Thompson Births April 9 — Hal Ketchum, popular country artist of the early 1990s. (d. 2020) June 1 — Ronnie Dunn, one half of Brooks & Dunn. July 9 - David Ball - Singer-Songwriter prominent in the mid-1990s & early 2000's (Thinking Problem), (Riding With Private Malone) July 14 - Mike Henderson, singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his work with Chris Stapleton and the SteelDrivers (d. 2023) October 8 - Ricky Lee Phelps - Former lead singer of The Kentucky Headhunters (Dumas Walker), (Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine) November 4 – Van Stephenson, singer-songwriter and member of the 1990s group BlackHawk (d. 2001) Deaths January 1 — Hank Williams, 29, country music singing-songwriting giant and pioneer. Further reading 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. Country Category:Country music by year