1981 in country music

Last updated

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1981.

Contents

List of years in country music (table)

Events

No dates

Top hits of the year

Singles released by American artists

USCANSingleArtist
74 1959 John Anderson
16Acapulco Johnny Duncan
2041Alice Doesn't Love Here Anymore Bobby Goldsboro
11 All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down) Hank Williams, Jr.
119 All Roads Lead to You Steve Wariner
11 Am I Losing You Ronnie Milsap
11 Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground Willie Nelson
1010Any Which Way You Can Glen Campbell
1 Are You Happy Baby? Dottie West
106 The Baron Johnny Cash
327 Beautiful You The Oak Ridge Boys
15 Bet Your Heart on Me Johnny Lee
178Between This Time and the Next Time Gene Watson
36A Bridge That Just Won't Burn Conway Twitty
12 But You Know I Love You Dolly Parton
650 By Now Steve Wariner
44 Can I See You Tonight Tanya Tucker
4420Carolina (I Remember You) Charlie Daniels
16Cheatin's a Two Way Street Sammi Smith
8 Chicken Truck John Anderson
61 Crying Don McLean
1811 Crying in the Rain Tammy Wynette
12Cup of Tea Rex Allen, Jr. and Margo Smith
19 Darlin' Tom Jones
141 Dixie on My Mind Hank Williams, Jr.
1829Do I Have to Draw a Picture Billy Swan
14 Do You Love as Good as You Look The Bellamy Brothers
20Does She Wish She Was Single Again The Burrito Brothers
1348Don't Bother to Knock Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius
13Don't Forget Yourself The Statler Brothers
1647Don't Get Above Your Raisin' Ricky Skaggs
11Don't Look Now (But We Just Fell in Love) Eddy Arnold
536 Don't Wait on Me The Statler Brothers
1118 Don't You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me) Willie Nelson & Ray Price
1614 Down and Out George Strait
22 Down to My Last Broken Heart Janie Fricke
7 Dream of Me Vern Gosdin
113 Drifter Sylvia
11 Elvira The Oak Ridge Boys
63 Falling Again Don Williams
16Feedin' the Fire Zella Lehr
15 Feels So Right Alabama
1 Fire and Smoke Earl Thomas Conley
10 Following the Feeling Moe Bandy & Judy Bailey
6Fool by Your Side Dave & Sugar
19 Friends Razzy Bailey
14 Girls, Women and Ladies Ed Bruce
5Giving Up Easy Leon Everette
13Good Ol' Girls Sonny Curtis
259 Good Times Willie Nelson
17 Goodbye Marie Bobby Goldsboro
917 Grandma's Song Gail Davies
11 Guitar Man Elvis Presley
11 A Headache Tomorrow (Or a Heartache Tonight) Mickey Gilley
822 Headed for a Heartache Gary Morris
811 Heart on the Mend Sylvia
108 Hey Joe (Hey Moe) Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley
810 Hillbilly Girl with the Blues Lacy J. Dalton
1211Honky Tonk QueenMoe Bandy and Joe Stampley
230 Hooked on Music Mac Davis
1420 The House of the Rising Sun Dolly Parton
43 Hurricane Leon Everette
1638 Husbands and Wives David Frizzell and Shelly West
11 I Don't Need You Kenny Rogers
13 I Don't Think Love Ought to Be That Way Reba McEntire
13 I Feel Like Loving You Again T. G. Sheppard
17 I Have a Dream Cristy Lane
1120I Just Need You for Tonight Billy Crash Craddock
13 I Keep Coming Back Razzy Bailey
14 I Love a Rainy Night Eddie Rabbitt
1539I Love My TruckGlen Campbell
5411I Love You a Thousand WaysJohn Anderson
13 I Loved 'Em Every One T. G. Sheppard
13 I Should've Called Eddy Raven
23 I Still Believe in Waltzes Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn
129 I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink Merle Haggard
114 I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool Barbara Mandrell
48 I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me) Gail Davies
41 I'll Need Someone to Hold Me (When I Cry) Janie Fricke
9I'm Gonna Love You Back to Lovin' Me AgainJoe Stampley
1622(I'm Gonna) Put You Back on the RackDottie West
1828I'm Into Lovin' YouBilly Swan
42 I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal
(But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)
John Anderson
12 (I'm Settin') Fancy Free The Oak Ridge Boys
825 If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will) George Jones
1116If I Keep on Going CrazyLeon Everette
31 If I Needed You Emmylou Harris and Don Williams
12If You Go, I'll Follow You Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
6It Don't Hurt Me Half as BadRay Price
511 It's a Lovely, Lovely World Gail Davies
47 It's Now or Never John Schneider
16Just Like Me Terry Gregory
17Just One Time Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
1039Killin' Time Fred Knoblock and Susan Anton
97 Leonard Merle Haggard
721 Louisiana Saturday Night Mel McDaniel
1933Love Ain't Never Hurt NobodyBobby Goldsboro
13Love Dies Hard Randy Barlow
11 Love in the First Degree Alabama
137 Love Is Fair Barbara Mandrell
810Lovin' ArmsElvis Presley
22 Lovin' Her Was Easier
(Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)
Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
75Lovin' What Your Lovin' Does to MeLoretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
78 The Matador Sylvia
2312Maybe I Should Have Been ListeningGene Watson
1012 Memphis Fred Knoblock
11 Midnight Hauler Razzy Bailey
810A Million Old Goodbyes Mel Tillis
42 Miracles Don Williams
27 Miss Emily's Picture John Conlee
117 Mona Lisa Willie Nelson
101 Mr. Sandman Emmylou Harris
14 My Baby Thinks He's a Train Rosanne Cash
13 My Favorite Memory Merle Haggard
1525My Woman Loves the Devil Out of MeMoe Bandy
11 Never Been So Loved (In All My Life) Charley Pride
11 9 to 5 Dolly Parton
11 Old Flame Alabama
11 Older Women Ronnie McDowell
10One-Night FeverMel Tillis
12 Party Time T. G. Sheppard
2320Perfect Fool Debby Boone
34 Pickin' Up Strangers Johnny Lee
121 Pride Janie Fricke
34 Prisoner of Hope Johnny Lee
146 Queen of Hearts Juice Newton
417 Rainbow Stew Merle Haggard
4319 Ready for the Times to Get Better Joe Sun
19 Rest Your Love on Me Conway Twitty
1929Rich Man Terri Gibbs
1017 Right in the Palm of Your Hand Mel McDaniel
72 Roll On Mississippi Charley Pride
8Scratch My Back (And Whisper in My Ear)Razzy Bailey
16 Seven Year Ache Rosanne Cash
52 Share Your Love with Me Kenny Rogers
16She Belongs to Everyone but MeThe Burrito Brothers
17She's Steppin' Out Con Hunley
5016 Should I Do It Tanya Tucker
7 Silent Treatment Earl Thomas Conley
42 Sleepin' with the Radio On Charly McClain
101 Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone) John Denver
2038 Somebody Led Me Away Loretta Lynn
82 Somebody's Knockin' Terri Gibbs
13Somethin' on the Radio Jacky Ward
11 Southern Rains Mel Tillis
11 Step by Step Eddie Rabbitt
12 Still Doin' Time George Jones
1711Storms Never Last Jessi Colter and Waylon Jennings
513 Surround Me with Love Charly McClain
173 Take It Easy Crystal Gayle
22 Takin' It Easy Lacy J. Dalton
742Teach Me to Cheat The Kendalls
9 A Texas State of Mind David Frizzell and Shelly West
122 Texas Women Hank Williams, Jr.
1312Them Good Old Boys Are BadJohn Schneider
11 (There's) No Gettin' Over Me Ronnie Milsap
12They Could Put Me in JailThe Bellamy Brothers
46Thirty-Nine and Holdin' Jerry Lee Lewis
18 Tight Fittin' Jeans Conway Twitty
58 Today All Over Again Reba McEntire
11 Too Many Lovers Crystal Gayle
6 Unwound George Strait
227 Wandering Eyes Ronnie McDowell
13 What Are We Doin' in Love Dottie West
428 What Are We Doin' Lonesome Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers Band
1215 What I Had with You John Conlee
11What's New with YouCon Hunley
1412 (When You Fall in Love) Everything's a Waltz Ed Bruce
1821Whiskey Chasin'Joe Stampley
1012 Whisper Lacy J. Dalton
12 Who's Cheatin' Who Charly McClain
106 The Wild Side of Life/
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
Jessi Colter and Waylon Jennings
1915Willie Jones Bobby Bare
20Wind Is Bound to ChangeLarry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
211 Wish You Were Here Barbara Mandrell
32 The Woman in Me Crystal Gayle
1825 You Better Move On George Jones and Johnny Paycheck
11 You Don't Know Me Mickey Gilley
20You (Make Me Wonder Why) Deborah Allen
916 You May See Me Walkin' Ricky Skaggs
716 You're My Favorite Star The Bellamy Brothers
14You're the Best Kieran Kane
113 You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma David Frizzell and Shelly West
13 Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad Billie Jo Spears
7 Your Memory Steve Wariner

Singles released by Canadian artists

USCANSingleArtist
10Another Broken Hearted Melody Family Brown
11 Blessed Are the Believers Anne Murray
15Breaking and Entering Carroll Baker
11Crazy Heart Laura Vinson
19Every Story in the Book Ronnie Prophet
14Four High Cards Peter Chipman
8High and Dry C-Weed Band
14Honky Tonk Fever Harold MacIntyre
18How Deep in Love Am I Eddie Eastman
1 I Never Figured on This David Thompson
15I'm Leanin' on the Devil Tonight John Winters
91 It's All I Can Do Anne Murray
577It's Really Love This TimeFamily Brown
16Joanne Lee Marlow
5King of Fools Wayne Rostad
10Lovin' Thru the Early HoursLee Marlow
8212Mama What Does Cheatin' MeanCarroll Baker
19The Moondancer Ian Tyson
3Nashville Just Wrote (Another Cheatin' Song) Midnite Rodeo Band
9Not Living, Not Dying Jerry Palmer
17Ode to an Outlaw's Lady Terry Carisse
18Ribbon of GoldFamily Brown
19Satisfied Mind Bill Hersh
8Shoppin' Bag Lady Gurney Anderson
8 (Stuck In) Lodi Ronnie Hawkins
20Sweet Harmony Mercey Brothers
12The Time It Takes to Leave Canadian Zephyr
8414 Too Much, Too Little, Too Late Mary Bailey
459Wasn't That a Party The Rovers
16Watching It DieCanadian Zephyr
165 We Don't Have to Hold Out Anne Murray
15Where the Water Meets the Sky Coyote
7WindshipTerry Carisse
8Wonderin' If Willy Marie Bottrell

Top new album releases

USAlbumArtistRecord Label
4 Barbara Mandrell Live Barbara Mandrell MCA
24 The Baron Johnny Cash Columbia
9Bet Your Heart on Me Johnny Lee Full Moon
3 Big City Merle Haggard Epic
6Carryin' on the Family Names David Frizzell & Shelly West Warner Bros./Viva
10 Christmas Kenny Rogers Liberty
6 Cimarron Emmylou Harris Warner Bros.
19Darlin' Tom Jones Mercury
10 Drifter Sylvia RCA
5 Especially for You Don Williams MCA
5 Evangeline Emmylou Harris Warner Bros.
1 Fancy Free The Oak Ridge Boys MCA
1 Feels So Right Alabama RCA
19 Fire & Smoke Earl Thomas Conley RCA
6Good Time Lovin' Man Ronnie McDowell Epic
8 Greatest Hits Charley Pride RCA
8Greatest Hits Jim Reeves & Patsy Cline RCA
1 Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be) Willie Nelson Columbia
6Guitar Man Elvis Presley RCA
23Hey Joe! Hey Moe! Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley Columbia
5 Hollywood, Tennessee Crystal Gayle Columbia
7 I Love 'Em All T. G. Sheppard Warner Bros./Curb
24 I'm Countryfied Mel McDaniel Capitol
25 John Anderson 2 John Anderson Warner Bros.
4 Juice Juice Newton Capitol
11 Leather and Lace Waylon Jennings & Jessi Colter RCA
8Makin' Friends Razzy Bailey RCA
20Me and My R.C. Louise Mandrell & R. C. Bannon RCA
19Midnight Crazy Mac Davis Casablanca
5 Mr. T Conway Twitty MCA
10Not Guilty Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers Columbia
8Now or Never John Schneider Scotti Brothers
6 Out Where the Bright Lights Are Glowing Ronnie Milsap RCA
5 The Pressure Is On Hank Williams, Jr. Elektra/Curb
20Rainbow Stew: Live at Anaheim Stadium Merle Haggard MCA
17 Roll On Mississippi Charley Pride RCA
2 Rowdy Hank Williams Jr. Elektra/Curb
1 Seven Year Ache Rosanne Cash Columbia
1 Share Your Love Kenny Rogers Liberty
7 Some Days Are Diamonds John Denver RCA
6Somebody's Knockin' Terri Gibbs MCA
1 Somewhere Over the Rainbow Willie Nelson Columbia
1 Step by Step Eddie Rabbitt Elektra
3 Still the Same Ole Me George Jones Epic
9Surround Me with Love Charly McClain Epic
12Takin' It Easy Lacy J. Dalton Columbia
1 There's No Gettin' Over Me Ronnie Milsap RCA
17Town & Country Ray Price Dimension
23 Urban Chipmunk The Chipmunks RCA
2 Waitin' for the Sun to Shine Ricky Skaggs Epic
4 Where Do You Go When You Dream Anne Murray Capitol
22 With Love John Conlee MCA
5 Wild West Dottie West Liberty
9 Years Ago The Statler Brothers Mercury
19You Don't Know Me Mickey Gilley Epic

Other top albums

USAlbumArtistRecord Label
43As Is Bobby Bare Columbia
59Ask Any Woman Con Hunley Warner Bros.
49The Best of Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis Elektra
38Between This Time and the Next Time Gene Watson MCA
54Bobby Goldsboro Bobby Goldsboro Curb
41Christmas CountryVarious ArtistsElektra
34Christmas at Gilley's Mickey Gilley Epic
34 Christmas Wishes Anne Murray Capitol
52Concrete Cowboys The Concrete Cowboys Band Excelsoir
45Dakota Stephanie Winslow Warner Bros./Curb
26Desperate Dreams Eddy Raven Elektra
47 Elvis-Greatest Hits, Volume One Elvis Presley RCA
43Encore George Jones Epic
52Encore Charly McClain Epic
44Encore Tammy Wynette Epic
43 Fragile – Handle with Care Cristy Lane Liberty
47Greatest Hits Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius RCA
35Greatest Hits Dave & Sugar RCA
42 Heart to Heart Reba McEntire Mercury
43 High Time Dottie West Liberty
30Hurricane Leon Everette RCA
28I Ain't Honky Tonkin' No More Joe Sun Elektra
35 I Have a Dream Cristy Lane Liberty
40 I Just Came Home to Count the Memories John Anderson Warner Bros.
33 I Lie Loretta Lynn MCA
40I'm a Lady Terri Gibbs MCA
33I'm Gonna Love You Back to Loving Me Again Joe Stampley Epic
56If I Keep On Going Crazy Leon Everette RCA
67 Invictus (Means) Unconquered David Allan Coe Columbia
49 It's the World Gone Crazy Glen Campbell Capitol
52Just Like Me Terry Gregory Handshake
54King of the Road Boxcar Willie Main Street
42Lettin' You In on a Feelin' The Kendalls Mercury
30Live! Hoyt Axton Jeremiah
36Lovin' Her Was Easier Tompall & the Glaser Brothers Elektra
56Mel & Nancy Mel Tillis & Nancy Sinatra Elektra
39 Minstrel Man Willie Nelson RCA
43More Good 'Uns Jerry Clower MCA
40Mr. Hag Told My Story Johnny Paycheck Columbia
42Mundo Earwood Mundo Earwood Excelsoir
64My Turn Donna Hazard Excelsoir
33The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (Soundtrack)Various ArtistsMirage
57Old Loves Never Die Gene Watson MCA
50Once You Were Mine Dottie West RCA
29One to One Ed Bruce MCA
31Pleasure Dave Rowland & Sugar Elektra
48Rodeo Romeo Moe Bandy Columbia
47 Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell Warner Bros.
49 Savin' It Up Debby Boone Warner Bros./Curb
48 Should I Do It Tanya Tucker MCA
42 Sleeping with Your Memory Janie Fricke Columbia
46 Songs for the Mama That Tried Merle Haggard MCA
26 Strait Country George Strait MCA
33Take This Job and Shove It! (Soundtrack)Various ArtistsEpic
59A Tribute to Kris Ray Price Columbia
28Two's a Party Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn MCA
30Urban Cowboy II (Soundtrack)Various ArtistsFull Moon
38Wasn't That a Party The Rovers Cleveland Int'l.
39White Christmas John Schneider Scotti Brothers
40 A Woman's Heart Crystal Gayle Liberty

On television

Regular series

Specials

Births

Deaths

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Major awards

Grammy Awards

Juno Awards

Academy of Country Music

Country Music Association

Further reading

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