1978 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1978.

1978 in music
By location
By genre
By topic
List of years in country music (table)
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Events

  • March 4 — The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) telecasts the first complete Grand Ole Opry show from the new Grand Ole Opry House as it happened from 6–9 pm. The show featured Del Reeves, The Willis Brothers, Billy Grammer, Lonzo and Oscar, Bill Monroe, Porter Wagoner, Roy Acuff, The Crook Brothers, The Fruit Jar Drinkers, Ronnie Milsap, Grandpa Jones, George Hamilton IV and others. The show would run over about 18 minutes the first night. The telecast would repeat from 1979 to 1981.
  • March 25 — "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson becomes the last song for 12 years to spend four weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart. There wouldn't be another four-week No. 1 until "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" by Randy Travis in April 1990. The trend of fewer (and shorter) multi-week runs at No. 1 on Billboard, even for the year's biggest hits, is the result of changes in radio programming and the magazine's reporting methods.
  • May 6 — Bob Kingsley takes over hosting duties of "American Country Countdown," a stint that will last 27 years. He had been a producer of the radio countdown show since 1974.
  • May 24 — The United States Postal Service issues a 13-cent commemorative stamp honoring Jimmie Rodgers, one of the genre's pioneers. The Rodgers stamp, designed by artist Jim Sharpe, is the first in the Postal Service's long-running Performing Arts Series.
  • September — The Donna Fargo Show premieres in television syndication. The new show's debut comes around the same time Fargo was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She receives successful medical treatment and with her husband's help, makes it back to excellent health.
  • October 4 — One of Nashville's most mysterious crimes involves the reported abduction and beating of Tammy Wynette. Media reports said that Wynette had been abducted by a masked man at a shopping center before the beating. No suspects were ever named or arrested. While Wynette would insist the story was true, her daughter raised doubts, claiming the incident was fabricated to cover physical abuse from her newlywed husband, songwriter/producer George Richey.
  • October 21 — Fans of Mel Street are saddened when the honky tonk-styled singer, who had long battled clinical depression and alcoholism, committed suicide on his 43rd birthday. He had signed a recording contract with Mercury Records earlier in the year.

Top hits of the year

Number one hits

United States

(as certified by Billboard)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 CAN peak Spec. Note
January 7 Take This Job and Shove It Johnny Paycheck 2 [C]
January 21 What a Difference You've Made in My Life Ronnie Milsap 1
January 28 Out of My Head and Back in My Bed Loretta Lynn 2 [B]
February 11 I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love Larry Gatlin 1 3 [A]
February 18 Don't Break the Heart That Loves You Margo Smith 2 5 [A]
March 4 Mammas Don't Let Your Babies
Grow Up to Be Cowboys 		Waylon Jennings
and Willie Nelson 		4 [1]
April 1 Ready for the Times to Get Better Crystal Gayle 1
April 8 Someone Loves You Honey Charley Pride 2
April 22 Every Time Two Fools Collide Kenny Rogers
and Dottie West 		2 [A] – Dottie West
May 6 It's All Wrong, But It's All Right Dolly Parton 2
May 20 She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime) Johnny Duncan 1 [B]
May 27 Do You Know You Are My Sunshine The Statler Brothers 2 5 [A]
June 10 Georgia on My Mind Willie Nelson 1
June 17 Two More Bottles of Wine Emmylou Harris 1
June 24 I'll Be True to You The Oak Ridge Boys 1 8 [A]
July 1 It Only Hurts for a Little While Margo Smith 1 [B]
July 8 I Believe in You Mel Tillis 1
July 15 Only One Love in My Life Ronnie Milsap 3
August 5 Love or Something Like It Kenny Rogers 1
August 12 You Don't Love Me Anymore Eddie Rabbitt 1 3
August 19 Talking in Your Sleep Crystal Gayle 2
September 2 Blue Skies Willie Nelson 1
September 9 I've Always Been Crazy Waylon Jennings 3
September 30 Heartbreaker Dolly Parton 3
October 21 Tear Time Dave & Sugar 1 3
October 28 Let's Take the Long Way Around the World Ronnie Milsap 1
November 4 Sleeping Single In a Double Bed Barbara Mandrell 3 [A]
November 25 Sweet Desire/Old Fashioned Love The Kendalls 1 2
December 2 I Just Want to Love You Eddie Rabbitt 1 2
December 9 On My Knees Charlie Rich
and Janie Fricke 		1 2 [B] – Charlie Rich
[A] – Janie Fricke
December 16 The Gambler Kenny Rogers 3 2
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
  • A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist to date.

Canada

(as certified by RPM)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 U.S. peak Spec. Note
January 14 Take This Job and Shove It Johnny Paycheck 1 [C]
January 21 My Way Elvis Presley 2 2
February 4 What a Difference You've Made in My Life Ronnie Milsap 2
February 18 Out of My Head and Back in My Bed Loretta Lynn 1 [B]
February 25 You're the One The Oak Ridge Boys 2 2 [A]
March 11 To Daddy Emmylou Harris 1 3
March 18 Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys Waylon Jennings and
Willie Nelson 		3 [A] – Willie Nelson
April 8 I Might as Well Believe (I'll Live Forever) Carroll Baker 1 —
April 15 Do I Love You (Yes in Every Way) Donna Fargo 1 2 [B]
April 22 Ready for the Times to Get Better Crystal Gayle 1
April 29 Someone Loves You Honey Charley Pride 2
May 13 Every Time Two Fools Collide Kenny Rogers and
Dottie West 		1
May 20 It's All Wrong, But It's All Right Dolly Parton 1
May 27 She Can Put Her Shoes Under my Bed (Anytime) Johnny Duncan 1 [B]
June 3 Georgia on My Mind Willie Nelson 2
June 17 Night Time Magic Larry Gatlin 1 2 [A]
June 24 Two More Bottles of Wine Emmylou Harris 1
July 1 I Can't Wait Any Longer Bill Anderson 2 4 [B]
July 15 Portrait in the Window Carroll Baker 1 — [1]
July 22 It Only Hurts for a Little While Margo Smith 1 [C]
July 29 I Believe in You Mel Tillis 1
August 5 You Needed Me Anne Murray 1 4
August 12 Homefolks Bob Murphy & Big Buffalo 1 — [C]
August 19 Love or Something Like It Kenny Rogers 1
August 26 Only One Love in My Life Ronnie Milsap 1
September 2 Talking in Your Sleep Crystal Gayle 1
September 9 When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone) Charley Pride 1 3
September 16 Boogie Grass Band Conway Twitty 1 2
September 23 Blue Skies Willie Nelson 1
September 30 I've Always Been Crazy Waylon Jennings 1
October 7 Heartbreaker Dolly Parton 3
October 28 It's Been a Great Afternoon Merle Haggard 1 2
  • RPM didn't publish on November 4 or November 11.
November 18 Let's Take the Long Way Around the World Ronnie Milsap 1
November 25 Cryin' Again The Oak Ridge Boys 1 3
December 2 Sleeping Single In a Double Bed Barbara Mandrell 2 [A]
December 16 That's What You Do to Me Charly McClain 1 8 [A]
December 23 Hooked on a Feeling Carroll Baker 2 —
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by RPM.
  • A^ First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.

Other major hits

Singles released by American artists

US CAN Single Artist
16 12 '57 Chevrolet Billie Jo Spears
4 2 Ain't No California Mel Tillis
3 4 All of Me Willie Nelson
21 10 Another Fine Mess Glen Campbell
10 8 Another Goodbye Donna Fargo
2 10 Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight Kenny Rogers and Dottie West
21 19 Baby It's You Janie Fricke
20 — Baby, Last Night Made My Day Susie Allanson
17 13 Back to the Love Susie Allanson
6 8 Bartender's Blues George Jones
36 16 Be Your Own Best Friend Ray Stevens
10 2 Beautiful Woman Charlie Rich
18 — Bedroom Eyes Don Drumm
20 34 Better Me Tommy Overstreet
13 17 Break My Mind Vern Gosdin
13 12 Bucket to the South Ava Barber
8 25 The Bull and the Beaver Merle Haggard and Leona Williams
16 18 Can You Fool Glen Campbell
18 20 Caribbean Sonny James
4 2 Come a Little Bit Closer Johnny Duncan and Janie Fricke
10 44 Come on In Jerry Lee Lewis
17 28 Come See Me and Come Lonely Dottie West
16 9 Come to Me Roy Head
23 16 Country Lovin' Eddy Arnold
11 14 Cowboys Don't Get Lucky All the Time Gene Watson
20 16 Danger Heartbreak Ahead Zella Lehr
7 9 Daylight T. G. Sheppard
13 3 Do It Again Tonight Larry Gatlin
13 18 Don't Ever Say Goodbye T. G. Sheppard
12 5 Easy From Now On Emmylou Harris
11 18 Fadin' In, Fadin' Out Tommy Overstreet
20 36 Four Little Letters Stella Parton
10 15 The First Time Billy "Crash" Craddock
7 8 Friend, Lover, Wife Johnny Paycheck
6 2 From Seven Till Ten Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
17 6 Georgia in a Jug Johnny Paycheck
11 12 God Made Love Mel McDaniel
4 9 Gotta Quit Lookin' at You Baby Dave & Sugar
16 12 Grandest Lady of Them All Conway Twitty
19 — Handcuffed to a Heartache Mary K. Miller
2 9 Hearts on Fire Eddie Rabbitt
4 7 Hello Mexico (And Adios Baby to You) Johnny Duncan
9 43 Here Comes the Hurt Again Mickey Gilley
15 26 Here Comes the Reason I Live Ronnie McDowell
20 — Here in Love Dottsy
20 33 High and Dry Joe Sun
20 14 Hopelessly Devoted to You Olivia Newton-John
22 6 How Can I Leave You Again John Denver
14 14 Hubba Hubba Billy "Crash" Craddock
4 4 I Cheated on a Good Woman's Love Billy "Crash" Craddock
8 4 I Don't Need a Thing at All Gene Watson
15 6 I Fought the Law Hank Williams, Jr.
14 23 I Just Want to Be Your Everything Connie Smith
5 5 I Love You, I Love You, I Love You Ronnie McDowell
10 7 I Love You (What Can I Say) Jerry Reed
18 17 I Promised Her a Rainbow Bobby Borchers
8 16 I Never Will Marry Linda Ronstadt
13 29 I Wish I Loved Somebody Else Tom T. Hall
12 23 I Would Like to See You Again Johnny Cash
10 — I'll Find It Where I Can Jerry Lee Lewis
11 41 I'll Just Take It Out in Love George Jones
11 27 I'll Never Be Free Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius
2 2 I'm Always on a Mountain When I Fall Merle Haggard
10 — I'm Gonna Love You Anyway Cristy Lane
26 20 I'm Leaving It All Up to You Freddy Fender
7 10 I've Got a Winner in You Don Williams
17 26 I've Got to Go Billie Jo Spears
9 — If I Had a Cheating Heart Mel Street
6 7 If the World Ran Out of Love Tonight Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius
5 5 If You Can Touch Her at All Willie Nelson
6 9 If You've Got Ten Minutes (Let's Fall in Love) Joe Stampley
2 2 It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' to Me The Kendalls
10 2 It's a Heartache Bonnie Tyler
13 19 Let Me Be Your Baby Charly McClain
9 — Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin' Kenny O'Dell
3 6 Little Things Mean a Lot Margo Smith
18 9 Lonely Hearts Club Billie Jo Spears
8 14 Lonely Street Rex Allen, Jr.
26 19 Love, Love, Love Sandy Posey
7 13 Love Me with All Your Heart (Cuando Caliente El Sol) Johnny Rodriguez
3 6 A Lover's Question Jacky Ward
13 5 May the Force Be with You Always Tom T. Hall
7 14 Maybe Baby Susie Allanson
4 3 Middle Age Crazy Jerry Lee Lewis
13 27 Mister D.J. T. G. Sheppard
9 30 Never My Love Vern Gosdin
8 4 No, No, No (I'd Rather Be Free) Rex Allen, Jr.
10 18 No Sleep Tonight Randy Barlow
19 — Now You See 'Em, Now You Don't Roy Head
14 29 Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You Joe Sun
8 6 One Sided Conversation Gene Watson
7 4 Penny Arcade Cristy Lane
6 28 Pittsburgh Stealers The Kendalls
17 17 Please Don't Play a Love Song Marty Robbins
12 4 Please Help Me, I'm Falling (in Love with You) Janie Fricke
8 7 The Power of Positive Drinkin' Mickey Gilley
8 3 Puttin' in Overtime at Home Charlie Rich
19 21 Ragamuffin Man Donna Fargo
3 2 Rake and Ramblin' Man Don Williams
17 — Red Hot Memory Kenny Dale
6 7 Red Wine and Blue Memories Joe Stampley
6 8 Return to Me Marty Robbins
11 9 Rhythm of the Rain Jacky Ward
5 6 Rose Colored Glasses John Conlee
12 10 Running Kind Merle Haggard
16 28 Shake Me I Rattle Cristy Lane
13 14 Shine on Me (The Sun Still Shines When It Rains) John Wesley Ryles
11 8 Sleep Tight Good Night Man Bobby Bare
19 75 Slippin' Away The Bellamy Brothers
10 — Slow and Easy Randy Barlow
13 15 Soft Lights and Hard Country Music Moe Bandy
17 45 Some I Wrote The Statler Brothers
9 15 Something to Brag About Mary Kay Place and Willie Nelson
12 10 Spring Fever Loretta Lynn
14 20 Standard Lie Number One Stella Parton
16 — Starting All Over Again Don Gibson
20 25 Sweet Fantasy Bobby Borchers
8 6 Sweet, Sweet Smile The Carpenters
13 10 Talk to Me Freddy Fender
11 10 That's What Makes the Juke Box Play Moe Bandy
2 5 There Ain't No Good Chain Gang Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings
18 — Things I Do for You Mundo Earwood
18 10 Think About Me Freddy Fender
16 37 This Is the Love Sonny James
20 — Three Sheets in the Wind Jacky Ward and Reba McEntire
5 25 Tonight Barbara Mandrell
28 17 Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright) Roy Head
29 15 Too Many Nights Alone Bobby Bare
7 5 Two Doors Down Zella Lehr
18 31 Two Hearts Tangled in Love Kenny Dale
7 4 Two Lonely People Moe Bandy
6 6 Unchained Melody Elvis Presley
7 12 We Believe in Happy Endings Johnny Rodriguez
2 4 We Belong Together Susie Allanson
26 17 We Got Love Lynn Anderson
10 6 We've Come a Long Way Baby Loretta Lynn
13 28 Week-End Friend Con Hunley
4 2 What Did I Promise Her Last Night Mel Tillis
9 14 What Have You Got to Lose Tom T. Hall
9 20 What Time Do You Have to Be Back to Heaven Razzy Bailey
5 29 When Can We Do This Again T. G. Sheppard
16 5 Whiskey Trip Gary Stewart
3 60 Who Am I to Say The Statler Brothers
10 7 With Love Rex Allen, Jr.
4 5 Woman to Woman Barbara Mandrell
3 3 Womanhood Tammy Wynette
12 15 Yes Ma'am Tommy Overstreet
20 35 You Know What Jerry Reed and Seidina
14 20 You've Still Got a Place in My Heart Con Hunley

Singles released by Canadian artists

US CAN Single Artist
— 11 All Cried Out Van Dyke
— 19 Caribou to Nashville Gary Fjellgaard
92 9 The Circle Is Small (I Can See It in Your Eyes) Gordon Lightfoot
— 10 Comin' on Stronger Mercey Brothers
— 12 Does the Rain Only Fall on My Mansion Jerry Palmer
— 7 Dream Maker Sheila Ann
— 9 The Fastest Gun Dallas Harms
— 12 George the Hermit Jack Hennig
— 14 Goin' Home Burton & Honeyman
— 4 Here's Your Watch John Canadian Zephyr
— 14 Hold Me Like a Baby Tim Daniels
— 10 Living in the Best of Two Worlds Rondini
— 6 Love Is a Contact Sport Family Brown
— 18 Master of the Classical Guitar Dallas Harms
— 18 Mindy Jack Hennig
— 16 My Good Woman Dick Damron
— 14 Ol' Amos Orval Prophet
— 16 Riding High Van Dyke
— 18 Sun Always Shines Laura Vinson
— 14 There's More Love Where That Came From Joyce Seamone
— 16 Truck Driver's Girl The Good Brothers
4 2 Walk Right Back Anne Murray
— 19 Where Have All the Cowboy Songs Gone Orval Prophet
— 9 Whiskey Jack Dick Damron
— 3 You're the Light Family Brown

Top new album releases

Single Artist Record Label
Burgers and Fries/When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone) Charley Pride RCA
Dark Eyed Lady Donna Fargo Warner Bros.
The Gambler Kenny Rogers United Artists
Heartbreaker Dolly Parton RCA
I've Always Been Crazy Waylon Jennings RCA
I've Cried the Blue Right Out of My Eyes Crystal Gayle MCA1
Night Time Magic Larry Gatlin Monument
Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town Emmylou Harris Warner/Reprise
Stardust Willie Nelson Columbia/CBS
Someone Loves You Honey Charley Pride RCA
TG T. G. Sheppard Warner Bros./Curb
TNT Tanya Tucker MCA
Waylon & Willie Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson RCA
When I Dream Crystal Gayle United Artists

1 A collection of Crystal Gayle's earliest recordings from the early 1970s.

Other albums

Single Artist Record Label
Ain't Living Long Like This Rodney Crowell Warner Bros.
Bartender's Blues George Jones Epic/CBS
Billy "Crash" Craddock Billy "Crash" Craddock Capitol
Country Soul Mel Street Polydor/Polygram
Don't Break the Heart That Loves You Margo Smith Warner Bros.
Entertainers On and Off the Record Statler Brothers Mercury/Polygram
Every Time Two Fools Collide Kenny Rogers and Dottie West United Artists
Expressions Don Williams ABC/Dot
I Still Believe in Love Charlie Rich United Artists
Lonely Hearts Club Billie Jo Spears United Artists
Love Lies Cristy Lane LS
Love's Ups and Downs Barbara Mandrell ABC/Dot
A Lover's Question Jacky Ward Mercury/Polygram
Only One Love in My Life Ronnie Milsap RCA
Oh Brother! Larry Gatlin Monument
Let's Keep It That Way Anne Murray Capitol
Love...& Other Sad Stories Bill Anderson MCA
Love or Something Like It Kenny Rogers United Artists
Room Service Oak Ridge Boys ABC/Dot
Rose Colored Glasses John Conlee ABC/Dot
She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime) Johnny Duncan Columbia/CBS
Tear Time Dave & Sugar RCA
Variations Eddie Rabbitt Elektra
White Mansions Waylon Jennings RCA

Christmas albums

Births

  • February 25 — Shawna Thompson, of Thompson Square.
  • April 15 — Chris Stapleton, male vocalist who helped revive the blues-soul sound of country music in the 2010s, most notably with the album Traveller.
  • June 13 – Jason Michael Carroll, late 2000s-to-early 2010s male vocalist best known for "Alyssa Lies."
  • July 21 — Brad Mates, lead singer of Canadian band Emerson Drive.
  • July 31 — Zac Brown, lead singer of his eponymously named band, who began having hits in the late 2000s.
  • September 14 — Danielle Peck, up-and-coming country music star

Deaths

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Major awards

Grammy Awards

Juno Awards

Academy of Country Music

Country Music Association

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 (ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
  • Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
  • Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005.