This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1972.
Events March — For the first time since 1967, Sonny James fails to hit the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hot Country Singles Chart with a single release. His hit, "Only Love (Can Break a Heart)" stops at No. 2. James' record streak would hold for more than 14 years, until Alabama scored its 17th-straight with "40 Hour Week (For a Livin')" in August 1985. "The Southern Gentleman" would return to the No. 1 spot twice more during 1972 — "That's Why I Love You Like I Do" (a retitled remake of his 1957 hit, "You're the Reason I'm in Love," the lesser-known flip side of "Young Love"; and also his last major hit with Capitol Records); and "When the Snow is on the Roses." During 1972, James inks a recording deal with Columbia Records; "When the Snow..." is his first hit with his new label. March — Merle Haggard is pardoned by California Gov. Ronald Reagan for his 1957 robbery; which had landed him a prison term that lasted two-and-a-half years. April — The first Fan Fair is held in Nashville, Tennessee. June 3 — The Opryland USA country music theme park opens in Nashville. June 13 — The Country Music Foundation Library and Media Center is dedicated. September — The premiere issue of Country Music magazine hits the newsstand. The magazine, which will be issued monthly (later bi-monthly), is an immediate hit with critics and readers. September 17 — Faron Young — who has international success with "It's Four in the Morning" — is charged with assault for spanking a girl in the audience at a concert in Clarksburg, West Virginia after claiming she spat on him. Young appeared before a Wood County, West Virginia justice of the peace and was fined $24, plus $11 in court costs. It is the first in a string of incidents involving Young, whose increasingly bizarre behavior would begin overshadowing his success. October — The Country Music Association moves from NBC to CBS, where it remained until 2006 when the awards show moved to ABC. Loretta Lynn becomes the first woman to win the CMA's Entertainer of the Year award.
No dates The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a California-based country-folk-rock band, releases their landmark album Will the Circle Be Unbroken. The album of folk and country standards, recorded in Nashville alongside traditional country artists, is a huge critical and commercial success. Two additional volumes would be released in 1989 and 2002. Music and Billboard chart historian Joel Whitburn releases "Top Country Songs 1944–1971." The book, published by Record Research, marks the first time a listing of every song and artist that had ever appeared by means of a country and western hit parade had been compiled into a single volume. Eight more updated volumes will follow (the most recent edition covers through 2017), as well as two editions focusing on strictly those songs reaching the Top 40 (the original released in 1996, and an updated version in 2006). Buck Owens returns to his musical roots when Jerry Brightman is added on pedal steel for records and tours. A class of new artists proves to be among the most prolific of the 1970s. Singers Donna Fargo, Johnny Rodriguez, Joe Stampley, Mel Street and Tanya Tucker, and harmonica player Charlie McCoy each have their first major hits during 1972 and would be among the most successful of the newcomers.
Top hits of the year
Number one hits
United States (as certified by Billboard)
DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1CAN peakSpec. NoteJanuary 8Would You Take Another Chance on MeJerry Lee Lewis12January 15CarolynMerle Haggard32February 5One's on the WayLoretta Lynn2February 19It's Four in the MorningFaron Young2[B]March 4Bedtime StoryTammy Wynette1March 11My Hang-Up Is YouFreddie Hart6April 22Chantilly LaceJerry Lee Lewis3[B]May 13Grandma HarpMerle Haggard25May 27(Lost Her Love) On Our Last DateConway Twitty1June 3The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.Donna Fargo316[A]June 24That's Why I Love You Like I DoSonny James1July 1Eleven RosesHank Williams, Jr.2July 15Made in JapanBuck Owens1July 22It's Gonna Take a Little Bit LongerCharley Pride3August 12Bless Your HeartFreddie Hart24August 26If You Leave Me Tonight I'll CryJerry Wallace23, [C] Returned to Number One on September 9.September 2Woman (Sensuous Woman)Don Gibson1[B]September 16When the Snow Is on the RosesSonny James1September 23I Can't Stop Loving YouConway Twitty1September 30I Ain't NeverMel Tillis2[A]October 14Funny FaceDonna Fargo3November 4It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)Merle Haggard1November 11My Man (Understands)Tammy Wynette1November 18She's Too Good to Be TrueCharley Pride3December 9Got the All Overs for You (All Over Me)Freddie Hart3December 30She's Got to Be a SaintRay Price32
Notes 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard. 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot. 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)
DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1U.S. peakSpec. NoteJanuary 8Mile After MileOrval Prophet3—[B]January 29There Ain't No Easy WayEddie Chwill1—[C]February 5One's on the WayLoretta Lynn1February 12I Can't See Me Without YouConway Twitty14February 19Bedtime StoryTammy Wynette1February 26It's Four in the MorningFaron Young1[B]March 4Cotton JennyAnne Murray111March 11Ann (Don't Go Runnin')Tommy Overstreet12[C]March 18Good Hearted WomanWaylon Jennings13March 25CryLynn Anderson13April 1All His ChildrenCharley Pride12April 8My Hang-Up Is YouFreddie Hart1April 15A Thing Called LoveJohnny Cash12April 22Smiling WineShirley Eikhard2—[C]May 6Moon-Man NewfieStompin' Tom Connors1—[B]May 13Chantilly LaceJerry Lee Lewis1[B]May 20Nothin' Shakin' (But the Leaves on the Trees)Billy "Crash" Craddock110[A]May 27Together AgainHank Smith1—June 3(Lost Her Love) On Our Last DateConway Twitty2June 17Made In JapanBuck Owens1[B]June 24KateJohnny Cash12July 1Sing HappyDianne Leigh1—[B]July 8That's Why I Love You Like I DoSonny James1July 15Eleven RosesHank Williams, Jr.1July 22Reach Out Your Hand (And Touch Somebody)Tammy Wynette12July 29It's Gonna Take a Little Bit LongerCharley Pride1August 5Listen to a Country SongLynn Anderson14August 12Loving You Could Never Be BetterGeorge Jones12[A]August 19Testing 1-2-3Joyce Seamone1—[C]August 26I'm Gonna Knock on Your DoorBilly "Crash" Craddock15September 2There's a Party Goin' OnJody Miller14[C]September 9Woman (Sensuous Woman)Don Gibson1[B]September 16I Can't Stop Loving YouConway Twitty2September 30When the Snow Is on the RosesSonny James1[B]October 7OneyJohnny Cash12October 14I Ain't NeverMel Tillis1[A]October 21Baby, Don't Get Hooked on MeMac Davis126[C]October 28Funny FaceDonna Fargo1[A]November 4My Man (Understands) Tammy Wynette1November 11It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)Merle Haggard1November 18She's Too Good to Be TrueCharley Pride3 Fell to #2 on the week of December 2.December 2Got the All Overs for You (All Over Me)Freddie Hart1December 16Fool MeLynn Anderson24December 30You Are What I AmGordon Lightfoot1—
Notes 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot. 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 USCANSingleArtist15—Ain't It All Worth Living ForTompall & the Glaser Brothers716Ain't That a ShameHank Williams, Jr. andThe Mike Curb Congregation2212Alabama Wild ManJerry Reed52All the Lonely Women in the WorldBill Anderson2719Another PuffJerry Reed15—Ashes of LoveDickey Lee3115Baby, Bye ByeDickey Lee12—Baby's Smile, Woman's KissJohnny Duncan2612Ballad of a Hillbilly SingerFreddy Weller1511Be My BabyJody Miller66The Best Part of LivingMarty Robbins79Borrowed AngelMel Street1813Bring Him Safely Home to MeSandy Posey119Burning the Midnight OilPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton1613Cab DriverHank Thompson63The CeremonyTammy Wynette and George Jones633The Child's Song/Country Music in My SoulGeorge Hamilton IV63The Class of '57The Statler Brothers1820The Day That Love Walked InDavid Houston63Delta DawnTanya Tucker2—Do You Remember TheseThe Statler Brothers1828Don't Pay the RansomNat Stuckey22Don't She Look GoodBill Anderson205Everybody's Reaching Out for SomeonePat Daisy126Far Far AwayDon Gibson1916FoolsJohnny Duncan166Forgive Me for Not Calling You DarlingNat Stuckey1237Give Myself a PartyJeannie C. Riley33Heaven Is My Woman's LoveTommy Overstreet33Here I Am AgainLoretta Lynn1919I Really Don't Want to KnowCharlie McCoy63I Take It on HomeCharlie Rich17—I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)Johnny Bush88I'll Still Be Waiting for YouBuck Owens44I'm a TruckRed Simpson14—I'm Sorry If My Love Got in Your WayConnie Smith1119I've Come Awful CloseHank Thompson413I've Found Someone of My OwnCal Smith3—(I've Got A) Happy HeartSusan Raye1324I've Got to Have YouSammi Smith715If It Ain't Love (Let's Leave It Alone)Connie Smith1426If It Feels Good Do ItDave Dudley915If You Touch Me (You've Got to Love Me)Joe Stampley113Is This the Best I'm Gonna FeelDon Gibson54Just for What I AmConnie Smith166Katy DidPorter Wagoner1526The Key's in the MailboxTony Booth94The Lawrence Welk – Hee Haw Counter-Revolution PolkaRoy Clark1318Let's All Go Down to the RiverJody Miller and Johnny Paycheck1113Lonely WeekendsJerry Lee Lewis44Lonely Women Make Good LoversBob Luman167Lonesome 7-7203Tony Booth22The Lonesomest LonesomeRay Price13—Looking Back to SeeBuck Owens and Susan Raye9—Lost Forever in Your KissPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton1224Love Is a Good ThingJohnny Paycheck3614Love Is Like a Spinning WheelJan Howard66Manhattan, KansasGlen Campbell84Me and JesusTom T. Hall813Missing YouJim Reeves3710Misty MemoriesBrenda Lee119The Monkey That Became PresidentTom T. Hall2614More About John HenryTom T. Hall1515Much ObligeJack Greene and Jeannie Seely10—My Heart Has a Mind of Its OwnSusan Raye99Need YouDavid Rogers159Oklahoma Sunday MorningGlen Campbell544One Tin SoldierSkeeter Davis22Only Love Can Break a HeartSonny James513A Picture of Me (Without You)George Jones62Pretend I Never HappenedWaylon Jennings32Pride's Not Hard to SwallowHank Williams, Jr.1716Red Red WineRoy Drusky3418Rhythm of the RainPat Roberts1729The RoadmasterFreddy Weller2116Ruby, You're WarmDavid Rogers466Sad SituationSkeeter Davis2413Sea of HeartbreakKenny Price1612A Seed Before the RoseTommy Overstreet1431Send Me Some Lovin'Hank Williams, Jr. and Lois Johnson1148Show MeBarbara Mandrell363Sing Me a Love Song to BabyBilly Walker86Soft, Sweet and WarmDavid Houston2113Somebody Loves MeJohnny Paycheck47Someone to Give My Love ToJohnny Paycheck1531Somewhere in Virginia in the RainJack Blanchard & Misty Morgan73Sweet Dream WomanWaylon Jennings1217Sylvia's MotherBobby Bare912Take MeTammy Wynette and George Jones333Ten Degrees and Getting ColderGeorge Hamilton IV53This Little Girl of MineFaron Young1112This Much a ManMarty Robbins128To Get to YouJerry Wallace1812To Know Him Is to Love HimJody Miller1613Today I Started Loving You AgainCharlie McCoy14—Together AlwaysPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton1034Tonight My Baby's Coming HomeBarbara Mandrell628Touch Your WomanDolly Parton5220Travelin' LightGeorge Hamilton IV1710Turn Your Radio OnRay Stevens1417UntouchedMel Tillis207Washday BluesDolly Parton64We Can Make ItGeorge Jones810What Ain't to Be Just Might HappenPorter Wagoner1324What Am I Gonna DoBobby Bare1919What in the World Has Gone Wrong with Our LoveJack Greene and Jeannie Seely1611Wheel of FortuneSusan Raye610When You Say LoveBob Luman147Whiskey RiverJohnny Bush52White Silver SandsSonny James146Who's Gonna Play This Ol' Piano?Jerry Lee Lewis18—A Whole Lot of Somethin'Tony Booth145A World Without MusicPorter Wagoner1224Would You Want the World to EndMel Tillis1520The Writing's on the WallJim Reeves1214You've Gotta Cry GirlDave Dudley
Singles released by Canadian artists