This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1975.
Events March 13 — The rocky marriage of George Jones and Tammy Wynette ends in divorce. July 17 — A Russian-language version of Conway Twitty's 1970 hit, "Hello Darlin'" is played and broadcast to a worldwide audience as part of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. The song, which in Russian was called "Privet Radost," is a "gesture of goodwill" from the Apollo crew to the Soviet Union's Soyuz crew. Twitty worked with a language professor from the University of Oklahoma to record the phonetic Russian version of the song.Oermann, Robert K. "The Conway Twitty Collection," liner notes (booklet included with The Conway Twitty Collection 4-disc set). MCA Special Products, 1994). August 8 — While mountain climbing at Ajax Mountain, Montana, Hank Williams, Jr. is involved in a catastrophic accident. He tumbles nearly 500 feet and is critically injured, suffering numerous facial and head injuries. His recovery takes nearly two years, during which time he undergoes a major cosmetic — and musical — overhaul. October — The defining moment in the recent debate over what defines country music – and each side's vision of the genre – comes at the Country Music Association awards. Charlie Rich, the 1974 CMA Entertainer of the Year, was selected to name the new Entertainer of the Year. When he opened the envelope, he took out his cigarette lighter, lighted the piece of paper with the winner's name on fire, and disgustedly announced the winner: "My good friend John Denver!" Denver, who was not present, was humbled at his award (but didn't know until later about Rich's actions).
No dates The deaths of three country music legends — Bob Wills, George Morgan and Lefty Frizzell — leave a huge void among fans. During a CBS documentary recorded and realised this year, Doolittle Lynn, husband of Loretta Lynn tells the world he “wants his wife to come home.” Six songs that reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart also reach the top of the Hot 100 chart: "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B. J. Thomas; "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" by Freddy Fender; "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "I'm Sorry," both by John Denver; "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell; and "Convoy" by C. W. McCall. In addition, several other songs that reach the top on one of the charts does very well on the other, including "Have You Never Been Mellow" and "Please Mr. Please" by Olivia Newton-John; "I'm Not Lisa" by Jessi Colter; Fender's "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"; and "When Will I Be Loved" by Linda Ronstadt.
Top hits of the year
Number-one hits
United States (as certified by Billboard)
DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1CAN peakSpec. NoteJanuary 4The DoorGeorge Jones1January 11Ruby BabyBilly "Crash" Craddock12January 18Kentucky GamblerMerle Haggard1January 25(I'd Be) A Legend in My TimeRonnie Milsap1February 1City LightsMickey Gilley12Cover of Ray Price's #1 song in 1958.February 8Then Who Am ICharley Pride1February 15Devil in the BottleT. G. Sheppard1[A]February 22I CareTom T. Hall16March 1It's Time to Pay the FiddlerCal Smith1[B]March 8Linda on My MindConway Twitty1March 15Before the Next Teardrop FallsFreddy Fender2[A]March 29The Bargain StoreDolly Parton13April 5I Just Can't Get Her Out of My MindJohnny Rodriguez13April 12Always Wanting YouMerle Haggard23April 26Blanket on the GroundBillie Jo Spears12[C]May 3Roll On Big MamaJoe Stampley1May 10She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)Gary Stewart14[C]May 17(Hey Won't You Play) AnotherSomebody Done Somebody Wrong SongB. J. Thomas12[A]May 24I'm Not LisaJessi Colter1[C]May 31Thank God I'm a Country BoyJohn Denver1June 7Window Up AboveMickey Gilley1June 14When Will I Be LovedLinda Ronstadt1[A]June 21You're My Best FriendDon Williams1June 28Tryin' to Beat the Morning HomeT. G. Sheppard12July 5Lizzie and the RainmanTanya Tucker1July 12Movin' OnMerle Haggard115July 19Touch the HandConway Twitty28August 2Just Get Up and Close the DoorJohnny Rodriguez12August 9Wasted Days and Wasted NightsFreddy Fender22August 23Rhinestone CowboyGlen Campbell3, Returned to Number One on September 13.September 6Feelins'Conway Twittyand Loretta Lynn12September 20Daydreams About Night ThingsRonnie Milsap22October 4Blue Eyes Crying in the RainWillie Nelson22[A]October 18Hope You're Feelin' Me (Like I'm Feelin' You)Charley Pride12October 25San Antonio StrollTanya Tucker12November 1(Turn Out the Light And) Love Me TonightDon Williams15November 8I'm SorryJohn Denver14[B]November 15Are You Sure Hank Done It This WayWaylon Jennings121November 22RockyDickey Lee19[C]November 29It's All in the MoviesMerle Haggard111December 6Secret LoveFreddy Fender1December 13Love Put a Song in My HeartJohnny Rodriguez13[B]December 20ConvoyC. W. McCall64[C] No. 1 song of 1976, as determined by Billboard.
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 11We're OverJohnny Rodriguez13[B]January 18What a Man My Man IsLynn Anderson1[B]January 25The DoorGeorge Jones1February 1Big Red JimmyJerry Warren1—[C]February 8Kentucky GamblerMerle Haggard1February 15(I'd Be) A Legend in My TimeRonnie Milsap1February 22Then Who Am ICharley Pride1March 1Devil in the BottleT. G. Sheppard1[A] RPM didn't publish on March 8.March 15It's Time to Pay the FiddlerCal Smith1[C]March 22Linda on My MindConway Twitty1March 29Before the Next Teardrop FallsFreddy Fender1[A]April 5Everybody's Going to the CountryHank Smith1—[B]April 12Have You Never Been MellowOlivia Newton-John13April 19The PillLoretta Lynn25May 3I've Never Been This Far BeforeCarroll Baker1—[A]May 10Still Thinkin' 'bout YouBilly "Crash" Craddock14May 17Roll On Big MamaJoe Stampley1[C]May 24Thank God I'm a Country BoyJohn Denver2June 7Window Up AboveMickey Gilley1[A]June 14I'm Not LisaJessi Colter1[C]June 21I Ain't All BadCharley Pride16June 28You're My Best FriendDon Williams1[A]July 5Lizzie and the RainmanTanya Tucker1July 12Reconsider MeNarvel Felts12[C]July 19When Will I Be LovedLinda Ronstadt1[A]July 26Yellow House of LovePatti MacDonnell1—[C]August 2The Hungry Fire of LoveCarroll Baker1—August 9Down by the Henry MooreMurray McLauchlan1—[C]August 16Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High)Charlie Rich13August 23The SeekerDolly Parton12August 30Rhinestone CowboyGlen Campbell1September 6Please Mr. PleaseOlivia Newton-John15September 13The First TimeFreddie Hart12September 20I'll Go to My Grave Loving YouThe Statler Brothers13[A]September 27If I Could Only Win Your LoveEmmylou Harris14[A]October 4Say Forever You'll Be MineDolly Parton andPorter Wagoner35[B] – Porter WagonerOctober 25Third Rate RomanceAmazing Rhythm Aces111[C] RPM didn't publish between November 1 and December 13.December 20Secret LoveFreddy Fender2
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