This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1978.
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 Billboards 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)
DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1CAN peakSpec. NoteJanuary 7Take This Job and Shove ItJohnny Paycheck2[C]January 21What a Difference You've Made in My LifeRonnie Milsap1January 28Out of My Head and Back in My BedLoretta Lynn2[B]February 11I Just Wish You Were Someone I LoveLarry Gatlin13[A]February 18Don't Break the Heart That Loves YouMargo Smith25[A]March 4Mammas Don't Let Your BabiesGrow Up to Be CowboysWaylon Jenningsand Willie Nelson4April 1Ready for the Times to Get BetterCrystal Gayle1April 8Someone Loves You HoneyCharley Pride2April 22Every Time Two Fools CollideKenny Rogersand Dottie West2[A] – Dottie WestMay 6It's All Wrong, But It's All RightDolly Parton2May 20She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime)Johnny Duncan1[B]May 27Do You Know You Are My SunshineThe Statler Brothers25[A]June 10Georgia on My MindWillie Nelson1June 17Two More Bottles of WineEmmylou Harris1June 24I'll Be True to YouThe Oak Ridge Boys18[A]July 1It Only Hurts for a Little WhileMargo Smith1[B]July 8I Believe in YouMel Tillis1July 15Only One Love in My LifeRonnie Milsap3August 5Love or Something Like ItKenny Rogers1August 12You Don't Love Me AnymoreEddie Rabbitt13August 19Talking in Your SleepCrystal Gayle2September 2Blue SkiesWillie Nelson1September 9I've Always Been CrazyWaylon Jennings3September 30HeartbreakerDolly Parton3October 21Tear TimeDave & Sugar13October 28Let's Take the Long Way Around the WorldRonnie Milsap1November 4Sleeping Single In a Double BedBarbara Mandrell3[A]November 25Sweet Desire/Old Fashioned LoveThe Kendalls12December 2I Just Want to Love YouEddie Rabbitt12December 9On My KneesCharlie Richand Janie Fricke12[B] – Charlie Rich[A] – Janie FrickeDecember 16The GamblerKenny Rogers32
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)
DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1U.S. peakSpec. NoteJanuary 14Take This Job and Shove ItJohnny Paycheck1[C]January 21My WayElvis Presley22February 4What a Difference You've Made in My LifeRonnie Milsap2February 18Out of My Head and Back in My BedLoretta Lynn1[B]February 25You're the OneThe Oak Ridge Boys22[A]March 11To DaddyEmmylou Harris13March 18Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be CowboysWaylon Jennings andWillie Nelson3[A] – Willie NelsonApril 8I Might as Well Believe (I'll Live Forever)Carroll Baker1—April 15Do I Love You (Yes in Every Way)Donna Fargo12[B]April 22Ready for the Times to Get BetterCrystal Gayle1April 29Someone Loves You HoneyCharley Pride2May 13Every Time Two Fools CollideKenny Rogers andDottie West1May 20It's All Wrong, But It's All RightDolly Parton1May 27She Can Put Her Shoes Under my Bed (Anytime)Johnny Duncan1[B]June 3Georgia on My MindWillie Nelson2June 17Night Time MagicLarry Gatlin12[A]June 24Two More Bottles of WineEmmylou Harris1July 1I Can't Wait Any LongerBill Anderson24[B]July 15Portrait in the WindowCarroll Baker1—July 22It Only Hurts for a Little WhileMargo Smith1[C]July 29I Believe in YouMel Tillis1August 5You Needed MeAnne Murray14August 12HomefolksBob Murphy & Big Buffalo1—[C]August 19Love or Something Like ItKenny Rogers1August 26Only One Love in My LifeRonnie Milsap1September 2Talking in Your SleepCrystal Gayle1September 9When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone)Charley Pride13September 16Boogie Grass BandConway Twitty12September 23Blue SkiesWillie Nelson1September 30I've Always Been CrazyWaylon Jennings1October 7HeartbreakerDolly Parton3October 28It's Been a Great AfternoonMerle Haggard12RPM didn't publish on November 4 or November 11.November 18Let's Take the Long Way Around the WorldRonnie Milsap1November 25Cryin' AgainThe Oak Ridge Boys13December 2Sleeping Single In a Double BedBarbara Mandrell2[A]December 16That's What You Do to MeCharly McClain18[A]December 23Hooked on a FeelingCarroll Baker2—
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