This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1979.
Events March 2 - Queen of Country Music, Loretta Lynn is named ACM Artist of the Decade after the dominant hold Lynn held on the charts during the decade. Lynn is the only female ACM Artist of the Decade. March 3 — The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) would telecast an entire Saturday night live from the Grand Ole Opry for the very first time – the show would last until 12:30 am with a half-hour break between the two shows at 9 pm CDT. The show featured many acts including Del Reeves, Barbara Mandrell, Bill Monroe, Hank Snow, Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Don Gibson and many others. The telecast became the most popular one of the year for PBS, and was a part of their March fundraising campaigns. December 21 — The Electric Horseman, starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, premieres. Willie Nelson is a supporting character in the film, and he will contribute to the movie's soundtrack.
Top hits of the year
Number one hits
United States (as certified by Billboard)
DateSingle NameArtistWks. No.1CAN peakSpec. NoteJanuary 6Tulsa TimeDon Williams1January 13Lady Lay DownJohn Conlee12[A]January 20I Really Got the Feeling/Baby I'm BurningDolly Parton1January 27Why Have You Left the One You Left Me ForCrystal Gayle2February 10Every Which Way but LooseEddie Rabbitt3March 3Golden TearsDave & Sugar32[B]March 24I Just Fall in Love AgainAnne Murray3April 14(If Loving You Is Wrong)I Don't Want to Be RightBarbara Mandrell1Cover of the Luther Ingram hit.April 21All I Ever Need Is YouKenny Rogersand Dottie West12Cover of the Sonny and Cher hit.April 28Where Do I Put Her MemoryCharley Pride1May 5Backside of ThirtyJohn Conlee15May 12Don't Take It AwayConway Twitty1May 19If I Said You Have a Beautiful BodyWould You Hold It Against MeThe Bellamy Brothers324[A]June 9She Believes in MeKenny Rogers2June 23Nobody Likes Sad SongsRonnie Milsap1June 30AmandaWaylon Jennings3July 21Shadows in the MoonlightAnne Murray1July 28You're the Only OneDolly Parton2August 11SuspicionsEddie Rabbitt1August 18Coca-Cola CowboyMel Tillis13August 25The Devil Went Down to GeorgiaThe Charlie Daniels Band1[C]September 1Heartbreak HotelWillie Nelsonand Leon Russell1[C] – Leon Russell Cover of the Elvis Presley hit.September 8I May Never Get to HeavenConway Twitty1September 15You're My JamaicaCharley Pride1September 22Just Good Ol' BoysMoe Bandy andJoe Stampley18[A] – Moe Bandy[B] – Joe StampleySeptember 29It Must Be LoveDon Williams12October 6Last Cheater's WaltzT. G. Sheppard27October 20All the Gold in CaliforniaLarry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers22November 3You Decorated My LifeKenny Rogers2November 17Come with MeWaylon Jennings2December 1Broken Hearted MeAnne Murray1December 8I Cheated Me Right Out of YouMoe Bandy1[B]December 15Happy Birthday Darlin'Conway Twitty313
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 13Burgers and FriesCharley Pride12January 20Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit'sDone Got Out of HandWaylon Jennings15January 27Tulsa TimeDon Williams1February 3Your Love Had Taken Me That HighConway Twitty13February 10I Really Got the Feeling/Baby I'm BurningDolly Parton1February 17Why Have You Left the One You Left Me ForCrystal Gayle1February 24Every Which Way but LooseEddie Rabbitt3March 17Back on My Mind AgainRonnie Milsap12March 24You Made My Day TonightCanadian Zephyr1—[A]March 31I Just Fall in Love AgainAnne Murray2April 14It's a Cheating SituationMoe Bandy withJanie Fricke12[A] – Moe Bandy[A] – Janie FrickeApril 21Sweet MemoriesWillie Nelson14April 28(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be RightBarbara Mandrell1May 5Where Do I Put Her MemoryCharley Pride2May 19Don't Take It AwayConway Twitty1May 26I'm Getting High RememberingCarroll Baker1—June 2Sail AwayThe Oak Ridge Boys42June 30Nobody Likes Sad SongsRonnie Milsap1July 7She Believes in MeKenny Rogers1July 14AmandaWaylon Jennings1July 21You're the Only OneDolly Parton4, Fell to #2 on the week of August 4.August 4Shadows in the MoonlightAnne Murray1August 11(Ghost) Riders in the SkyJohnny Cash12September 1SuspicionsEddie Rabbitt1September 8The Devil Went Down to GeorgiaCharlie Daniels2[C]September 22'Til I Can Make It on My OwnKenny Rogers andDottie West13[B] – Dottie WestSeptember 29Heartbreak HotelWillie Nelson andLeon Russell1[C] – Leon RussellOctober 6You're My JamaicaCharley Pride1October 13I May Never Get to HeavenConway Twitty1October 20Before My TimeJohn Conlee12[A]October 27Stolen MomentsR. Harlan Smith andChris Nielsen1—[B] – R. Harlan Smith[C] – Chris NielsenNovember 3Dream OnThe Oak Ridge Boys17November 10You Decorated My LifeKenny Rogers2November 24Broken Hearted MeAnne Murray1December 1Come with MeWaylon Jennings1December 8Half the WayCrystal Gayle12December 15I Cheated Me Right Out of YouMoe Bandy1December 22Whiskey Bent and Hell BoundHank Williams, Jr.22
Notes 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by RPM. 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 USCANSingleArtist1616AlibisJohnny Rodriguez1632All-Around CowboyMarty Robbins104Are You SincereElvis Presley1214As Long as I Can Wake Up in Your ArmsKenny O'Dell921Barstool MountainMoe Bandy616Blind in LoveMel Tillis67Blue Kentucky GirlEmmylou Harris2517Buenos Dias ArgentinaMarty Robbins33Come On InThe Oak Ridge Boys1610Crazy ArmsWillie Nelson17—Crazy Blue EyesLacy J. Dalton1425DaddyDonna Fargo1836Darlin'David Rogers17—Della and the DealerHoyt Axton53Do You Ever Fool AroundJoe Stampley10—Don't Let Me Cross OverJim Reeves with Deborah Allen613Down on the Rio GrandeJohnny Rodriguez1660Down to Earth WomanKenny Dale147Everlasting LoveNarvel Felts1011Fall in Love with Me TonightRandy Barlow416Family TraditionHank Williams, Jr.59Farewell PartyGene Watson1922FeetRay Price45Fooled by a FeelingBarbara Mandrell314FoolsJim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius1744Fools for Each OtherJohnny Rodriguez1421Gimme Back My BluesJerry Reed86Happy TogetherT. G. Sheppard1128Here We Are AgainThe Statler Brothers2511Hound Dog ManGlen Campbell718How to Be a Country StarThe Statler Brothers1018I Ain't Got No Business Doin' Business TodayRazzy Bailey32I Can't Feel You AnymoreLoretta Lynn1633I Don't Do Like That No MoreThe Kendalls1221I Don't LieJoe Stampley54I Had a Lovely TimeThe Kendalls1665I Hate the Way I Love ItJohnny Rodriguez and Charly McClain54I Just Can't Stay Married to YouCristy Lane1012I Know a Heartache When I See OneJennifer Warnes2610I Lost My HeadCharlie Rich1840I Love How You Love MeLynn Anderson219I Will SurviveBillie Jo Spears2055I'd Rather Go on Hurtin'Joe Sun147I'll Love Away Your Troubles for AwhileJanie Fricke32I'll Wake You Up When I Get HomeCharlie Rich138I'm Gonna Love YouGlen Campbell186I'm the Singer, You're the SongTanya Tucker1416I've Been Waiting for You All of My LifeCon Hunley75I've Done Enough Dying TodayLarry Gatlin52I've Got a Picture of Us on My MindLoretta Lynn1312If Everyone Had Someone Like YouEddy Arnold48If I Could Write a Song (As Beautiful as You)Billy "Crash" Craddock18—If I Fell in Love with YouRex Allen, Jr.1045If I Give My Heart to YouMargo Smith633If Love Had a FaceRazzy Bailey69In No Time at AllRonnie Milsap107Isn't It Always LoveLynn Anderson1213It's Time We Talk Things OverRex Allen, Jr. and The Byrds114Just Like Real PeopleThe Kendalls1010Just Long Enough to Say GoodbyeMickey Gilley921The Lady in the Blue MercedesJohnny Duncan32Lay Down Beside MeDon Williams1417Liberated WomanJohn Wesley Ryles1625Lovin' OnThe Bellamy Brothers23Lying in Love with YouJim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius74MaybelleneGeorge Jones and Johnny Paycheck9—Me and My Broken HeartRex Allen, Jr.193MississippiCharlie Daniels2065Mr. JonesBig Al Downing1120My Heart Has a Mind of Its OwnDebby Boone44My Own Kind of HatMerle Haggard862My Silver LiningMickey Gilley47My World Begins and Ends with YouDave & Sugar1713Next Best FeelingMary K. Miller—10Nickels and DimesNana Mouskouri1738No Memories Hangin' RoundRosanne Cash with Bobby Bare75No One Else in the WorldTammy Wynette1033Nothing as Original as YouThe Statler Brothers57The Official Historian on Shirley Jean BerrellThe Statler Brothers17—The One Thing My Lady Never Puts Into WordsMel Street720Only Love Can Break a HeartKenny Dale52Pick the Wildwood FlowerGene Watson1144Play Together Again, AgainBuck Owens with Emmylou Harris99Put Your Clothes Back OnJoe Stampley42Red BandanaMerle Haggard13—ReunitedLouise Mandrell and R. C. Bannon1634RobinhoodBilly "Crash" Craddock1834Rockin' My Life AwayJerry Lee Lewis14—A Rusty Old HaloHoyt Axton16—Sail OnTom Grant420Save the Last Dance for MeEmmylou Harris2618Save the Last Dance for MeJerry Lee Lewis10—Say You Love MeStephanie Winslow1817Second-Hand Satin Lady (And a Bargain Basement Boy)Jerry Reed24Send Me Down to TucsonMel Tillis155September SongWillie Nelson1538SharingKenny Dale36Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)Gene Watson1026Simple Little WordsCristy Lane2042Since I Fell for YouCon Hunley1722Slippin' Up, Slippin' AroundCristy Lane68Slow DancingJohnny Duncan65Somebody SpecialDonna Fargo11—Someone Is Looking for Someone Like YouGail Davies1418Son of Clayton DelaneyTom T. Hall1326The Song We Made Love ToMickey Gilley207Spanish EyesCharlie Rich6—Stay with MeDave & Sugar2613Steady as the RainStella Parton717Still a WomanMargo Smith1946Sweet DreamsReba McEntire1014Sweet MelindaRandy Barlow76Sweet Summer Lovin'Dolly Parton818Tell Me What It's LikeBrenda Lee53Texas (When I Die)Tanya Tucker1844That's the Only Way to Say Good MorningRay Price2021There Is a Miracle in YouTom T. Hall63There's a Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In)Elvis Presley66They Call It Making LoveTammy Wynette2015This Is a Love SongBill Anderson65Tonight She's Gonna Love Me (Like There Was No Tomorrow)Razzy Bailey1312Too Far GoneEmmylou Harris1859Touch Me (I'll Be Your Fool Once More)Big Al Downing1518Touch Me with MagicMarty Robbins1218Tryin' to Satisfy YouDottsy651Two Steps Forward and Three Steps BackSusie Allanson2213Walking Piece of HeavenFreddy Fender3118Walking the Floor Over YouErnest Tubb and Merle Haggard16—What a LieSammi Smith1131When a Love Ain't RightCharly McClain33When I DreamCrystal Gayle123Whiskey RiverWillie Nelson2024Who Will the Next Fool BeJerry Lee Lewis8—Wisdom of a FoolJacky Ward87WordsSusie Allanson1835World's Most Perfect WomanRonnie McDowell511You Ain't Just Whistlin' DixieThe Bellamy Brothers1426You Can Have HerGeorge Jones and Johnny Paycheck108You Don't Bring Me FlowersJim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius420You Feel Good All OverT. G. Sheppard1228You Pick Me Up (And Put Me Down)Dottie West1126You Show Me Your Heart (And I'll Show You Mine)Tom T. Hall2024You Were Always on My MindJohn Wesley Ryles2066You're a Part of MeCharly McClain14—You're My Kind of WomanJacky Ward1627You've Got Somebody, I've Got SomebodyVern Gosdin714Your Kisses WillCrystal Gayle
Singles released by Canadian artists