1977 in country music
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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1977.
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| By topic |
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Events
- June 25 — Waylon Jennings smash, "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" spends its sixth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It is just the third (and as it turned out, final) six-week No. 1 song of the 1970s, and will be the last song to spend as long atop the charts for 20 years (until 1997's "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill).
- June 26 — Elvis Presley performs his final concert at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana.
- December 31 — Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again" spends its fifth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It will be the last song to spend that long atop the chart until 1990's "Love Without End, Amen" by George Strait.
Top hits of the year
Number one hits
United States
(as certified by Billboard)
- Notes
Canada
(as certified by RPM)
- Notes
Other major hits
Singles released by American artists
| US | CAN | Single | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 16 | Abilene | Sonny James |
| 4 | 3 | Adios Amigo | Marty Robbins |
| 10 | 6 | (After Sweet Memories) Play Born to Lose Again | Dottsy |
| 12 | 23 | Anything but Leavin' | Larry Gatlin |
| 7 | 3 | Are You Ready for the Country | Waylon Jennings |
| 15 | 20 | Baby, I Love You So | Joe Stampley |
| 22 | 20 | Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight | John Denver |
| 19 | — | Barbara Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know | Mel Street |
| 2 | 2 | Blue Bayou | Linda Ronstadt |
| 11 | 23 | Bluest Heartache of the Year | Kenny Dale |
| 12 | 8 | Born Believer | Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius |
| 9 | 3 | Burning Memories | Mel Tillis |
| 23 | 10 | C.B. Savage | Rod Hart |
| 9 | 7 | Chains of Love | Mickey Gilley |
| 7 | 15 | Cheap Perfume and Candlelight | Bobby Borchers |
| 15 | — | Close Enough for Lonesome | Mel Street |
| 15 | 50 | Country Party | Johnny Lee |
| 13 | 33 | Cowboys Ain't Supposed to Cry | Moe Bandy |
| 6 | 2 | Crazy | Linda Ronstadt |
| 16 | 19 | Dancing the Night Away | Tanya Tucker |
| 15 | 38 | The Danger of a Stranger | Stella Parton |
| 5 | 5 | Desperado | Johnny Rodriguez |
| 3 | 10 | Don't Be Angry | Donna Fargo |
| 5 | 5 | Don't Go City Girl on Me | Tommy Overstreet |
| 6 | 5 | Don't Let Me Touch You | Marty Robbins |
| 15 | — | Don't Say Goodbye | Rex Allen, Jr. |
| 5 | 5 | Don't Throw It All Away | Dave & Sugar |
| 2 | 2 | East Bound and Down | Jerry Reed |
| 12 | 13 | Easy Look | Charlie Rich |
| 14 | 7 | Everyday I Have to Cry Some | Joe Stampley |
| 19 | — | The Feeling's Right | Narvel Felts |
| 18 | — | Fool | John Wesley Ryles |
| 9 | 16 | Fools Fall in Love | Jacky Ward |
| 4 | 3 | From Graceland to the Promised Land | Merle Haggard |
| 18 | — | Gentle to Your Senses | Mel McDaniel |
| 16 | 15 | Hangin' On | Vern Gosdin and Emmylou Harris |
| 19 | 15 | He Ain't You | Lynn Anderson |
| 7 | 4 | Head to Toe | Bill Anderson |
| 12 | 14 | Hold Me | Barbara Mandrell |
| 4 | 2 | Honky Tonk Memories | Mickey Gilley |
| 2 | 5 | I Can't Help Myself | Eddie Rabbitt |
| 10 | 7 | I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) | Marty Robbins |
| 3 | — | I Don't Wanna Cry | Larry Gatlin |
| 3 | 3 | I Got the Hoss | Mel Tillis |
| 15 | 10 | I Just Came Home to Count the Memories | Cal Smith |
| 9 | 20 | I Love You a Thousand Ways | Willie Nelson |
| 8 | 8 | I Was There | The Statler Brothers |
| 2 | 3 | I'll Do It All Over Again | Crystal Gayle |
| 10 | 17 | I'm Getting Good at Missing You (Solitaire) | Rex Allen, Jr. |
| 2 | 4 | I'm Knee Deep in Loving You | Dave & Sugar |
| 11 | 29 | I'm Not Easy | Billie Jo Spears |
| 9 | 9 | I'm Sorry for You, My Friend | Moe Bandy |
| 8 | 6 | I'm the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised) | Johnny Paycheck |
| 16 | — | I've Got You (To Come Home To) | Don King |
| 12 | 18 | If It Ain't Love by Now | Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius |
| 11 | 12 | If Love Was a Bottle of Wine | Tommy Overstreet |
| 5 | 5 | If Practice Makes Perfect | Johnny Rodriguez |
| 2 | 2 | If We're Not Back in Love by Monday | Merle Haggard |
| 11 | 16 | If You Don't Love Me (Why Don't You Just Leave Me Alone) | Freddy Fender |
| 16 | — | If You Ever Get to Houston (Look Me Down) | Don Gibson |
| 20 | 17 | If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody | Dickey Lee |
| 8 | 17 | If You Want Me | Billie Jo Spears |
| 15 | 30 | In the Jailhouse Now | Sonny James |
| 7 | 2 | It's a Cowboy Lovin' Night | Tanya Tucker |
| 12 | 8 | It's All in the Game | Tom T. Hall |
| 14 | — | It's Nothin' to Me | Jim Reeves |
| 13 | 8 | The King Is Gone | Ronnie McDowell |
| 7 | 28 | Let Me Down Easy | Cristy Lane |
| 6 | 8 | (Let's Get Together) One Last Time | Tammy Wynette |
| 6 | 5 | Liars One, Believers Zero | Bill Anderson |
| 11 | 4 | Light of a Clear Blue Morning | Dolly Parton |
| 21 | 10 | Look Who I'm Cheatin' on Tonight | Bobby Bare |
| 3 | 6 | Love Is Just a Game | Larry Gatlin |
| 12 | — | Love's Explosion | Margo Smith |
| 19 | — | Loving Arms | Sammi Smith |
| 20 | 18 | Lovin' On | T. G. Sheppard |
| 14 | 16 | A Mansion on the Hill | Ray Price |
| 13 | 8 | Margaritaville | Jimmy Buffett |
| 3 | 3 | Married but Not to Each Other | Barbara Mandrell |
| 15 | 12 | Me and Millie (Stompin' Grapes and Gettin' Silly) | Ronnie Sessions |
| 16 | 31 | Midnight Angel | Barbara Mandrell |
| 27 | 9 | Mobile Boogie | Hank Williams, Jr. |
| 9 | 6 | Mockingbird Hill | Donna Fargo |
| 17 | 27 | Mother Country Music | Vern Gosdin |
| 10 | 15 | The Movies | The Statler Brothers |
| 20 | — | My Good Thing's Gone | Narvel Felts |
| 24 | 14 | My Mountain Dew | Charlie Rich |
| 43 | 12 | New Kid in Town | Eagles |
| 11 | 9 | The Old Man and His Horn | Gene Watson |
| 5 | 9 | Once in a Lifetime Thing | John Wesley Ryles |
| 6 | 17 | One of a Kind | Tammy Wynette |
| 13 | — | The Pay Phone | Bob Luman |
| 13 | 23 | The Pleasure's Been All Mine | Freddie Hart |
| 2 | 3 | Ramblin' Fever | Merle Haggard |
| 12 | 7 | Ridin' Rainbows | Tanya Tucker |
| 17 | 18 | Right Time of the Night | Jennifer Warnes |
| 2 | 5 | Roses for Mama | C. W. McCall |
| 14 | — | Savin' This Love Song for You | Johnny Rodriguez |
| 19 | 21 | Semolita | Jerry Reed |
| 8 | 17 | Shame on Me | Donna Fargo |
| 11 | 16 | Shame Shame on Me (I Had Planned to Be Your Man) | Kenny Dale |
| 11 | 2 | She Just Loved the Cheatin' Out of Me | Moe Bandy |
| 11 | — | She Took More Than Her Share | Moe Bandy |
| 17 | — | She's the Girl of My Dreams | Don King |
| 18 | 10 | Silver Medals and Sweet Memories | The Statler Brothers |
| 19 | 32 | Sing a Sad Song | Wynn Stewart |
| 7 | 7 | Slide Off Your Satin Sheets | Johnny Paycheck |
| 5 | 5 | A Song in the Night | Johnny Duncan |
| 5 | 17 | Southern California | George Jones and Tammy Wynette |
| 5 | 4 | Statues Without Hearts | Larry Gatlin |
| 11 | 13 | Still the One | Bill Anderson |
| 4 | 7 | Sunflower | Glen Campbell |
| 7 | 4 | A Tear Fell | Billy "Crash" Craddock |
| 16 | 25 | Ten Years of This | Gary Stewart |
| 11 | 4 | Thank God She's Mine | Freddie Hart |
| 7 | 6 | That's the Way Love Should Be | Dave & Sugar |
| 11 | 49 | There She Goes Again | Joe Stampley |
| 20 | — | This Time I'm in It for the Love | Tommy Overstreet |
| 7 | 37 | Till the End | Vern Gosdin |
| 18 | 11 | Too Much Is Not Enough | Billie Jo Spears |
| 3 | 3 | Torn Between Two Lovers | Mary MacGregor |
| 18 | — | Twenty-Four Hours from Tulsa | Randy Barlow |
| 3 | 2 | Two Dollars in the Jukebox | Eddie Rabbitt |
| 8 | 4 | Two Less Lonely People | Rex Allen, Jr. |
| 4 | 4 | Uncloudy Day | Willie Nelson |
| 22 | 12 | Virginia, How Far Will You Go | Dickey Lee |
| 18 | — | What a Way to Go | Bobby Borchers |
| 21 | 14 | What're You Doing Tonight | Janie Fricke |
| 19 | 12 | When It's Just You and Me | Dottie West |
| 18 | 22 | Where Are You Going, Billy Boy | Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner |
| 12 | 19 | Whispers | Bobby Borchers |
| 7 | 6 | Why Can't He Be You | Loretta Lynn |
| 8 | 3 | Why Lovers Turn to Strangers | Freddie Hart |
| 16 | 9 | Wiggle Wiggle | Ronnie Sessions |
| 16 | 8 | A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today | Merle Haggard |
| 12 | 6 | Wrap Your Love All Around Your Man | Lynn Anderson |
| 3 | 2 | Y'all Come Back Saloon | The Oak Ridge Boys |
| 9 | 11 | Yesterday's Gone | Vern Gosdin and Emmylou Harris |
| 4 | 6 | You Light Up My Life | Debby Boone |
| 6 | 4 | (You Never Can Tell) C'est La Vie | Emmylou Harris |
| 16 | 11 | You Ought to Hear Me Cry | Willie Nelson |
| 9 | 21 | You're Free to Go | Sonny James |
| 4 | 11 | Your Man Loves You Honey | Tom T. Hall |
| 11 | 7 | Your Place or Mine | Gary Stewart |
| 20 | — | Your Pretty Roses Came Too Late | Lois Johnson |
Singles released by Canadian artists
| US | CAN | Single | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 13 | Here Comes Yesterday | R. Harlan Smith |
| — | 17 | Hey Good Lookin' | Bob Lucier |
| — | 14 | Homemade Wine | The Good Brothers |
| — | 8 | I'd Love You Like Nobody Dared To | Chris Nielsen |
| — | 18 | If I Believed in Myself | Mercey Brothers |
| — | 9 | It's Crying Time for Me | Dallas Harms |
| — | 20 | Jamie | Mercey Brothers |
| — | 7 | Jukebox Lover | Family Brown |
| 27 | 11 | The Last of the Winfield Amateurs | Ray Griff |
| — | 11 | Leroy Can't Go Home | Orval Prophet |
| — | 10 | Lovin' Fool | Family Brown |
| — | 10 | Michelle's Song | Russell Thornberry |
| — | 18 | On the Road Again | Burton & Honeyman |
| 28 | 20 | A Passing Thing | Ray Griff |
| — | 19 | Phone Call from Allyson | Ronnie Prophet |
| — | 14 | Race Among the Ruins | Gordon Lightfoot |
| — | 20 | Rocky Road | Glory-Anne Carriere |
| — | 19 | Shadow of a Man | Mike Graham |
| — | 14 | Shilo Song | Gene MacLellan with Anne Murray |
| — | 11 | Sing a Song of Love | Family Brown |
| — | 13 | Tulsa Turnaround | Gustafson |
| — | 13 | Waylon's T-shirt | Dick Damron |
| — | 7 | Wiggle It a Little | Rondini |
| — | 16 | Winestoned Plowboy | Nestor Pistor |
| — | 9 | Woman Alone | Glory-Anne Carriere |
| — | 19 | Would You Still Love Me | Mike Graham |
Top new album releases
| Single | Artist | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes | Jimmy Buffett | MCA |
| Fargo Country | Donna Fargo | Warner Bros. |
| Here You Come Again | Dolly Parton | RCA |
| Ol' Waylon | Waylon Jennings | RCA |
| Take This Job and Shove It | Johnny Paycheck | Epic |
Other new albums
| Single | Artist | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| Billy Boy & Mary Lou | Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner | MCA |
| Daytime Friends | Kenny Rogers | United Artists |
| I Remember Patsy | Loretta Lynn | MCA |
| It Was Almost Like a Song | Ronnie Milsap | RCA |
| Kenny Rogers | Kenny Rogers | United Artists |
| Scorpio | Bill Anderson | MCA |
| Southern Nights | Glen Campbell | Capitol |
| To Lefty From Willie | Willie Nelson | Columbia |
| Y'all Come Back Saloon | Oak Ridge Boys | Dot |
Births
- February 26 — Jason Aldean, male vocalist of the 2000s.
- May 3 – Eric Church, male vocalist starting in the late 2000s, best known for "Springsteen" and "Drink in My Hand."
- November 17 — Aaron Lines, Canadian country singer of the 2000s, best known for his hit "You Can't Hide Beautiful".
- November 20 — Josh Turner, deep bass-voiced singer of the 2000s, best known for "Why Don't We Just Dance" and "Time is Love."
Deaths
- March 22 – Stoney Cooper, 58, bluegrass and gospel singer who best known for his series of recordings with wife, Wilma Lee (as Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper), from the 1940s through early 1960s.
- May 31 – Lloyd Perryman, 60, member of the Sons of the Pioneers.
- July 16 — Marg Osburne, 49, "The Girl from the Singing Hills", of CBC Radio and CBC Television fame.
- August 16 — Elvis Presley, 42, "The King," cross-genre celebrity who fused rhythm and blues, rockabilly and country music to become popular with country and rock audiences (heart failure).
- October 14 — Bing Crosby, 74, one of popular music's all-time leading performers; several of his 1930s and 1940s hits became hugely popular with country fans (including "Pistol Packin' Mama," the first-ever Billboard country No. 1 song). (heart attack)
Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees
- Merle Travis (1917–1983)
Major awards
Grammy Awards
- Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", Crystal Gayle
- Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "Lucille", Kenny Rogers
- Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Heaven's Just a Sin Away", The Kendalls
- Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Country Instrumentalist of the Year", Hargus "Pig" Robbins
- Best Country Song — "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", Richard Leigh (Performer: Crystal Gayle)
Juno Awards
- Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Murray McLauchlan
- Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Carroll Baker
- Country Group or Duo of the Year — The Good Brothers
Academy of Country Music
- Entertainer of the Year — Dolly Parton
- Song of the Year — "Lucille", Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum (Performer: Kenny Rogers)
- Single of the Year — "Lucille", Kenny Rogers
- Album of the Year — Kenny Rogers, Kenny Rogers
- Top Male Vocalist — Kenny Rogers
- Top Female Vocalist — Crystal Gayle
- Top Vocal Group — The Statler Brothers
- Top New Male Vocalist — Eddie Rabbitt
- Top New Female Vocalist — Debby Boone
Country Music Association
- Entertainer of the Year — Ronnie Milsap
- Song of the Year — "Lucille", Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum (Performer: Kenny Rogers)
- Single of the Year — "Lucille", Kenny Rogers
- Album of the Year — Ronnie Milsap Live, Ronnie Milsap
- Male Vocalist of the Year — Ronnie Milsap
- Female Vocalist of the Year — Crystal Gayle
- Vocal Duo of the Year — Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius
- Vocal Group of the Year — The Statler Brothers
- Instrumentalist of the Year — Roy Clark
- Instrumental Group of the Year — Original Texas Playboys
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.