COUNTRY CHARTBEAT (Read 15,035 times)

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1. A PRETTY #1: Kenny Chesney collects his 28th number one hit this week with All The Pretty Girls. This is the fourth single to his current album, Cosmic Hallelujah. The three before All The Pretty Girls are:
1. Noise-2016-#6
2. Setting The World On Fire-with Pink-2016-#1
3. Bar At The End Of The World-2017-#10
2. A LITTLE FAST: Midland scores the fastest climbing song of the week with Make A Little. They vault thirteen spots to #41.
3. LADY A DEBUTS: Lady Antebellum has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Heart Break at #57. It is the title track to their current album which has already produced a hit with You Look Good (#4).
4. GETTING WILD: Runaway June makes their second chart appearance with Wild West at #60. Their first appearance was in 2016 with Lipstick (#28).
5. SOME ALBUM NEWS: We have three albums making their debuts on the chart. They are:
1. On The Rocks-Midland-#2 with 17,000 sold. This is their debut album.
2. Timeless-Home Free-#3 with 16,000 sold. This is their fifth charting album following:
a. Crazy Life-2014-#8
b. Full Of Cheer-2014-#12
c. Country Evolution-2015-#4
d. Full Of Even More Cheer-2016-#2
3. Everybody-Chris Janson-#7 with 8000 sold. This is his second album following 2015's Buy Me A Boat (#4).
6. A 90S LOOK, PART II: These were the top selling CDs during the first week of October during the 1990s:
1990: Killin' Time-Clint Black-RCA
1991: Ropin' The Wind-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1992: The Chase-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1993: In Pieces-Garth Brooks-Liberty
1994: Not A Moment Too Soon-Tim McGraw-Curb
1995: All I Want-Tim McGraw-Curb
1996: Blue-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1997: You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1998: Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
1999: Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: As a country act, the Oak Ridge Boys released their second greatest hits album in 1984. A new song from the set, Everyday was our top song 33 years ago this week.
The track listing to Greatest Hits 2 is as follows:
1. Elvira-1981-#1
2. Ozark Mountain Jubilee-1984-#5
3. Love Song-1983-#1
4. Fancy Free-1981-#1
5. Everyday-1984-#1
6. Beautiful You-1981-#3
7. Thank God For Kids-1983-#3
8. American Made-1983-#1
9. Make My Life With You-1985-#1
10. I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes-1984-#1
The new songs on the album became hits. Everyday was released in July, 1984 and became the Oak Ridge Boys' tenth chart topping hit in October. The second new song, Make My Life With You was released in November. It topped the chart in February, 1985. The greatest hits album reached #2 on the country albums chart and #71 on the top 200 chart. It is certified platinum. By the time they released their third greatest hits album in 1989, William Lee Golden was replaced by Steve Sanders in 1987. After their third greatest hits album, the Oak Ridge Boys would release just one more album for MCA called American Dreams in 1989. Three singles were released:
1. An American Family-1989-#4
2. No Matter How High-1990-#1-their seventeenth and final #1 hit
3. Baby, You'll Be My Baby-1990-#71
They signed to RCA Records in 1990, joining other groups at the label like Alabama and Restless Heart. Their first musical statement at the label was to record a soundtrack single called You're My Soul And Inspiration for the movie, My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys. That was a remake of the Righteous Brothers classic. Their version topped the pop chart in 1966. The Oak Ridge Boys' version peaked at #31 in 1991. The Oak Ridge Boys released just two albums and four singles for RCA. The albums and singles are:
1. Unstoppable-1991
a. Lucky Moon-1991-#6
b. Change My Mind-1991-#70
c. Baby On Board-1991-#44
2. The Long Haul-1992
a. Fall-1992-#69
They released an album in 1999 called Voices for Intersound Records. Their last chart appearance comes from there and that is Ain't No Short Way Home (#71). Their last CD was released last year called Celebrate Christmas. In 2015, they were inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 6, 1984:
1. EVERYDAY-THE OAK RIDGE BOYS-MCA
2. Uncle Pen-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
3. To Me-Barbara Mandrell and Lee Greenwood-MCA
4. I Don't Know A Thing About Love The Moon Song-Conway Twitty-Warner Bros.
5. If You're Gonna Play In Texas You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band-Alabama-RCA
6. The Lady Takes The Cowboy Everytime-the Gatlin Brothers-Columbia
7. Turning Away-Crystal Gayle-Warner Bros.
8. Second Hand Heart-Gary Morris-Warner Bros.
9. City Of New Orleans-Willie Nelson-Columbia
10. What Would Your Memories Do-Vern Gosdin-Compleat

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1. CHESNEY'S #1 GIRLS: Kenny Chesney continues to rule the country chart with All The Pretty Girls. This is his second week at the top and first multi-week #1 since 2015's Save It For A Rainy Day, which was tops for three weeks.
2. DEAR IS HIGH: Maren Morris has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Dear Hate at #29. This is a promo single that addresses the Las Vegas shootings. Vince Gill backs her up on this one. Morris is also on the chart with I Could Use A Love Song (#14).
3. BREAK FAST: Lady Antebellum has the fastest climbing song of the week with Heart Break. It pulses up the chart eleven spots to #46.
4. MCGRAW/HILL: Coming in at #51 is Tim McGraw and Faith Hill with The Rest Of Our Life. This is their second Arista single following the #19 peaking Speak To A Girl. This is the title track to their upcoming duets album.
5. MOORE CARES: Justin Moore debuts at #58 with Kinda Don't Care, the title track to his current album. It has already produced a pair of #1 hits: You Look Like I Need A Drink (2016) and Somebody Else Will (2017).
6. NOW IS #1: Debuting at the top of the country albums chart is Shania Twain with Now. 134,000 copies were sold last week. This is her fifth #1 country album following:
1. The Woman In Me-1995
2. Come On Over-1997
3. Up!-2002
4. Greatest Hits-2004
5. Now-2017
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Take A Little Ride-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
2007: Online-Brad Paisley-Arista
2002: Beautiful Mess-Diamond Rio-Arista
1997: How Your Love Makes Me Feel-Diamond Rio-Arista
1992: In This Life-Collin Raye-Epic
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: RCA Records did not wait for Kenny Rogers' final Liberty single to peak before they released their debut single on him. That final Liberty single, Scarlet Fever peaked at #5 thirty-four years ago this week. Right behind it at #6 was Rogers' debut RCA single, Islands In The Stream with Dolly Parton.
Rogers released his final Liberty album with them in 1983 called We've Got Tonight. The title track was the lead single and it was a duet with Sheena Easton. It was also a remake. It was a hit for its songwriter, Bob Seger. He took it to #13 pop and #29 adult contemporary in 1979. Rogers' version was released in January, 1983. It topped the country chart in April. Like Seger's version, it was a crossover hit when it peaked at #6 pop and #2 A.C.. It was announced that Rogers would sign to the RCA label for twenty million dollars. That did not stop Liberty from releasing another single. That was All My Life. It was released in April and climbed all the way to #13 country, #37 pop, and #2 A.C.. It interrupted a streak of 23 consecutive top ten hits at country for Rogers. In the meantime, Rogers was recording songs for his RCA debut. One of them was Islands In The Stream. That was written by the Bee Gees (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb). Rogers had planned on recording the tune as a solo. After recording the tune many times, he was getting tired of it and did not want to record it anymore. Barry Gibb suggested doing it as a duet. He wanted Dolly Parton on the record and she agreed to do it. To say the results were magic is an understatement (Rogers came around to love the song again). Liberty released the third and final single from We've Got Tonight, Scarlet Fever in July. RCA released Islands In The Stream in August. It was the lead single to the Eyes That See In The Dark album. Scarlet Fever made its debut at #68 in July. Five weeks later, Islands In The Stream entered the chart at #48. BOTH records raced up the charts. For the week ending October 8, both records were in the top ten: Scarlet Fever (#7 to #6) and Islands In The Stream (#13 to #8). The following week, Rogers would peak at #5 with Scarlet Fever while Islands In The Stream was at #6. Scarlet Fever would peak at #94 pop. Two weeks later, Islands In The Stream topped the country chart, becoming Rogers' fifteenth chart topper and Parton's 17th number one hit. Scarlet Fever was at #33 for the week. Islands In The Stream topped the country chart for two weeks, the pop chart for two weeks, and the A.C. chart for four weeks.
The Eyes That See In The Dark album topped the country albums chart for sixteen weeks between October, 1983 to February, 1984. It would hit #6 on the top 200 chart. It is certified double platinum. Four singles kept Rogers on the charts in 1984. They are:
1. This Woman-#23 pop and #2 A.C.
2. Buried Treasure-#3 country
3. Eyes That See In The Dark-#30 country, #79 pop, and #4 A.C.
4. Evening Star-#11 country
During this time, Liberty wanted to cash in on Rogers' popularity and released the following singles:
1. You Were A Good Friend-#20 country
2. Together Again-with Dottie West-#19 country
3. Love Is What We Make It-#37 country and #35 A.C.
2013 was a landmark year for Rogers. He was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He released his last studio album that year called You Can't Make Old Friends. His last chart appearance comes from there and that was the title track. Surprise, it's another duet with Parton that peaked at #57. He is wrapping up a farewell tour that is set to finish at the end of the year. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 15, 1983:
1. Paradise Tonight-Charly McClain and Mickey Gilley-Epic
2. Lady Down On Love-Alabama-RCA
3. Nobody But You-Don Williams-MCA
4. What Am I Gonna Do With The Rest Of My Life-Merle Haggard-Epic
5. SCARLET FEVER-KENNY ROGERS-LIBERTY
6. ISLANDS IN THE STREAM-KENNY ROGERS AND DOLLY PARTON-RCA
7. You've Got A Lover-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
8. Why Do We Want What We Know We Can't Have-Reba McEntire-Mercury
9. The Wind Beneath My Wings-Gary Morris-Warner Bros.
10. Midnight Fire-Steve Wariner-RCA

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1. IF BROWN HITS #1: Kane Brown collects his first #1 this week with What Ifs. This is his third single. His other chart appearances:
1. Used To Love You Sober-2016-#35
2. Thunder In The Rain-2016-#43
3. What Ifs-2017-#1
What Ifs features Lauren Alaina on backup vocals. She is having a career year this year as she collected her first chart topper in April with Road Less Traveled. She is currently on the chart with Doin' Fine (#54).
2. THEIR FIRST: LANco collect their first top ten hit this week with Greatest Love Story at #10. This is the follow up to their debut single, Long Live Tonight which peaked at #32 in 2016.
3. THE REST IS FAST: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have the fastest climbing song of the week with The Rest Of Our Life (#51 to #41).
4. DUNN DEBUTS: Ronnie Dunn has the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #53 with That's Why They Make Jack Daniels. This is the fourth single from the Tattooed Heart album. The three before are:
1. Ain't No Trucks In Texas-2015-#42
2. Damn Drunk-with Kix Brooks-2016-#36
3. I Worship The Woman You Walked On-2017-#46
5. HOME GIRL IS AT #57: Coming in at #57 is Chris Lane with Take Back Home Girl. This features Tori Kelly on backup vocals. This is a lead single to an upcoming album. His last album, Girl Problems produced a pair of chart appearances: Fix (#1 in 2016) and For Her (#10 in 2017).
6. BROWN RETURNS: A deluxe version of Kane Brown's self-titled album returns to the top of the country albums chart. 26,000 copies were sold last week. The original album debuted at #1 in December, 2016 when 46,000 were sold.
7. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Tornado-Little Big Town-Capitol
2007: Still Feels Good-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
2002: ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits-Elvis Presley-RCA
1997: You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1992: The Chase-Garth Brooks-Liberty
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Billboard debuted a new chart five years ago this week. It was the Country Airplay chart and Jason Aldean topped it with Take A Little Ride.
The Country Airplay chart was a continuation of the old Hot Country Songs chart which Aldean topped for the last two weeks of its existence. In its stead was the new Hot Country Songs chart which combined airplay, sales, and streams. It was a Hot 100 version of the country chart. The first artist to have a #1 on the new chart was Taylor Swift with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. On the old chart, the Swift tune debuted and peaked at #13. It also crossed over and became a #1 pop and #10 adult contemporary hit. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together topped the Hot Country Songs chart for ten weeks between 2012-2013. The same week the new Country Airplay chart debuted, Swift came in at #36 after eight weeks on the list. As far as Aldean is concerned, his Take A Little Ride was released in July as the lead single to his Night Train album. It topped the old Hot Country Songs chart for the first two weeks of October and became the first #1 on the new Country Airplay chart for the third week of the month. Since the Airplay chart started, there have been 176 chart toppers. A breakdown by year:
2012: 06
2013: 31
2014: 35
2015: 38
2016: 40
2017: 26 so far
The biggest Airplay hit during the first five years of the chart is Thomas Rhett's Die A Happy Man. That topped the chart for six weeks in 2016. The biggest hit at Hot Country Songs is Sam Hunt's Body Like A Back Road. That managed a staggering 34 weeks at the top this year. Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton are tied with the most #1s on the Airplay chart with twelve each. Bryan has the most Hot Country Songs chart toppers at six. This is what the chart looked back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 20, 2012:
1. Take A Little Ride-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
2. Blown Away-Carrie Underwood-Arista
3. Cowboys And Angels-Dustin Lynch-Broken Bow
4. Why Ya Wanna-Jana Kramer-Elektra
5. Hard To Love-Lee Brice-Curb
6. Wanted-Hunter Hayes-Atlantic
7. Lovin' You Is Fun-Easton Corbin-Mercury
8. The One That Got Away-Jake Owen-RCA
9. Fastest Girl In Town-Miranda Lambert-RCA
10. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye-Luke Bryan-Capitol

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1. IT POURS A #1: Luke Combs collects his second #1 this week with When It Rains It Pours. This follows his first chart topper, Hurricane which reigned the chart in May and June. Both are from his chart topping debut album, This One's For You.
2. BROOKS IS BACK: Garth Brooks takes a two point jump to #10 with Ask Me How I Know. This is Brooks' 38th top ten hit and first in ten years since his history making #1 debut with More Than A Memory. Furthermore, Brooks has top tens in four decades: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.
3. TAKE BACK FAST: Chris Lane has the fastest climbing song of the week with Take Back Home Girl. It zooms twelve spaces to #45.
4. SHE'S IT: Jon Pardi has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with She Ain't In It at #54. This is the fourth single to his California Sunrise album. It has produced a trio of top five hits. They are:
1. Head Over Boots-2016-#1
2. Dirt On My Boots-2017-#1
3. Heartache On The Dance Floor-2017-#3
5. SOME ALBUM NEWS: We have three albums making their debut in the top five on the country albums chart. They are:
1. Southern Girl City Lights-Jessie James Decker-#1 with 18,000 sold. This is her second album following 2009's self-titled debut. This is her first #1 country album.
2. Every Little Thing-Carly Pearce-#4 with 10,000 sold. This is her debut album.
3. Yours-Russell Dickerson-#5 with 8000 sold. This is his debut album.
6. AN 80S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of October during the 1980s:
1980: Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard Good Ol' Boys-Waylon Jennings-RCA
1981: Never Been So Loved In All My Life-Charley Pride-RCA
1982: Close Enough To Perfect-Alabama-RCA
1983: Islands In The Stream-Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton-RCA
1984: City Of New Orleans-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1985: Some Fools Never Learn-Steve Wariner-MCA
1986: It'll Be Me-Exile-Epic
1987: Right From The Start-Earl Thomas Conley-RCA
1988: Gonna Take A Lot Of River-the Oak Ridge Boys-RCA
1989: High Cotton-Alabama-RCA
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: George Jones landed the first of 79 top ten hits in 1955 with Why Baby Why (#4). His last came in 1990 via a duet with Randy Travis called A Few Ole Country Boys (#8). That duet peaked twenty-seven years ago this week.
Why Baby Why came from Jones' debut album of 1956 called The Grand Ole Opry's New Star. After releasing five singles that did not chart, Why Baby Why broke Jones on the country chart. Released in September, Why Baby Why peaked at #4 before the year ended. Two more singles from the album charted (both in 1956): What Am I Worth (#7) and You Gotta Be My Baby (#7). Four other versions of Why Baby Why charted. Those artists that have covered it are:
1. Red Sovine and Webb Pierce-1956-#1
2. Hank Locklin-1956-#9
3. Warren Smith and Shirley Collie-1961-#23
4. Charley Pride-1983-#1
Seven years after the Pride version peaked, Travis was preparing a duets album called Heroes & Friends. The track listing is as follows:
1. Heroes And Friends-1991-#3
2. Do I Ever Cross Your Mind-with Dolly Parton
3. The Birth Of The Blues-with Willie Nelson
4. All Night Long-with Merle Haggard
5. The Human Race-with Vern Gosdin
6. Shopping For Dresses-with Loretta Lynn
7. Waiting On The Light To Change-with B.B. King
8. A Few Ole Country Boys-with George Jones-1990-#8
9. Walk Our Own Road-with Kris Kristofferson
10. We're Strangers Again-with Tammy Wynette
11. Smokin' The Hive-with Clint Eastwood
12. Come See About Me-with Conway Twitty
13. Happy Trails-with Roy Rogers
14. Heroes And Friends-Reprise
A Few Ole Country Boys was released in August and peaked at #8 in October. It was Travis' fifteenth top ten and Jones' 79th and final top ten hit. Furthermore, it gave Jones top tens during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The Heroes & Friends album was released and that became Travis' fifth consecutive chart topping album in November (also a #31 top 200 album). His other #1 albums are:
1. Storms Of Life-1986
2. Always & Forever-1987
3. Old 8 X 10-1988
4. No Holdin' Back-1989
Heroes & Friends also became Travis' fifth consecutive platinum album as well. The title track was released in January, 1991 and peaked at #3 in April. Another single made a chart appearance and that is the duet with Wynette called We're Strangers Again. Officially, it was a Wynette single because it came from her Best Loved Hits album. That peaked at #49 in 1991. Despite being named the number one country artist of the year at Billboard in December, 1990 (when you combine singles chart and albums chart activity), Travis was supplanted by Garth Brooks as the biggest country artist during this time. A Few Ole Country Boys makes its debut on a Jones album and that is Friends In High Places (1991). That ended his twenty year association at Epic Records. Even though Jones never placed in the top ten again, he did place eight more singles in the top 40. They are:
1. You Couldn't Get The Picture-1991-#32
2. I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair-1993-#34
3. High-Tech Redneck-1994-#24
4. You Don't Seem To Miss Me-with Patty Loveless-1997-#14
5. Choices-1999-#30
6. A Country Boy Can Survive-with Chad Brock and Hank Williams, Jr.-2000-#30
7. Beer Run-with Garth Brooks-2001-#24
8. 4th Of July-with Shooter Jennings-2005-#26
Here is a timeline of major events in Travis' and Jones' careers:
1992: Jones inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
2009: Travis makes his last chart appearance with I Told You So with Carrie Underwood (#2).
2011: Travis releases his duets album, Anniversary Celebration. A Few Ole Country Boys is on this album as a duet with Jamey Johnson. Johnson sings Travis' part in the song while Travis sings Jones' part.
2011: Jones makes his last chart appearance with a vocal collaboration with Aaron Lewis, Charlie Daniels, and Chris Young called Country Boy (#50).
2013: Jones dies at the age of 81.
2015: Travis releases his last album called On The Other Hand: All The Number Ones.
2016: Travis inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
2017: Jones releases his current album called George Jones & The Smoky Mountain Boys.
This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 27, 1990:
1. Friends In Low Places-Garth Brooks-Capitol
2. You Lie-Reba McEntire-MCA
3. Too Cold At Home-Mark Chesnutt-MCA
4. Home-Joe Diffie-Epic
5. A Fool Such As I-Baillie and the Boys-RCA
6. You Really Had Me Going-Holly Dunn-Warner Bros.
7. Born To Be Blue-the Judds-RCA
8. A FEW OLE COUNTRY BOYS-RANDY TRAVIS AND GEORGE JONES-WARNER BROS.
9. Back In My Younger Days-Don Williams-RCA
10. Feed This Fire-Anne Murray-Capitol

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1. STILL RAINING: Luke Combs rules the country chart for a second week with When It Rains It Pours. It matches the two week stay he had at #1 earlier this year with Hurricane.
2. PARDI'S FAST: Jon Pardi has the fastest climbing song of the week with She Ain't In It. It climbs eleven spaces to #43.
3. LYNCH IS HIGH: Dustin Lynch has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with I'd Be Jealous Too. It is the second single to his current album, Current Mood. It is the follow up to his biggest hit, Small Town Boy.
4. WILD AS JOHNSON: Cody Johnson debuts at #59 with Wild As You. This is from an upcoming album. This is Johnson's second chart appearance. He debuted last year with the #40 peaking With You I Am.
5. HIS FIRST TIME: Making his debut on the chart at #60 is Morgan Evans with Kiss Somebody. This is from an upcoming album.
6. SOME ALBUM NEWS: We have five albums making their debuts on the country albums chart. They are:
1. Losing Sleep-Chris Young-#1 with 32,000 sold. Young's sixth studio album to chart following:
a. Chris Young-2006-#3
b. The Man I Want To Be-2009-#6
c. Neon-2011-#2
d. A.M.-2013-#2
e. I'm Comin' Over-2015-#1
2. When Was The Last Time-Darius Rucker-#2 with 30,000 sold. Rucker's fifth studio album to chart following:
a. Learn To Live-2008-#1
b. Charleston, SC 1966-2010-#1
c. True Believers-2013-#1
d. Southern Style-2015-#1
3. A Long Way From Your Heart-Turnpike Troubadours-#3 with 18,000 sold. Their third album to chart following:
a. Goodbye Normal Street-2012-#14
b. The Turnpike Troubadours-2015-#3
4. All American Made-Margo Price-#12 with 6000 sold. Price's second studio album to chart following 2016's Midwest Farmer's Daughter-#10
5. Willie And The Boys: Willie's Stash, Vol. 2-Willie Nelson-#19 with 5000 sold. Volume 1 peaked at #26 in 2014.
7. A WEEK LATE: Dolly Parton's first children's album, I Believe In You debuted at #20 after 5000 were sold two weeks ago. I got the sales figures after I posted my column last week.
8. AN 80S LOOK, PART II: These were the chart topping albums during the first week of November during the 1980s:
1980: Honeysuckle Rose-Soundtrack-Columbia
1981: Feels So Right-Alabama-RCA
1982: Always On My Mind-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1983: Eyes That See In The Dark-Kenny Rogers-RCA
1984: City Of New Orleans-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1985: Greatest Hits, Vol. 2-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
1986: Guitar Town-Steve Earle-MCA
1987: Greatest Hits Volume Two-George Strait-MCA
1988: Loving Proof-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
1989: No Holdin' Back-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Crystal Gayle was at Columbia Records for only three years (1979-1982). She was only there for three albums as well. She started her tenure there with Half The Way, her biggest #2 hit that peaked there 38 years ago this week.
She ended her years at United Artists (1974-1979) with the We Should Be Together album of 1979. A lone single, Your Kisses Will peaked at #7. Gayle signed to her third label, Columbia in 1979 (she was at Decca Records with her sister, Loretta Lynn before joining United Artists). Gayle went to work on her debut Columbia album, Miss The Mississippi. Lead single, Half The Way was released in August. It climbed all the way to #2 for three weeks in November. It played bridesmaid to Kenny Rogers' You Decorated My Life for the first two weeks and stayed at #2 for another week while Waylon Jennings leapfrogged her with Come With Me. Half The Way crossed over to #15 pop and #9 adult contemporary. Second single, It's Like We Never Said Goodbye was released in January, 1980. It topped the chart in April, giving Gayle #1s during the 1970s and 1980s. It also gave her chart toppers on two labels: United Artists and Columbia. When it topped the chart, Gayle led an all-female top five on the chart, the first time that has ever happened. The chart:
BILLBOARD TOP FIVE FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 19, 1980:
1. It's Like We Never Said Goodbye-Crystal Gayle-Columbia
2. A Lesson In Leavin'-Dottie West-United Artists
3. Are You On The Road To Lovin' Me Again-Debby Boone-Warner Bros.
4. Beneath Still Waters-Emmylou Harris-Warner Bros.
5. Two Story House-Tammy Wynette and George Jones-Epic
It's Like We Never Said Goodbye became a crossover hit when it peaked at #63 pop and #17 A.C.. The third and final single, The Blue Side wrapped up the era by peaking at #8 country, #81 pop, and #16 A.C.. It should be noted that United Artists released a single called Your Old Cold Shoulder, which peaked at #5 in early 1980.
Gayle's second Columbia album, These Days was released in 1980. Lead single, If You Ever Change Your Mind was released in August. It topped the country chart in November becoming her eighth chart topper. It also peaked at #18 A.C.. Take It Easy was released in January, 1981. It peaked at #17 and broke Gayle's streak of consecutive top tens at thirteen. However, she bounced back with the third and final single, Too Many Lovers. That was released in May and became a #1 hit in August. It was beginning to be the end of Gayle at Columbia. She released her final album for them called Hollywood, Tennessee in 1981. Lead single, The Woman In Me was released in September. It peaked at #3 just before the year ended. It also peaked at #76 pop and #17 A.C.. 1982 was kicked off with You Never Gave Up On Me. Released in February, it reached #5 country and #32 A.C.. Gayle's final Columbia single, Livin' In These Troubled Times was released in July and peaked at #9.
It was announced that Gayle would sign to the Elektra label in 1982. Before she could work on her debut album for her new label, she participated in a duet with Eddie Rabbitt called You And I. It was the lead single to his Radio Romance album. Released in October, it was a #1 country hit in December. It was Rabbitt's eleventh #1 hit and Gayle's tenth chart topping hit. It also peaked at #7 pop and #2 A.C. in early 1983. However, Gayle did release an album for Elektra called True Love in 1982. Its lead single, 'Til I Gain Control Again was released in November and topped the chart in February, 1983. Our Love Is On The Faultline was released in March and became a #1 hit in June. It crossed over to #23 A.C.. Third and final single, Baby, What About You made appearances on all three charts (#1 country, #83 pop, and #9 A.C.). In 1983, Columbia released a greatest hits album on Gayle. Keepin' Power, originally on Hollywood, Tennessee was released from the hits package and peaked at #49.
To date, Gayle's last chart appearance is 1990's Never Ending Song Of Love (#72). She is slated to release an album called Am I That Easy To Forget. Gayle was made a member of the Grand Ole Opry this year. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 3, 1979:
1. You Decorated My Life-Kenny Rogers-United Artists
2. HALF THE WAY-CRYSTAL GAYLE-COLUMBIA
3. All The Gold In California-Gatlin Brothers-Columbia
4. Come With Me-Waylon Jennings-RCA
5. Should I Come Home Or Should I Go Crazy-Gene Watson-Capitol
6. My Own Kind Of Hat/Heaven Was A Drink Of Wine-Merle Haggard-MCA
7. Broken Hearted Me-Anne Murray-Capitol
8. Blue Kentucky Girl-Emmylou Harris-Warner Bros.
9. Blind In Love-Mel Tillis-Elektra
10. Put Your Clothes Back On-Joe Stampley-Epic

[countrychartnut]

1. AN UNFORGETTABLE #1: Thomas Rhett lands his ninth #1 hit this week with Unforgettable. This is the second single and second #1 off his current album, Life Changes. Craving You topped the chart in July. Furthermore, Rhett becomes the first artist in Billboard 2017 (since December, 2016) to have three #1 hits. He started the year by landing a chart topper in February with Star Of The Show.
2. SHELTON DOMINATION: Blake Shelton debuts five new songs from his current album, Texoma Shore. They are:
1. At The House-#33 and the Hot Shot Debut of the week
2. I Lived It-#34
3. Turnin' Me On-#35
4. Money-#36
5. Why Me-#37
His official single, I'll Name The Dogs just entered the top ten at #10.
3. BROWN'S HEAVEN: After all those Blake Shelton debuts, Kane Brown enters the chart this week at #54 with Heaven. It is the follow up to his first chart topper, What Ifs.
4. CHESNEY'S LIVE: Kenny Chesney debuts at #1 on the country albums chart with Live In No Shoes Nation. 217,000 copies were sold last week. This is his second live album following 2006's Live: Live Those Songs Again.
5. SMITH WINS: Granger Smith debuts at #2 on the country albums chart with his second Wheelhouse album, When The Good Guys Win. 15,000 were sold. It follows Remington from 2016 (#3).
6. THANK A VETERAN: Need I say more?
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Hard To Love-Lee Brice-Curb
2007: Don't Blink-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2002: Somebody Like You-Keith Urban-Capitol
1997: Love Gets Me Every Time-Shania Twain-Mercury
1992: No One Else On Earth-Wynonna Judd-MCA
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Rosanne Cash became the first female artist to pull a quartet of #1 hits off of an album. She did so with Runaway Train off King's Record Shop. She did so 29 years ago this week.
In 1987, when King's Record Shop was released, Cash was basking in the afterglow of the success of her 1985 album, Rhythm & Romance. That album spawned a quartet of top five hits. They are:
1. I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me-1985-#1-Grammy Award winner
2. Never Be You-1986-#1-chart wise, her biggest hit and the biggest hit of the year according to Billboard
3. Hold On-1986-#5
4. Second To No One-1986-#5
She went to work on the King's Record Shop album in 1987. Lead single, The Way We Make A Broken Heart was released in June. It became Cash's sixth #1 hit in October. Second single was a remake. It was Tennessee Flat Top Box, originally done by her father, Johnny Cash. At the time she recorded the song, she didn't know who wrote it until her husband/producer, Rodney Crowell looked into it and indeed, Johnny DID write the tune. His version peaked at #11 in 1962 (several months before Rosanne turned six). In Rosanne's hands, it was released in November and it became a #1 hit in February, 1988. A month before that topped the chart, Crowell released the lead single to his historic album, Diamonds & Dirt. It was a duet with Cash called It's Such A Small World. It was a chart topper in April, becoming his first #1 and her eighth chart topping hit. A month before the duet topped the chart, Cash released her third single, If You Change Your Mind. That was a #1 hit in July. Could Cash go four-for-four with King's Record Shop? Fourth and final single, Runaway Train was released in August and became her landmark tenth #1 hit in November. In December, Billboard named Cash Country Singles Artist of the Year.
Cash released her first greatest hits album in 1989 called Hits 1979-1989. Two new songs were added to the twelve song album. Lead single, I Don't Want To Spoil The Party was released in March. It became her eleventh and final chart topping hit in June. When it topped the chart, it was the first Beatles tune to do so as it was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Second single, Black And White was released and it topped off at #37. It broke her streak of six consecutive #1 hits. The Cash hit parade was coming to an end. Her 1990 album, Interiors gave her two charted singles that were her last chart appearances: What We Really Want (#39 in 1990 and her final top 40 hit) and On The Surface (#69 in 1991). Her last CD was released in 2014 called The River & The Thread. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 12, 1988:
1. RUNAWAY TRAIN-ROSANNE CASH-COLUMBIA
2. New Shade Of Blue-Southern Pacific-Warner Bros.
3. I'll Leave This World Loving You-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
4. I've Been Lookin'-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-Warner Bros.
5. I Know How He Feels-Reba McEntire-MCA
6. If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'-George Strait-MCA
7. I Wish That I Could Fall In Love Today-Barbara Mandrell-Capitol
8. Chiseled In Stone-Vern Gosdin-Columbia
9. That's That-Michael Johnson-RCA
10. Desperately-Don Williams-Capitol

[countrychartnut]

1. CARLY PEARCES #1: Carly Pearce lands her first #1 this week with her debut single, Every Little Thing. It is the title track to her debut album. She becomes the first female artist to take a debut single to the top since Kelsea Ballerini did so with Love Me Like You Mean It in July, 2015. Pearce is on the Big Machine label. The last female to top the chart on the label is Taylor Swift. She did in in March, 2012 with Ours. Swift would have another chart topper with Tim McGraw called Highway Don't Care in June, 2013. That was from the McGraw album, Two Lanes Of Freedom.
2. C.M.A. CHART: This year's winners on this week's chart:
7. Ask Me How I Know-Garth Brooks-Entertainer of the Year
23. Female-Keith Urban-Single of the Year
26. Tin Man-Miranda Lambert-Female Vocalist of the Year
30. Broken Halos-Chris Stapleton-Male Vocalist and Album of the Year
38. She Ain't In It-Jon Pardi-New Artist of the Year
47. When Someone Stops Loving You-Little Big Town-Vocal Group of the Year
57. Heaven South-Brad Paisley-C.M.A. Host
3. A FEMALE HIGH: Keith Urban blasts his way on the chart this week with Female at #23. This is the lead single to an upcoming album. His last album, Ripcord generated a quintet of top two hits. They are:
1. John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16-2015-#2
2. Break On Me-2016-#1
3. Wasted Time-2016-#1
4. Blue Ain't Your Color-2017-#1
5. The Fighter-with Carrie Underwood-2017-#2
4. AN ALRIGHT DUET: Debuting at #44 is David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney with Everything's Gonna Be Alright. This is from Murphy's upcoming No Zip Code album. As an artist, Murphy has six major hits. They are:
1. Party Crowd-1995-#6
2. Dust On The Bottle-1995-#1
3. Out With A Bang-1996-#13
4. Every Time I Get Around You-1996-#2
5. The Road You Leave Behind-1996-#5
6. Loco-2004-#5
You can find a duet version of Dust On The Bottle between Chesney and Murphy on Chesney's current album, Live In No Shoes Nation.
5. HEAVEN IS FAST: Kane Brown has the fastest climbing song of the week with Heaven. It zooms nine spots to #45.
6. HEAVEN IS NEW: Brad Paisley debuts at #57 with Heaven South. It is the third single off his Love And War album. Two single before it are (both 2017): Today (#3) and Last Time For Everything (#19).
7. SHELTON'S SHORE IS #1: Blake Shelton debuts at the top of the country albums chart with Texoma Shore. 55,000 copies were sold last week. This is his sixth #1 album following:
1. All About Tonight-2010
2. Red River Blue-2011
3. Based On A True Story-2013
4. Bringing Back The Sunshine-2014
5. If I'm Honest-2016
6. Texoma Shore-2017
8. SOME ALBUM NEWS: Three other albums make their debut on the country albums chart. They are:
1. Unapologetically-Kelsea Ballerini-#3 with 35,000 sold. This is her second album following 2015's The First Time (#4).
2. Sweet Southern Sugar-Kid Rock-#4 with 40,000 sold. This is his debut album on the Broken Bow label.
3. Lee Brice-Lee Brice-#7 with 9000 sold. This is his fourth top ten album following:
1. Love Like Crazy-2010-#9
2. Hard 2 Love-2012-#2
3. I Don't Dance-2014-#1
4. Lee Brice-2017-#7
9. CHRISTMAS RETURNS: Reba McEntire re-enters the albums chart with My Kind Of Christmas at #18. It was originally released last year.
10. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Red-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2007: Long Road Out Of Eden-the Eagles-Lost Highway
2002: Melt-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
1997: You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
1992: The Chase-Garth Brooks-Liberty
11. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Billboard proclaimed Crazy Girl by the Eli Young Band to be the biggest hit of 2011. It was our top song just six years ago this week.
Where did they get their name? They got it from combining the last names of Mike Eli and James Young. The two other members are Jon Jones and Chris Thompson. They formed in 2000 and just a year later, signed to Carnival Records. They released their debut album, Eli Young Band in 2002. It did not generate any interest at all. They released another album in 2005 called Level. Level repeated the pattern of Eli Young Band. However, a single called So Close Now was released but did not chart. A live album was released in 2006 called Live At The Jolly Fox. They ended their association with Carnival shortly after that. They signed to their second label in 2007 with Universal South. They released just one album with them in 2008 called Jet Black & Jealous. They finally made their debut on the chart in 2007 with When It Rains. That was released in October and peaked at #34 in mid 2008. Second single, Always The Love Songs was released in September. It finally gave them the big hit they were looking for when it peaked at #11 in 2009. Third single, Radio Waves was released in July and peaked at #35 before the year ended. They wrapped up the era in 2010 with the #45 peaking Guinevere. Universal South merged with Toby Keith's Show Dog label during this time and it sent the Eli Young Band searching for its third label.
That third label was Republic Nashville, a subsidiary label of Big Machine Records. That was in 2010 and the Eli Young Band went to work on their Life At Best album. That was released in 2011. Lead single, Crazy Girl was released in March. Having a slow, but steady climb up the chart, it became their first top ten hit and even first #1 in November. It gave them a solid crossover hit when it peaked at #30 pop in early 2012. Between those peaks on those charts, Billboard named Crazy Girl the biggest hit of the year. This was the case of Lee Brice succeeding himself. He had the biggest hit of 2010 with his historic Love Like Crazy (with its 56 weeks on the chart). Well, Brice ended up writing the biggest hit of 2011. Second single, Even If It Breaks Your Heart was released in January, 2012. It became their second chart topper in July. Third and final single, Say Goodnight was released in August. It reached #22 on the chart. Their next album would not surface until 2014. That was called 10,000 Towns and that became their only #1 album in March. Lead single, Drunk Last Night was released in June, 2013. That became the final chart topping hit of the year. Second and final single, Dust was released in February, 2014 and got all the way up to #15. An extended play was released in 2015 called Turn It On. The title track was the lead single and that peaked at #37. The Eli Young Band remade Andy Grammer's (as a duet with him) 2015 hit called Honey, I'm Good. That was a #9 pop and #3 adult contemporary hit for him. The duet version peaked at #41 country. They made a lateral move in 2016 when they were transferred to another Big Machine label, Valory. They released an album this year called Fingerprints. Saltwater Gospel comes from that album and that peaked at #41. To date, that is their final chart appearance. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 19, 2011:
1. CRAZY GIRL-ELI YOUNG BAND-REPUBLIC NASHVILLE
2. God Gave Me You-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
3. Sparks Fly-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
4. Country Must Be Country Wide-Brantley Gilbert-Valory
5. Baggage Claim-Miranda Lambert-RCA
6. We Owned The Night-Lady Antebellum-Capitol
7. Tattoos On This Town-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
8. Keep Me In Mind-Zac Brown Band-Atlantic
9. I Got You-Thompson Square-Stoney Creek
10. Easy-Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield-Big Machine

[countrychartnut]

1. THE GREATEST #1: LANco lands their first #1 this week with Greatest Love Story. This is from their Extended Play album. Lead single, Long Live Tonight peaked at #32. They become the second group at Arista to land a chart topping hit. Diamond Rio was first in 1991 with Meet In The Middle.
2. THEY'RE FAST: David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney have the fastest climbing song of the week with Everything's Gonna Be Alright. It goes up seven spaces to #37.
3. RHETT MARRIES #54: Thomas Rhett debuts his third Life Changes single, Marry Me at #54. It follows chart toppers Craving You and Unforgettable.
4. WALLEN DEBUTS: Morgan Wallen debuts at #55 with Up Down. Florida Georgia Line lends vocal support on the track. This is Wallen's second chart appearance following 2016's The Way I Talk (#30). Up Down will be on an upcoming album.
5. NEW YEAR'S IS EARLY: Taylor Swift makes her debut at #57 with New Year's Day. This is from her chart topping album, Reputation. Her last time on the chart was the #58 peaking Shake It Off from 2014.
6. UPCHURCH DEBUTS: Upchurch debuts at #10 on the country albums chart with King Of Dixie. 8000 copies were sold last week. This is his fifth album to chart following:
1. Heart Of America-2016-#30
2. Chicken Willie-2016-#22
3. Bad Mutha Fucka-2016-#42
4. Son Of The South-2017-#29
5. King Of Dixie-2017-#10
7. LAWRENCE'S DAYS: Tracy Lawrence debuts at #16 on the country albums chart with Good Ole Days. 7000 copies were sold. This is his first album since 2013's Headlights, Taillights, And Radios (#26).
8. EVEN MORE CHRISTMAS: Blake Shelton re-enters the country albums chart at #23 with Cheers, It's Christmas. It was released in 2012.
9. A CORRECTION: I had stated that the current album by Lee Brice (self-titled) sold 9000 copies last week. It actually sold 12,000 copies.
10. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping hits in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye-Luke Bryan-Capitol
2007: Free And Easy Down The Road I Go-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
2002: Somebody Like You-Keith Urban-Capitol
1997: Love Gets Me Every Time-Shania Twain-Mercury
1992: I'm In A Hurry And Don't Know Why-Alabama-RCA
11. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Reba McEntire starred in a sitcom on TV between 2001-2007. Simply titled Reba, the theme song was called I'm A Survivor. That peaked at #3 sixteen years ago this week.
I'm A Survivor appeared on McEntire's 2001 compilation, Greatest Hits Volume III: I'm A Survivor. The track listing is as follows:
1. I'm A Survivor-2001-#3
2. Forever Love-1998-#4
3. The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter-1995-#1
4. And Still-1995-#2
5. If You See Him/If You See Her-with Brooks & Dunn-1998-#1
6. The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia-1992-#12
7. Fallin' Out Of Love-1991-#2
8. The Heart Won't Lie-with Vince Gill-1993-#1
9. Take It Back-1993-#5
10. She Thinks His Name Was John-1994-#15
11. The Fear Of Being Alone-1996-#2
12. Why Haven't I Heard From You-1994-#5
13. One Honest Heart-1999-#7
14. Myself Without You
15. Sweet Music Man-2002-#36
I'm A Survivor was released in July. It peaked at #3 in November. In October, the greatest hits album was released. After selling 147,000 copies during the first week, it debuted at #1 on the country albums chart and #19 on the top 200 chart. It is certified gold. Second and final single, Sweet Music Man was released in January, 2002. It was a remake of the Kenny Rogers hit of 1977 (#9 country and #44 pop). Rogers wrote Sweet Music Man as a tribute to Waylon Jennings. When McEntire released her version, Jennings died in February at the age of 64. McEntire took her version to #36. It was her worst performing single since 1980's I Still Long To Hold You Now And Then (#40). McEntire did get around to releasing a studio album in 2003 called Room To Breathe. It was her first one in four years since 1999's So Good Together. Four hit singles came from the album. They are:
1. I'm Gonna Take That Mountain-2003-#14
2. Somebody-2004-#1
3. He Gets That From Me-2005-#7
4. My Sister-2005-#16
A chart toppers disc was released in 2005. A decline in McEntire's popularity was evident when the two new songs were not chart busting hits: You're Gonna Be Always Loved By Me (#33 in 2005) and Love Needs A Holiday (#60 in 2006). McEntire's days at MCA were numbered as she released her final studio album with them in 2007. Titled Reba: Duets, it gave her two more hits: Because Of You with Kelly Clarkson (#2 in 2007) and Every Other Weekend with Kenny Chesney (#15 in 2008). It became her first album to debut at #1 on BOTH country and top 200 charts when 301,000 copies were sold during the first week.
In 2008, after 25 years at MCA, McEntire announced she was signing to the Valory label. Two albums and seven singles were released. They are:
1. Keep On Loving You-2009
a. Strange-2009-#11
b. Consider Me Gone-2010-#1-chart wise, her biggest hit
c. I Keep On Loving You-2010-#7
2. All The Women I Am-2010
a. Turn On The Radio-2011-#1
b. If I Were A Boy-2011-#22
c. When Love Gets A Hold Of You-2011-#40
d. Somebody's Chelsea-2011-#44
In 2011, McEntire was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2014, she joined the Nash Icon label. So far, two albums and five singles have been released. They are:
1. Love Somebody-2015
a. Going Out Like That-2015-#28
b. Until They Don't Love You-2015-#48
c. Just Like Them Horses-2016-did not chart
2. Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope-2017
a. Softly And Tenderly-with Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood-2017-did not chart
b. Back To God-2017-#41
This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 24, 2001:
1. I Wanna Talk About Me-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
2. Love Of A Woman-Travis Tritt-Columbia
3. I'M A SURVIVOR-REBA MCENTIRE-MCA
4. Riding With Private Malone-David Ball-Dualtone
5. Angry All The Time-Tim McGraw-Curb
6. Run-George Strait-MCA
7. Only In America-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
8. On A Night Like This-Trick Pony-Warner Bros.
9. Where I Come From-Alan Jackson-Arista
10. Where The Stars And Stripes And The Eagle Fly-Aaron Tippin-Lyric Street

P.S.: Happy Thanksgiving!

[countrychartnut]

1. THEY LOVE #1: LANco continue to rule the country chart with their second single for the second week with Greatest Love Story.
2. BROOKS' 25TH: Climbing three to #2 is Garth Brooks with Ask Me How I Know. This is his twenty-fifth top two hit (19 #1s and 6 #2s).
3. STREAK SNAPPED: Florida Georgia Line slides five to #19 with Smooth. It had peaked at #14, meaning their streak of consecutive top tens has ended at thirteen. Their hit list:
1. Cruise-2012-#1
2. Get Your Shine On-2013-#1
3. 'Round Here-2013-#1
4. Stay-2014-#1
5. This Is How We Roll-with Luke Bryan-2014-#2
6. Dirt-2014-#1
7. Sun Daze-2015-#1
8. Sippin' On Fire-2015-#1
9. Anything Goes-2015-#3
10. Confession-2016-#1
11. H.O.L.Y.-2016-#1
12. May We All-with Tim McGraw-2016-#1
13. God, Your Mama, And Me-with the Backstreet Boys-2017-#1
14. Smooth-2017-#14
4. MARRY FAST: Thomas Rhett has the fastest climbing song of the week with Marry Me. It zooms nineteen spots to #35.
5. GOD IS HIGH: Of course He is. Anyway, Reba McEntire debuts at #54 with God And My Girlfriends. It is the Hot Shot Debut of the Week. This is the third release and second single to chart from her gospel album, Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope. Back To God peaked at #41 this year.
6. HER FIRST: Bebe Rexha makes her debut on the country chart with Meant To Be at #57. This has Florida Georgia Line vocally supporting her. They are on the chart with Smooth (#19) and Up Down with Morgan Wallen (#50).
7. HER FIRST, PART II: Ashley McBryde makes her first chart appearance at #59 with A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega.
8. MCGRAW/HILL TOPS: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill debut atop the country albums chart with The Rest Of Our Life. 98,000 copies were sold last week. This is their first duets album and first for Arista Records.
9. GARTH'S ANTHOLOGY: Garth Brooks bows at #2 on the country albums chart with The Anthology: Part 1, The First Five Years. 53,000 were sold last week. You're getting five discs and a book detailing Brooks' first five years in the music business (1988-1993). This is his fourth box set to chart following:
1. The Limited Series-1998-#1
2. Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades Of Influences-2013-#1
3. The Ultimate Collection-2016-#1
4. The Anthology: Part 1, The First Five Years-2017-#2
10. A 70S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of November during the 1970s:
1970: Endlessly-Sonny James-Capitol
1971: Daddy Frank The Guitar Man-Merle Haggard-Capitol
1972: She's Too Good To Be True-Charley Pride-RCA
1973: The Most Beautiful Girl-Charlie Rich-Epic
1974: Back Home Again-John Denver-RCA
1975: It's All In The Movies-Merle Haggard-Capitol
1976: Good Woman Blues-Mel Tillis-MCA
1977: Here You Come Again-Dolly Parton-RCA
1978: I Just Want To Love You-Eddie Rabbitt-Elektra
1979: Broken Hearted Me-Anne Murray-Capitol
11. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: 22 More Hits is certainly a great way to complement 50 Number Ones from 2004. 22 More Hits debuted at #4 for George Strait in 2007, just ten years ago this week.
The track listing is as follows:
1. How 'Bout Them Cowgirls-2007-#3
2. Amarillo By Morning-1983-#4
3. The Fireman-1985-#5
4. Gone As A Girl Can Get-1992-#5
5. When Did You Stop Loving Me-1993-#6
6. Marina Del Rey-1983-#6
7. Desperately-2004-#6
8. The Cowboy Rides Away-1985-#5
9. Lovebug-1994-#8
10. Cowboys Like Us-2003-#2
11. She Let Herself Go-2006-#1
12. You'll Be There-2005-#4
13. Don't Make Me Come Over There And Love You-2001-#17
14. What Do You Say To That-1999-#4
15. Drinking Champagne-1990-#4
16. You're Something Special To Me-1986-#4
17. Meanwhile-1999-#4
18. Adalida-1995-#3
19. If You Can Do Anything Else-2001-#5
20. Unwound-1981-#6
21. If You're Thinking You Want A Stranger There's One Coming Home-1982-#3
22. Overnight Success-1990-#8
50 Number Ones contained only one new song and that was I Hate Everything. That ended being Strait's 39th number one hit in 2004. 22 More Hits contained Strait's then current single, How 'Bout Them Cowgirls. That came from the 2006 album, It Just Comes Natural. Cowgirls peaked at #3 just before 2007 ended. It Just Comes Natural contains Strait's record breaking 41st chart topper, Give It Away. The title track kicked off Strait's 2007 on a #1 note. Third single, Wrapped spent two weeks at #2. Then came How 'Bout Them Cowgirls. MCA decided to release 22 More Hits in November. It debuted at #4 country and #13 top 200 when 80,000 copies were sold during the first week. 22 More Hits is certified gold while 50 Number Ones is at seven times platinum (three and a half million physical copies of the two disc set were sold). In 2013, Sixty Number Ones was released. That was gathering ALL Strait singles that reached the top in various trade publications. That was possible when Give It All We Got Tonight reached #2 in Billboard and #1 in MediaBase. It became Strait's first platinum single.
So far, Cold Beer Conversation is Strait's last chart appearance from 2015 (#33). His last album was a three CD box set from 2016 called Strait Out Of The Box: Part 2. It contains his last single released so far called Goin' Goin' Gone. Strait was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006. He was chosen as Artist of the Decade by the A.C.M. in 2009. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 1, 2007:
1. The Ultimate Hits-Garth Brooks-Pearl/Big Machine
2. Long Road Out Of Eden-the Eagles-Lost Highway
3. Carnival Ride-Carrie Underwood-Arista
4. 22 MORE HITS-GEORGE STRAIT-MCA
5. Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
6. Reba: Duets-Reba McEntire-MCA
7. Still Feels Good-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
8. Enjoy The Ride-Sugarland-Mercury
9. Raising Sand-Alison Krauss and Robert Plant-Rounder
10. Heaven, Heartache, And The Power Of Love-Trisha Yearwood-Big Machine

[countrychartnut]

1. BROOKS KNOWS #1: Garth Brooks tops the chart for the twentieth time in his career with Ask Me How I Know. This is the second single to his current album, Gunslinger. Baby, Let's Lay Down And Dance peaked at #15 earlier this year. This is Brooks' first #1 in a decade since More Than A Memory debuted at the top in 2007. Ask Me How I Know is Brooks' second chart topper on his Pearl label. His first eighteen were on Capitol Records (1989-1998). Furthermore, Brooks now has chart toppers in four decades: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. The only other artist to have #1s in those decades is Reba McEntire. Furthermore, Brooks has one of the longest spans of #1 hits. His first came in December, 1989 with If Tomorrow Never Comes. Ask Me How I Know tops the chart 28 years later. The top five spans of chart topping hits:
1. Dolly Parton-35 years between Joshua (1971) to When I Get Where I'm Going with Brad Paisley (2006)
2. Alabama-31 years between Tennessee River (1980) to Old Alabama with Paisley (2011)
3. Johnny Cash-29 years between I Walk The Line (1956) to Highwayman with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson (1985)
4. Reba McEntire-28 years between Can't Even Get The Blues (1983) to Turn On The Radio (2011)
5. Garth Brooks-28 years between If Tomorrow Never Comes (1989) to Ask Me How I Know (2017)
2. HER SECOND: Easing up two to #9 is Maren Morris with I Could Use A Love Song. This is the third single off her Hero album and second top ten hit. My Church, her debut single peaked at #9 in early 2017. She followed that with 80s Mercedes (#12). She was featured on the Thomas Rhett hit, Craving You (#1 in 2017).
3. F.G.L. FAST MOVERS: Florida Georgia Line is responsible for two artists' singles climbing fast on the chart this week. They are:
1. Up Down with Morgan Wallen-#50 to #42
2. Meant To Be with Bebe Rexha-#57 to #48
4. TWAIN'S BACK: Shania Twain has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with We Got Something They Don't at #59. This is the second single to chart from her current album, Now. Life's About To Get Good debuted and peaked at #36.
5. HIS FIRST: Brandon Lay makes his debut on the chart at #60 with Speakers, Bleachers, And Preachers.
6. EVEN MORE CHRISTMAS: We have four more Christmas albums making the top 25 this week. They are:
1. It's Christmas Time-Elvis Presley-#11
2. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer-Burl Ives-#19
3. The Classic Christmas Album-Elvis Presley-#24
4. Let It Be Christmas-Alan Jackson-#25
7. A 70S LOOK, PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of December during the 1970s:
1970: For The Good Times-Ray Price-Columbia
1971: Easy Loving-Freddie Hart-Capitol
1972: The Best Of The Best Of Merle Haggard-Merle Haggard-Capitol
1973: Primrose Lane/Don't Give Up On Me-Jerry Wallace-MCA
1974: Merle Haggard Presents His 30th Album-Merle Haggard-Capitol
1975: Red Headed Stranger-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1976: The Troublemaker-Willie Nelson-Columbia
1977: Elvis In Concert-Elvis Presley-RCA
1978: I've Always Been Crazy-Waylon Jennings-RCA
1979: Kenny-Kenny Rogers-United Artists
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Let us review those topics discussed in this section over the past year. Ready?
1. A review of #1 hits of 1991.
2. Ronnie Milsap collects his last chart topper, A Woman In Love in 1989.
3. Turn On The Radio becomes Reba McEntire's last #1 (so far) in 2011.
4. The Statler Brothers get a hit with Let's Get Started If We're Gonna Break My Heart in 1989.
5. Billboard's final 100 position country chart in 1990.
6. Lost His Love On Our Last Date hits the top for Emmylou Harris in 1983.
7. Put Your Hand In Mine becomes a big hit for Tracy Byrd in 2000.
8. Tanya Tucker scores a hit with Texas When I Die in 1979.
9. Sawyer Brown scores a #2 hit with This Time in 1995.
10. Overnight Success breaks George Strait's consecutive chart topping streak at eleven in 1990.
11. Charley Pride scores a #1 with Why Baby Why in 1983.
12. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson score a massive duet with Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys in 1978.
13. K.T. Oslin closes out Alabama's Face To Face while having a solo single simultaneously in the top 20 with I'll Always Come Back in 1988.
14. Reality becomes the fourth #1 off Hemingway's Whiskey for Kenny Chesney in 2012.
15. Reba McEntire has two records in the top 20: her solo Little Girl and her duet with Vince Gill, Oklahoma Swing in 1990.
16. Lucille becomes Kenny Rogers' first #1 in 1977.
17. Timeless And True Love becomes the McCarters' first top ten in 1988.
18. Reflected: Greatest Hits Vol. 2 is a top seller for Tim McGraw in 2006.
19. Shenandoah lands their first chart topper, The Church On Cumberland Road in 1989.
20. Behind Closed Doors is Charlie Rich's first chart topping hit in 1973.
21. Dolly Parton scores a double sided hit with It's All Wrong, But It's All Right/Two Doors Down in 1978.
22. Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson team up for a #1 duet, To All The Girls I've Loved Before in 1984.
23. Big Machine scores its first #1 hit with Jack Ingram's Wherever You Are in 2006.
24. Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses becomes Kathy Mattea's biggest hit in 1988.
25. Old Alabama is a #1 hit for Brad Paisley and Alabama in 2011.
26. Just A Little Love is Reba McEntire's first hit for MCA Records in 1984.
27. Grown Men Don't Cry tops the chart for Tim McGraw in 2001.
28. Last Day Of My Life hits #2 for Phil Vassar in 2006.
29. Waylon Jennings scores a classic with Amanda in 1979.
30. Island becomes Eddy Raven's final top ten in 1990.
31. Ronnie Milsap tops the chart with a classic with It Was Almost Like A Song in 1977. He tops it a year later with Only One Love In My Life.
32. As Good As I Once Was becomes Toby Keith's second biggest hit in 2005.
33. Red River Blue tops the country albums chart for Blake Shelton in 2011.
34. Alabama has a top seller in Alabama Live in 1988.
35. Suspicions hits the top for Eddie Rabbitt in 1979.
36. Carrie Underwood debuts high with So Small in 2007.
37. Crystal Gayle scores a classic with Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue in 1977. She does the same a year later with Talking In Your Sleep.
38. Devil Woman tops the chart for Marty Robbins in 1962.
39. Don't You hits the top ten for the Forester Sisters in 1989.
40. Keith Whitley and Lorrie Morgan score a hit duet with 'Til A Tear Becomes A Rose in 1990.
41. Clint Black's debut album, Killin' Time tops the album chart in 1989.
42. It's Been A Great Afternoon becomes Merle Haggard's biggest #2 hit in 1978.
43. The Oak Ridge Boys top the chart with Everyday in 1984.
44. Kenny Rogers has two hits in the top ten: his solo Scarlet Fever and his duet with Dolly Parton, Islands In The Stream in 1983.
45. The debut of the Airplay Chart in 2012.
46. A Few Ole Country Boys is a top ten duet for Randy Travis and George Jones in 1990.
47. Crystal Gayle scores her biggest #2 hit, Half The Way in 1979.
48. Rosanne Cash scores an historic #1 with Runaway Train in 1988.
49. The Eli Young Band scores their first #1 hit, Crazy Girl. It is the biggest hit of the year in 2011.
50. I'm A Survivor is a big hit for Reba McEntire in 2001.
51. George Strait debuts 22 More Hits in 2007.

More to come!

[countrychartnut]

1. BRYAN LIGHTS IT UP: Luke Bryan collects his eighteenth #1 hit this week with Light It Up. It is the lead single to his current album, What Makes You Country. His last album, Kill The Lights yielded an unprecedented six chart topping hits. They are:
1. Kick The Dust Up-2015
2. Strip It Down-2015
3. Home Alone Tonight-with Karen Fairchild-2016
4. Huntin', Fishin', And Lovin' Every Day-2016
5. Move-2016
6. Fast-2017
2. HIS FIFTH: Scotty McCreery takes a two point move to #19 with Five More Minutes. This is his fifth top 20 hit and first since 2014's Feelin' It (#10).
3. THEIR SECOND: High Valley makes a two point move to #20 with She's With Me. This is their second consecutive top 20 hit following Make You Mine (#17).
4. THEY'RE FAST: Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line have the fastest climbing song of the week with Meant To Be (#48 to #42).
5. ELL'S CRIMINAL: Lindsey Ell has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Criminal at #54. This is the second single off her current album, The Project. Waiting On You peaked at #42 earlier this year.
6. JANSON'S DRUNK: Chris Janson debuts at #58 with Drunk Girl. This is off his current album, Everybody. Lead single, Fix A Drink peaked at #2 earlier this year.
7. GUNS & ROSES: Are we talking about the heavy metal group? No. This is the current single for Drew Baldridge that makes its debut at #59. This is his first charted single.
8. MOORE'S SHOT: Kip Moore debuts at #60 with Last Shot. This is the second Slowheart single following the #4 peaking More Girls Like You.
9. STAPLETON'S TRIFECTA: Chris Stapleton has the top selling country album of the week with From A Room: Volume 2. 116,000 copies were sold last week. This album joins his other #1 discs in the top ten: From A Room: Volume 1 (#3) and Traveller (#4). Traveller is the top album for both 2016 and 2017.
10. BRADBERY'S BACK: Danielle Bradbery lands at #6 on the country albums chart with I Don't Believe We've Met. 11,000 copies were sold. This is her first album in four years as a self-titled one debuted at peaked at #5 in 2013.
11. CHRISTMAS: Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood return to the top 25 on the country albums chart with Christmas Together at #14.
12. A LATE UPDATE: A deluxe version of the Eagles' 1976 album, Hotel California debuted at #5 last week on the country albums chart. 12,000 copies were sold two weeks ago. I had received the number after I posted my column last week.
13. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Cruise-Florida Georgia Line-Republic Nashville
2007: So Small-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2002: These Days-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
1997: From Here To Eternity-Michael Peterson-Reprise
1992: I Cross My Heart-George Strait-MCA
14. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: In January 1989, RCA threw a party for four of its artists. They had scored consecutive #1 hits between December, 1988 to that January. They are:
1. Restless Heart-A Tender Lie
2. Keith Whitley-When You Say Nothing At All
3. K.T. Oslin-Hold Me
4. The Judds-Change Of Heart
Restless Heart led the parade 29 years ago this week. Now, let us take a look at those songs:
1. A Tender Lie-After releasing an album in 1986 called Wheels, Restless Heart got a quartet of chart topping hits off the album. They are: That Rock Won't Roll (1986), I'll Still Be Loving You (1987), Why Does It Have To Be Wrong Or Right (1987), and Wheels (1988). They released an album in 1988 called Big Dreams In A Small Town. Lead single, The Bluest Eyes In Texas became their fifth consecutive #1 hit in August. A Tender Lie was released in September. Restless Heart wasn't sure about the tune as it sounded too simple. Nevertheless, it became their sixth and final chart topping hit in December. They got two more hits off the album in 1989: Big Dreams In A Small Town (#3) and Say What's In Your Heart (#4). They continued to make the charts until 2004's Feel My Way To You (#29). Their last CD was released in 2013 called A Restless Heart Christmas.
2. When You Say Nothing At All-Keith Whitley finally broke through with his 1985 album, L.A. To Miami. He got four hits off the album: Miami, My Amy (#14 in 1986), Ten Feet Away (#9 in 1986), Homecoming '63 (#9 in 1987), and Hard Livin' (#10 in 1987). His next album would not get released until 1988 when Don't Close Your Eyes saw the light of day. Lead single, Would These Arms Be In Your Way faltered at #36. However, things would kick into higher gear for Whitley in 1988. He started the year with Some Old Side Road. That peaked at #16. The title track was released and that became Whitley's first #1 in August. When You Say Nothing At All was released in September and topped the chart for the final two weeks of the year. During this time, Billboard named Don't Close Your Eyes the biggest hit of the year. Whitley kicked off his 1989 by releasing I'm No Stranger To The Rain. That topped the chart for two weeks in April. That became his biggest hit. However, Whitley would not live long to enjoy his accomplishments. He died in May at the age of 33 due to an overdose of alcohol. The Don't Close Your Eyes album was certified gold in June. He would continue to chart until 1995 when Wherever You Are Tonight hit #75. His final album was released in 2013 called Country: Keith Whitley. Alison Krauss covered When You Say Nothing At All for a Whitley tribute album. Her version peaked at #3 in 1995. It won the C.M.A. Single of the Year.
3. Hold Me-K.T. Oslin shot to stardom with her 1987 album, 80's Ladies. Three hits came from the album: 80's Ladies (#7 in 1987), Do Ya' (#1 in 1987), and I'll Always Come Back (#1 in 1988). She released her second RCA album in 1988 called This Woman. It got off to an auspicious start when Money peaked at #13. Hold Me was released in September. In October, Oslin ended Reba McEntire's reign as Female Vocalist of the Year at the C.M.A.s. Hold Me became the first chart topper of 1989 and Oslin's third #1 hit. Oslin would win two Grammys for Hold Me: Best Country Vocal Performance, Female and Best Country Song. Three more singles were pulled from the album (all in 1989): Hey Bobby (#2), This Woman (#5), and Didn't Expect It To Go Down This Way (#23). Her final trip to the chart occurred in 2001 with the #53 peaking Live Close By, Visit Often. Her final album was released in 2015 called Simply.
4. Change Of Heart-The Judds celebrated their fifth anniversary of being recording artists in 1988 by releasing a greatest hits album. Lead single, Give A Little Love peaked at #2 for two weeks during the summer. The Wanderer by Eddie Rabbitt and I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried by Rodney Crowell blocked the mother/daughter duo from the top. Change Of Heart was released in October. That was the same month they won the C.M.A. Award for Vocal Duo of the Year. Change Of Heart first appeared on their 1983 EP, The Judds: Wynonna & Naomi. Change Of Heart topped the chart in January 1989, becoming their twelfth #1 hit. In 1990, Naomi Judd announced she was retiring due to health reasons. They did a farewell tour in 1991 that ended in December. Their final chart appearance was in 2000 when Stuck In Love peaked at #26. Their current album is called All-Time Greatest Hits.
This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 17, 1988:
1. A TENDER LIE-RESTLESS HEART-RCA
2. WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL-KEITH WHITLEY-RCA
3. Love Helps Those-Paul Overstreet-MTM
4. HOLD ME-K.T. OSLIN-RCA
5. CHANGE OF HEART-THE JUDDS-RCA
6. Mama Knows-Shenandoah-Columbia
7. We Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right-Eddie Rabbitt-RCA
8. She's Crazy For Leaving-Rodney Crowell-Columbia
9. Long Shot-Baillie and the Boys-RCA
10. Blue Side Of Town-Patty Loveless-MCA

Videos:

A Tender Lie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aln-96GPZN4
When You Say Nothing At All: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfVbyKRD5pg
Hold Me: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCj8N5j8xpE
Change Of Heart: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE-4YKYOhdY

[countrychartnut]

1. SHELTON'S GOING TO THE DOGS: Blake Shelton lands a career milestone #1 this week with I'll Name The Dogs. It is his 25th single to top the chart. It is the lead single to his current album, Texoma Shore. His last album, If I'm Honest yielded four top ten hits. They are:
1. Came Here To Forget-2016-#1-Shelton's record breaking 17th consecutive #1 hit
2. She's Got A Way With Words-2016-#7
3. A Guy With A Girl-2017-#1
4. Every Time I Hear That Song-2017-#1
2. WATSON'S FIRST: Aaron Watson lands his first top ten this week with Outta Style at #10. This is his third chart appearance following: That Look (#47 in 2014) and Bluebonnets Julia's Song (#60 in 2016). Furthermore, at 50 weeks, Watson has one of the longest lasting singles on the chart. Other songs that have spent at least 50 weeks on the chart are:
1. 56 weeks-Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice-2010
2. 54 weeks-Bouquet Of Roses-Eddy Arnold-1948
3. 54 weeks-Outta My Head-Craig Campbell-2013
4. 54 weeks-Make You Mine-High Valley-2017
5. 53 weeks-I Met A Girl-William Michael Morgan-2016
6. 52 weeks-Fraulein-Bobby Helms-1957
7. 52 weeks-Voices-Chris Young-2011
8. 51 weeks-Let It Rain-David Nail-2012
9. 50 weeks-Love You Like That-Canaan Smith-2015
10. 50 weeks-Gonna Wanna Tonight-Chase Rice-2015
11. 50 weeks-Little Bit Of You-Chase Bryant-2016
12. 50 weeks-Night's On Fire-David Nail-2016
13. 50 weeks-Outta Style-Aaron Watson-2017
3. ELL'S FAST: Lindsay Ell has the fastest climbing song of the week with Criminal. It zooms an illegal fourteen spaces to #40.
4. BRYAN IS GOOD: Luke Bryan debuts his second What Makes You Country single, Most People Are Good at #57. It is the Hot Shot Debut of the week. It is the follow up to his #1 hit, Light It Up.
5. CAM AND DIANE: Cam debuts at #58 with Diane. This is the lead single to an upcoming album. Her debut album, Untamed yielded three singles. They are:
1. My Mistake-2015-#52
2. Burning House-2016-#2
3. Mayday-2016-#36
6. PEARCE'S WINE: Carly Pearce debuts at #60 with Hide The Wine. This is the second single to her debut album, Every Little Thing. The title track became her first #1 hit.
7. #1 COUNTRY: Luke Bryan debuts at the top of the country albums chart with What Makes You Country. 99,000 copies were sold last week. This is his fourth #1 album following:
1. Tailgates & Tanlines-2011
2. Crash My Party-2013
3. Kill The Lights-2015
4. What Makes You Country-2017
8. HAYES' BOOM: Walker Hayes debuts at #6 on the country albums chart with Boom. 12,000 copies were sold. This is his second album following 2011's Reason To Rhyme.
9. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2012, 2007, 2002, 1997, and 1992:
2012: Red-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2007: Long Road Out Of Eden-the Eagles-Lost Highway
2002: Up!-Shania Twain-Mercury
1997: Sevens-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1992: The Chase-Garth Brooks-Liberty
10. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: 1992 was a great year for country music. It was the year of Garth Brooks, who ended up being the #1 country artist of the year when you combine his singles and albums chart activity. Chart-wise, the biggest hit of the year belonged to Billy Ray Cyrus with Achy Breaky Heart which ruled for five weeks. However, the American Country Countdown and Billboard named Wynonna Judd's second chart topper, I Saw The Light the biggest hit of the year. For the past several years, I've been able to furnish a video highlighting the #1 hits of the year. However, the YouTube channel I've been getting them was recently shut down. In its place, I will provide a list of those songs that topped the chart in Billboard 1992 (December, 1991-November, 1992). Then I will give you the list of the top ten songs of the year. BOTH the American Country Countdown and Billboard had the same ten songs in their top ten lists. Ready?

The #1 Hits In Billboard 1992:
1. For My Broken Heart-Reba McEntire-MCA-2 weeks
2. My Next Broken Heart-Brooks & Dunn-Arista-2
3. Love, Me-Collin Raye-Epic-3
4. Sticks And Stones-Tracy Lawrence-Atlantic-1
5. A Jukebox With A Country Song-Doug Stone-Epic-2
6. What She's Doing Now-Garth Brooks-Capitol-4
7. Straight Tequila Night-John Anderson-BNA-1
8. Dallas-Alan Jackson-Arista-1
9. Is There Life Out There-Reba McEntire-MCA-2
10. She Is His Only Need-Wynonna Judd-MCA-1
11. There Ain't Nothin' Wrong With The Radio-Aaron Tippin-RCA-3
12. Neon Moon-Brooks & Dunn-Arista-2
13. Some Girls Do-Sawyer Brown-Capitol-1
14. Achy Breaky Heart-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury-5
15. I Saw The Light-Wynonna Judd-MCA-3
16. The River-Garth Brooks-Capitol-1
17. Boot Scootin' Boogie-Brooks & Dunn-Arista-4
18. I'll Think Of Something-Mark Chesnutt-MCA-1
19. I Still Believe In You-Vince Gill-MCA-2
20. Love's Got A Hold On You-Alan Jackson-Arista-2
21. In This Life-Collin Raye-Epic-2
22. If I Didn't Have You-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.-1
23. No One Else On Earth-Wynonna Judd-MCA-4
24. I'm In A Hurry And Don't Know Why-Alabama-RCA-2

THE TOP TEN SONGS OF 1992:
1. I SAW THE LIGHT-WYNONNA JUDD-MCA
2. Achy Breaky Heart-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
3. Is There Life Out There-Reba McEntire-MCA
4. What She's Doing Now-Garth Brooks-Capitol
5. We Tell Ourselves-Clint Black-RCA
6. Dallas-Alan Jackson-Arista
7. Boot Scootin' Boogie-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
8. I Still Believe In You-Vince Gill-MCA
9. Neon Moon-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
10. Some Girls Do-Sawyer Brown-Capitol

P.S.: Merry Christmas!

[countrychartnut]

1. YOUNG LIKES #1: Brett Young collects his second chart topping hit this week with Like I Loved You. This is from his self-titled debut album. It follows his first, In Case You Didn't Know from June. Overall, it is his third single. His first, Sleep Without You peaked at #2 in 2016.
2. FIVE FOR FIVE: Kelsea Ballerini cracks the top ten at #9 with Legends. It is the lead single to her current album, Unapologetically. It is also her fifth top ten hit as well. It follows:
1. Love Me Like You Mean It-2015-#1
2. Dibs-2016-#1
3. Peter Pan-2016-#1
4. Yeah Boy-2017-#3
5. Legends-2018-#9 so far
3. HIS THIRD: Chris Stapleton moves up three to #19 with Broken Halos. This is his third top 20 hit following: Nobody To Blame (#10 in 2016) and Parachute (#17 in 2017).
4. SUGARLAND'S BACK: Blasting onto the chart at #26 is Sugarland with Still The Same. It is the Hot Shot Debut of the week. This is the lead single to in upcoming album. This is their first time charting since Tonight peaked at #32 in 2011. Since then, both Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush pursued solo careers. Their solo singles are:
J.N.:
1. That Girl-2013-#37
2. Me Without You-2014-#50
3. Unlove You-2016-#26
K.B.:
1. Trailer Hitch-2014-#21
2. Light Me Up-2015-#60
3. Sing Along-2017-#58
5. JANSON'S GIRL IS FAST: Chris Janson has the fastest climbing song of the week as Drunk Girl steps up a sobering seven spots to #43.
6. COMBS' NUMBER: Luke Combs debuts at #55 with One Number Away. This is the third single to his debut album, This One's For You. It follows his chart toppers from 2017: Hurricane and When It Rains It Pours.
7. A 60S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of December during the 1960s:
1960: Wings Of A Dove-Ferlin Husky-Capitol
1961: Walk On By-Leroy Van Dyke-Mercury
1962: Don't Let Me Cross Over-Carl Butler and Pearl-Columbia
1963: Love's Gonna Live Here-Buck Owens-Capitol
1964: Once A Day-Connie Smith-RCA
1965: Buckaroo-Buck Owens-Capitol
1966: There Goes My Everything-Jack Greene-Decca
1967: For Loving You-Bill Anderson and Jan Howard-Decca
1968: Wichita Lineman-Glen Campbell-Capitol
1969: I'm So Afraid Of Losing You Again-Charley Pride-RCA
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: It is appropriate that the #1 country artist of the 1970s had the final chart topper of the decade. As a matter of fact, Conway Twitty was tops for the final week of 1979 with Happy Birthday Darlin', our top song from 38 years ago this week.
Let us go back to 1977 when Twitty released a single called Georgia Keeps Pulling On My Ring. It made its debut in October and peaked at #3 in December. That was the title track to his 1978 album. Second and final single, Grandest Lady Of Them All was released in February, 1978. That was written by Mel McDaniel and was a song about the Grand Ole Opry. Ironically, Twitty was NEVER made a member of the Opry. Grandest Lady Of Them All broke a streak of 36 consecutive top ten hits when it peaked at #16. That got Twitty thinking of producing his records. Between 1965, the year Twitty signed to Decca Records to 1978, he was produced by Owen Bradley. Twitty's next chart appearance was a duet with Loretta Lynn. That was From Seven Till Ten and that peaked at #6. Bradley produced Twitty's next album called Conway. Lead single, Boogie Grass Band was released in July and topped off at #2 in September and could not get Waylon Jennings' I've Always Been Crazy out of the top spot. Twitty's last Bradley produced single, Your Love Had Taken Me That High was released in November. It peaked at #3 in January, 1979. Out of the three Twitty singles that peaked in 1978, none of them reached the top. It broke a string of ten consecutive years (1968-1977) that Twitty had a #1 hit.
Twitty's first album that he produced was 1979's Cross Winds. Lead single, Don't Take It Away was released in March and became his 26th chart topping hit in May. It was his first #1 since 1977's I've Already Loved You In My Mind. Second single, I May Never Get To Heaven was released in July and that became another #1 hit in September. The next single made history. That was Happy Birthday Darlin'. That was released in October and topped the chart for the last three weeks of the year. That song starts with Twitty speaking 'Hello Darlin'', his biggest country hit of 1970. Happy Birthday Darlin' became Twitty's 28th #1 hit, tying him with Eddy Arnold for the most chart toppers to date. Happy Birthday Darlin' is Twitty's third biggest hit following 1973's You've Never Been This Far Before and the aforementioned Hello Darlin'. While Happy Birthday Darlin' was tops, Twitty was charting another duet with Lynn called You Know Just What I'd Do. That peaked at #9 in January, 1980. Twitty kicked off 1980 by releasing an album called Heart And Soul. Lead single, I'd Love To Lay You Down was released in January. It topped the chart in March and gave Twitty the lead for the most chart toppers at 29. It also gave Twitty #1s during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Another duet with Lynn was released and that was It's True Love, which peaked at #5. Another Heart And Soul single was released called I've Never Seen The Likes Of You which hit #6.
Twitty would continue to chart until his final single, I'm The Only Thing I'll Hold Against You peaked at #62 in 1993, the year Twitty died at the age of 59. In 1999, Twitty was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2004, Anita Cochran spliced several Twitty songs to create a 'duet'. That was I Wanna Hear A Cheatin' Song which peaked at #57. Twitty just released an album called Timeless. That album contains re-recordings of several Twitty hits and even a few new songs from the 1970s. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 29, 1979:
1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLIN'-CONWAY TWITTY-MCA
2. Coward Of The County-Kenny Rogers-United Artists
3. Missin' You-Charley Pride-RCA
4. My World Begins And Ends With You/Why Did You Have To Be So Good-Dave & Sugar-RCA
5. I've Got A Picture Of Us On My Mind-Loretta Lynn-MCA
6. Pour Me Another Tequila-Eddie Rabbitt-Elektra
7. Help Me Make It Through The Night-Willie Nelson-Columbia
8. Tell Me What It's Like-Brenda Lee-MCA
9. Oh, How I Miss You Tonight-Jim Reeves and Deborah Allen-RCA
10. Nothing As Original As You-Statler Brothers-Mercury

P.S.: Happy New Year!

[countrychartnut]

1. #1 AGAIN: Brett Young has the #1 song for the second week with Like I Loved You. This matches the two week stay at the top he had last year with In Case You Didn't Know.
2. THEIR FIFTH: Old Dominion eases up one to #10 with Written In The Sand. This is their fifth consecutive top ten hit following:
1. Break Up With Him-2015-#1
2. Snapback-2016-#2
3. Song For Another Time-2016-#1
4. No Such Thing As A Broken Heart-2017-#1
5. Written In The Sand-2018-#10 so far
3. THEY'RE FAST: Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line have the fastest climbing song of the week as Meant To Be climbs six to #30.
4. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS: We're past New Year's, but the first Christmas song of the season has charted. That belongs to Luke Bryan with O Holy Night. It is new at #60.
5. EVEN MORE CHRISTMAS: We have two more Christmas albums making top 25 debuts on the country albums chart. They are:
1. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree: The Decca Christmas Recordings-Brenda Lee-#19
2. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer And Other Christmas Classics-Gene Autry-#25
6. A 60S LOOK, PART II: These were the top selling albums during the first week of January during the 1960s:
1964: Ring Of Fire: The Best Of Johnny Cash-Johnny Cash-Columbia
1965: I Don't Care-Buck Owens-Capitol
1966: My World-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1967: The Best Of Sonny James-Sonny James-Capitol
1968: Turn The World Around-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1969: Wichita Lineman-Glen Campbell-Capitol
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Highway 101 have four chart topping hits. Their last, Who's Lonely Now was tops twenty-eight years ago this week.
Highway 101 signed to the Warner Bros. label in 1986. In January 1987, they issued their debut single, The Bed You Made For Me. That hit the top five at #4. That came from their self-titled debut album. That was written by lead singer, Paulette Carlson. Whiskey, If You Were A Woman was released in May. It climbed all the way to #2 and could not topple Restless Heart's Why Does It Have To Be Wrong Or Right from the top in August. However, Highway 101 would not be denied with their next single, Somewhere Tonight. That was released in September and spent the final two weeks of 1987 at the top of the chart. They wrapped up the era in 1988 with the fourth single, Cry, Cry, Cry. That topped the chart in May. With their debut era being such a success (as Highway 101 is their ONLY gold album), Highway 101 released their second album in 1988 called Highway 101-2. Do You Love Me Just Say Yes was the lead single. Released in June, it became the group's third consecutive #1 hit in September. In October, they won the C.M.A. Award for Vocal Group of the Year. All The Reasons Why was released as the second single in October. That peaked at #5 in January, 1989. Setting Me Up was released in January and topped off at #7 in April. Fourth and final single, Honky Tonk Heart was released in May and peaked at #6 in September. The Highway 101-2 album contains their version of Feed This Fire, which later became Anne Murray's last top ten hit in 1990 (#5). At the 1989 C.M.A.s, Highway 101 would repeat as Vocal Group of the Year.
Paint The Town, their third studio album was released in 1989. Who's Lonely Now, the lead single was released in September. It became the first chart topper of 1990 and the final #1 for Highway 101. That was written by Kix Brooks, who signed to Arista Records as one-half of Brooks & Dunn in 1990. Walkin', Talkin', Cryin', Barely Beatin' Broken Heart was the next single. It was a remake as Johnnie Wright took his version to #22 in 1964. Highway 101's version easily outpeaked his as they hit #4 with hit. That became their tenth and final top ten hit. Third and final single, This Side Of Goodbye was released in May. It almost made the top ten when it peaked at #11. Changes were on the horizon for Highway 101 when Carlson announced she was leaving the group to restart her solo career (she charted three singles between 1983-1984, none of them successful). A greatest hits album was released in 1990. A lone single, Someone Else's Trouble Now was released in September. It peaked at #14 before the year ended. That was written by Pam Tillis, who signed to Arista Records earlier in the year. An album cut off the greatest hits album, The Change clearly signaled Carlson's intentions of being a solo artist. Carlson was replaced by Nikki Nelson. While Nelson was with Highway 101, they released one successful album that bore their final top 40 hits. That album's title was Bing Bang Boom from 1991. The title track was the lead single. That was released in April and became their last major hit when it peaked at #14. The Blame was released in September and peaked at #31 before year's end. 1992 was kicked off with their final top 40 hit, Baby, I'm Missing You (#22). Honky Tonk Baby bombed at #54.
Carlson would release an album on Capitol Records called Love Goes On in 1991. She only appeared on the charts two times with that album (both in 1992): I'll Start With You (#21) and Not With My Heart You Don't (#68). She released two more albums in 1994 and 2006. Getting back to Highway 101, they released an album on Liberty Records called The New Frontier in 1993. Their last chart appearance come from that album and that is You Baby You (#67). Nelson left Highway 101 in 1995 and was replaced by Carlson. They released an album in 1996 called Reunited. That album contains re-recordings of four of their hits plus seven original songs plus a remake of Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman which was a #1 pop and #1 adult contemporary hit for Bryan Adams in 1995. Carlson stayed with Highway 101 for one more album called Latest & Greatest in 1997. Highway 101's last album was released in 2010 called Christmas On Highway 101. Nelson was back for that one. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 6, 1990:
1. WHO'S LONELY NOW-HIGHWAY 101-WARNER BROS.
2. Out Of Your Shoes-Lorrie Morgan-RCA
3. Till I Can't Take It Anymore-Billy Joe Royal-Atlantic
4. It Ain't Nothin'-Keith Whitley-RCA
5. Many A Long And Lonesome Highway-Rodney Crowell-Columbia
6. She's Gone, Gone, Gone-Glen Campbell-Capitol
7. That Just About Does It-Vern Gosdin-Columbia
8. It's You Again-Skip Ewing-MCA
9. My Arms Stay Open All Night-Tanya Tucker-Capitol
10. There You Are-Willie Nelson-Columbia

[countrychartnut]

1. YOUNG'S TRIFECTA: Brett Young tops the chart for the third week with Like I Loved You. To date, it is his biggest hit.
2. CORBIN'S BACK: Easton Corbin eases up one to #10 with A Girl Like You. This is his sixth top ten and first since Baby Be My Love Song hit #3 in 2015. A list of those top tens by Corbin:
1. A Little More Country Than That-2010-#1
2. Roll With It-2010-#1
3. Lovin' You Is Fun-2012-#5
4. All Over The Road-2013-#3
5. Baby Be My Love Song-2015-#3
6. A Girl Like You-2018-#10 so far
At 50 weeks, Corbin has one of the longest lasting singles on the chart. A list of those songs spending at least 50 weeks on the chart are:
1. 56 weeks-Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice-2010
2. 54 weeks-Bouquet Of Roses-Eddy Arnold-1948
3. 54 weeks-Outta My Head-Craig Campbell-2013
4. 54 weeks-Make You Mine-High Valley-2017
5. 53 weeks-I Met A Girl-William Michael Morgan-2016
6. 52 weeks-Fraulein-Bobby Helms-1957
7. 52 weeks-Voices-Chris Young-2011
8. 51 weeks-Let It Rain-David Nail-2012
9. 51 weeks-Outta Style-Aaron Watson-2018
10. 50 weeks-Love You Like That-Canaan Smith-2015
11. 50 weeks-Gonna Wanna Tonight-Chase Rice-2015
12. 50 weeks-Little Bit Of You-Chase Bryant-2016
13. 50 weeks-Night's On Fire-David Nail-2016
14. 50 weeks-A Girl Like You-Easton Corbin-2018
3. MOST ARE FAST: Luke Bryan has the fastest climbing song of the week with Most People Are Good. It zooms seventeen spaces to #39.
4. NIEMANN'S GOT IT: Jerrod Niemann has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with I Got This at #45. This is the third single to his current album, This Ride. It follows: A Little More Love with Lee Brice (#28 in 2016) and God Made A Woman (#55 in 2017).
5. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: Goodbye In Her Eyes-Zac Brown Band-Atlantic
2008: Our Song-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2003: 19 Somethin'-Mark Wills-Mercury
1998: A Broken Wing-Martina McBride-RCA
1993: Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away-Vince Gill-MCA
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: T.G. Sheppard was on the Warner Bros. label between 1977-1985. His final #1 for the label, Slow Burn was our top song 34 years ago this week.
Sheppard released a greatest hits album in 1983. A new song was added to the album, but it ended up being a remake. It was Without You. That was a #1 pop and #1 adult contemporary hit for Nilsson in 1972. Sheppard's version was released in March and peaked at #12 two months later. It broke a streak of fifteen consecutive top tens and a streak of eight #1 hits. His other 1983 album, Slow Burn started with the title track. That was released in September and topped the chart in January, 1984. Second single, Make My Day was a duet with Clint Eastwood. It was used in the Sudden Impact movie. Released in February, it topped off at #12 (while peaking at #62 pop and #36 A.C.) and ended Eastwood's one hit wonder status at country. His other duet, Bar Room Buddies hit the top with Merle Haggard in 1980. Third and final single, Somewhere Down The Line was released in May and proceeded to top off at #3. Sheppard would release one more studio album for Warner Bros. and that was 1984's One Owner Heart. Lead single, Home Again was a duet with Judy Collins. That became the first Sheppard single to miss the top 40 when it peaked at #57 but went to #42 A.C. as well. He rebounded with the next single, the title track. That was released in November and peaked at #4 in early 1985. While he was charting with One Owner Heart, the American Country Countdown named Slow Burn the biggest hit of the year. He ended his stay at Warner Bros. with the #10 peaking You're Going Out My Mind.
He signed to Columbia Records in 1985. He got things under way with the 1985 album, Livin' On The Edge. Lead single, Fooled Around And Fell In Love was a remake. It was a #3 pop hit for Elvin Bishop in 1976. Sheppard's version was released in May and peaked at #21. Doncha, the second single was released in September and became his first top ten for the new label when it hit #8 before the year ended. In Over My Heart was released in December and started Sheppard's 1986 on a #9 note. Sheppard's second Columbia album, It Still Rains In Memphis was released in 1986. Strong Heart was the lead single. That was released in May and topped the chart in August. It was Sheppard's fourteenth and final chart topping hit. Half Past Forever Till I'm Blue In The Heart was released in October. It peaked at #2 for two weeks in January and February, 1987 while Dan Seals (You Still Move Me) and Gary Morris (Leave Me Lonely) took turns at the top. You're My First Lady was the final single. That was released in March and found a spot at #2 in June and could not budge Randy Travis' Forever And Ever, Amen from the top.
It was time to release another album and that was 1987's One For The Money (as shown on the album as 1 4 The $). Only one single was released from the album and that was the title track. That was released in August and peaked at #2 in December. Only The Last One To Know by Reba McEntire prevented Sheppard from going to #1. It was Sheppard's 29th and final top ten hit. Sheppard would release just one more album with Columbia and that was 1988's Crossroads. Lead single, Don't Say It With Diamonds, Say It With Love was released in September and peaked at #48 in October. Second and final single, You Still Do was released in November and peaked at #14 in March, 1989. It became Sheppard's 39th and final top 40 hit. After four years at Columbia, he decided to part ways with the label. Two years later, he made his final chart appearance with the #63 peaking Born In A High Wind. His last CD was released in 2015 called Legendary Friends And Country Duets. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 14, 1984:
1. SLOW BURN-T.G. SHEPPARD-WARNER BROS.
2. Ev'ry Heart Should Have One-Charley Pride-RCA
3. In My Eyes-John Conlee-MCA
4. You Made A Wanted Man Of Me-Ronnie McDowell-Epic
5. The Sound Of Goodbye-Crystal Gayle-Warner Bros.
6. Ozark Mountain Jubilee-the Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
7. Show Her-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
8. Sentimental Ol' You-Charly McClain-Epic
9. Double Shot Of My Baby's Love-Joe Stampley-Epic
10. You Look So Good In Love-George Strait-MCA

[countrychartnut]

1. MORRIS COULD USE #1: As they say, the third time's a charm. Maren Morris' third chart single, I Could Use A Love Song becomes her first #1 hit this week. This is from her debut album, Hero. Hero has produced two other hits: My Church (#9 in 2016) and 80s Mercedes (#12 in 2017). In the meantime, Morris provided vocal support for Thomas Rhett's #1 hit, Craving You in 2017.
2. HIS FIRST: Walker Hayes eases up one to #10, collecting his first top ten with You Broke Up With Me. This is his third chart single following Pants (#40 in 2010) and Why Wait For Summer (#42 in 2011).
3. BRYAN'S FAST: Luke Bryan has the fastest climbing song of the week with Most People Are Good (#39 to #23).
4. D + S'S TEQUILA: Dan + Shay have the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Tequila at #35. This is the lead single to an upcoming album. Their last, Obsessed produced a trio of chart appearances: From The Ground Up (#1 in 2016), How Not To (#1 in 2017), and Road Trippin' (#42 in 2017).
5. SHOOT ME DEBUTS: Brothers Osborne debut at #59 with Shoot Me Straight. This is a lead single to an upcoming album. Their debut album, Pawn Shop yielded four singles. They are:
1. Rum-2014-#27
2. Stay A Little Longer-2016-#2
3. 21 Summer-2016-#24
4. It Ain't My Fault-2017-#12
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: Red-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2008: Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2003: Home-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
1998: Sevens-Garth Brooks-Capitol
1993: The Chase-Garth Brooks-Liberty
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Carrie Underwood has been the pre-eminent female country artist for the past dozen years. Twelve years ago this week, she landed her first #1 hit with Jesus, Take The Wheel and had the top selling album with Some Hearts (seventh week at #1 on the country albums chart).
Underwood came to prominence during the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. That ran from January to May. During its twelve week run, Underwood easily advanced to the next round. During the finale, she and Bo Bice were the finalists. It was announced that Underwood had won American Idol. Even Simon Cowell predicted that Underwood would be the show's biggest selling artist (he was right). Because she won American Idol, Underwood signed to Arista Records. She received other perks as well. A promo single was released called Inside Your Heaven. That was released in June, just a month after her Idol win. It debuted at #1 on the pop chart while peaking at #52 country and #12 adult contemporary. It is certified gold. Bice released his version of Inside Your Heaven, which debuted at #2 pop. Underwood went after the country format with a vengeance. Jesus, Take The Wheel was released in October. Meanwhile, her debut album, Some Hearts was ready to be released, which Arista did in November. It debuted at #1 country and #2 top 200 in December after 315,000 copies were sold during the first week. In January 2006, Jesus, Take The Wheel topped the country chart for the first of six weeks. Chart wise, it is Underwood's biggest hit. It topped off at #20 pop and #23 A.C.. It is certified triple platinum. The title track was serviced to A.C. only where it peaked at #12. Underwood's second country single, Don't Forget To Remember Me was released in March. That peaked at #2 in July and could not remove Brad Paisley's The World out of the top spot. That crossed over to #49 pop and is certified gold. Underwood's next single became a classic. That was Before He Cheats. That lingered in the lower regions of the country chart while Don't Forget To Remember Me was in release. Finally released in August, it became Underwood's second biggest hit when it topped the chart for five weeks between November and December. It crossed over big time to #8 pop and #6 A.C.. It is Underwood's biggest selling single, certified at quintuple platinum. Sixth and final release, Wasted was released in February, 2007. That became a #1 country hit for three weeks in April and May. It also peaked at #37 pop. Wasted is certified platinum.
During the Some Hearts Era (2005-2007), Underwood received the following honors (partial list):
1. Billboard #1 Country Album-2006
2. Billboard #1 Country Album-2007
3. A.C.M. Award for Top New Female Vocalist-2006
4. A.C.M. Award for Single of the Year for Jesus, Take The Wheel-2006
5. A.C.M. Award for Female Vocalist of the Year-2007
6. A.C.M. Award for Album of the Year for Some Hearts-2007
7. A.C.M. Award for Video of the Year for Before He Cheats-2007
8. C.M.A. Horizon Award-2006
9. C.M.A. Award for Female Vocalist of the Year-2006
10. C.M.A. Award for Single of the Year for Before He Cheats-2007
11. C.M.A. Award for Female Vocalist of the Year-2007
12. Grammy Award for Best New Artist-2007
13. Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Jesus, Take The Wheel-2007
14. Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Before He Cheats-2008
In December 2009, Some Hearts was named the #1 country album of the decade (after spending 27 weeks at #1 in 2005, 2006, and 2007). It has been certified eight times platinum. It was announced in March, 2017 Underwood signed to the Capitol label after twelve years at Arista. A song was released called The Champion with Ludacris. It will be used for the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2006:
1. JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL-CARRIE UNDERWOOD-ARISTA
2. She Let Herself Go-George Strait-MCA
3. Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right-Billy Currington-Mercury
4. Honky Tonk Badonkadonk-Trace Adkins-Capitol
5. Good Ride Cowboy-Garth Brooks-Pearl/Lyric Street
6. Come A Little Closer-Dierks Bentley-Capitol
7. When I Get Where I'm Going-Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton-Arista
8. My Old Friend-Tim McGraw-Curb
9. Boondocks-Little Big Town-Equity
10. Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off-Joe Nichols-Universal South

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21, 2006:
1. SOME HEARTS-CARRIE UNDERWOOD-ARISTA
2. The Legend Of Johnny Cash-Johnny Cash-Island
3. Feels Like Today-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
4. The Road And The Radio-Kenny Chesney-BNA
5. Songs About Me-Trace Adkins-Capitol
6. Fireflies-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
7. Be Here-Keith Urban-Capitol
8. Twice The Speed Of Life-Sugarland-Mercury
9. Reba: #1s-Reba McEntire-MCA
10. Walk The Line-Soundtrack-Wind-Up

[countrychartnut]

1. #1 IS ALL YOURS: Russell Dickerson takes his first single, Yours all the way to the top this week. This is the title track to his debut album from last year. He is the first artist since Carly Pearce to take their first single to #1. She did it in November with Every Little Thing.
2. A YEAR'S WORTH OF CORBIN: Easton Corbin is spending his 52nd week on the chart with A Girl Like You at #8.
3. FIVE IS HIS THIRD: Scotty McCreery returns to the top ten this week with Five More Minutes at #10. This is his third top ten hit following: See You Tonight (#8 in 2014) and Feelin' It (#10 in 2014). Those two were on the Mercury label while Five More Minutes is on the Triple Tigers label. Furthermore, Five More Minutes will be on the upcoming album, Seasons Change.
4. BENTLEY'S WOMAN: Dierks Bentley has the Hot Shot Debut at #29 with Woman, Amen. This is the lead single to an upcoming album. His last, Black produced a quartet of chart singles. They are:
1. Somewhere On A Beach-2016-#1
2. Different For Girls-with Elle King-2016-#1
3. Black-2017-#2
4. What The Hell Did I Say-2017-#46
5. MEANT TO BE FAST: Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line have the fastest climbing song of the week with Meant To Be (#32 to #27).
6. TEQUILA TUMBLES: Dan + Shay take a seventeen point fall to #52 with Tequila. They had just debuted with that song last week.
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: Goodbye In Her Eyes-Zac Brown Band-Atlantic
2008: Our Song-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2003: 19 Somethin'-Mark Wills-Mercury
1998: Just To See You Smile-Tim McGraw-Curb
1993: Look Heart, No Hands-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
8. MILESTONE TOP TWENTY CHART: Virgin Records released 40 #1 Hits by Ronnie Milsap in 2000. That album reached its peak position in January, 2001 at #19 (seventeen years ago this week).
The track listing is as follows:
Disc One:
1. Pure Love-1974-#1
2. Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends-1974-#1
3. I'd Be A Legend In My Time-1975-#1
4. Too Late To Worry, Too Blue To Cry-1975-#6
5. Daydreams About Night Things-1975-#1
6. Just In Case-1976-#4
7. What Goes On When The Sun Goes Down-1976-#1
8. I'm A Stand By My Woman Man-1976-#1
9. Let My Love Be Your Pillow-1977-#1
10. It Was Almost Like A Song-1977-#1
11. What A Difference You've Made In My Life-1978-#1
12. Only One Love In My Life-1978-#1
13. Let's Take The Long Way Around The World-1978-#1
14. Back On My Mind Again-1979-#2-his biggest #2 hit
15. Nobody Likes Sad Songs-1979-#1
16. Why Don't You Spend The Night-1980-#1
17. My Heart-1980-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
18. Cowboys And Clowns-1980-#1
19. Smoky Mountain Rain-1980-#1
20. Am I Losing You-1981-#1
21. There's No Gettin' Over Me-1981-#1
22. I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World-1982-#1
23. Any Day Now-1982-#1
Disc Two:
1. He Got You-1982-#1
2. Inside-1983-#1
3. Stranger In My House-1983-#5
4. Don't You Know How Much I Love You-1983-#1
5. Show Her-1984-#1
6. Still Losing You-1984-#1
7. She Keeps The Home Fires Burning-1985-#1
8. Lost In The Fifties Tonight In The Still Of The Night-1985-#1
9. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby-1986-#1
10. In Love-1986-#1
11. How Do I Turn You On-1987-#1
12. Snap Your Fingers-1987-#1
13. Make No Mistake, She's Mine-with Kenny Rogers-1987-#1
14. Where Do The Nights Go-1988-#1
15. Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me-1989-#1
16. A Woman In Love-1989-#1
17. Stranger Things Have Happened-1990-#2
18. Since I Don't Have You-1991-#6
19. Livin' On Love-2000-did not chart
20. Time, Love, And Money-2000-#57
This was an unusual release as Milsap never recorded for Virgin prior to the album's release. In fact, these are the original RCA recordings of his hits when he was at the label (1973-1993). The two new songs were released as singles: Time, Love And Money (#57) and Livin' On Love (did not chart). Both were released in 2000. 40 #1 Hits was released in June and reached its peak position of #19 in January, 2001. 40 #1 Hits is certified gold. Milsap's final chart appearance came in 2006 with Local Girls (#54). That came from his 2006 album called My Life. That album reunited Milsap with RCA Records. RCA did release a similar two disc set of Milsap's music in 2006 called The Essential Ronnie Milsap. Unlike 40 #1 Hits, The Essential Ronnie Milsap does NOT go in chronological order. 2014 was a landmark year for Milsap. He was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. It was the same year RCA released a box set of Milsap's music called The RCA Albums Collection. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TWENTY FOR WEEK ENDING JANUARY 27, 2001:
1. Greatest Hits-Tim McGraw-Curb
2. Breathe-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
3. Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
4. O Brother, Where Art Thou-Soundtrack-Mercury
5. One Voice-Billy Gilman-Epic
6. Greatest Hits-Kenny Chesney-BNA
7. I Hope You Dance-Lee Ann Womack-MCA
8. What A Wonderful World-Anne Murray-Straightway
9. The Whole Shebang-SHeDAISY-Lyric Street
10. How Do You Like Me Now-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
11. When Somebody Loves You-Alan Jackson-Arista
12. Coyote Ugly-Soundtrack-Curb
13. Burn-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
14. Shiver-Jamie O'Neal-Mercury
15. Born To Fly-Sara Evans-RCA
16. Lonely Grill-Lonestar-BNA
17. Brand New Me-John Michael Montgomery-Atlantic
18. Red Dirt Girl-Emmylou Harris-Nonesuch
19. 40 #1 HITS-RONNIE MILSAP-VIRGIN
20. Keith Urban-Keith Urban-Capitol

[countrychartnut]

1. IT'S YOURS AGAIN: Russell Dickerson continues to have the top song in country with Yours. It's his second week at #1. The last time an artist led the chart with a multi-week #1 for the first time is LANco with Greatest Love Story in December, 2017. That was tops for two weeks.
2. WHERE DOES CORBIN RANK?: Easton Corbin starts his second year on the chart with A Girl Like You at #7. It is in its 53rd week. Here is the list of those songs that managed to chart into a second year:
1. 56 weeks-Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice-2010
2. 54 weeks-Bouquet Of Roses-Eddy Arnold-1948
3. 54 weeks-Outta My Head-Craig Campbell-2013
4. 54 weeks-Make You Mine-High Valley-2017
5. 53 weeks-I Met A Girl-William Michael Morgan-2016
6. 53 weeks-A Girl Like You-Easton Corbin-2018
3. ALDEAN'S EASY: Jason Aldean has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with You Make It Easy at #26. This is the lead single to his upcoming Rearview Town album. His last album, They Don't Know yielded a quartet of top five hits. They are:
1. Lights Come On-2016-#1
2. A Little More Summertime-2016-#1
3. Any Ol' Barstool-2017-#1
4. They Don't Know-2017-#3
4. SHELTON'S FAST: Blake Shelton has the fastest climbing song of the week with I Lived It. It zooms 21 spaces to #37.
5. IT DOES: LoCash debut at #54 with Don't Get Better Than That. This is from an upcoming album. Their last, The Fighters yielded a trio of chart appearances. They are:
1. I Love This Life-2016-#2
2. I Know Somebody-2016-#1
3. Ring On Every Finger-2017-#16
6. TYLER'S MAMA: Michael Tyler debuts at #57 with Hey Mama. This is his first charted single.
7. CHILL OUT: The James Barker Band debut at #58 with Chills. The Canadian group makes their debut on the chart here in America.
8. ROCK'S ROCK AND ROLL: American Rock 'N Roll by Kid Rock makes its debut at #59. This is the fourth single from his Sweet Southern Sugar album and the first to chart at country airplay.
9. DEBUT ALBUMS: We have two debut albums making their first appearances on the country albums chart. They are:
1. Hallelujah Nights-LANco-#1 with 13,000 sold.
2. Dark Horse-Devin Dawson-#5 with 7000 sold.
10. A 50S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of January during the 1950s:
1950: Take Me In Your Arms And Hold Me-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1951: The Shot Gun Boogie-Tennessee Ernie Ford-Capitol
1952: Slow Poke-Pee Wee King-RCA
1953: Eddy's Song-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1954: There Stands The Glass-Webb Pierce-Decca
1955: Loose Talk-Carl Smith-Columbia
1956: Sixteen Tons-Tennessee Ernie Ford-Capitol
1957: Singing The Blues-Marty Robbins-Columbia
1958: The Story Of My Life-Marty Robbins-Columbia
1959: Billy Bayou-Jim Reeves-RCA
11. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Powered by the 9/11 anthem, Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning, its parent album, Drive by Alan Jackson debuted at the top of the country albums chart sixteen years ago this week.
Jackson was riding high with his previous album, 2000's When Somebody Loves You. Its first two singles became top ten hits: www.memory (#6 in 2000) and the title track (#5 in 2001). The third single, Where I Come From was released in July. Then 9/11 happened and Where I Come From was at #7 for the week ending September 15. Where I Come From became Jackson's eighteenth chart topping hits for two weeks in October. He fell out of the top spot for a week while Brooks & Dunn claimed a #1 with Only In America (no doubt fueled by the patriotism happening in the country at the time). Jackson returned to the top for an additional week. Arista, Jackson's label released a fourth single called It's All Right To Be A Redneck. By this time, according to Jackson, he woke up one night shortly after 9/11 to write lyrics to a song about his thoughts about what was happening to the country at the time. He titled it Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning. By this time, It's All Right To Be A Redneck peaked at #53 while Arista rush-released Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning. Jackson performed the song for the first time at the C.M.A. Awards. He received a standing ovation for his performance. Officially released as a single in November, Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning debuted at #25. Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning topped the chart for five weeks in December and January, 2002. To date, it was his biggest hit. It even crossed over to #28 pop. While Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning was at the top, Arista released Drive in January. Both studio and C.M.A. versions of Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning are on the album. 423,000 copies of Drive sold during the first week. That enabled Jackson to debut at #1 on BOTH country and top 200 charts. Drive became his seventh #1 country album and first #1 top 200 album. The track listing is as follows:
1. Drive For Daddy Gene-2002-#1
2. A Little Bluer Than That
3. Bring On The Night
4. Work In Progress-2002-#3
5. The Sounds
6. Designated Driver-with George Strait
7. Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning-2001-#1
8. That'd Be Alright-2003-#2
9. Once In A Lifetime Love
10. When Love Comes Around
11. I Slipped And Fell In Love
12. First Love
13. Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning-Live Version
After five weeks at #1, Jackson yielded the top spot to Steve Holy's Good Morning Beautiful. During the week Jackson dropped to #2, the second Drive single, Drive For Daddy Gene debuted at #53. Gene is short for Eugene, Alan's middle name and the middle name of his father, Joseph. Drive For Daddy Gene topped the country chart for four weeks in May and June. Third single, Work In Progress was released in June. It proceeded to a #3 peak in November. Fourth and final single, That'd Be Alright was released in December. That peaked at #2 for a week in April, 2003 while Darryl Worley enjoyed his biggest hit, Have You Forgotten was tops. Another song from the album charted. That was Designated Driver, Jackson's duet with George Strait. Although not released as a single, it peaked at #44. It was the second time the duo charted a non-single. The first time was in 2000 when they peaked at #38 with Murder On Music Row. That came from the Strait album, Latest Greatest Straitest Hits. Drive is certified quadruple platinum. Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning and Drive For Daddy Gene are repeated on Jackson's next album, a greatest hits disc called Greatest Hits Volume II And Some Other Stuff. Two new songs became hits. It's Five O'clock Somewhere was a duet with Jimmy Buffett. That was released in June and topped the chart for eight weeks in August, September, and October. That became Jackson's biggest hit EVER. It crossed over to #17 pop. The American Country Countdown named It's Five O'clock Somewhere the biggest hit of the year. Remember When was released in October and topped the chart for two weeks in February, 2004.
During the Drive and Greatest Hits Volume II Eras (2001-2004), Jackson won the following awards (partial list):
1. A.C.M. Award for Single of the Year for Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning-2001
2. A.C.M. Award for Song of the Year for Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning-2001
3. A.C.M. Award for Top Male Vocalist-2001
4. A.C.M. Award for Album of the Year for Drive-2002
5. A.C.M. Award for Video of the Year for Drive For Daddy Gene-2002
6. A.C.M. Award for Single of the Year for It's Five O'clock Somewhere-2003
7. A.C.M. Award for Vocal Event of the Year for It's Five O'clock Somewhere-2003
8. C.M.A. Award for Album of the Year for Drive-2002
9. C.M.A. Award for Male Vocalist of the Year-2002
10. C.M.A. Award for Entertainer of the Year-2002
11. C.M.A. Award for Single of the Year for Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning-2002
12. C.M.A. Award for Song of the Year for Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning-2002
13. C.M.A. Award for Male Vocalist of the Year-2003
14. C.M.A. Award for Entertainer of the Year-2003
15. C.M.A. Award for Vocal Event of the Year for It's Five O'clock Somewhere-2003
16. Grammy Award for Best Country Song for Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning-2002
To date, Jackson's final (so far) chart appearance in 2015's Jim And Jack And Hank (#50). On the same day, Arista released Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story and EMI released Precious Memories Collection. These are the last (so far) albums released on Jackson in 2015. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 2, 2002:
1. DRIVE-ALAN JACKSON-ARISTA
2. O Brother, Where Art Thou-Soundtrack-Mercury
3. Scarecrow-Garth Brooks-Capitol
4. Pull My Chain-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
5. The Great Divide-Willie Nelson-Lost Highway
6. Set This Circus Down-Tim McGraw-Curb
7. Coyote Ugly-Soundtrack-Curb
8. Greatest Hits-Martina McBride-RCA
9. Blue Moon-Steve Holy-Curb
10. The Road Less Traveled-George Strait-MCA

[countrychartnut]

1. YOUNG SLEEPS TO #1: Chris Young collects his ninth #1 hit this week with Losing Sleep. It is the lead single and title track to his current album. Furthermore, it is his fourth consecutive chart topping hit. All three singles from his previous album, I'm Comin' Over hit the top. They are:
1. I'm Comin' Over-2015
2. Think Of You-with Cassadee Pope-2016
3. Sober Saturday Night-2017
2. HIS SECOND: Chris Stapleton collects his second top ten this week with Broken Halos. It eases up two to #9. It joins the #10 peaking Nobody To Blame from 2016.
3. A TIE: We have two songs taking six point jumps for fastest climbers of the week. They are:
1. Woman, Amen-Dierks Bentley-#31 to #25
2. I Lived It-Blake Shelton-#37 to #31
4. UNDERWOOD'S THE CHAMPION: Carrie Underwood announced last year she was signing to the Capitol label. Eleven months later, she makes her Capitol debut with The Champion at #57. It is the Hot Shot Debut of the week. It features vocal support from Ludacris. The Champion was used in the Super Bowl and will be used for the Winter Olympics.
5. THEY LOVE #58: LANco debut at #58 with Born To Love You. This is the third single off their chart topping debut album, Hallelujah Nights. It is the follow up to their first #1, Greatest Love Story.
6. DONAHEW'S SONG: Making his debut on the chart is Casey Donahew with Country Song at #60.
7. ALL STAPLETON: The top three on the country albums chart belong to Chris Stapleton. They are:
1. From A Room: Volume 2
2. Traveller-the #1 country album of 2016 and 2017
3. From A Room: Volume 1
The last time an artist held the top three positions on the country albums chart was in February, 1992 when Garth Brooks had these albums in the top three:
1. Ropin' The Wind
2. No Fences
3. Garth Brooks
8. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain-Gary Allan-MCA
2008: Letter To Me-Brad Paisley-Arista
2003: 19 Somethin'-Mark Wills-Mercury
1998: Just To See You Smile-Tim McGraw-Curb
1993: Too Busy Being In Love-Doug Stone-Epic
9. MILESTONE TOP TWENTY CHART: Rodney Crowell is a successful songwriter/artist. He scored his first #1 as a songwriter before scoring his first chart topping hit as an artist. He did so 38 years ago this week when the Oak Ridge Boys took Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight to the top. Three weeks later, Waylon Jennings did the same with I Ain't Living Long Like This. BOTH records were in the top twenty simultaneously.
The Oaks released an album in 1979 called The Oak Ridge Boys have arrived. Lead single, Sail Away was released in March. It peaked at #2 for two weeks in June, playing bridesmaid to the Bellamy Brothers' If I Said You Have A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me and Kenny Rogers' She Believes In Me. It gave the group their debut on the adult contemporary chart where Sail Away peaked at #29. After that near miss of the top in country, the second single, Dream On was released in July. That proceeded to a peak of #7 country and #45 A.C.. Third and final single, Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight was released in November. That was originally recorded by Emmylou Harris for her album, Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town. The Oaks reeled in their second #1 hit with their version in February, 1980. Crowell reeled in his first chart topper as a songwriter. I find it ironic that the Oaks made Crowell a hit songwriter. After all, Crowell debuted on the country chart in 1978 with Elvira. While his version peaked at #95, the Oaks' version reached top ten on three charts in 1981: country (#1), pop (#5), and A.C. (#8). Meanwhile, Jennings released an album in 1979 called What Goes Around Comes Around. Lead single, Come With Me was released in August. It topped the chart for two weeks in November. I Ain't Living Long Like This was the second and final single. That was released in December. As before, Harris recorded the tune for her aforementioned album. Jennings would collect his eleventh #1 hit with his version in February 1980, just three weeks after the Oak Ridge Boys topped the chart with Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight.
With the success Crowell had with the Oaks and Jennings, he has written hits for other artists. They are:
1. Ain't No Money-Rosanne Cash-1982-#4
2. An American Dream-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-1980-#58 country, #13 pop, and #16 A.C.
3. Ashes By Now-Lee Ann Womack-2001-#4 country and #45 pop
4. I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me-Rosanne Cash-1985-#1 country and #16 A.C.
5. Long Hard Road The Sharecropper's Dream-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-1984-#1
6. Lovin' All Night-Patty Loveless-2003-#18 country and #81 pop
7. Making Memories Of Us-Keith Urban-2005-#1 country, #34 pop, and #5 A.C.
8. No Memories Hangin' Round-Rosanne Cash and Bobby Bare-1979-#17
9. Oklahoma Borderline-Vince Gill-1986-#9
10. Please Remember Me-Tim McGraw-1999-#1 country and #10 pop
11. Shame On The Moon-Bob Seger-1983-#15 country, #2 pop, and #1 A.C.
12. Somewhere Tonight-Highway 101-1987-#1
13. Song For The Life-Alan Jackson-1995-#6
14. 'Til I Gain Control Again-Crystal Gayle-1983-#1
It should be noted that Crowell charted versions of Ashes By Now (#78 country and #37 pop in 1980), Lovin' All Night (#10 country in 1992), and Please Remember Me (#69 country in 1995). Crowell signed to the Columbia label in 1986 and soon became a hit artist. He landed a dozen top 40 hits for the label between 1987-1992. They are:
1. When I'm Free Again-1987-#38
2. It's Such A Small World-with Rosanne Cash-1988-#1
3. I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried-1988-#1
4. She's Crazy For Leavin'-1989-#1
5. After All This Time-1989-#1-chart wise, his biggest hit
6. Above And Beyond-1989-#1
7. Many A Long And Lonesome Highway-1990-#3
8. If Looks Could Kill-1990-#6
9. My Past Is Present-1990-#22
10. Now That We're Alone-1991-#17
11. Lovin' All Night-1992-#10
12. What Kind Of Love-1992-#11 country and #9 A.C.
In 1989, Warner Bros., his first label released an album called The Rodney Crowell Collection. He was on the Warner label between 1977-1982. The track listing is as follows:
1. Ashes By Now-1980-#78 country and #37 pop
2. 'Til I Gain Control Again
3. Voila, An American Dream
4. Queen Of Hearts-yes, the same one Juice Newton recorded and had a big hit with in 1981 (#14 country, #2 pop, and #2 A.C.)
5. Shame On The Moon
6. Old Pipeliner
7. Stars On The Water-1981-#30
8. Heartbroke-yes, the same one Ricky Skaggs recorded and had a hit with in 1982 (#1)
9. I Don't Have To Crawl-recorded by Rosanne Cash for her King's Record Shop album in 1987
10. Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight
11. Victim Or A Fool-1982-#34
12. I Ain't Living Long Like This
Crowell has won awards during his career. They are (partial list):
1. A.C.M. Award for Top New Male Vocalist-1988 (after a decade in the business)
2. Grammy Award for Best Country Song for After All This Time-1990
3. Grammy Award for Best Americana Album for Old Yellow Moon with Emmylou Harris-2014
Crowell's last chart appearance was in 2003 with the #60 peaking Earthbound. His current album was released last year called Close Ties. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TWENTY FOR WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 9, 1980:
1. LEAVING LOUISIANA IN THE BROAD DAYLIGHT-OAK RIDGE BOYS-MCA
2. Love Me Over Again-Don Williams-MCA
3. Years-Barbara Mandrell-MCA
4. I'll Be Coming Back For More-T.G. Sheppard-Warner Bros.
5. Your Old Cold Shoulder-Crystal Gayle-United Artists
6. Back To Back-Jeanne Pruett-IBC
7. Blue Heartache-Gail Davies-Warner Bros.
8. Baby, You're Something-John Conlee-MCA
9. Daydream Believer-Anne Murray-Capitol
10. I Can't Get Enough Of You-Razzy Bailey-RCA
11. I AIN'T LIVING LONG LIKE THIS-WAYLON JENNINGS-RCA
12. Sugar Foot Rag-Jerry Reed-RCA
13. The Shuffle Song-Margo Smith-Warner Bros.
14. Nothing Sure Looked Good On You-Gene Watson-Capitol
15. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys-Willie Nelson-Columbia
16. Come To My Love-Cristy Lane-United Artists
17. Drinkin' And Drivin'-Johnny Paycheck-Epic
18. The Old Side Of Town/Jesus On The Radio Daddy On The Phone-Tom T. Hall-RCA
19. Why Don't You Spend The Night-Ronnie Milsap-RCA
20. Crying-Stephanie Winslow-Warner Bros.

[countrychartnut]

1. WRITTEN IN #1: Old Dominion collect their fourth #1 this week with Written In The Sand. This is their second Happy Endings single. Lead single, No Such Thing As A Broken Heart topped the chart in September.
2. CORBIN'S SECOND: Easing up one to #6 is Easton Corbin with A Girl Like You. It has spent 55 weeks on the chart. It is second to Lee Brice's 56 week stay between 2009-2010 with Love Like Crazy. It was just announced that Mercury Records has dropped Corbin from the roster.
3. A LITTLE IS FAST: Ashley McBryde has the fastest climbing song of the week with A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega. It zooms up thirteen to #42.
4. HAVE MERCY: Brett Young has the only new song on the chart this week as Mercy debuts at #56. This is the fourth single to his self-titled debut album. It is the follow up to his #1 hit, Like I Loved You.
5. HERE'S TO YOU, GENTRY: Montgomery Gentry debut at #3 on the country albums chart with Here's To You. 13,000 copies were sold last week.  It is the first album released since Troy Gentry died in a helicopter accident in September
6. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: Set You Free-Gary Allan-MCA
2008: Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2003: Home-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
1998: Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
1993: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Jamie O'Neal became the first foreign born female artist to take their debut single to the top of the country chart. She did so seventeen years ago this week with There Is No Arizona.
O'Neal was born in Australia in 1966. Thirty-four years later, she signed to the Mercury label. She recorded songs for her debut album called Shiver. Lead single, There Is No Arizona was released in August. It climbed steadily throughout the rest of the year. It topped the chart in February, 2001. It also became her first top 40 pop hit when it peaked at #40 there. When I Think About Angels was the second single. That was released in March. It reached #1 in August and O'Neal became the first female artist since Deana Carter to take their first two singles to the top. Carter did it with Strawberry Wine (1996) and We Danced Anyway (1997). When I Think About Angels crossed over to #35 pop. O'Neal's third single was the title track. That was released in September. Could O'Neal go three for three? Not this time. Shiver peaked at #21. Her next time on the chart was a duet with her labelmate, Mark Wills. That was I'm Not Gonna Do Anything Without You. That was the second and final single off his Loving Every Minute album. The lead single was the title track and that peaked at #18 in 2001. The duet peaked at #31 in 2002. O'Neal closed out her debut era with the #41 peaking Frantic in 2002. It should be noted that O'Neal co-wrote her first four singles. The Shiver album is her only gold disc. Mercury would release a single in 2003 called Every Little Thing. It was supposed to be from an album called On My Way To You. The album was not released, but Every Little Thing peaked at #34. After one album with Mercury, O'Neal signed to the Capitol label in 2004. Her debut album for them, Brave was released in 2005. Lead single, Trying To Find Atlantis was released in September, 2004. It climbed as high as #18 in early 2005. Second single, Somebody's Hero was released in April. To date, it is O'Neal's third and final top ten when it peaked at #3. I Love My Life was released in December. When it peaked at #26 in early 2006, it became her eighth and final top 40 hit. A promo single, God Doesn't Make Mistakes peaked at #47 in 2007.
O'Neal signed to her third label, 1720 Entertainment in 2008. An album called Like A Woman was supposed to be released, but after the title track peaked at #43 and Soldier Comin' Home failed to chart, the album was shelved. O'Neal started her label in 2012 called Momentum Label Group. Rachele Lynae signed to the label, but only one album was released, a self-titled one in 2014. No singles charted from the album. O'Neal's third and final album, Eternal was released on the Shanachie Entertainment label in 2014. It was a covers album. Only one single was released called Wide Awake, but it did not chart. She is working on a new album, but who will release it (label-wise) is anyone's guess. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 17, 2001:
1. THERE IS NO ARIZONA-JAMIE O'NEAL-MERCURY
2. Burn-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
3. You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
4. But For The Grace Of God-Keith Urban-Capitol
5. Tell Her-Lonestar-BNA
6. Ashes By Now-Lee Ann Womack-MCA
7. Wild Horses-Garth Brooks-Capitol
8. One More Day-Diamond Rio-Arista
9. This Everyday Love-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
10. Who I Am-Jessica Andrews-DreamWorks

[countrychartnut]

1. HER LEGENDS ARE #1: Kelsea Ballerini collects her fourth #1 hit this week with Legends. It is the lead single to her current album, Unapologetically. Her debut album, The First Time produced a trio of chart toppers. They are:
1. Love Me Like You Mean It-2015
2. Dibs-2016
3. Peter Pan-2016
A fourth single, Yeah Boy peaked at #3 in 2017.
2. IT'S OFFICIAL: Easton Corbin's A Girl Like You is second on the list of those long lasting charted singles. He was sent recurrent this week after 55 weeks on the chart. Only Love Like Crazy by Lee Brice spent more time on the chart-56 weeks in 2010.
3. HIS FIRST: Jordan Davis' first single becomes his first top ten hit. Singles You Up goes up four to #10.
4. A FAST KISS: Morgan Evans has the fastest climbing song of the week with Kiss Somebody. It smooches up twenty to #30.
5. A RICH DEBUT: Maren Morris has the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #50 with Rich. It is the fourth Hero single and the follow up to her first #1, I Could Use A Love Song.
6. THEIR FIRST TIME: We have three artists making their debut on the chart. They are:
1. Jimmie Allen-Best Shot-#53
2. Sir Rosevelt-Something 'Bout You-#54
3. Jillian Jacqueline-Reasons-#57
7. YOUNG'S HERE: Chris Young debuts at #58 with Hangin' On. It is the follow up to his #1, Losing Sleep.
8. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: Better Dig Two-the Band Perry-Republic Nashville
2008: Letter To Me-Brad Paisley-Arista
2003: The Baby-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
1998: Just To See You Smile-Tim McGraw-Curb
1993: Can I Trust You With My Heart-Travis Tritt-Warner Bros.
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Mike Reid had TWO successful careers. The first was in football and then one as a singer/songwriter. Twenty-seven years ago this week, he had the #1 single with Walk On Faith (he wrote that, too).
In 1969, Reid graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. In 1970, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round. He played for them between 1970-1975. In 1975, he announced his retirement from the N.F.L. due to a host of injuries. He decided to turn his focus to music as a songwriter. He even formed a band and performed some of the songs he wrote. That did not last long, so songwriting took center stage. Jerry Jeff Walker was the first artist to record a Reid tune, so Reid decided to move to Nashville in 1980. Two years later, Reid wrote a song called Inside. Ronnie Milsap recorded the song and made it the title track to his 1982 album. It was pulled as the third single in November and topped the chart in February, 1983. It was Reid's first #1 as a songwriter and Milsap's twenty-second chart topping hit. It also crossed over to #27 adult contemporary. Reid also wrote Milsap's follow up, Stranger In My House. That was the lead single to Milsap's 1983 album, Keyed Up. Released in April, it peaked at #5 country, ending Milsap's longest streak of #1 hits at ten. It also crossed over to #23 pop and #8 A.C.. In 1984, Reid won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song for Stranger In My House. Milsap got another hit from Reid when Show Her hit the top of the chart in February, 1984 (right when Reid won his Grammy). Show Her also peaked at #17 A.C.. 1984 saw Milsap release the One More Try For Love album. Lead single, Still Losing You was written by Reid. Released in May, it topped the country chart in August while crossing over to #29 A.C.. Second and final single, Prisoner Of The Highway (another Reid tune) peaked at #6 before the year ended. It was time for Milsap to release a greatest hits album. Three new songs were added to the disc and two of them were written by Reid: She Keeps The Home Fires Burning (#1 in June) and Lost In The Fifties Tonight In The Still Of The Night (#1 in September). The latter tune peaked at #8 A.C.. That tune ended up being the biggest hit of the year according to the American Country Countdown and Billboard. Milsap won a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male for Lost In The Fifties Tonight In The Still Of The Night in 1986. Milsap repeated Lost In The Fifties Tonight and titled his 1986 album after the song. The album's second single, In Love was written by Reid. Released in June, it topped the chart in September. Reid wrote the follow up, How Do I Turn You On, a chart topper in February, 1987. In 1987, Milsap released an album called Heart And Soul. The first two singles were #1 hits: Snap Your Fingers (July) and Make No Mistake, She's Mine with Kenny Rogers (September). Reid wrote the third single and that was Where Do The Nights Go. That was released in October and topped the chart in January, 1988. The fourth single, Old Folks was a duet with Reid. Reid also wrote the tune. Released in February, it climbed as high as #2 and could not knock Kathy Mattea's biggest hit, Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses out of the top spot. Milsap ended the era with the #4 peaking Button Off My Shirt.
While Reid enjoyed many hits with Milsap, he also wrote hits for others. They are:
1. Back In The Fire-Gene Watson-1989-#20
2. Born To Be Blue-the Judds-1990-#5
3. Everybody's Crazy 'Bout My Baby-Marie Osmond-1987-#24
4. Everywhere-Tim McGraw-1997-#1
5. Fallin' For You For Years-Conway Twitty-1987-#2
6. Forever's As Far As I'll Go-Alabama-1991-#1 country and #15 A.C.
7. He Talks To Me-Lorrie Morgan-1990-#4
8. I Never Quite Got Back From Loving You-Sylvia-1984-#3
9. I Wouldn't Be A Man-Don Williams-1988-#9
10. I Wouldn't Be A Man-Billy Dean-1997-#45
11. I Wouldn't Be A Man-Josh Turner-2011-#18
12. In This Life-Collin Raye-1992-#1 country and #21 A.C.
13. It's Only Over For You-Tanya Tucker-1987-#8
14. Love Without Mercy-Lee Roy Parnell-1993-#8
15. My Strongest Weakness-Wynonna Judd-1993-#4
16. One Good Well-Don Williams-1989-#4
17. Some Kind Of Trouble-Tanya Tucker-1992-#3
18. There You Are-Willie Nelson-1990-#8
19. To Be Loved By You-Wynonna Judd-1996-#1 country and #25 A.C.
20. To Me-Barbara Mandrell and Lee Greenwood-1984-#3 country and #24 A.C.
Reid decided to strike out on his own as an artist. He signed to the Columbia label in 1990. His debut single, Walk On Faith was released in November. It topped the chart for two weeks in February, 1991. He succeeded an artist who enjoyed his first #1, Mark Chesnutt with Brother Jukebox. Reid was succeeded by Alan Jackson who had his first chart topper with I'd Love You All Over Again. That prompted Columbia to release Reid's debut album, Turning For Home. As an artist, Walk On Faith was Reid's second and final top ten hit. Till You Were Gone was released in March and peaked at #17. As Simple As That was released in July and managed to hit #14. I'll Stop Loving You was released in November and peaked at #23 in early 1992. That was his fifth and final top 40 hit. I Got A Life faltered at #54. Reid co-wrote his first five singles. Reid stayed at Columbia for just one more album, 1992's Twilight Town. Only two singles were released: Keep On Walkin' (#45 in 1992) and Call Home (#43 in 1993). Call Home was Reid's swan song on the chart. He managed to release just one more album and that was 2012's New Direction Home on the Off Row Records label. Reid was elected to two Hall of Fames: College Football in 1987 and Nashville Songwriters in 2005. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 23, 1991:
1. WALK ON FAITH-MIKE REID-COLUMBIA
2. Brother Jukebox-Mark Chesnutt-MCA
3. If You Want Me To-Joe Diffie-Epic
4. Daddy's Come Around-Paul Overstreet-RCA
5. Love Can Build A Bridge-the Judds-RCA
6. You've Got To Stand For Something-Aaron Tippin-RCA
7. These Lips Don't Know How To Say Goodbye-Doug Stone-Epic
8. I Couldn't See You Leavin'-Conway Twitty-MCA
9. Little Things-Marty Stuart-MCA
10. Loving Blind-Clint Black-RCA

[countrychartnut]

1. FIVE IS #1: Well, after seven years and seven singles, Scotty McCreery lands his first #1 with Five More Minutes. This is from his upcoming Seasons Change album. It is his debut Thirty Tigers single and album. He debuted in 2011, the year he won American Idol with I Love You This Big. That peaked at #15. His first top ten was See You Tonight from 2014 which reached #8. Furthermore, he is the third American Idol winner with a #1 hit following Carrie Underwood (Jesus, Take The Wheel-2006) and Kelly Clarkson (Don't You Wanna Stay with Jason Aldean-2011). McCreery won over Lauren Alaina in the finals in American Idol. She landed her first #1 last year with Road Less Traveled.
2. SWINDELL'S BREAK: Landing the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #28 is Cole Swindell with Break Up In The End. This is a lead single from an upcoming album. His last, You Should Be Here yielded four singles. They are:
1. You Should Be Here-2016-#1
2. Middle Of A Memory-2016-#1
3. Flatliner-with Dierks Bentley-2017-#2
4. Stay Downtown-2017-#28
3. YOUNG'S FAST: Brett Young has the fastest climbing song of the week with Mercy. It goes up six to #42.
4. SHE'S WORTH IT: Danielle Bradbery makes her debut at #55 with Worth It. This is the second single to her current album, I Don't Believe We've Met. Lead single, Sway peaked at #47 last year.
5. WATSON'S HORSES: Aaron Watson debuts at #60 with Run Wild Horses. This is the follow up to his first top ten, Outta Style (#10).
6. A 40S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of February during the 1940s:
1944: Ration Blues-Louis Jordan-Decca
1945: I'm Losing My Mind Over You-Al Dexter-Okeh
1946: Guitar Polka-Al Dexter-Columbia
1947: So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed-Merle Travis-Capitol
1948: I'll Hold You In My Heart Till I Can Hold You In My Arms-Eddy Arnold-RCA
1949: I Love You So Much It Hurts-Jimmy Wakely-Capitol
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: It was just a month ago that Reba McEntire won her third Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album for Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope. That album was our top seller just one year ago this week.
In 2014, McEntire announced she was signing to the Nash Icon label. For the previous six years, she was a Valory label artist. It was a lateral move as Valory and Nash Icon are subsidiary labels of Big Machine Records. Her debut Nash Icon single, Going Out Like That was released in January, 2015. To date, it is her final top 40 hit when it peaked at #28. The parent album, Love Somebody was released in April. After selling 62,000 copies during the first week, the album debuted at #1 on the country albums chart and #3 on the top 200 chart. Second single, Until They Don't Love You peaked at #48. Third and final single, Just Like Them Horses did not chart. In 2016, McEntire decided to go in a gospel direction. She picked her favorite hymns, both traditional and contemporary to go on an album. She titled the disc Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope. Disc One is traditional while Disc Two is contemporary. The track listing is as follows:
Disc One:
1. Jesus Loves Me
2. Oh, How I Love Jesus
3. When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder
4. Oh Happy Day
5. Amazing Grace
6. I'll Fly Away
7. In The Garden/Wonderful Peace-with the Isaacs
8. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot/Swing Down Chariot
9. How Great Thou Art
10. Softly And Tenderly-with Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood
Disc Two:
1. Sing It Now
2. Angels Singin'
3. God And My Girlfriends-2017-#53
4. Hallelujah, Amen
5. There Is A God
6. I Got The Lord On My Side
7. Back To God-2017-#41
8. Angel On My Shoulder
9. From The Inside Out
10. Say A Prayer
Lead single, Softly And Tenderly was released in December. Sadly, it did not chart. Nash Icon released the album in February, 2017. The album debuted at #1 country and #4 top 200 after 52,000 copies were sold during the first week. I am showing the chart when the album held onto the top spot in country for the second week when 26,000 copies were sold. Second single, Back To God was released. That was previously recorded by its songwriter, Randy Houser for his 2008 album, Anything Goes. The single almost made the top 40 when it peaked at #41. The single was re-released as a duet with Lauren Daigle, a contemporary Christian singer. Third and final single, God And My Girlfriends peaked at #53. In late 2017, McEntire was nominated for Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope at the Grammys. She walked away a winner in January, 2018. It was her third Grammy following Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Whoever's In New England in 1987 and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for Does He Love You with Linda Davis in 1994. Deluxe versions of the album have two more songs: I Need To Talk To You and Meanwhile Back At The Cross. As for the album itself, it should be certified gold any day now. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 4, 2017:
1. SING IT NOW: SONGS OF FAITH & HOPE-REBA MCENTIRE-NASH ICON
2. Brett Young-Brett Young-BMLG
3. Ripcord-Keith Urban-Capitol
4. The Ultimate Collection-Garth Brooks-Pearl
5. The Devil Don't Sleep-Brantley Gilbert-Valory
6. Hero-Maren Morris-Columbia
7. Traveller-Chris Stapleton-Mercury
8. Sailor's Guide To Earth-Sturgill Simpson-Atlantic
9. They Don't Know-Jason Aldean-Broken Bow
10. Tangled Up-Thomas Rhett-Valory

[countrychartnut]

1. RHETT MARRIED TO #1: Thomas Rhett lands his tenth #1 hit this week with Marry Me. This is the third chart topping hit off his current album, Life Changes. The other two are (from last year): Craving You and Unforgettable. Furthermore, Rhett is the first artist at the Valory label to land ten #1s. They are:
1. It Goes Like This-2013
2. Get Me Some Of That-2014
3. Make Me Wanna-2015
4. Crash And Burn-2015
5. Die A Happy Man-2016-chart wise, his biggest hit
6. T-Shirt-2016
7. Star Of The Show-2017
8. Craving You-2017
9. Unforgettable-2017
10. Marry Me-2018
2. THEIR FIRST: High Valley enters the top ten at #9 with She's With Me. It becomes their first top ten hit and they become the second Canadian duo or group with a top ten. Emerson Drive was first with a trio of top tens. They are:
1. I Should Be Sleeping-2002-#4
2. Fall Into Me-2003-#3
3. Moments-2007-#1
3. JACK AND DIANE: Jake Owen blasts his way onto the chart by grabbing the Hot Shot Debut of the week at #22 with I Was Jack You Were Diane. This is his Big Loud debut single after being with RCA Records between 2005-2017. He released six albums and seventeen singles for RCA.
4. EVANS IS FAST: Morgan Evans has the fastest climbing song of the week with Kiss Somebody. It goes up five to #25.
5. LOVE BALLERINI: Kelsea Ballerini debuts her second Unapologetically single, I Hate Love Songs at #59. This is the follow up to her #1, Legends.
6. DICKERSON'S BLUE: Russell Dickerson debuts his second Yours single, Blue Tacoma at #60. This is the follow up to his #1, Yours.
7. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: One Of These Nights-Tim McGraw-Big Machine
2008: Cleaning This Gun Come On In Boy-Rodney Atkins-Curb
2003: The Baby-Blake Shelton-Warner Bros.
1998: Round About Way-George Strait-MCA
1993: What Part Of No-Lorrie Morgan-BNA
7. MILESTONE TOP TWENTY-FIVE CHART: Lorrie Morgan released her fourth greatest hits album for BNA Records in 2000. It debuted and peaked at #21 eighteen years ago this week. It's title: To Get To You: Greatest Hits Collection.
That greatest hits album followed: Reflections: Greatest Hits (1995), Super Hits (1998), and The Essential Lorrie Morgan (1998). The track listing for To Get To You: Greatest Hits Collection is as follows:
1. We Both Walk-1991-#3
2. Half Enough-1993-#8
3. Another Lonely Song
4. Whoop-De-Do
5. By My Side-with Jon Randall-1996-#18
6. Good As I Was To You-1997-#4
7. Go Away-1997-#3
8. To Get To You-2000-#63
9. One Of Those Nights Tonight-1998-#14
10. Maybe Not Tonight-with Sammy Kershaw-1999-#17
11. I Guess You Had To Be There-1993-#14
12. Trainwreck Of Emotion-1989-#20
13. If I Cry
14. Standing Tall-1996-#32
15. He Talks To Me-1990-#4
16. Something In Red-1992-#14
17. Angel
The album was released in February. It debuted and peaked at #21 in March. I looked at the Billboard issue where the album debuted and there is no mention of it. I can't give you sales figures for it. A lone single from the album was released and that is To Get To You. That peaked at #63. The album features hits from an ex-husband, Jon Randall with By My Side (#18 in 1996) and future husband, Sammy Kershaw with Maybe Not Tonight (#17 in 1999). The album features Morgan's version of Another Lonely Song which was a #1 hit for Tammy Wynette in 1974. Morgan gives the Sarah McLachlan hit of 1999, Angel the country treatment. Angel hit #4 pop and #1 adult contemporary for McLachlan. After the greatest hits album ran its course, Morgan released a duets album with Kershaw in 2001 called I Finally Found Someone. Three singles were released: He Drinks Tequila (#39 and Morgan's final top 40 hit), I Finally Found Someone (did not chart-originally a #8 pop and #2 A.C. hit for Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams in 1997), and 29 Again (did not chart). Her time at BNA ended in 2001. She signed to Image Entertainment that year and released The Color Of Roses in 2002. The title track was released, but did not chart. Another album, Show Me How was released in 2004. Her final chart appearance comes from there and that is the #50 peaking Do You Still Want To Buy Me That Drink Frank. Two more singles were released, but they did not dent the chart. Five more albums were released. They are:
1. A Moment In Time-2009
2. I Walk Alone-2010
3. Dos Divas-with Pam Tillis-2013
4. Letting Go...Slow-2016
5. Come See Me And Come Lonely-with Tillis-2017
A re-recorded greatest hits album was released in 2016 called A Picture Of Me: Greatest Hits & More. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TWENTY-FIVE FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 11, 2000:
1. Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
2. Breathe-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
3. Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
4. Lonely Grill-Lonestar-BNA
5. Wide Open Spaces-Dixie Chicks-Monument
6. A Place In The Sun-Tim McGraw-Curb
7. The Whole Shebang-SHeDAISY-Lyric Street
8. Permanently-Mark Wills-Mercury
9. I'm Alright-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
10. Under The Influence-Alan Jackson-Arista
11. Emotion-Martina McBride-RCA
12. New Day Dawning-Wynonna Judd-Mercury
13. How Do You Like Me Now-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
14. What A Wonderful World-Anne Murray-Straightway
15. Everywhere We Go-Kenny Chesney-BNA
16. LeAnn Rimes-LeAnn Rimes-Curb
17. She Rides Wild Horses-Kenny Rogers-Dreamcatcher
18. Faith-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
19. Lessons Learned-Tracy Lawrence-Atlantic
20. D'lectrified-Clint Black-RCA
21. TO GET TO YOU: GREATEST HITS COLLECTION-LORRIE MORGAN-BNA
22. So Good Together-Reba McEntire-MCA
23. Phil Vassar-Phil Vassar-Arista
24. Smoke Rings In The Dark-Gary Allan-MCA
25. I'm Diggin' It-Alecia Elliott-MCA

[countrychartnut]

1. STILL MARRIED: Thomas Rhett rules the country chart for a second week with Marry Me. This is his first multi week #1 since Die A Happy Man topped the chart for the first six weeks of 2016.
2. HER FIRST, THEIR FOURTEENTH: Meant To Be, the duet between Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line cracks the top ten at #9. It her first top ten hit and the duo's fourteenth.
3. A TIE: We have two songs taking seven point jumps for fastest climbing songs of the week. They are:
1. Rich-Maren Morris-#50 to #43
2. Blue Tacoma-Russell Dickerson-#60 to #53
4. PASLAY'S FOREVER: Eric Paslay has the only new song on the chart with Young Forever at #59. This is his seventh charted single following:
1. Never Really Wanted-2011-#48
2. If The Fish Don't Bite-2011-#58
3. Friday Night-2014-#2
4. Song About A Girl-2014-#12
5. She Don't Love You-2015-#14
6. High Class-2016-#32
7. Young Forever-2018-#59 so far
5. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: Red-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2008: Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2003: Home-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
1998: Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
1993: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
6. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Vern Gosdin signed to the Columbia label in 1987. He recorded a song for his debut Columbia album that sat for four years. When he released it (off of another album), it became his final top ten hit. It is Is It Raining At Your House and it barely cracked the top ten 27 years ago this week at #10.
Gosdin was 53 years old when he signed to Columbia Records. By 1987, he was charting for two decades. His debut album for Columbia, Chiseled In Stone was released in 1988. Lead single, Do You Believe Me Now was released in November, 1987. That peaked at #4 in early 1988. That gave him a top ten at his fifth label following: Elektra, Ovation, AMI, and Compleat. Second single, Set 'Em Up Joe was released in April. It was Gosdin's tribute to Ernest Tubb. That became his second #1 hit in July and trailed his first, I Can Tell By The Way You Dance You're Gonna Love Me Tonight by four years. Third single was the title track. That was released in August and peaked at #6 before 1988 ended. A year later, the C.M.A. named it Song of the Year (a sweet victory for Gosdin as wrote the tune). A fourth single, Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time was released in January, 1989. That became his only #2 hit and was blocked from the top by Keith Whitley's biggest hit, I'm No Stranger To The Rain. Gosdin's comeback was complete. He released an album that contained a quartet of top tens and as icing on the cake, it became his first gold album. That gave him confidence to release his second Columbia album called Alone in 1989. I'm Still Crazy was the lead single. That was released in May and became his third and final chart topping hit in September. That Just About Does It was released in September and climbed to #4 in January, 1990. Third single, Right In The Wrong Direction was released in February. It barely broke the top ten at #10. Fourth single, Tanqueray bombed at #75. It was his first failure in four years since Time Stood Still peaked at #51 in 1986.
It was decided that Gosdin should rerecord some of his greatest hits and add two new songs to the mix. That album was called 10 Years Of Greatest Hits-Newly Recorded. Lead single, This Ain't My First Rodeo was released in August. Gosdin rebounded with this single as it peaked at #14 in November. Second and final single, Is It Raining At Your House was released in December. It is track #3 on the Chiseled In Stone album and the sixth selection on the greatest hits album. The single itself peaked at #10 in March, 1991. That was Gosdin's 31st and final top 40 hit and 19th and final top ten hit. The Out Of My Heart album was released in 1991. Three singles were release. They are:
1. I Knew My Day Would Come-1991-#64
2. The Garden-1991-#51
3. A Month Of Sundays-1992-#54
His final Columbia album was released in 1993 called Nickels And Dimes And Love. Only one single was released and it was his swan song on the charts, the #67 peaking Back When. Later that year, Columbia released a greatest hits album called Super Hits. Gosdin and Columbia parted ways in 1995 after eight years. Gosdin would release five more albums. They are:
1. The Gospel Album-1995
2. The Voice-1998
3. The Very Best Of The Voice-2005
4. 40 Years Of The Voice-2008-a 4 CD box set
5. Country: Vern Gosdin-2012
Gosdin died in April, 2009 at the age of 74. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 16, 1991:
1. I'd Love You All Over Again-Alan Jackson-Arista
2. Loving Blind-Clint Black-RCA
3. I Couldn't See You Leavin'-Conway Twitty-MCA
4. Two Of A Kind, Workin' On A Full House-Garth Brooks-Capitol
5. Don't Tell Me What To Do-Pam Tillis-Arista
6. Heroes And Friends-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
7. I'm That Kind Of Girl-Patty Loveless-MCA
8. Walk On Faith-Mike Reid-Columbia
9. Men-the Forester Sisters-Warner Bros.
10. IS IT RAINING AT YOUR HOUSE-VERN GOSDIN-COLUMBIA

[countrychartnut]

1. STAPLETON'S NOT BROKEN: After putting on a show stopping performance at the 2015 C.M.A. Awards with his friend Justin Timberlake, Chris Stapleton has become a hot commodity. After all, his 2015 album, Traveller became the first album to re-enter the top 200 at #1. It has been a hot seller since (now certified double platinum). It was named the top country album of 2016 and 2017. He has released two volumes of From A Room albums. Those have sold well. He has written #1 hits for other artists. Now, Stapleton can now call himself a #1 hit artist. That becomes possible as he collects his first chart topper this week with Broken Halos. It is the second single to his From A Room: Volume 1 album. Lead single, Either Way debuted and peaked at #26 last year. This is his fifth single to chart following:
1. What Are You Listening To-2013-#46
2. Nobody To Blame-2016-#10
3. Parachute-2017-#17
4. Either Way-2017-#26
5. Broken Halos-2018-#1
To say congratulations would be an understatement.
2. BALLERINI'S FAST: Kelsea Ballerini has the fastest climbing song of the week as I Hate Love Songs takes a six point jump to #51.
3. HARMON'S GOT IT: Trent Harmon has the only new song on the chart this week as You Got 'Em All debuts at #57. This is his second single to chart following the #18 peaking There's A Girl in 2017. He won American Idol in 2016.
4. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: One Of These Nights-Tim McGraw-Big Machine
2008: All-American Girl-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2003: Travelin' Soldier-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
1998: Nothin' But The Taillights-Clint Black-RCA
1993: Heartland-George Strait-MCA
5. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHARTS: Alabama became the second act to have a quartet of chart toppers from an album. Thirty-four years ago this week, they led the singles chart with Roll On Eighteen Wheeler and the albums chart with Roll On.
Earl Thomas Conley made history by becoming the first artist to have four #1s from an album. His 1983 album, Don't Make It Easy For Me yielded the following hits:
1. Your Love's On The Line-1983
2. Holding Her And Loving You-1983
3. Don't Make It Easy For Me-1984
4. Angel In Disguise-1984
While Conley was charting with the first two singles, his labelmates, Alabama were prepping their fifth RCA album, Roll On. Their first four albums and hits are:
1. My Home's In Alabama-1980-#3
a. Tennessee River-1980-#1
b. Why Lady Why-1980-#1
2. Feels So Right-1981-#1
a. Old Flame-1981-#1
b. Feels So Right-1981-#1
c. Love In The First Degree-1981-#1
2. Mountain Music-1982-#1
a. Mountain Music-1982-#1
b. Take Me Down-1982-#1
c. Close Enough To Perfect-1982-#1
4. The Closer You Get-1983-#1
a. Dixieland Delight-1983-#1
b. The Closer You Get-1983-#1
c. Lady Down On Love-1983-#1
It was time to release their fifth RCA album, Roll On. Lead single, Roll On Eighteen Wheeler was released in January, 1984. It became Alabama's twelfth chart topping hit in March. So far, Alabama was perfect with RCA. Twelve singles and twelve #1 hits. Roll On, the album was also released in January. It reached the top of the country albums chart for the week ending March 17 (I am showing the chart where it spent its second week at the top). Roll On peaked at #21 on the top 200 chart. The album spent thirteen weeks at the top of the country albums chart. It is certified quadruple platinum. Second single, When We Make Love was released in April. That topped the chart in June. It also peaked at #72 pop and #8 adult contemporary. Third single, If You're Gonna Play In Texas You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band was released in July. It charted with its b-side, I'm Not That Way Anymore. That ended up being a #1 hit in October. For the first time in their career, they went with a fourth single. That was There's A Fire In The Night. That was released in November and topped the chart in January, 1985. In the process, they joined Conley as the second artist with a quartet of #1s off one album. When they began their chart topping run with the Roll On album, they won their third and final C.M.A. Award for Vocal Group of the Year. When they ended it, they won their third and final C.M.A. Award for Entertainer of the Year.
Alabama would release just one more album with four chart toppers on it. That was Southern Star in 1989. Those hits were:
1. Song Of The South-1989
2. If I Had You-1989
3. High Cotton-1989
4. Southern Star-1990
During that amazing run, Alabama won the A.C.M. Award for Artist of the Decade. Southern Star would be their last chart topping album until Songs Of Inspiration came out in 2006. In 2002, they announced a farewell tour. In 2005, they were inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2006, RCA released a box set called Livin', Lovin', Rockin', Rollin': The 25th Anniversary Collection. Their last chart appearance was a duet with Brad Paisley called Old Alabama that became their 33rd chart topping hit in 2011. Their last studio album was released in 2015 called Southern Drawl (#2). They just announced a tour this year called The Hits Tour. This is what the charts looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 24, 1984:
1. ROLL ON EIGHTEEN WHEELER-ALABAMA-RCA
2. Let's Stop Talkin' About It-Janie Frickie-Columbia
3. Buried Treasure-Kenny Rogers-RCA
4. You Really Got A Hold On Me-Mickey Gilley-Epic
5. Don't Make It Easy For Me-Earl Thomas Conley-RCA
6. Save The Last Dance For Me-Dolly Parton-RCA
7. Thank God For The Radio-the Kendalls-Mercury
8. Elizabeth-Statler Brothers-Mercury
9. You're Welcome To Tonight-Lynn Anderson and Gary Morris-Permian
10. Let Somebody Else Drive-John Anderson-Warner Bros.

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 24, 1984:
1. ROLL ON-ALABAMA-RCA
2. Right Or Wrong-George Strait-MCA
3. Without A Song-Willie Nelson-Columbia
4. Don't Cheat In Our Hometown-Ricky Skaggs-Epic
5. Somebody's Gonna Love You-Lee Greenwood-MCA
6. Deliver-the Oak Ridge Boys-MCA
7. The Woman In Me-Charly McClain-Epic
8. Eyes That See In The Dark-Kenny Rogers-RCA
9. Don't Let Our Dreams Die Young-Tom Jones-Mercury
10. That's The Way Love Goes-Merle Haggard-Epic

[countrychartnut]

1. BRYAN IS GOOD: Luke Bryan collects his nineteenth #1 hit this week with Most People Are Good. This is the second single and second chart topper off his current album, What Makes You Country. Light It Up, the lead single topped the chart in December.
2. HIS SECOND: Kane Brown breaks the top ten for the second time with Heaven (#12 to #10). This is the follow up to his first #1, What Ifs. Both are from his chart topping album, Kane Brown.
3. URBAN'S COMING: Keith Urban has the Hot Shot Debut of the week with Coming Home at #23. He is getting vocal support here from Julia Michaels. This is the follow up to Female, which peaked at #12 and broke a streak of 38 consecutive top tens for Urban this year.
4. FAST MOVERS: We have two songs taking four point jumps for fastest climbing songs of the week. They are:
1. Hangin' On-Chris Young-#52 to #48
2. You Got 'Em All-Trent Harmon-#57 to #53
5. OLD DOMINION'S KEY: Old Dominion debuts at #54 with Hotel Key. This is the third single to their current album, Happy Endings. It follows their chart topping hits No Such Thing As A Broken Heart (2017) and Written In The Sand (2018).
6. THREE FOR THREE: Scotty McCreery debuts at #1 on the country albums chart with his third studio album, Seasons Change. 34,000 copies were sold last week. This is his Thirty Tigers debut disc. Furthermore, it is his third #1 album following Clear As Day (2011) and See You Tonight (2013).
7. CLASS OF 2018: Congratulations to Dottie West, Ricky Skaggs, and Johnny Gimble for making it to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
8. A 00S LOOK: These were the chart topping songs during the last week of March during the 2000s:
2000: How Do You Like Me Now-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
2001: One More Day-Diamond Rio-Arista
2002: Blessed-Martina McBride-RCA
2003: Brokenheartsville-Joe Nichols-Universal South
2004: When The Sun Goes Down-Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker-BNA
2005: That's What I Love About Sunday-Craig Morgan-Broken Bow
2006: Living In Fast Forward-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2007: Beer In Mexico-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2008: Small Town Southern Man-Alan Jackson-Arista
2009: It Won't Be Like This For Long-Darius Rucker-Capitol
9. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Martina McBride issued her first greatest hits album in 2001. A new song from the CD, Blessed was our top song sixteen years ago this week.
The track listing to Greatest Hits is as follows:
1. My Baby Loves Me-1993-#2
2. Life #9-1994-#6
3. Independence Day-1994-#12
4. Strangers
5. Safe In The Arms Of Love-1995-#4
6. Wild Angels-1996-#1
7. Valentine-with Jim Brickman-1998-#9
8. A Broken Wing-1998-#1
9. Happy Girl-1998-#2-her biggest #2 hit
10. Wrong Again-1999-#1
11. Whatever You Say-1999-#2
12. I Love You-1999-#1-chart wise, her biggest hit
13. Love's The Only House-2000-#3
14. There You Are-2000-#10
15. When God-Fearin' Women Get The Blues-Intro
16. When God-Fearin' Women Get The Blues-2001-#8
17. Where Would You Be-2002-#3
18. Concrete Angel-2003-#5
19. Blessed-2002-#1
This greatest hits disc was unusual in the amount of new songs on it (tracks 16-19). Most hits CDs have up to three new songs. A song repeats itself on a McBride album and that is Strangers. That first appeared on the 1993 album, The Way That I Am. Lead single from Greatest Hits was When God-Fearin' Women Get The Blues. The intro to the song is about a minute long while the song itself is four minutes long. Released in June, the single peaked at #8 in September. In the meantime, Greatest Hits was released in September. It debuted at #1 country and #5 top 200 in October when 102,000 copies were sold in the first week. Second single, Blessed was released in October. It kicked off McBride's 2002 in high fashion when it became her fifth and final #1 hit in March and April for two weeks. It gave McBride chart toppers during the 1990s and 2000s. Where Would You Be was released in April. It climbed all the way to #3. Her next time on the chart was a duet with her labelmate, Andy Griggs. His single, Practice Life was off his Freedom album. That was released in September. That peaked at #33 in December. A very personal release in Concrete Angel was the fourth and final single. That was released in November and peaked at #5 during the early part of 2003. The Greatest Hits album is certified triple platinum.
For a follow up, McBride released the Martina album in 2003. Lead single, This One's For The Girls was released in June. This features star power backup by McBride's daughters, Delaney and Emma and McBride's fellow superstars Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Faith Hill. It became a crossover hit, peaking at #3 country and #39 pop. A remixed version hit the top of the adult contemporary chart for nine weeks in 2004. It was McBride's first #1 there. In My Daughter's Eyes was the second release. That was released in November and that was a crossover hit in 2004 (#4 country, #39 pop, and #3 A.C.). How Far was released in April and managed a #12 peak. In the meantime, Jimmy Buffett released an album in 2004 called License To Chill. His duet with McBride, Trip Around The Sun was released in August. It peaked at #20. A fourth single, God's Will ended the era on a #16 note. Between the Greatest Hits and Martina Eras, she won her second, third, and fourth Female Vocalist of the Year Awards from the C.M.A.s in 2002, 2003, and 2004.
A covers album was released in 2005 called Timeless. The nineteen song disc yielded two singles: I Never Promised You A Rose Garden (#18 in 2005) was the Lynn Anderson classic of 1970-1971 titled Rose Garden (#1 country, #3 pop, and #5 A.C.) and I Still Miss Someone, the b-side to Johnny Cash's Don't Take Your Guns To Town of 1959. Don King has the best charted version at #38 in 1981. McBride's version (with vocal support from Dolly Parton) peaked at #50 in 2006. McBride's next album was released in 2007 called Waking Up Laughing. Lead single, Anyway was released in October, 2006. It started her 2007 on a #5 note. More important, it was her final top ten at RCA Records. How I Feel was released in May and peaked at #15 in September. For These Times barely made the top 40 at #35 before the year ended. Her final studio album for RCA was released in 2009 called Shine. Ride, the lead single was released in November, 2008. It peaked at #11 in April, 2009. I Just Call You Mine was released in May. It proceeded to a #18 peak in November. Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong was released in January, 2010. That almost became a top ten in June, peaking at #11. After nineteen years at RCA McBride was dropped by the label.
However, she emerged on the Republic Nashville label in 2011. Her Eleven album was released that year. Lead single, Teenage Daughters was released in February. The video stars her husband and daughters. However, it did not get her into the top ten. Instead, it peaked at #17. I'm Gonna Love You Through It was released in July. It certainly took its sweet time peaking in early 2012. It gave McBride a top ten when it reached #4 in February, 2012. It gave her top tens in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. It also gave her top tens at two labels: RCA and Republic Nashville. Marry Me with Pat Monahan was a remake. It was a hit for Monahan's group, Train in 2011. It reached #34 pop and #3 A.C.. The duet version reached #45 country. To date, it is McBride's last chart appearance. After one album with Republic Nashville, it was time to release on the Kobalt label. That was Everlasting and that debuted at #1 country and #7 top 200 when 21,000 copies were sold. Her final (to date) album was released in 2016 on the Nash Icon label. That was Reckless. That debuted at #2 country and #31 top 200 when 16,000 copies were sold. Two singles were released, but did not chart.
Since Greatest Hits, other McBride compilations have been released. They are:
1. Playlist: The Very Best Of Martina McBride-2008
2. Super Hits-2010-her parting gift from RCA
3. Hits And More-2012
4. Country: Martina McBride-2012
5. The Essential Martina McBride-2012
This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING MARCH 30, 2002:
1. BLESSED-MARTINA MCBRIDE-RCA
2. The Cowboy In Me-Tim McGraw-Curb
3. The Long Goodbye-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
4. I Breathe In, I Breathe Out-Chris Cagle-Capitol
5. Young-Kenny Chesney-BNA
6. My List-Toby Keith-DreamWorks
7. I'm Movin' On-Rascal Flatts-Lyric Street
8. Bring On The Rain-Jo Dee Messina-Curb
9. Some Days You Gotta Dance-Dixie Chicks-Monument
10. What If She's An Angel-Tommy Shane Steiner-RCA

[countrychartnut]

1. STILL GOOD: Luke Bryan continues to have the top song in country with Most People Are Good. It is his second week at the top.
2. A FAST SHOT: Jimmie Allen has the fastest climbing song of the week with Best Shot (#50 to #43).
3. HE'S DRUNK: Mitchell Tenpenny makes his debut on the chart with Drunk Me at #56. It is the only new song on the chart.
4. DAVIS DEBUTS: Jordan Davis' debut album, Home State makes its debut at #6 on the country albums chart after 6000 copies were sold last week. It features his debut single, Singles You Up, currently at #2 for the week.
5. A CORRECTION: I had stated last week that Martina McBride's last chart appearance was in 2012 when her duet with Pat Monahan called Marry Me peaked at #45. Not so. In 2016, she charted for the final time (to date) with Reckless, the title track to her 2016 album. That peaked at #47.
6. A 00S LOOK, PART II: These were the chart topping CDs during the first week of April during the 2000s:
2000: Fly-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
2001: O Brother, Where Art Thou-Soundtrack-Lost Highway
2002: O Brother, Where Art Thou-Soundtrack-Lost Highway
2003: Home-the Dixie Chicks-Monument
2004: When The Sun Goes Down-Kenny Chesney-BNA
2005: Songs About Me-Trace Adkins-Capitol
2006: Precious Memories-Alan Jackson-Arista
2007: Some Hearts-Carrie Underwood-Arista
2008: Taylor Swift-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
2009: Fearless-Taylor Swift-Big Machine
7. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: This section is taking a week off. Will be back next week.

[countrychartnut]

1. A BRYAN TRIFECTA: Luke Bryan leads the country chart for a third week with Most People Are Good. If Bryan manages a fourth week at the top, he will match the longest reign of his biggest hit, Play It Again from 2014.
2. CHESNEY'S HIGH: Kenny Chesney blasts his way onto the chart with his debut Warner Bros. single, Get Along at #19. This is the Hot Shot Debut of the week. This is his fourth top 20 debut following:
1. Don't Blink-2007-#16
2. The Boys Of Fall-2010-#17
3. Feel Like A Rock Star-with Tim McGraw-2012-#13
Chesney is also on the chart with his duet with David Lee Murphy, Everything's Gonna Be Alright at #12.
3. A FAST KEY: Old Dominion has the fastest climbing song of the week with Hotel Key. It zips up eight spots to #45.
4. MUSGRAVES' BUTTERFLIES: Kacey Musgraves debuts her lead single to her current album, Golden Hour this week. It is Butterflies and it starts its chart life at #56. This is her sixth single to chart following:
1. Merry Go 'Round-2013-#10
2. Blowin' Smoke-2013-#23
3. Follow Your Arrow-2013-#43
4. Keep It To Yourself-2014-#32
5. Biscuits-2015-#41
6. Butterflies-2018-#56 so far
5. RICH'S DIFFERENCE: Tyler Rich debuts at #58 with The Difference. This is debut appearance on the chart.
6. ATKINS' COUNTRY: Rodney Atkins makes his first chart appearance with a new song called Caught Up In The Country at #59. This single features the Fisk Jubilee Singers. This is Atkins' first time on the chart in four years. His last appearance was in 2014 when Eat, Sleep, Love You, Repeat peaked at #47.
7. DON'T BE SELFISH: Stephanie Quayle debuts at #60 with Selfish. This is her third single and first to chart. This is from her second album, Love The Way You See Me.
8. HER HOUR IS #1: Debuting at the top of the country albums chart is Kacey Musgraves' third album, Golden Hour. 39,000 copies were sold last week. This is her third chart topping album following Same Trailer, Different Park (2013) and Pageant Material (2015).
9. MCBRYDE'S GIRL: Ashely McBryde debuts at #7 on the country albums chart with Girl Going Nowhere. 9000 copies were sold. This is her debut album and it features A Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega, currently at #32.
10. #1 HITS: These were the chart topping songs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: Somebody's Heartbreak-Hunter Hayes-Atlantic
2008: You're Gonna Miss This-Trace Adkins-Capitol
2003: Have Your Forgotten-Darryl Worley-DreamWorks
1998: Perfect Love-Trisha Yearwood-MCA
1993: The Heart Won't Lie-Reba McEntire and Vince Gill-MCA
11. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: Only five artists in country music have at least thirty #1 hits. They are:
1. George Strait-44-1982-2009
2. Conway Twitty-40-1968-1986
3. Merle Haggard-38-1967-1988
4. Ronnie Milsap-35-1974-1989
5. Alabama-33-1980-2011
Alabama reached thirty chart toppers the fastest-just under eleven years. They were tops twenty-seven years ago this week with their 30th #1, Down Home. Let us discuss each of those artists' first and thirtieth chart toppers. Let us start with Strait and work down the list. Ready?
1. George Strait-Strait signed to the MCA label in 1981. He released his debut album, Strait Country that year. His debut single, Unwound hit #6 during the summer. Second single, Down And Out was one Strait did not want released, but had no control over. It still became a hit, peaking at #16 in late 1981. He kicked off 1982 with the third and final single, If You're Thinking You Want A Stranger There's One Coming Home. That got Strait back into the top ten when it peaked at #3. He released his second album, Strait From The Heart in 1982. Lead single, Fool Hearted Memory was released in May. It became his first #1 in August. The next two singles did not hit the top, but became classics (both in 1983): Marina Del Rey (#6) and Amarillo By Morning (#4). He did score another chart topper with the fourth single, A Fire I Can't Put Out. That became his second #1 in September. His thirtieth #1 hit came from the 1996 album, Blue Clear Sky. The title track was the lead single. That topped the chart for two weeks in June becoming his twenty-ninth #1 hit. Second single, Carried Away was released in June. That became his thirtieth chart topper in August for three weeks. That topped the chart during the fifteenth anniversary of his first, Fool Hearted Memory. Strait would score two more hits off the album: I Can Still Make Cheyenne (#4 in 1996) and King Of The Mountain (#19 in 1997). Strait would top the chart until 2009 when River Of Love became his 44th and final #1 hit (to date).
2. Conway Twitty-Twitty signed to the Decca label in 1965. He released four albums and six singles before scoring his first #1 hit. Those singles are:
1. Guess My Eyes Were Bigger Than My Heart-1966-#18
2. Look Into My Teardrops-1966-#36
3. I Don't Want To Be With Me-1967-#21
4. Funny But I'm Not Laughing-1967-#61
5. The Image Of Me-1968-#5
Twitty's next album was 1968's Next In Line. The title track was the only single pulled from the album. That was released in August. It topped the chart in November. His thirtieth chart topper came from the 1980 album, Rest Your Love On Me. Lead single, A Bridge That Just Won't Burn kicked off his 1981 on a #3 note. The title track was written by the Bee Gees who took their version to #39 country in 1979. Twitty's version was released in February and topped the chart in May. That means it took Twitty twelve and a half years to amass thirty #1 hits. Twitty would top the chart for another five years when Desperado Love became his 40th and final #1 hit.
3. Merle Haggard-Haggard signed to the Capitol label (his second) in 1965. His debut album for them, Swinging Doors was released in 1966. The title track hit #5 while The Bottle Let Me Down peaked at #3. His second album, I'm A Lonesome Fugitive was released in 1967. The only single released was the title track (sometimes titled The Fugitive). That was released in December, 1966 and topped the chart in March, 1967. His thirtieth #1, Going Where The Lonely Go was the title track to his 1982 album. Released in October, it became his thirtieth #1 in January, 1983. It took Haggard sixteen years to collect thirty chart topping hits. He got another #1 off the album with You Take Me For Granted. He would have his 38th and final #1 hit in 1988 with Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star.
4. Ronnie Milsap-Milsap signed to RCA Records in 1973. He released his debut RCA album in 1973 called Where My Heart Is. He got two hits off the album: I Hate You (#10 in 1973) and That Girl Who Waits On Tables (#11 in 1974). His second album was released in 1974 called Pure Love. The title track was the lead single and that was written by Eddie Rabbitt. Released in March, it topped the chart in May. He got another #1 off the album with Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends. His thirtieth #1 came from the 1986 album, Lost In The Fifties Tonight. Lead single, Happy, Happy Birthday Baby topped the chart in June. So did the second single, In Love. That was a chart topper in September. Third and final single, How Do I Turn You On was released in October. It became his thirtieth #1 hit in February, 1987. It took Milsap thirteen years to have thirty chart topping hits. He would top the chart five more times when A Woman In Love became his 35th and final #1 in 1989.
5. Alabama-Alabama signed to the RCA label in 1980. They released their debut album for them that year called My Home's In Alabama. Their debut RCA single, Tennessee River was released in May. It topped the chart in August. They had a chart topping hit with the second and final single, Why Lady Why in December. Part of the reason why they had so many #1s in a short period of time was their amazing streak of chart toppers they had between 1980-1987. They took twenty-one consecutive singles to the top. They are:
1. Tennessee River-1980
2. Why Lady Why-1980
3. Old Flame-1981
4. Feels So Right-1981
5. Love In The First Degree-1981
6. Mountain Music-1982
7. Take Me Down-1982
8. Close Enough To Perfect-1982
9. Dixieland Delight-1983
10. The Closer You Get-1983
11. Lady Down On Love-1983
12. Roll On Eighteen Wheeler-1984
13. When We Make Love-1984
14. If You're Gonna Play In Texas You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band-1984
15. There's A Fire In The Night-1985
16. There's No Way-1985
17. Forty Hour Week For A Livin'-1985
18. Can't Keep A Good Man Down-1985
19. She And I-1986
20. Touch Me When We're Dancing-1986
21. You've Got The Touch-1987
After Tar Top broke their streak of #1s (#7 in 1987), they started another chart topping spree. This one lasted two years and they had six #1s. They are:
1. Face To Face-1988
2. Fallin' Again-1988
3. Song Of The South-1989
4. If I Had You-1989
5. High Cotton-1989
6. Southern Star-1990
In 1990, they released an album called Pass It On Down. The title track was the lead single and that proceeded to a #3 peak. Their biggest hit was next and that was Jukebox In My Mind. That topped the chart for four weeks in September. Before the year was done, the third single, Forever's As Far As I'll Go was released. That topped the chart in January, 1991. That became a crossover hit when it peaked at #15 adult contemporary. Down Home, the fourth single was released in February. It topped the chart for three weeks in April. That was their second biggest hit and thirtieth chart topper. That means it took Alabama almost eleven years to have thirty #1 hits, the fastest ever to that level. Fifth and final single, Here We Are became their first #2 hit. They would top the chart three more times until 2011 when Brad Paisley released his duet with the group, Old Alabama, which became their 33rd and final #1 hit.
All five artists are Country Music Hall of Fame members: Strait (2006), Twitty (1999), Haggard (1994), Milsap (2014), and Alabama (2005). This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 13, 1991:
1. DOWN HOME-ALABAMA-RCA
2. Two Of A Kind, Workin' On A Full House-Garth Brooks-Capitol
3. Heroes And Friends-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
4. True Love-Don Williams-RCA
5. Only Here For A Little While-Billy Dean-Capitol
6. I'd Love You All Over Again-Alan Jackson-Arista
7. I Got You-Shenandoah-Columbia
8. Loving Blind-Clint Black-RCA
9. Rockin' Years-Dolly Parton and Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
10. Drift Off To Dream-Travis Tritt-Warner Bros.

[countrychartnut]

1. DAVIS' SINGLE IS #1: Jordan Davis takes his debut single, Singles You Up to the top of the chart this week. This is from his debut album, Home State.
2. A.C.M. CHART: This year's winners on this week's chart:
3. You Make It Easy-Jason Aldean-Entertainer of the Year
20. Cry Pretty-Carrie Underwood-Vocal Event of the Year
23. Coming Home-Keith Urban featuring Julia Michaels-Vocal Event of the Year for Urban
27. Doin' Fine-Lauren Alaina-New Female Vocalist of the Year
31. Mercy-Brett Young-New Male Vocalist of the Year
36. Shoot Me Straight-Brothers Osborne-Vocal Duo and Video of the Year
39. Hotel Key-Old Dominion-Vocal Group of the Year
51. Burn Out-Midland-New Group of the Year
3. VALLEY'S 50: High Valley stays at #7 for another week with She's With Me. It is in its 50th week on the chart. Other songs to stay at least that long on the chart are:
1. 56 weeks-Love Like Crazy-Lee Brice-2010
2. 55 weeks-A Girl Like You-Easton Corbin-2018
3. 54 weeks-Bouquet Of Roses-Eddy Arnold-1948
4. 54 weeks-Outta My Head-Craig Campbell-2013
5. 54 weeks-Make You Mine-High Valley-2017
6. 53 weeks-I Met A Girl-William Michael Morgan-2016
7. 52 weeks-Fraulein-Bobby Helms-1957
8. 52 weeks-Voices-Chris Young-2011
9. 51 weeks-Let It Rain-David Nail-2012
10. 51 weeks-Outta Style-Aaron Watson-2018
11. 50 weeks-Love You Like That-Canaan Smith-2015
12. 50 weeks-Gonna Wanna Tonight-Chase Rice-2015
13. 50 weeks-Little Bit Of You-Chase Bryant-2016
14. 50 weeks-Night's On Fire-David Nail-2016
15. 50 weeks-She's With Me-High Valley-2018
4. CRY HIGH: Carrie Underwood blasts her way onto the chart this week with her debut Capitol single, Cry Pretty at #20. It is the Hot Shot Debut of the week. This is the lead single and title track to her upcoming album. Cry Pretty starts its chart life like So Small did in 2007. Both singles play second fiddle to Something In The Water. That started at #17 in 2014.
5. THEY DO IT AGAIN: For the second week, Old Dominion has the fastest climbing song of the week with Hotel Key (#45 to #39).
6. MIDLAND DEBUTS: Midland debuts their third single at #51 with Burn Out. It follows Drinkin' Problem (#3 in 2017) and Make A Little (#15 in 2018). All are from their debut album, On The Rocks.
7. SEE CAMPBELL TRY: Craig Campbell debuts at #54 with See You Try. This is the third single from an upcoming album. It follows: Tomorrow Tonight (#39 in 2015) and Outskirts Of Heaven (#24 in 2017).
8. GOING FOR FOUR: Thomas Rhett debuts at #59 with Life Changes. This is the fourth single and title track to his current album. He is hoping for a #1 here. If it does top the chart, it will join three others that have done so: Craving You (2017), Unforgettable (2017), and Marry Me (2018).
9. SOME ALBUM NEWS: We have three albums debuting in the top ten this week. They are:
3. Find A Light-Blackberry Smoke-15,000 were sold.
4. Restoration: Reimagining The Songs Of Elton John And Bernie Taupin-Various Artists-13,000 were sold.
9. Johnny Cash: Forever Words-Various Artists-8000 were sold.
10. #1 CDS: These were the top selling CDs in 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, and 1993:
2013: Pioneer-the Band Perry-Republic Nashville
2008: Troubadour-George Strait-MCA
2003: Chris Cagle-Chris Cagle-Capitol
1998: Come On Over-Shania Twain-Mercury
1993: Some Gave All-Billy Ray Cyrus-Mercury
11. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHARTS: Kenny Rogers and Dottie West charted six duets between 1978-1984. Their first, Every Time Two Fools Collide was our top song forty years ago this week while their third, All I Ever Need Is You was #1 thirty-nine years ago this week.
Rogers signed to the United Artists label in 1975. A year later, West joined him at the label after being with RCA between 1963-1975. West had moderate success with her debut United Artists album, When It's Just You And Me (1977). Four singles came from the album (all in 1977):
1. When It's Just You And Me-#19
2. Every Word I Write-#28
3. Tonight You Belong To Me-#30
4. That's All I Wanted To Know-#57
She was preparing her second album when according to the popular story, Rogers had shown up to the recording studio early and saw West. He decided to sing with West on a few songs. They decided they sounded great together. They decided to do a duets album. That was titled Every Time Two Fools Collide (1978). The title track was the lead single. That was released in February and topped the country chart for two weeks in April. Chart-wise, it is their biggest duet. It also crossed over to #44 adult contemporary. The album itself topped the country albums chart for two weeks in May. It was Rogers' third chart topping album following Kenny Rogers (1977) and Ten Years Of Gold (1978). It was the only #1 album for West. The album peaked at #186 on the top 200 chart. It is certified gold. Second single, Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight was released in August. It proceeded to a #2 peak in November. It could not unseat Barbara Mandrell's biggest hit, Sleeping Single In A Double Bed from the top. While they were charting with that song, they won the C.M.A. Award for Vocal Duo of the Year.
The next album Rogers and West would release was Classics in 1979. Lead single was All I Ever Need Is You. That was a remake of the Sonny & Cher hit from 1971 (#7 pop and #1 A.C.). Released in February, the Rogers and West version became their second chart topper in April for one week. It crossed over to #38 A.C.. Second and final single, 'Til I Can Make It On My Own was also a remake. Tammy Wynette, who wrote the tune took it to #1 country, #84 pop, and #41 A.C. in 1976. The Rogers and West version was released in June and topped off at #3. The Classics album reached #3 country and #82 top 200 and is certified platinum. Rogers and West would repeat as Vocal Duo of the Year at the 1979 C.M.A.s. Sitting as an album cut is Together Again, a #1 hit for Buck Owens in 1964. It was the b-side to his #1, My Heart Skips A Beat. The next time Rogers and West recorded together was in 1980. It was for her Wild West album of 1981. Lead single, Are You Happy Baby was released in December, 1980. It topped the chart in February, 1981. It was West's fourth chart topping hit. Second single was What Are We Doin' In Love. Just looking at the vinyl single, it was hard to tell Rogers was on the single. It only had West's name on it. Rogers said he did not need the credit at the time. Nevertheless, it was released in March and topped the country chart in June. It was their biggest crossover hit, reaching #14 pop and #7 A.C.. Third and final single, I'm Gonna Put You Back On The Rack peaked at #16. The Wild West album peaked at #5 country and #126 top 200.
Rogers would sign to the RCA label in 1983 after eight years at United Artists/Liberty (the name change took place in 1980). Liberty wanted to capitalize on Rogers' ongoing popularity especially after his success with Islands In The Stream, his duet with Dolly Parton in 1983 (#1 country, #1 pop, and #1 A.C.). Liberty released Duets on Rogers in 1984. That features his hits with West, Kim Carnes (Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer), and Sheena Easton (We've Got Tonight). A single was released from the album and that is Together Again, originally on Classics. Released in March, it peaked at #19 in May. That ended up being West's swan song at Liberty. She would sign to the Permian label that year. Her swan song on the charts happened a year later with the #53 peaking We Know Better. West passed away in September, 1991 after she had a car accident in August. She was 58. There are only two albums where you will find all the duets Rogers and West had: West's Are You Happy Baby: The Collection from 1997 and Rogers' Through The Years: A Retrospective from 1999. Rogers was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013 while West was elected this year. This is what the charts looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN CHART FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 22, 1978:
1. EVERY TIME TWO FOOLS COLLIDE-KENNY ROGERS AND DOTTIE WEST-UNITED ARTISTS
2. Hearts On Fire-Eddie Rabbitt-Elektra
3. It's All Wrong, But It's All Right/Two Doors Down-Dolly Parton-RCA
4. Someone Loves You Honey-Charley Pride-RCA
5. It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' To Me-the Kendalls-Ovation
6. She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed Anytime-Johnny Duncan-Columbia
7. We Believe In Happy Endings-Johnny Rodriguez-Mercury
8. Sweet, Sweet Smile-the Carpenters-A & M
9. I'm Always On A Mountain When I Fall-Merle Haggard-MCA
10. Maybe Baby-Susie Allanson-Warner Bros.

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 21, 1979:
1. ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU-KENNY ROGERS AND DOTTIE WEST-UNITED ARTISTS
2. Where Do I Put Her Memory-Charley Pride-RCA
3. Backside Of Thirty-John Conlee-MCA
4. Sweet Memories-Willie Nelson-RCA
5. Farewell Party-Gene Watson-Capitol
6. Don't Take It Away-Conway Twitty-MCA
7. Slow Dancing-Johnny Duncan-Columbia
8. Wisdom Of A Fool-Jacky Ward-Mercury
9. If Loving You Is Wrong I Don't Want To Be Right-Barbara Mandrell-MCA
10. Lay Down Beside Me-Don Williams-MCA

[countrychartnut]

1. THEY WERE MEANT FOR #1: The duet between Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line, Meant To Be claims the penthouse this week. This is from her album All Your Fault: Pt. 2 And Expectations. This is the first chart topper for Rexha and the duo's twelfth chart topping hit. This is the first #1 for Florida Georgia Line on a different label: Warner Bros. where Rexha records. This is the duo's second #1 vocal collaboration following God, Your Mama, And Me with the Backstreet Boys in 2017.
2. BABE DEBUTS HIGH: Another duet makes its first chart appearance this week and that is Babe between Sugarland and Taylor Swift at #27. This is the second single to the duo's upcoming album, Bigger. It is the Hot Shot Debut of the week and follows Still The Same, which debuted and peaked at #26. This is Swift's first chart appearance since New Year's Day peaked at #41 last year.
3. A FAST LIFE: Thomas Rhett has the fastest climbing song of the week with Life Changes (#59 to #35).
4. STAPLETON'S A MILLIONAIRE: I hope so with the amount of albums Chris Stapleton has sold over the past three years. He debuts this week with Millionaire at #53. This is the lead single to his current album, From A Room: Volume 2. It is the follow up to his first ever #1, Broken Halos.
5. ALDEAN IS #1: Debuting at the top of the country albums chart is Jason Aldean with his current album, Rearview Town. 162,000 copies were sold last week. This is his sixth #1 album following:
1. Relentless-2007
2. My Kinda Party-2010
3. Night Train-2012
4. Old Boots, New Dirt-2014
5. They Don't Know-2016
6. Rearview Town-2018
6. PRINE'S SECOND: Debuting in the runner up position on the country albums chart is John Prine's latest, The Tree Of Forgiveness. 53,000 copies were sold. This is the second #2 album in his career. It follows 2016's For Better Or Worse.
7. A 90S LOOK: These were the chart topping hits during the last week of April during the 1990s:
1990: Love On Arrival-Dan Seals-Capitol
1991: Down Home-Alabama-RCA
1992: There Ain't Nothing Wrong With The Radio-Aaron Tippin-RCA
1993: Alibis-Tracy Lawrence-Atlantic
1994: Piece Of My Heart-Faith Hill-Warner Bros.
1995: Little Miss Honky Tonk-Brooks & Dunn-Arista
1996: No News-Lonestar-BNA
1997: One Night At A Time-George Strait-MCA
1998: You're Still The One-Shania Twain-Mercury
1999: How Forever Feels-Kenny Chesney-BNA
8. MILESTONE TOP TEN CHART: When 1989 dawned, George Strait was an unqualified superstar. His final musical statement of the decade, Beyond The Blue Neon was our top seller 29 years ago this week.
The track listing for Beyond The Blue Neon is as follows:
1. Beyond The Blue Neon
2. Hollywood Squares
3. Overnight Success-1990-#8
4. Ace In The Hole-1989-#1
5. Leavin's Been Comin' For A Long, Long Time
6. Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye-1989-#1
7. What's Going On In Your World-1989-#1
8. Angel, Angelina
9. Too Much Of Too Little
10. Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby
Lead single, Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye was released in December, 1988 right when his previous single, If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin' fell from the top spot. Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye became Strait's sweet sixteenth chart topping hit during the last week of March, 1989. Second single, What's Going On In Your World was released in April. It topped the chart in July. Third single, Ace In The Hole, named for his touring band was released in August. That ended his 1989 on a chart topping note in November. At the C.M.A. Awards in October, after several nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Strait finally won the big one against the likes of Reba McEntire, Ricky Van Shelton, Randy Travis, and Hank Williams, Jr. (the 1988 winner). With that big win under his belt, the fourth Beyond The Blue Neon single was released. That was Overnight Success. That was released in December and climbed all the way to #8 in February, 1990. It broke a streak of consecutive #1s for Strait at eleven (going back to 1986's Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her). Making a chart appearance as an album cut is Hollywood Squares (#67). Sitting as an album cut is Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby. Diamond Rio cut a version of the song and took it to #5 in 1993.
The four singles released from Beyond The Blue Neon (certified platinum) are repeated on Ten Strait Hits from 1991. Beyond The Blue Neon was released in February and topped the country albums chart in April. It topped of at #92 on the top 200 chart. It was his eighth #1 country album following:
1. Right Or Wrong-1983
2. Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind-1985
3. Something Special-1985
4. #7-1986
5. Ocean Front Property-1987-first album to debut at the top of the chart
6. Greatest Hits, Volume 2-1987
7. If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'-1988
8. Beyond The Blue Neon-1989
Strait was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2009, he was chosen as the Artist of the Decade for the 2000s by the A.C.M.. In 2012, he announced a farewell tour as he was retiring from the road. That took him everywhere in 2013-2014. His last chart appearance was in 2015 with the #33 peaking Cold Beer Conversation. So far, his last musical statement was released in 2016 called Strait Out Of The Box, Part 2. This is what the chart looked like back then:

BILLBOARD TOP TEN FOR WEEK ENDING APRIL 29, 1989:
1. BEYOND THE BLUE NEON-GEORGE STRAIT-MCA
2. Greatest Hits III-Hank Williams, Jr.-Warner Bros.
3. Old 8 X 10-Randy Travis-Warner Bros.
4. Loving Proof-Ricky Van Shelton-Columbia
5. Southern Star-Alabama-RCA
6. This Woman-K.T. Oslin-RCA
7. Honky Tonk Angel-Patty Loveless-MCA
8. Reba-Reba McEntire-MCA
9. Greatest Hits-the Judds-RCA
10. Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room-Dwight Yoakam-Reprise