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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1981.

List of years in country music (Table)
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1978 • 1979 • 1980 – 1981 – 1982 • 1983 • 1984 •
   1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 …
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Contents

Events

  • March 14 — The final showing of Live From The Grand Ole Opry on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) occurs on this night. The show actually went beyond the televised segment, but the show was ended with a clip of Marty Robbins singing "El Paso" (a song he used to close out his Opry segment at midnight) from the year before. Because of cost over-runs and other technicalities, this was the final run for the annual show on PBS that featured the music of Tom T. Hall, Del Reeves, Hank Snow, Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl, and many other performers.

No dates

  • The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Country Music, an eight-volume, 143-track collection, is released. The box set is considered one of the first important retrospectives of the genre and contains extensive liner notes, depicting the importance of each song or artist included.
Songs included range from 1922's "Sally Gooden" to 1975's "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" by Willie Nelson. Specifically, each volume is titled as follows: "1920's," "1930's Southeast," "1930's Southwest," "1941-1953" (two records), "1953-1963," "Bluegrass" and "1963-1975."

Top hits of the year

Number one hits

United States

(as certified by Billboard)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 CAN peak Spec. Note
January 10 I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink Merle Haggard 1 29
January 17 I Love a Rainy Night Eddie Rabbitt 1 4
January 24 9 to 5 Dolly Parton 1
January 31 I Feel Like Loving You Again T. G. Sheppard 1 3
February 7 I Keep Coming Back Razzy Bailey 1 3
February 14 Who's Cheatin' Who Charly McClain 1 2 [A]
February 21 Southern Rains Mel Tillis 1
February 28 Are You Happy Baby Dottie West 1 —
March 7 Do You Love as Good as You Look The Bellamy Brothers 1 4
March 14 Guitar Man Elvis Presley 1 [B]
March 21 Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground Willie Nelson 1
March 28 Texas Women Hank Williams, Jr. 1 22
April 4 Drifter Sylvia 1 13 [A]
April 11 You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma David Frizzell and
Shelly West		 1 13 [A] - David Frizzell
[A] - Shelly West
April 18 Old Flame Alabama 1
April 25 A Headache Tomorrow (Or a Heartache Tonight) Mickey Gilley 1
May 2 Rest Your Love on Me Conway Twitty 1 9
May 9 Am I Losing You Ronnie Milsap 1
May 16 I Loved 'Em Every One T. G. Sheppard 1 3
May 23 Seven Year Ache Rosanne Cash 1 6 [A]
May 30 Elvira The Oak Ridge Boys 1
June 6 Friends Razzy Bailey 1 9
June 13 What Are We Doin' in Love Dottie West with
Kenny Rogers		 1 3 [B] - Dottie West
June 20 But You Know I Love You Dolly Parton 1 2
June 27 Blessed Are the Believers Anne Murray 1
July 4 I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool Barbara Mandrell 1 14
July 11 Fire and Smoke Earl Thomas Conley 1 — [1], [A]
July 18 Feels So Right Alabama 2 5
August 1 Dixie on My Mind Hank Williams, Jr. 1 41
August 8 Too Many Lovers Crystal Gayle 1
August 15 I Don't Need You Kenny Rogers 2
August 29 (There's) No Gettin' Over Me Ronnie Milsap 2
September 12 Older Women Ronnie McDowell 1 [A]
September 19 You Don't Know Me Mickey Gilley 1
September 26 Tight Fittin' Jeans Conway Twitty 1 8
October 3 Midnight Hauler Razzy Bailey 1
October 10 Party Time T. G. Sheppard 1 2
October 17 Step By Step Eddie Rabbitt 1
October 24 Never Been So Loved (In All My Life) Charley Pride 2
November 7 (I'm Settin') Fancy Free The Oak Ridge Boys 1 2
November 14 My Baby Thinks He's a Train Rosanne Cash 1 4
November 21 All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down) Hank Williams, Jr. 1
November 28 My Favorite Memory Merle Haggard 1 3
December 5 Bet Your Heart on Me Johnny Lee 1 5
December 12 Still Doin' Time George Jones 1 2
December 19 All Roads Lead to You Steve Wariner 1 19 [A]
December 26 Love in the First Degree Alabama 1
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
  • A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.

Canada

(as certified by RPM)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 U.S. peak Spec. Note
February 21 9 to 5 Dolly Parton 1
  • The first RPM chart published since December 20, 1980.
February 28 Southern Rains Mel Tillis 3 [B]
March 21 Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground Willie Nelson 2
April 4 Guitar Man Elvis Presley 1 [B]
April 11 Crying Don McLean 2 6 [1], [C]
April 25 Old Flame Alabama 1
May 2 A Headache Tomorrow (Or a Heartache Tonight) Mickey Gilley 2
May 16 Mr. Sandman Emmylou Harris 2 10
May 30 Am I Losing You Ronnie Milsap 1
June 6 Pride Janie Fricke 2 12 [A]
June 20 Elvira The Oak Ridge Boys 1
June 27 Blessed Are the Believers Anne Murray 2
  • RPM didn't publish between July 11 and August 22, 1981.
August 29 Too Many Lovers Crystal Gayle 1
September 5 I Don't Need You Kenny Rogers 1
September 12 (There's) No Gettin' Over Me Ronnie Milsap 1
September 19 Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone) John Denver 1 10 [B]
September 26 You Don't Know Me Mickey Gilley 2
October 10 Midnight Hauler Razzy Bailey 1 [C]
October 17 Older Women Ronnie McDowell 1 [A]
October 24 Step By Step Eddie Rabbitt 1
October 31 Never Been So Loved (In All My Life) Charley Pride 2
November 14 I'll Need Someone to Hold Me (When I Cry) Janie Fricke 1 4
November 21 All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down) Hank Williams, Jr. 1
November 28 It's All I Can Do Anne Murray 2 9
December 12 If I Needed You Emmylou Harris and
Don Williams		 2 3
December 26 I Never Figured on This David Thompson 1 — [C]
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by RPM.
  • A^ First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.

Other major hits

Singles released by American artists

US CAN Single Artist
7 4 1959 John Anderson
16 — Acapulco Johnny Duncan
20 41 Alice Doesn't Love Here Anymore Bobby Goldsboro
10 10 Any Which Way You Can Glen Campbell
10 6 The Baron Johnny Cash
3 27 Beautiful You The Oak Ridge Boys
17 8 Between This Time and the Next Time Gene Watson
3 6 A Bridge That Just Won't Burn Conway Twitty
6 50 By Now Steve Wariner
4 4 Can I See You Tonight Tanya Tucker
44 20 Carolina (I Remember You) Charlie Daniels
16 — Cheatin's a Two Way Street Sammi Smith
8 — Chicken Truck John Anderson
18 11 Crying in the Rain Tammy Wynette
12 — Cup of Tea Rex Allen, Jr. with Margo Smith
19 — Darlin' Tom Jones
18 29 Do I Have to Draw a Picture Billy Swan
20 — Does She Wish She Was Single Again The Burrito Brothers
13 48 Don't Bother to Knock Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius
13 — Don't Forget Yourself The Statler Brothers
16 47 Don't Get Above Your Raisin' Ricky Skaggs
11 — Don't Look Now (But We Just Fell in Love) Eddy Arnold
5 36 Don't Wait on Me The Statler Brothers
11 18 Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me Willie Nelson with Ray Price
16 14 Down and Out George Strait
2 2 Down to My Last Broken Heart Janie Fricke
7 — Dream of Me Vern Gosdin
6 3 Falling Again Don Williams
16 — Feedin' the Fire Zella Lehr
10 — Following the Feeling Moe Bandy and Judy Bailey
6 — Fool by Your Side Dave & Sugar
14 — Girls, Women and Ladies Ed Bruce
5 — Giving up Easy Leon Everette
13 — Good Ol' Girls Sonny Curtis
25 9 Good Times Willie Nelson
17 — Goodbye Marie Bobby Goldsboro
9 17 Grandma's Song Gail Davies
8 22 Headed for a Heartache Gary Morris
8 11 Heart on the Mend Sylvia
10 8 Hey Joe (Hey Moe) Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley
8 10 Hillbilly Girl with the Blues Lacy J. Dalton
12 11 Honky Tonk Queen Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley
2 30 Hooked on Music Mac Davis
14 20 The House of the Rising Sun Dolly Parton
4 3 Hurricane Leon Everette
16 38 Husbands and Wives David Frizzell and Shelly West
13 — I Don't Think Love Oughta Be That Way Reba McEntire
17 — I Have a Dream Cristy Lane
11 20 I Just Need You for Tonight Billy Crash Craddock
15 39 I Love My Truck Glen Campbell
54 11 I Love You a Thousand Ways John Anderson
13 — I Should've Called Eddy Raven
2 3 I Still Believe in Waltzes Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
4 8 I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me) Gail Davies
9 — I'm Gonna Love You Back to Lovin' Me Again Joe Stampley
16 22 (I'm Gonna) Put You Back on the Rack Dottie West
18 28 I'm Into Lovin' You Billy Swan
4 2 I'm Just an Old Chuck of Coal John Anderson
8 25 If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will) George Jones
11 16 If I Keep on Going Crazy Leon Everette
12 — If You Go, I'll Follow You Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
6 — It Don't Hurt Me Half as Bad Ray Price
5 11 It's a Lovely, Lovely World Gail Davies
4 7 It's Now or Never John Schneider
16 — Just Like Me Terry Gregory
17 — Just One Time Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
10 39 Killin' Time Fred Knoblock with Susan Anton
9 7 Leonard Merle Haggard
7 21 Louisiana Saturday Night Mel McDaniel
19 33 Love Ain't Never Hurt Nobody Bobby Goldsboro
13 — Love Dies Hard Randy Barlow
13 7 Love Is Fair Barbara Mandrell
8 10 Lovin' Arms Elvis Presley
2 2 Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again) Tompall & the Glaser Brothers
7 5 Lovin' What Your Lovin' Does to Me Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
7 8 The Matador Sylvia
23 12 Maybe I Should Have Been Listening Gene Watson
10 12 Memphis Fred Knoblock
8 10 A Million Old Goodbyes Mel Tillis
4 2 Miracles Don Williams
2 7 Miss Emily's Picture John Conlee
11 7 Mona Lisa Willie Nelson
15 25 My Woman Loves the Devil Out of Me Moe Bandy
10 — One-Night Fever Mel Tillis
23 20 Perfect Fool Debby Boone
3 4 Pickin' Up Strangers Johnny Lee
3 4 Prisoner of Hope Johnny Lee
14 6 Queen of Hearts Juice Newton
4 17 Rainbow Stew Merle Haggard
43 19 Ready for the Times to Get Better Joe Sun
19 29 Rich Man Terri Gibbs
10 17 Right in the Palm of Your Hand Mel McDaniel
7 2 Roll on Mississippi Charley Pride
8 — Scratch My Back (And Whisper in My Ear) Razzy Bailey
5 2 Share Your Love with Me Kenny Rogers
16 — She Belongs to Everyone but Me The Burrito Brothers
17 — She's Steppin' Out Con Hunley
50 16 Should I Do It Tanya Tucker
7 — Silent Treatment Earl Thomas Conley
4 2 Sleepin' with the Radio On Charly McClain
20 38 Somebody Led Me Away Loretta Lynn
8 2 Somebody's Knockin' Terri Gibbs
13 — Somethin' on the Radio Jacky Ward
17 11 Storms Never Last Jessi Colter and Waylon Jennings
5 13 Surround Me with Love Charly McClain
17 3 Take It Easy Crystal Gayle
2 2 Takin' It Easy Lacy J. Dalton
7 42 Teach Me to Cheat The Kendalls
9 — A Texas State of Mind David Frizzell and Shelly West
13 12 Them Good Old Boys Are Bad John Schneider
12 — They Could Put Me in Jail The Bellamy Brothers
4 6 Thirty-Nine and Holdin' Jerry Lee Lewis
5 8 Today All Over Again Reba McEntire
6 — Unwound George Strait
2 27 Wandering Eyes Ronnie McDowell
4 28 What Are We Doing Lonesome Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
12 15 What I Had with You John Conlee
11 — What's New with You Con Hunley
14 12 (When You Fall in Love) Everything's a Waltz Ed Bruce
18 21 Whiskey Chasin' Joe Stampley
10 12 Whisper Lacy J. Dalton
10 6 The Wild Side of Life/
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels		 Jessi Colter and Waylon Jennings
19 15 Willie Jones Bobby Bare
20 — Wind Is Bound to Change Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
2 11 Wish You Were Here Barbara Mandrell
3 2 The Woman in Me Crystal Gayle
18 25 You Better Move On George Jones with Johnny Paycheck
20 — You (Make Me Wonder Why) Deborah Allen
9 16 You May See Me Walkin' Ricky Skaggs
7 16 You're My Favorite Star The Bellamy Brothers
14 — You're the Best Kieran Kane
13 — Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad Billie Jo Spears
7 — Your Memory Steve Wariner

Singles released by Canadian artists

US CAN Single Artist
— 10 Another Broken Hearted Melody Family Brown
— 15 Breaking and Entering Carroll Baker
— 11 Crazy Heart Laura Vinson
— 19 Every Story in the Book Ronnie Prophet
— 14 Four High Cards Peter Chipman
— 8 High and Dry C-Weed Band
— 14 Honky Tonk Fever Harold MacIntyre
— 18 How Deep in Love Am I Eddie Eastman
— 15 I'm Leanin' on the Devil Tonight John Winters
57 7 It's Really Love This Time Family Brown
— 16 Joanne Lee Marlow
— 5 King of Fools Wayne Rostad
— 10 Lovin' Thru the Early Hours Lee Marlow
82 12 Mama What Does Cheatin' Mean Carroll Baker
— 19 The Moondancer Ian Tyson
— 3 Nashville Just Wrote (Another Cheatin' Song) Midnite Rodeo Band
— 9 Not Living, Not Dying Jerry Palmer
— 17 Ode to an Outlaw's Lady Terry Carisse
— 18 Ribbon of Gold Family Brown
— 19 Satisfied Mind Bill Hersh
— 8 Shoppin' Bag Lady Gurney Anderson
— 8 (Stuck In) Lodi Ronnie Hawkins
— 20 Sweet Harmony Mercey Brothers
— 12 The Time It Takes to Leave Canadian Zephyr
84 14 Too Much, Too Little, Too Late Mary Bailey
45 9 Wasn't That a Party The Rovers
— 16 Watching It Die Canadian Zephyr
16 5 We Don't Have to Hold Out Anne Murray
— 15 Where the Water Meets the Sky Coyote
— 7 Windship Terry Carisse
— 8 Wonderin' If Willy Marie Bottrell

Top new album releases

Other top albums

On television

Regular series

Specials

Births

Deaths

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Major awards

Grammy Awards

Juno Awards

  • Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Eddie Eastman
  • Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Anne Murray
  • Country Group or Duo of the Year — The Good Brothers

Academy of Country Music

Country Music Association

Further reading

  • Kingsbury, Paul, "The Grand Ole Opry: History of Country Music. 70 Years of the Songs, the Stars and the Stories," Villard Books, Random House; Opryland USA, 1995
  • Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947-1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
  • Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
  • Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944-2005 - 6th Edition." 2005.

Other links

External links








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