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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1989.

List of years in country music (Table)
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Contents

Events

  • May 9 — Rising country star Keith Whitley is found dead at his home, a victim of alcohol poisoning. News of his death sent shockwaves through the industry, given that he had been hailed as a future superstar who helped bring neotraditionalism to the forefront during the 1980s. His widow, Lorrie Morgan, would become a major superstar after his death.

No dates

  • 1989 was one of two years during the 1980s which sprouted the most prolific class of newcomers in country music history (1986 being the other), a trend that had not been seen since the mid-1950s (when artists such as Elvis Presley, George Jones and Johnny Cash first rose to fame). Clint Black was at the head of the class early on, given that he had two of the year's most memorable singles – "A Better Man" and "Killin' Time" – and one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year (Killin' Time), and was already selling out shows nationwide. However, Garth Brooks proved to be the 1989 newcomer that stood head and shoulders above everyone else, eventually selling millions of albums, taking worldwide tours and creating some of the most influential music of the 1990s and beyond.
Another newcomer, Alan Jackson, had a minor hit with his first release that fall, "Blue Blooded Woman;" future singles – all featuring the neotraditional style, would do considerably better, to say the least. Travis Tritt contributed with his brand of rock-influenced country, while Lorrie Morgan (daughter of Grand Ole Opry legend George Morgan) became a star in her own right following the alcohol-poisoning death of her husband, Keith Whitley.
Other top newcomers of the year were Suzy Bogguss, Lionel Cartwright and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

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 7 Hold Me K. T. Oslin 1 ?
January 14 Change of Heart The Judds 1 ?
January 21 She's Crazy For Leavin' Rodney Crowell 1 ?
January 28 Deeper Than the Holler Randy Travis 1 ?
February 4 What I'd Say Earl Thomas Conley 1 ?
February 11 Song of the South Alabama 1 ?
February 18 Big Wheels in the Moonlight Dan Seals 1 ?
February 25 I Sang Dixie Dwight Yoakam 1 ? [B]
March 4 I Still Believe in You The Desert Rose Band 1 ? [B]
March 11 Don't You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me) Ronnie Milsap 1 ?
  • Previously a #11-peaking song for Ray Price in 1966 and also a #11-peaking song as a duet for Price and Willie Nelson in 1981.
March 18 From a Jack to a King Ricky Van Shelton 1 ?
March 25 New Fool at an Old Game Reba McEntire 1 ?
April 1 Baby's Gotten Good at Goodbye George Strait 1 ?
April 8 I'm No Stranger to the Rain Keith Whitley 2
April 22 The Church on Cumberland Road Shenandoah 2 [A]
May 6 Young Love (Strong Love) The Judds 1
May 13 Is It Still Over? Randy Travis 1
May 20 If I Had You Alabama 1
May 27 After All This Time Rodney Crowell 1
June 3 Where Did I Go Wrong Steve Wariner 1
June 10 A Better Man Clint Black 1 [1], [A]
June 17 Love Out Loud Earl Thomas Conley 1 2 [B]
June 24 I Don't Want to Spoil the Party Rosanne Cash 1 [B]
July 1 Come From the Heart Kathy Mattea 1
July 8 Lovin' Only Me Ricky Skaggs 1 [B]
July 15 In a Letter to You Eddy Raven 1
July 22 What's Going On in Your World George Strait 1 2
July 29 Cathy's Clown Reba McEntire 1
August 5 Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That Dolly Parton 1
August 12 Timber, I'm Falling in Love Patty Loveless 1 [A]
August 19 Sunday in the South Shenandoah 1
August 26 Are You Ever Gonna Love Me Holly Dunn 1 6 [A]
September 2 I'm Still Crazy Vern Gosdin 1 [B]
September 9 I Wonder Do You Think of Me Keith Whitley 1
  • The first of two posthumous Number Ones for Whitley.
September 16 Nothing I Can Do About it Now Willie Nelson 1
September 23 Above and Beyond Rodney Crowell 1 [B]
September 30 Let Me Tell You About Love The Judds 1 [B]
October 7 I Got Dreams Steve Wariner 1 3
October 14 Killin' Time Clint Black 1
October 21 Living Proof Ricky Van Shelton 1
October 28 High Cotton Alabama 1
November 4 Ace in the Hole George Strait 1
November 11 Burnin' Old Memories Kathy Mattea 1 4 [B]
November 18 Bayou Boys Eddy Raven 1 [B]
November 25 Yellow Roses Dolly Parton 1
December 2 It's Just a Matter of Time Randy Travis 1
December 9 If Tomorrow Never Comes Garth Brooks 1 2 [A]
December 16 Two Dozen Roses Shenandoah 1
December 23 A Woman in Love Ronnie Milsap 1 [B]
December 30 Who's Lonely Now Highway 101 2 [B]
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). Note: Charts from October 1988-April 1989 are missing from the RPM archives.

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 U.S. Peak Spec. Note
April 24 I'm No Stranger to the Rain Keith Whitley 1
May 1 The Church on Cumberland Road Shenandoah 1 [A]
May 8 Hey Bobby K. T. Oslin 1 2
May 15 Young Love (Strong Love) The Judds 1
May 22 Is It Still Over? Randy Travis 1
May 29 If I Had You Alabama 1
June 5 After All This Time Rodney Crowell 1
June 12 Where Did I Go Wrong Steve Wariner 1
June 19 A Better Man Clint Black 1 [A]
June 26 I Don't Want to Spoil the Party Rosanne Cash 1 [B]
July 3 Hole in My Pocket Ricky Van Shelton 1 4
July 10 Come From the Heart Kathy Mattea 1 [B]
July 17 Lovin' Only Me Ricky Skaggs 1 [B]
July 24 In a Letter to You Eddy Raven 1
July 31 Cathy's Clown Reba McEntire 1
August 7 Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That Dolly Parton 2 [2]
  • Fell to #3 on August 14.
August 14 Sunday in the South Shenandoah 1
August 28 Timber, I'm Falling in Love Patty Loveless 1 [A]
September 4 I'm Still Crazy Vern Gosdin 1 [B]
September 11 I Wonder Do You Think of Me Keith Whitley 1
September 18 Full Moon Full of Love K.D. Lang 1 22 [1], [C]
September 25 Nothing I Can Do About it Now Willie Nelson 1
October 2 Above and Beyond Rodney Crowell 1
October 9 Let Me Tell You About Love The Judds 1 [B]
October 16 Killin' Time Clint Black 1
October 23 Living Proof Ricky Van Shelton 1
November 4 High Cotton Alabama 1
November 11 Ace in the Hole George Strait 1
November 18 Say What's In Your Heart Restless Heart 1 4 [B]
November 25 Bayou Boys Eddy Raven 1 [B]
December 2 It's Just a Matter of Time Randy Travis 2
December 16 Yellow Roses Dolly Parton 1
December 23 Two Dozen Roses Shenandoah 1
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by RPM.
  • 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
  • A^ First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.

Other major hits

Singles released by American artists

US CAN Single Artist
18 14 5:01 Blues Merle Haggard
5 10 All the Fun Paul Overstreet
5 ? All the Reasons Why Highway 101
4 32 An American Family The Oak Ridge Boys
14 29 And So It Goes John Denver with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4 5 Any Way the Wind Blows Southern Pacific
20 24 Back in the Fire Gene Watson
4 10 A Better Love Next Time Merle Haggard
7 10 Beyond Those Years The Oak Ridge Boys
3 5 Big Dreams in a Small Town Restless Heart
5 ? Big Love The Bellamy Brothers
4 ? Blue Side of Town Patty Loveless
13 ? Borderline The Shooters
15 42 Breaking New Ground Wild Rose
10 ? Bridges and Walls The Oak Ridge Boys
3 ? Burnin' a Hole in My Heart Skip Ewing
4 5 Call on Me Tanya Tucker
15 24 The Coast of Colorado Skip Ewing
7 ? Come as You Were T. Graham Brown
9 22 Country Club Travis Tritt
14 17 Cross My Broken Heart Suzy Bogguss
9 12 Dear Me Lorrie Morgan
5 5 Don't Toss Us Away Patty Loveless
5 ? Don't Waste It on the Blues Gene Watson
9 15 Don't You The Forester Sisters
6 ? Down That Road Tonight Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
14 ? Early in the Morning and Late at Night Hank Williams, Jr.
5 5 Fair Shake Foster & Lloyd
6 5 Finders Are Keepers Hank Williams, Jr.
3 ? From the Word Go Michael Martin Murphey
3 7 Give Me His Last Chance Lionel Cartwright
10 11 The Gospel According to Luke Skip Ewing
13 ? The Heart Lacy J. Dalton
8 ? Heartbreak Hill Emmylou Harris
16 16 Heaven Only Knows Emmylou Harris
11 11 Hello Trouble The Desert Rose Band
2 ? Highway Robbery Tanya Tucker
6 ? Hold On (A Little Longer) Steve Wariner
5 ? Honey I Dare You Southern Pacific
6 5 Honky Tonk Heart Highway 101
19 28 House on Old Lonesome Road Conway Twitty
4 12 Houston Solution Ronnie Milsap
19 44 How Do Mary Chapin Carpenter
9 ? I Feel Fine Sweethearts of the Rodeo
5 5 I Got You Dwight Yoakam
16 ? I Just Called to Say Goodbye Again Larry Boone
21 12 I Know What I've Got J.C. Crowley
4 4 (I Wish I Had A) Heart of Stone Baillie & the Boys
4 ? I Wish I Was Still in Your Dreams Conway Twitty
16 ? I'll Be Lovin' You Lee Greenwood
5 ? I'm a One Woman Man George Jones
4 11 I've Been Loved By the Best Don Williams
17 21 If I Ever Go Crazy The Shooters
11 ? (It's Always Gonna Be) Someday Holly Dunn
5 3 Let It Be You Ricky Skaggs
12 ? Let's Get Started If We're Gonna Break My Heart The Statler Brothers
4 ? Life as We Knew It Kathy Mattea
14 21 Like Father Like Son Lionel Cartwright
6 5 The Lonely Side of Love Patty Loveless
5 ? Long Shot Baillie & the Boys
4 3 Love Has No Right Billy Joe Royal
7 20 Love Will The Forester Sisters
6 13 More Than a Name on a Wall The Statler Brothers
8 9 Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old) Garth Brooks
19 15 My Train of Thought Barbara Mandrell
9 21 Never Givin' Up on Love Michael Martin Murphey
8 6 Never Had It So Good Mary Chapin Carpenter
5 ? Old Coyote Town Don Williams
4 3 One Good Well Don Williams
2 3 Out of Your Shoes Lorrie Morgan
13 ? Paint the Town and Hang the Moon Tonight J.C. Crowley
30 11 Planet Texas Kenny Rogers
17 12 Promises Randy Travis
5 3 The Race Is On Sawyer Brown
7 4 Setting Me Up Highway 101
8 5 She Deserves You Baillie & the Boys
3 4 She Don't Love Nobody The Desert Rose Band
6 24 She's Gone, Gone, Gone Glen Campbell
2 4 She's Got a Single Thing in Mind Conway Twitty
19 ? She's There Daniele Alexander
12 15 Simple Man Charlie Daniels
8 ? Sincerely The Forester Sisters
9 41 Sowin' Love Paul Overstreet
2 2 Tell It Like It Is Billy Joe Royal
4 8 There Goes My Heart Again Holly Dunn
7 ? There's a Tear in My Beer Hank Williams, Jr. with Hank Williams, Sr.
5 4 They Rage On Dan Seals
5 2 This Woman K. T. Oslin
4 5 Til Love Comes Again Reba McEntire
4 ? Til You Cry Eddy Raven
20 ? Trainwreck of Emotion Lorrie Morgan
9 5 Up and Gone The McCarters
8 26 The Vows Go Unbroken (Always True to You) Kenny Rogers
2 ? Who You Gonna Blame It On This Time Vern Gosdin
19 36 Wine Me Up Larry Boone
19 ? You Ain't Down Home Jann Browne
6 11 You Ain't Goin' Nowhere Chris Hillman with Roger McGuinn
7 3 You Got It Roy Orbison
14 ? You Still Do T. G. Sheppard
10 14 You'll Never Be Sorry The Bellamy Brothers

Singles released by Canadian artists

US CAN Single Artist
10 As Long as We Both Shall Love Carroll Baker
8 Blue Jeans Boy J. K. Gulley
15 C-Luv Radio Mike Terry
7 Cowboy in Your Heart Gary Fjellgaard
10 Donna Lee Greg Paul
9 Goldmine George Fox
20 How Long Blue Rodeo
9 I Didn't Know You Audie Henry
10 I Think That I'll Be Needing You Cindi Cain
7 I Wish I Were Only Lonely Michelle Wright
28 9 If I Ever Fall in Love Again Anne Murray with Kenny Rogers
13 In My Dreams Laura Vinson
17 Just a Place Where Mem'ries Live Cindi Cain
12 Love With a Capital "L" Murray McLauchlan
19 The Lucky Ones Willie P. Bennett
10 The Moon Is Out to Get Me Gary Fjellgaard with Linda Hunt
16 Old Broken Heart Greg Paul
7 Rock Me Gently Michelle Wright
9 The Tip of My Fingers Anita Perras
15 Train of Life Great Western Orchestra

Top new album releases

See also: List of number-one country albums of 1989 (U.S.)
US Album Artist Record Label
12 Absolute Torch and Twang k.d. lang and the Reclines Sire
11 Alone Vern Gosdin Columbia
24 American Dreams The Oak Ridge Boys MCA
1 Beyond the Blue Neon George Strait MCA
15 Bluebird Emmylou Harris Warner Bros.
2 Garth Brooks Garth Brooks Capitol
20 Greatest Hits Tanya Tucker Capitol
1 Greatest Hits III Hank Williams, Jr. Curb/Warner Bros.
22 Greatest Hits, Vol. III The Oak Ridge Boys MCA
19 Hillbilly Rock Marty Stuart MCA
8 Hits 1979–1989 Rosanne Cash Columbia
2 A Horse Called Music Willie Nelson Columbia
2 I Wonder Do You Think of Me Keith Whitley RCA
3 Just Lookin' for a Hit Dwight Yoakam Reprise
18 Kentucky Thunder Ricky Skaggs Epic
15 Keys to the Highway Rodney Crowell Columbia
1 Killin' Time Clint Black RCA
6 Leave the Light On Lorrie Morgan RCA
10 Lyle Lovett and His Large Band Lyle Lovett Curb/MCA
17 Mystery Girl Roy Orbison Virgin
1 No Holdin' Back Randy Travis Warner Bros.
13 An Old Time Christmas Randy Travis Warner Bros.
13 One Woman Man George Jones Epic
22 Paint the Town Highway 101 Warner Bros.
2 Pickin' on Nashville The Kentucky Headhunters Mercury
2 Reba Live Reba McEntire MCA
2 River of Time The Judds Curb/RCA
6 The Road Not Taken Shenandoah Columbia
2 Simple Man The Charlie Daniels Band Epic
10 Something Inside So Strong Kenny Rogers Reprise
1 Southern Star Alabama RCA
13 Sowin' Love Paul Overstreet RCA
20 Stranger Things Have Happened Ronnie Milsap RCA
1 Sweet Sixteen Reba McEntire MCA
15 Tell It Like It Is Billy Joe Royal Atlantic
2 When I Call Your Name Vince Gill MCA
3 White Limozeen Dolly Parton Columbia
5 Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two Nitty Gritty Dirt Band MCA
6 Willow in the Wind Kathy Mattea Mercury

Other top albums

US Album Artist Record Label
28 5:01 Blues Merle Haggard Epic
70 20 Gold Hits Patsy Cline MCA
42 Back in the Fire Gene Watson Warner Bros.
51 Beside Myself Ray Stevens MCA
30 The Blue Rose of Texas Holly Dunn Warner Bros.
29 The Boys Are Back Sawyer Brown Curb
45 Christmas in America Kenny Rogers Reprise
56 Coming Home Wayne Newton Curb
60 Fellow Travelers John Conlee 16th Avenue
59 First Move Daniele Alexander Mercury
44 Faster & Llouder Foster & Lloyd RCA
52 Greatest Hits The Forester Sisters Warner Bros.
32 Greatest Hits Volume II Anne Murray Capitol
50 Greatest Hits, Vol. III The Bellamy Brothers Curb/MCA
39 House on Old Lonesome Road Conway Twitty MCA
55 I Am Just a Rebel Billy Hill Reprise
32 I Got Dreams Steve Wariner MCA
66 If Only For One Night Lee Greenwood MCA
64 Labor of Love Janie Fricke Columbia
33 Land of Enchantment Michael Martin Murphey Warner Bros.
44 Lionel Cartwright Lionel Cartwright MCA
48 Many Mansions Moe Bandy Curb
51 Moody Woman Charley Pride 16th Avenue
38 More Great Dirt: The Best Of (Vol. II) Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Warner Bros.
48 New Classic Waylon Waylon Jennings MCA
71 Next of Kin (Soundtrack) Various Artists Columbia
42 Next to You Tammy Wynette Epic
54 One Good Well Don Williams RCA
45 Pink Cadillac (Soundtrack) Various Artists Warner Bros.
49 Pure N Simple Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers Curb/Universal
61 Radio Romance Canyon 16th Avenue
32 Ricky Van Shelton Sings Christmas Ricky Van Shelton Columbia
65 The Rodney Crowell Collection Rodney Crowell Warner Bros.
40 Solid as a Rock The Shooters Epic
41 Somewhere Between Suzy Bogguss Capitol
28 State of the Heart Mary Chapin Carpenter Columbia
40 Statler Brothers Live – Sold Out The Statler Brothers Mercury
68 Steppin' Stone Marie Osmond Capitol/Curb
40 Stones Gary Morris Capitol/MCA
42 Storms Nanci Griffith MCA
61 Sunrise Shelby Lynne Epic
31 Survivor Lacy J. Dalton Capitol/MCA
31 Temporary Sanity Eddy Raven Capitol
30 Turn the Tide Baillie & the Boys RCA
44 The Will to Love Skip Ewing MCA

On television

Regular series

Specials

Births

  • December 13 — Taylor Swift, made her debut in 2006 with the Top 10 single "Tim McGraw" and became a rising star thereafter.

Deaths

  • March 8 — Stuart Hamblen, 80, one of radio's first country music superstars, whose later works reflected his religious convictions.
  • May 9 — Keith Whitley, 33, honky tonk-styled singer who rose to fame in the mid-1980s (alcohol poisoning)

Hall of Fame inductees

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

Major awards

Grammy Awards

Juno Awards

Academy of Country Music

Canadian Country Music Association

  • Entertainer Artist of the Year — k.d. lang
  • Male Artist of the Year — Gary Fjellgaard
  • Female Artist of the Year — k.d. lang
  • Group of the Year — Family Brown
  • SOCAN Song of the Year — "Town of Tears," Barry Brown, Randall Prescott, Bruce Campbell (Performer: Family Brown)
  • Single of the Year — "Town of Tears," Family Brown
  • Album of the Year — Shadowland, k.d. lang
  • Top Selling Album — Old 8×10, Randy Travis
  • Vista Rising Star Award — George Fox
  • Duo of the Year — Gary Fjellgaard and Linda Kidder

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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