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1983 in country music

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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1983.

Events

  • March — In a span of two days, two major cable networks signed on the air. Country Music Television (CMT) went on-the-air March 5, while The Nashville Network (TNN) came on two days later on March 7. CMT (originally called "CMTV") was chiefly video-oriented, while TNN offered more feature-oriented programming.

Top hits of the year

Singles released by American artists

USCANSingleArtist
1923After the Great DepressionRazzy Bailey
10After the Last GoodbyeGus Hardin
727Ain't No Trick (It Takes Magic)Lee Greenwood
133All My LifeKenny Rogers
2016Almost Called Her Baby by MistakeLarry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers
41Amarillo by MorningGeorge Strait
112American MadeThe Oak Ridge Boys
1717Anybody Else's Heart but MineTerri Gibbs
9Atlanta Burned Again Last NightAtlanta
4Baby I LiedDeborah Allen
11Baby, What About YouCrystal Gayle
21The BirdJerry Reed
11Black SheepJohn Anderson
2025Born to Love MeRay Charles
187The Boy Gets AroundSylvia
104Breakin' DownWaylon Jennings
1018C.C. WaterbackMerle Haggard/George Jones
1Can't Even Get the BluesReba McEntire
17A Child of the FiftiesThe Statler Brothers
11The Closer You GetAlabama
11Common ManJohn Conlee
1512The ConversationWaylon Jennings with Hank Williams, Jr.
939Dance Little JeanNitty Gritty Dirt Band
11Dixie DreamingAtlanta
11Dixieland DelightAlabama
922Don't Count the Rainy DaysMichael Martin Murphey
11Don't You Know How Much I Love YouRonnie Milsap
1311Down on the CornerJerry Reed
910Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)Lacy J. Dalton
18Everybody's Dream GirlDan Seals
75Everything's Beautiful in Its Own WayDolly Parton and Willie Nelson
19Eyes of a StrangerDavid Wills
11Faking LoveT. G. Sheppard and Karen Brooks
10Feel RightTanya Tucker
12A Fire I Can't Put OutGeorge Strait
48Flight 309 to TennesseeShelly West
2020Fly Into LoveCharly McClain
11Fool for Your LoveMickey Gilley
48Foolin'Johnny Rodriguez
57Goin' Down HillJohn Anderson
11Going Where the Lonely GoMerle Haggard
44Gonna Go Huntin' TonightHank Williams, Jr.
1939A Good Night's LoveTammy Wynette
1631Good Ole BoysJerry Reed
916GuiltyThe Statler Brothers
95Hangin' AroundThe Whites
11He's a Heartache (Looking for a Place to Happen)Janie Fricke
63Heartache TonightConway Twitty
21Hey BartenderJohnny Lee
11Highway 40 BluesRicky Skaggs
207Hold On, I'm Comin'Waylon Jennings & Jerry Reed
12Holding Her and Loving YouEarl Thomas Conley
102Honkytonk ManMarty Robbins
11Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer to You)Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers
616How Could I Love Her So MuchJohnny Rodriguez
64I.O.U.Lee Greenwood
16I Always Get Lucky with YouGeorge Jones
103I Don't Remember Loving YouJohn Conlee
23I Have Loved You Girl (But Not Like This Before)Earl Thomas Conley
43I Love Her MindThe Bellamy Brothers
17I Love How You Love MeGlen Campbell
19I Still Love You in the Same Ol' WayMoe Bandy
20I Wish I Was in NashvilleMel McDaniel
814I WonderRosanne Cash
1010I Wonder Where We'd Be TonightVern Gosdin
914I Wonder Who's Holding My Baby TonightThe Whites
11I Wouldn't Change You If I CouldRicky Skaggs
51I'm Movin' OnEmmylou Harris
12I'm Only in It for the LoveJohn Conlee
11If Hollywood Don't Need You (Honey I Still Do)Don Williams
19If It Was EasyEd Bruce
539If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)Vern Gosdin
1010In the Middle of the NightMel Tillis
46In Times Like TheseBarbara Mandrell
11InsideRonnie Milsap
11Islands in the StreamKenny Rogers with Dolly Parton
14It Hasn't Happened YetRosanne Cash
2919The JoggerBobby Bare
11Jose CuervoShelly West
11Lady Down on LoveAlabama
21Last Thing I Needed First Thing This MorningWillie Nelson
67Leave Them Boys AloneHank Williams, Jr.
1027Let's Get Over Them TogetherMoe Bandy (featuring Becky Hobbs)
21Like Nothing Ever HappenedSylvia
1020Little Old Fashioned KarmaWillie Nelson
1513Lonely But Only for YouSissy Spacek
13(Lost His Love) On Our Last DateEmmylou Harris
21Lost in the FeelingConway Twitty
55Lost My Baby BluesDavid Frizzell
1118Love AffairsMichael Martin Murphey
11Love is On a RollDon Williams
527The Love She Found in MeGary Morris
11Love SongThe Oak Ridge Boys
31A Love SongKenny Rogers
14Lucille (You Won't Do Your Daddy's Will)Waylon Jennings
17The Man in the MirrorJim Glaser
62Marina del ReyGeorge Strait
511Midnight FireSteve Wariner
73More and MoreCharley Pride
20Movin' TrainThe Kendalls
2313My Baby Don't Slow DanceJohnny Lee
633My First Taste of TexasEd Bruce
9My Lady Loves Me (Just As I Am)Leon Everette
16New Looks from an Old LoverB. J. Thomas
11Night GamesCharley Pride
21Nobody but YouDon Williams
226Oh Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely)The Statler Brothers
11One of a Kind Pair of FoolsBarbara Mandrell
1242Only If There Is Another YouMoe Bandy
11Our Love Is on the FaultlineCrystal Gayle
18Outside Lookin' InBandana
15Over YouLane Brody
11Pancho and LeftyWillie Nelson and Merle Haggard
11Paradise TonightCharly McClain and Mickey Gilley
1011PersonallyRonnie McDowell
12Poor Side of TownJoe Stampley
2013Potential New BoyfriendDolly Parton
19Precious LoveThe Kendalls
56Queen of My HeartHank Williams, Jr.
67Reasons to QuitMerle Haggard and Willie Nelson
42The RideDavid Allan Coe
11The RoseConway Twitty
62Save MeLouise Mandrell
54Scarlet FeverKenny Rogers
156Shadows on My MindLeon Everette
1510Shame on the MoonBob Seger
38Shine On (Shine All Your Sweet Love on Me)George Jones
19Shot Full of LoveNitty Gritty Dirt Band
1719Singing the BluesGail Davies
53SnapshotSylvia
2814So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)Emmylou Harris
12Somebody's Gonna Love YouLee Greenwood
96Sometimes I Get Lucky and ForgetGene Watson
69Sounds Like LoveJohnny Lee
317Still Taking ChancesMichael Martin Murphey
51Stranger in My HouseRonnie Milsap
1515Strong WeaknessThe Bellamy Brothers
14Swingin'John Anderson
13Talk to MeMickey Gilley
11Tell Me a LieJanie Fricke
21Tennessee WhiskeyGeorge Jones
324Thank God for KidsThe Oak Ridge Boys
112'Til I Gain Control AgainCrystal Gayle
10Today My World Slipped AwayVern Gosdin
1026Too Hot to SleepLouise Mandrell
45Touch Me (I'll Be Your Fool Once More)Tom Jones
931Velvet ChainsGary Morris
53Way Down DeepVern Gosdin
11We've Got TonightKenny Rogers and Sheena Easton
32What Am I Gonna Do (With the Rest of My Life)Merle Haggard
18What I Learned from Loving YouLynn Anderson
53What She Don't Know Won't Hurt HerGene Watson
11Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned LoveB. J. Thomas
15When I'm Away from YouThe Bellamy Brothers
16When You're Not a LadyJim Glaser
1013Where Are You Spendin' Your Nights These DaysDavid Frizzell
14Why Baby WhyCharley Pride
31Why Do I Have to ChooseWillie Nelson
745Why Do We Want (What We Know We Can't Have)Reba McEntire
1415Wild Montana SkiesJohn Denver & Emmylou Harris
410The Wind Beneath My WingsGary Morris
76With YouCharly McClain
1210Without YouT. G. Sheppard
11You Can't Run from LoveEddie Rabbitt
43You Don't Know LoveJanie Fricke
104You Put the Beat in My HeartEddie Rabbitt
19You Take Me for GrantedMerle Haggard
1820You're a Hard Dog (To Keep Under the Porch)Gail Davies
11You're Gonna Ruin My Bad ReputationRonnie McDowell
25You're Out Doing What I'm Here Doing WithoutGene Watson
15You're the First Time I've Thought About LeavingReba McEntire
21You've Got a LoverRicky Skaggs
56Your Love Shines ThroughMickey Gilley
18Your Love's on the LineEarl Thomas Conley

Singles released by Canadian artists

USCANSingleArtist
10Born AgainTerry Sumsion
19Come January (You're My June)Lou Natale
19Could It Be LoveKelita Haverland
5Country FeverDallas Harms
10Does Your Heart Still Belong to MeMarie Bottrell
8Dressed to KillGilles Godard
12Everybody Wants to Be SingleMarie Bottrell
7Face in the MirrorAlbert Hall
8Fooling with FireDallas Harms
1Honky Tonkin' (All Night Long)Dallas Harms
18I Need a LoverRonnie Prophet
12I've Already Left You (In My Mind)Mercey Brothers
868If Tomorrow Never ComesRay Griff
11A Little Good NewsAnne Murray
8Love HangoverCarroll Baker
18Loving You Needing YouEddie Eastman
8Memorized by HeartFamily Brown
18Never Did Like That TrainMurray McLauchlan
17One Less Lonely NightJessie Burns
17Only the Names Have Been ChangedMarie Bottrell
9Pressures of ProgressHarold MacIntyre
18Right or WrongCarroll Baker
73Somebody's Always Saying GoodbyeAnne Murray
9Two Bits Worth of Hurtin'Paul Weber
674We Really Got a Hold on LoveFamily Brown
14What's He Doin' at the DoorDavid Thompson
9Where Beauty Lives in MemoryPaul Weber

Top new album releases

USAlbumArtistRecord label
1620 Greatest HitsKenny RogersLiberty
9All the People Are Talkin'John AndersonWarner Bros.
2American MadeThe Oak Ridge BoysMCA
5Burlap & SatinDolly PartonRCA
5Cage the SongbirdCrystal GayleWarner Bros.
8Castles in the SandDavid Allan CoeColumbia
10Cheat the NightDeborah AllenRCA
1The Closer You Get...AlabamaRCA
23Crystal Gayle's Greatest HitsCrystal GayleColumbia
25A Decade of HitsCharlie DanielsEpic
1DeliverThe Oak Ridge BoysMCA
22Dirty LooksJuice NewtonCapitol
1Don't Cheat in Our HometownRicky SkaggsEpic
9Don't Let Our Dreams Die YoungTom JonesMercury
3Don't Make It Easy for MeEarl Thomas ConleyRCA
20Dream BabyLacy J. DaltonColumbia
10ExileExileEpic
1Eyes That See in the DarkKenny RogersRCA
20Fool for Your LoveMickey GilleyEpic
22Greatest Hits Vol. IILarry Gatlin and the Gatlin BrothersColumbia
4Greatest Hits Vol. IIEddie RabbittWarner Bros.
17Hangin' Up My HeartSissy SpacekAtlantic
15Hey BartenderJohnny LeeWarner Bros.
17If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)Vern GosdinalCompleat
9In My EyesJohn ConleeMCA
10It's Only Rock + RollWaylon JenningsRCA
17John Conlee's Greatest HitsJohn ConleeMCA
2Keyed UpRonnie MilsapRCA
9A Little Good NewsAnne MurrayCapitol
10Love LiesJanie FrickeColumbia
16The Man in the MirrorJim GlaserNoble Vision
3Man of SteelHank Williams Jr.Warner Bros./Curb
16Movin' TrainThe KendallsMercury
13New LooksB. J. ThomasCleveland Int'l.
20Night GamesCharley PrideRCA
22Old Familiar FeelingThe WhitesWarner Bros./Curb
24Our Best to YouDavid Frizzell & Shelly WestWarner Bros./Viva
1Pancho & LeftyMerle Haggard & Willie NelsonEpic
21ParadiseCharly McClainEpic
23PersonallyRonnie McDowellEpic
1Right or WrongGeorge StraitMCA
7Shine OnGeorge JonesEpic
17Slow BurnT. G. SheppardWarner Bros./Curb
7SnapshotSylviaRCA
25Some Memories Just Won't DieMarty RobbinsColumbia
3Somebody's Gonna Love YouLee GreenwoodMCA
16Sometimes I Get LuckyGene WatsonMCA
5Spun GoldBarbara MandrellMCA
7Strong StuffHank Williams, Jr.Elektra/Curb
5T. G. Sheppard's Greatest HitsT. G. SheppardWarner Bros./Curb
3Take It to the LimitWillie Nelson & Waylon JenningsColumbia
8That's the Way Love GoesMerle HaggardEpic
10TodayThe Statler BrothersMercury
4Tougher Than LeatherWillie NelsonColumbia
12Waylon and CompanyWaylon JenningsRCA
3We've Got TonightKenny RogersLiberty
6West by WestShelly WestWarner Bros./Viva
22White ShoesEmmylou HarrisWarner Bros.
6Why Lady WhyGary MorrisWarner Bros.
3Without a SongWillie NelsonColumbia
6The Woman in MeCharly McClainEpic
8Wynonna & NaomiThe JuddsRCA/Curb
12Yellow MoonDon WilliamsMCA
24You've Really Got a Hold on MeMickey GilleyEpic

Other top albums

USAlbumArtistRecord label
34After All This TimeMel TillisMCA
61All-American CowboysVarious ArtistsKat Family
41All-American RedneckRandy HowardWarner Bros.
35All Time Heart Touching FavoritesRoger WhittakerMain Street
61BackLynn AndersonPermian
36Behind the SceneReba McEntireMercury
48Better DaysGuy ClarkWarner Bros.
61Bill Monroe and FriendsBill MonroeMCA
57Classic ConwayConway TwittyMCA
70Classic CountryAlbert Coleman's Atlanta PopsEpic
30Close UpLouise MandrellRCA
56Country Boy's HeartRonnie McDowellEpic
63Country Christmas, Volume 2Various ArtistsRCA
36Country ClassicsCharley PrideRCA
50DangerousTony Joe WhiteColumbia
35Delia BellDelia BellWarner Bros.
41Devoted to Your MemoryMoe BandyColumbia
28The Epic Collection (Recorded Live)Merle HaggardEpic
66Even the Strong Get LonelyTammy WynetteEpic
64Footprints in the SandCristy LaneLS/Liberty
30For Every RoseJohnny RodriguezEpic
27The Great American DreamB. J. ThomasCleveland Int'l.
33Greatest HitsRazzy BaileyRCA
63Greatest HitsLacy J. DaltonColumbia
41Greatest HitsJohnny LeeWarner Bros.
67Greatest HitsRay StevensRCA
31Gus HardinGus HardinRCA
42Harvest MoonJoe WatersNew Colony
27The Heart Never LiesMichael Martin MurpheyLiberty
44Heart to HeartMerle Haggard & Leona WilliamsMercury
38Hello in ThereDavid Allan CoeColumbia
35I Was the OneElvis PresleyRCA
55It's About TimeJohn DenverRCA
65The Jim Reeves MedleyJim ReevesRCA
27Jones CountryGeorge JonesEpic
34Leon EveretteLeon EveretteRCA
61Let the Hard Times RollMcGuffey LaneAtco
26Let's GoNitty Gritty Dirt BandLiberty
36A Lifetime of Song 1951–1982Marty RobbinsColumbia
27Lost in the FeelingConway TwittyWarner Bros.
60*Lyin', Cheatin', Woman Chasin',
Honky Tonkin', Whiskey Drinkin' You*Loretta LynnMCA
48Master of the ArtRay PriceViva
36Memory LaneJoe StampleyEpic
37*Merry Twismas from Conway Twitty
and His Little Friends*Conway TwittyWarner Bros.
39Midnight FireSteve WarinerRCA
62''My Fingers Do the Talkin'''Jerry Lee LewisMCA
49The Nashville SessionsDean MartinWarner Bros.
63Naturally CountryMel McDanielCapitol
65New HorizonsDottie WestLiberty
35...Not the Man I Used to BeBoxcar WillieMain Street
32On My Own AgainDavid FrizzellViva
35One Particular HarbourJimmy BuffettMCA
32Over EasyTerri GibbsMCA
34ReadyJerry ReedRCA
40Rebel HeartDan SealsLiberty
26Red HotShelly WestViva
54Those Were the DaysGary Stewart & Dean DillonRCA
30Today My World Slipped AwayVern GosdinAMI
26Too Hot to SleepLouise MandrellRCA
48Viva Porter WagonerPorter WagonerWarner Bros.
48What Can I SayGail DaviesWarner Bros.
29Wish You Were Here TonightRay CharlesColumbia
64Work It out with Chet Atkins C.G.P.Chet AtkinsColumbia
35You're Not Leavin' Here TonightEd BruceMCA

On television

Regular series

  • Hee Haw (1969–1993, syndicated)
  • That Nashville Music (1970–1985, syndicated)

Specials

Births

  • January 29 — Eric Paslay, singer-songwriter of the 2010s.
  • March 10 — Carrie Underwood, 2005 American Idol winner, boosting her career.
  • June 20 — Grace Potter, rock singer who crossed-over to country with duets with Kenny Chesney.
  • June 30 — Cole Swindell, singer-songwriter of the 2010s.
  • July 2 — Michelle Branch, member of The Wreckers.
  • July 12 — Kimberly Perry, lead singer of The Band Perry.
  • October 3 — Drake White, singer known for his single Livin' the Dream.
  • November 10 — Miranda Lambert, member of Pistol Annies.
  • December 12 — Katrina Elam, singer-songwriter of the 2000s.
  • December 29 — Jessica Andrews, popular teen singer of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Deaths

  • April 6 — Cliff Carlisle, 79, country yodeler of the 1930s and steel guitar pioneer.
  • October 20 — Merle Travis, 65, singer and composer of classic songs such as "Sixteen Tons", "Dark as a Dungeon", "So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed" and "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette." (heart attack)

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

  • Little Jimmy Dickens (1920–2015)

Major awards

Grammy Awards

  • Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "A Little Good News", Anne Murray
  • Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "I.O.U.", – Lee Greenwood
  • Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "The Closer You Get", Alabama
  • Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Fireball", New South
  • Best Country Song — "Stranger in My House," Mike Reid (Performer: Ronnie Milsap)

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

  • Entertainer of the Year — Alabama
  • Song of the Year — "The Wind Beneath My Wings", Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar (Performer: Gary Morris)
  • Single of the Year — "Islands in the Stream", Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
  • Album of the YearThe Closer You Get..., Alabama
  • Top Male Vocalist — Lee Greenwood
  • Top Female Vocalist — Janie Fricke
  • Top Vocal Duo — Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
  • Top Vocal Group — Alabama
  • Top New Male Vocalist — Jim Glaser
  • Top New Female Vocalist — Gus Hardin

Canadian Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year — Family Brown
  • Male Artist of the Year — Dick Damron
  • Female Artist of the Year — Marie Bottrell
  • Group of the Year — Family Brown
  • SOCAN Song of the Year — "Raised on Country Music", Family Brown (Performer: Family Brown)
  • Single of the Year — "Raised on Country Music", Family Brown
  • Album of the YearRaised on Country Music, Family Brown
  • Vista Rising Star Award — Kelita Haverland
  • Duo of the Year — Donna & LeRoy Anderson

Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year — Alabama
  • Song of the Year — "Always on My Mind", Johnny Christopher, Wayne Carson Thompson and Mark James (Performer: Willie Nelson)
  • Single of the Year — "Swingin'", John Anderson
  • Album of the YearThe Closer You Get..., Alabama
  • Male Vocalist of the Year — Lee Greenwood
  • Female Vocalist of the Year — Janie Fricke
  • Vocal Duo of the Year — Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson
  • Vocal Group of the Year — Alabama
  • Horizon Award — John Anderson
  • Instrumentalist of the Year — Chet Atkins
  • Instrumental Group of the Year — Ricky Skaggs Band
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