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1984 in country music

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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1984.

Events

  • June 22 — The movie Rhinestone, starring Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone, is released to universally negative reviews. The much-hyped movie – about a singer's effort to transform a New York City taxicab driver into a country star within two weeks – flops, but still produces several hit singles, most notably the No. 1 hit "Tennessee Homesick Blues".
  • July 28 — With his No. 1 hit "Angel in Disguise", Earl Thomas Conley becomes the first artist in any genre to have four Billboard chart-topping songs from the same album. The album in question is Don't Make it Easy For Me, and in addition to "Angel in Disguise" and the title track, Conley also hit with 1983's "Your Love's on the Line" and "Holding Her and Loving You". The feat is part of Conley's impressive 1980s streak, where he enjoyed 16 No. 1 hits through 1989.
  • September 11 — Barbara Mandrell is seriously injured in a car accident. She suffers multiple injuries and takes an 18-month sabbatical from performing to recover.

Top hits of the year

Singles released by American artists

USCANSingleArtist
44After AllEd Bruce
106All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over TonightHank Williams, Jr.
6AmericaWaylon Jennings
11Angel in DisguiseEarl Thomas Conley
1020Another Motel MemoryShelly West
11As Long as I'm Rockin' with YouJohn Conlee
32Atlanta BlueThe Statler Brothers
57Attitude AdjustmentHank Williams, Jr.
32B-B-B-Burnin' Up with LoveEddie Rabbitt
710Between Two FiresGary Morris
1926Boys Like YouGail Davies
32Buried TreasureKenny Rogers
53Candy ManCharly McClain & Mickey Gilley
11Chance of Lovin' YouEarl Thomas Conley
11City of New OrleansWillie Nelson
1110Crossword PuzzleBarbara Mandrell
75DenverLarry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
94Diamond in the DustMark Gray
1211DisenchantedMichael Martin Murphey
11Don't Cheat in Our HometownRicky Skaggs
12Don't Make It Easy for MeEarl Thomas Conley
814Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)Joe Stampley
3620DowntownDolly Parton
18Dream On Texas LadiesRex Allen, Jr.
108Drinkin' My Way Back HomeGene Watson
2613Drivin' WheelEmmylou Harris
112ElizabethThe Statler Brothers
1114Evening StarKenny Rogers
27Ev'ry Heart Should Have OneCharley Pride
11EverydayThe Oak Ridge Boys
1016Faithless LoveGlen Campbell
35Fool's GoldLee Greenwood
1018Forever AgainGene Watson
1430Forever YouThe Whites
513Forget About MeThe Bellamy Brothers
1016Give Me Back That Old Familiar FeelingThe Whites
11Give Me One More ChanceExile
7God Bless the USALee Greenwood
108God Must Be a CowboyDan Seals
108God Won't Get YouDolly Parton
11Going, Going, GoneLee Greenwood
1715Had a Dream (For the Heart)The Judds
318Happy Birthday Dear HeartacheBarbara Mandrell
1519He Broke Your Memory Last NightReba McEntire
11Honey (Open That Door)Ricky Skaggs
929I Call It LoveMel McDaniel
11I Can Tell By the Way You Dance
(You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)Vern Gosdin
66I Could'a Had YouLeon Everette
96I Could Use Another YouEddy Raven
11I Don't Know a Thing About Love (The Moon Song)Conway Twitty
21I Don't Wanna Lose Your LoveCrystal Gayle
11I Don't Want to Be a MemoryExile
76I Dream of Women Like YouRonnie McDowell
84I Got a Million of 'EmRonnie McDowell
11I Got MexicoEddy Raven
11I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt SometimesThe Oak Ridge Boys
1017I Hurt for YouDeborah Allen
33I Love Only YouNitty Gritty Dirt Band
44I May Be Used (But Baby I Ain't Used Up)Waylon Jennings
32I Never Quite Got Back (From Loving You)Sylvia
1722I Still DoBill Medley
1412I Wish I Could Write You a SongJohn Anderson
78I'm Not Through Loving You YetLouise Mandrell
11I've Been Around Enough to KnowJohn Schneider
13I've Been Rained on TooTom Jones
21I've Been Wrong BeforeDeborah Allen
96If All the Magic Is GoneMark Gray
1010If I Could Only Dance with YouJim Glaser
86If the Fall Don't Get YouJanie Fricke
11If You're Gonna Play in Texas
(You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)Alabama
96In My DreamsEmmylou Harris
12In My EyesJohn Conlee
1432In the Midnight HourRazzy Bailey
1340It's a Be Together NightDavid Frizzell & Shelly West
2038Jagged Edge of a Broken HeartGail Davies
537Just a Little LoveReba McEntire
32The Lady Takes the Cowboy EverytimeLarry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers
1028Left Side of the BedMark Gray
1010Let Somebody Else DriveJohn Anderson
19Let's Chase Each Other Around the RoomMerle Haggard
11Let's Fall to Pieces TogetherGeorge Strait
11Let's Stop Talkin' About ItJanie Fricke
43Lonely Women Make Good LoversSteve Wariner
12Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
1113Maggie's DreamDon Williams
1211Make My DayT. G. Sheppard with Clint Eastwood
11Mama He's CrazyThe Judds
34Man of SteelHank Williams, Jr.
21Mona Lisa Lost Her SmileDavid Allan Coe
1535My Baby's GoneThe Kendalls
62Never Could Toe the MarkWaylon Jennings
710New PatchesMel Tillis
101Nothing Like Falling in LoveEddie Rabbitt
820One Takes the BlameThe Statler Brothers
21Only a Lonely Heart KnowsBarbara Mandrell
51Ozark Mountain JubileeThe Oak Ridge Boys
1012Pins & NeedlesThe Whites
99Pledging My LoveEmmylou Harris
911The Power of LoveCharley Pride
69Prisoner of the HighwayRonnie Milsap
85P.S. I Love YouTom T. Hall
1930Radio LandMichael Martin Murphey
11Right or WrongGeorge Strait
147The Right StuffCharly McClain & Mickey Gilley
1415Rock & Roll ShoesRay Charles with B. J. Thomas
11Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)Alabama
1310Runaway HeartLouise Mandrell
32Save the Last Dance for MeDolly Parton
76Second Hand HeartGary Morris
33Sentimental Ol' YouCharly McClain
34She Sure Got Away with My HeartJohn Anderson
11Show HerRonnie Milsap
2020Silent PartnersDavid Frizzell & Shelly West
11Slow BurnT. G. Sheppard
13Somebody's Needin' SomebodyConway Twitty
11Someday When Things Are GoodMerle Haggard
35Somewhere Down the LineT. G. Sheppard
19The Sound of GoodbyeCrystal Gayle
13Stay YoungDon Williams
11Still Losing YouRonnie Milsap
2418Stuck on YouLionel Richie
52Sweet Country MusicAtlanta
81Take It to the LimitWillie Nelson with Waylon Jennings
11Tennessee Homesick BluesDolly Parton
116Thank God for the RadioThe Kendalls
11That's the Thing About LoveDon Williams
11That's the Way Love GoesMerle Haggard
1233There Ain't No Future in ThisReba McEntire
74Three Times a LadyConway Twitty
2830Till Your Memory's GoneBill Medley
11To All the Girls I've Loved BeforeJulio Iglesias & Willie Nelson
35To MeBarbara Mandrell & Lee Greenwood
1929Together AgainKenny Rogers & Dottie West
1914Tonight I'm Here with Someone ElseKaren Brooks
41Too Good to Stop NowMickey Gilley
1532Too Late to Go HomeJohnny Rodriguez
11Turning AwayCrystal Gayle
31Two Car GarageB. J. Thomas
11Uncle PenRicky Skaggs
2419Victims of GoodbyeSylvia
42Way BackJohn Conlee
67We Didn't See a ThingRay Charles with George Jones
109What Would Your Memories DoVern Gosdin
19Whatever Turns You OnKeith Stegall
11When We Make LoveAlabama
88Where's the DressMoe Bandy & Joe Stampley
1015The Whole World's in Love When You're LonelyB. J. Thomas
1216Why GoodbyeSteve Wariner
46Why Lady WhyGary Morris
13Why Not MeThe Judds
75Will It Be Love by MorningMichael Martin Murphey
113Without a SongWillie Nelson
11Woke Up in LoveExile
1212Woman Your LoveMoe Bandy
645World's Greatest LoverThe Bellamy Brothers
18Wounded HeartsMark Gray
11The Yellow RoseJohnny Lee with Lane Brody
96(You Bring Out) The Wild Side of MeDan Seals
12You Could've Heard a Heart BreakJohnny Lee
11You Look So Good in LoveGeorge Strait
34You Made a Wanted Man of MeRonnie McDowell
2027You Were a Good FriendKenny Rogers
13You're Gettin' to Me AgainJim Glaser
9You're Welcome to TonightLynn Anderson with Gary Morris
21You've Really Got a Hold on MeMickey Gilley
36You've Still Got a Place in My HeartGeorge Jones
11Your Heart's Not in ItJanie Fricke

Singles released by Canadian artists

USCANSingleArtist
15Change of HeartPaul Weber
17The Closest Thing to YouTerry Carisse
14Get Along Little DoggieDallas Harms
16Hand Me Down HeartRoni Sommers
10Heart on the RunCarroll Baker
19I Can't Say NoPaul Weber
6If This Is LoveRonnie Prophet with Glory-Anne Carriere
11Just Another Woman in LoveAnne Murray
9Leader of the BandMercey Brothers
8Love at Last SightMercey Brothers
19Midnight InvitationTerry Sumsion
11Nobody Loves Me Like You DoAnne Murray & Dave Loggins
7Nothing Good About GoodbyeGilles Godard with Kelita Haverland
19Railroad ManMurray McLauchlan
18Red River FloodMurray McLauchlan
565Repeat After MeFamily Brown
16Song for DaveyAlbert Hall

Top new album releases

USAlbumArtistRecord label
8Atlanta BlueThe Statler BrothersMercury/PolyGram
18The Best of Don Williams Volume IIIDon WilliamsMCA
20The Best of Michael Martin MurpheyMichael Martin MurpheyEMI America
22The Best Year of My LifeEddie RabbittWarner Bros.
14Blue HighwayJohn ConleeMCA
18By HeartConway TwittyWarner Bros.
13Cafe CarolinaDon WilliamsMCA
1City of New OrleansWillie NelsonColumbia
8Clean CutBarbara MandrellMCA
25Conway's Latest Greatest Hits Volume 1Conway TwittyWarner Bros.
1Country BoyRicky SkaggsEpic
1Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your MindGeorge StraitMCA
25Doin' What I FeelLeon EveretteRCA
24EB 84The Everly BrothersMercury/PolyGram
3Eye of a HurricaneJohn AndersonWarner Bros.
12Faded BlueGary MorrisWarner Bros.
17The First Word in MemoryJanie FrickeColumbia
22Forever YouThe WhitesMCA
1FriendshipRay CharlesColumbia
21The Good Ol' Boys – Alive and WellMoe Bandy & Joe StampleyColumbia
7The Great PretenderDolly PartonRCA
2Greatest Hits 2The Oak Ridge BoysMCA
3He Thinks He's Ray StevensRay StevensMCA
4Heart Over MindAnne MurrayCapitol
21Heartaches, Love & StuffGene WatsonMCA
9Houston to DenverLarry Gatlin and the Gatlin BrothersColumbia
7It Takes BelieversMickey Gilley & Charly McClainEpic
1It's All in the GameMerle HaggardEpic
23Just a Little LoveReba McEntireMCA
22Just DivorcedDavid Allan CoeColumbia
1Kentucky HeartsExileEpic
25Ladies' ChoiceGeorge JonesEpic
1Major MovesHank Williams, Jr.Curb/Warner Bros.
5Meant for Each OtherBarbara Mandrell & Lee GreenwoodMCA
21Music from SongwriterWillie Nelson & Kris KristoffersonColumbia
13My Kind of CountryReba McEntireMCA
20Never Could Toe the MarkWaylon JenningsRCA
12Once Upon a ChristmasKenny Rogers & Dolly PartonRCA
10One More Try for LoveRonnie MilsapRCA
8PicturesAtlantaMCA
8Plain Dirt FashionNitty Gritty Dirt BandWarner Bros.
24Profile II: The Best of Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisWarner Bros.
22RestlessThe Bellamy BrothersCurb/MCA
18Riddles in the SandJimmy BuffettMCA
1Roll OnAlabamaRCA
24San AntoneDan SealsCapitol
17There Is a SeasonVern GosdinCompleat
23'Til the Bars Burn DownJohnny LeeWarner Bros.
4Too Good to Stop NowJohn SchneiderMCA
2Treadin' WaterEarl Thomas ConleyRCA
9What About Me?Kenny RogersRCA
1Why Not MeThe JuddsCurb/RCA
23''Workin' for a Livin'''Johnny LeeWarner Bros.
6You've Got a Good Love Comin'Lee GreenwoodMCA
17You've Still Got a Place in My HeartGeorge JonesEpic

Other top albums

USAlbumArtistRecord label
47Building BridgesLarry WilloughbyAtlantic America
33By RequestGeorge JonesEpic
55Can't Slow DownLionel RichieMotown
42Can't Wait All NightJuice NewtonRCA
29CharlyCharly McClainEpic
31Christmas at Our HouseBarbara MandrellMCA
56Day by DayMcGuffey LaneAtlantic America
55Do I Ever Cross Your MindRay CharlesColumbia
43DuetsKenny Rogers, Sheena Easton
Dottie West & Kim CarnesLiberty
55Easy StreetThe Wright BrothersMercury/PolyGram
63Fallen AngelGus HardinRCA
45First Time LiveGeorge JonesEpic
35Foolin' with FireJohnny RodriguezEpic
46For the Record: The First 10 YearsDavid Allan CoeColumbia
55A Golden CelebrationElvis PresleyRCA
45Golden Duets–The Best of Frizzell & WestDavid Frizzell & Shelly WestViva
28Greatest HitsJohn AndersonWarner Bros.
64Greatest HitsJuice NewtonCapitol
40Hearts on FireKaren BrooksWarner Bros.
57''Highrollin'''The Maines Brothers BandMercury/PolyGram
41His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...)Merle HaggardEpic
41HomecomingEd BruceRCA
41I Could Use Another YouEddy RavenRCA
58I Still DoBill MedleyRCA
54I'm Not Through Loving You YetLouise MandrellRCA
33In SessionDavid Frizzell & Shelly WestViva
41JulioJulio IglesiasColumbia
63KarenKaren Taylor-GoodMesa
42Kathy MatteaKathy MatteaMercury/PolyGram
52Let Me Be the FirstDeborah AllenRCA
30Letter to HomeGlen CampbellAtlantic America
34Little by LittleGene WatsonMCA
40Love Is on the RadioTom JonesMercury/PolyGram
26MagicMark GrayColumbia
64Mel McDaniel with Oklahoma WindMel McDanielCapitol
36The Midnight HourRazzy BaileyRCA
45Motel MatchesMoe BandyColumbia
42Natural DreamsTom T. HallMercury/PolyGram
62New BeginningsDavid WillsRCA
34New PatchesMel TillisMCA
26One Owner HeartT. G. SheppardWarner Bros.
57One Way RiderThe Osmond BrothersWarner Bros./Curb
49Power of LoveCharley PrideRCA
32Rhinestone (Soundtrack)Dolly Parton and various artistsRCA
40ShiningB. J. ThomasColumbia
65Soft TalkMac DavisCasablanca
40SurpriseSylviaRCA
56Ten Years of HitsMickey GilleyEpic
33This Ol' PianoMark GrayColumbia
34Too Good to Stop NowMickey GilleyEpic
64Turn Me LooseVince GillRCA
27Waylon's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2Waylon JenningsRCA
57Where Is a Woman to GoGail DaviesRCA
33WillingRonnie McDowellEpic
47Writers in DisguisePinkard & BowdenWarner Bros.
61You and I – Classic Country DuetsVarious ArtistsWarner Bros.

On television

Regular series

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

Specials

Births

  • February 5 – Tyler Farr, singer-songwriter since the mid-2010s, with hits including "Whiskey in My Water" and "Redneck Crazy".
  • March 10 – Ruthie Collins, singer-songwriter and recording artist based in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • March 30 – Justin Moore, singer-songwriter from the late 2000s onward, who had hits including "Small Town USA" and "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away".
  • April 19 – Matt Stell, singer-songwriter better known for his 2019 single "Prayed for You".
  • August 3 – Whitney Duncan, country music singer and reality TV contestant.
  • November 26 – Mike Gossin, member of Gloriana.
  • December 8 – Sam Hunt, singer-songwriter of the 2010s ("Leave the Night On").

Deaths

  • January 28 — Al Dexter, 81, early honky tonk stylist best known for "Pistol Packin' Mama."
  • May 11 — Nudie Cohen, 81, famous costume designer for country stars.
  • July 30 - Jack Benny Lynn, 34, Son of Loretta Lynn and Oliver Lynn passes away after trying to ford the duck river at his parents Ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN. Lynn was 34 years of age and left behind a wife and 2 children. His mother, Loretta Lynn would not perform for another year after his death.
  • September 6 — Ernest Tubb, 70, the "Texas Trubador" and a superstar since the 1940s (emphysema).
  • December 26 — Sheila Andrews, 31, late 70s singer with several minor hits.

Hall of Fame inductees

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Ralph S. Peer (1892–1960)
  • Floyd Tillman (1914–2003)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Wilf Carter
  • Tommy Hunter
  • Orval Prophet
  • William Harold Moon

Major awards

Grammy Awards

  • Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "In My Dreams", Emmylou Harris
  • Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "That's the Way Love Goes", Merle Haggard
  • Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Mama He's Crazy", The Judds
  • Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Wheel Hoss", Ricky Skaggs
  • Best Country Song — "City of New Orleans", Steve Goodman (Performer: Willie Nelson)

Juno Awards

  • Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Murray McLauchlan
  • 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 — "Why Not Me", Harlan Howard, Brent Maher and Sonny Throckmorton (Performer: The Judds)
  • Single of the Year — "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias
  • Album of the YearRoll On, Alabama
  • Top Male Vocalist — George Strait
  • Top Female Vocalist — Reba McEntire
  • Top Vocal Duo — The Judds
  • Top Vocal Group — Alabama
  • Top New Male Vocalist — Vince Gill
  • Top New Female Vocalist — Nicolette Larson
  • Video of the Year — "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight", Hank Williams, Jr. (Directors: John Goodhue)

Canadian Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year — Ronnie Prophet
  • Male Artist of the Year — Terry Carisse
  • Female Artist of the Year — Marie Bottrell
  • Group of the Year — Family Brown
  • SOCAN Song of the Year — "Jesus It's Me Again", Dick Damron (Performer: Dick Damron)
  • Single of the Year — "A Little Good News", Anne Murray
  • Album of the YearRepeat After Me, Family Brown
  • Top Selling AlbumEyes That See in the Dark, Kenny Rogers
  • Vista Rising Star Award — Roni Summers
  • Duo of the Year — Glory Anne Carriere and Ronnie Prophet

Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year — Alabama
  • Song of the Year — "Wind Beneath My Wings", Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar (Performer: Gary Morris)
  • Single of the Year — "A Little Good News", Anne Murray
  • Album of the YearA Little Good News, Anne Murray
  • Male Vocalist of the Year — Lee Greenwood
  • Female Vocalist of the Year — Reba McEntire
  • Vocal Duo of the Year — Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
  • Vocal Group of the Year — The Statler Brothers
  • Horizon Award — The Judds
  • Instrumentalist of the Year — Chet Atkins
  • Instrumental Group of the Year — Ricky Skaggs Band

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Country stars who got a star in 1984

Mickey Gilley and Dolly Parton

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Country stars who were honored in 1984

Tennessee Ernie Ford

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