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1985 in country music

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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1985.

Events

  • January — In radio, the United Stations Programming Network’s "Solid Gold Country," a country music spinoff of the oldies-focused "Solid Gold Scrapbook," switches from a three-hour-a-week show to a five-day-a-week program (with the option to air all five hours in as a weekly program). Under the new format, each hourly program covered a different topic, such as a profile on a singer, songwriter or producer; a look back at the popular songs from the current week in a past year, gold records from the current month and other topics under virtually every conceivable topic. The new program will run 8-1/2 years.
  • May 6 - 20th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama, George Strait, and Reba McEntire win
  • A story published in The New York Times declares that country music is "dead." However, a number of new acts – Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam among them – are working behind the scenes to change the trend.
  • The Country Music Association Awards introduced a new award, Music Video of the Year. The first recipient was Hank Williams Jr.'s video for "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight."

Top hits of the year

Singles released by American artists

USCANSingleArtist
1140 Hour Week (For a Livin')Alabama
11Ain't She Somethin' ElseConway Twitty
88All Tangled Up in LoveGus Hardin
822Angel in Your ArmsBarbara Mandrell
11Baby Bye ByeGary Morris
11Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans OnMel McDaniel
11The Best Year of My LifeEddie Rabbitt
55Betty's Bein' BadSawyer Brown
37Between Blue Eyes and JeansConway Twitty
1513Blue HighwayJohn Conlee
15Break AwayGail Davies
1311CaliforniaKeith Stegall
11Can't Keep a Good Man DownAlabama
911Carolina in the PinesMichael Martin Murphey
11The ChairGeorge Strait
11Country BoyRicky Skaggs
11Country GirlsJohn Schneider
53The Cowboy Rides AwayGeorge Strait
11CrazyKenny Rogers
11Crazy for Your LoveExile
98Cry Just a Little BitSylvia
1520Desperados Waiting for a TrainThe Highwaymen
2016Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)Vern Gosdin
11Dixie RoadLee Greenwood
110Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your MindGeorge Strait
85Doncha?T. G. Sheppard
11Don't Call Him a CowboyConway Twitty
35Don't Call It LoveDolly Parton
226Drinkin' and Dreamin'Waylon Jennings
2017Eye of a HurricaneJohn Anderson
21Fallin' in LoveSylvia
510The FiremanGeorge Strait
75The First Word in Memory Is MeJanie Fricke
11Forgiving You Was EasyWillie Nelson
175The Girl Most Likely ToB. J. Thomas
11Girls Night OutThe Judds
715Got No Reason Now for Goin' HomeGene Watson
1513Hallelujah, I Love You SoGeorge Jones with Brenda Lee
11Hang On to Your HeartExile
610Have I Got a Deal for YouReba McEntire
12Have MercyThe Judds
1942Heart Don't Do This to MeLoretta Lynn
815Heart TroubleSteve Wariner
33Hello Mary LouThe Statler Brothers
22High HorseNitty Gritty Dirt Band
11HighwaymanThe Highwaymen
11Honor BoundEarl Thomas Conley
16How BlueReba McEntire
11I Don't Know Why You Don't Want MeRosanne Cash
11I Don't Mind the Thorns (If You're the Rose)Lee Greenwood
13I Fell in Love Again Last NightThe Forester Sisters
14I Need More of YouThe Bellamy Brothers
106I Never Made Love (Till I Made It with You)Mac Davis
86I Wanna Hear It from YouEddy Raven
53I Wanna Say YesLouise Mandrell
109I Want Everyone to CryRestless Heart
20I'd Dance Every Dance with YouThe Kendalls
11I'll Never Stop Loving YouGary Morris
15I'm for LoveHank Williams Jr.
107I'm Gonna Leave You TomorrowJohn Schneider
1010I'm the One Mama Warned You AboutMickey Gilley
2019If It Ain't LoveEd Bruce
1222If It Ain't Love (Let's Leave It Alone)The Whites
105If It Weren't for HimVince Gill
1515If That Ain't LoveLacy J. Dalton
1645If the Phone Doesn't Ring, It's MeJimmy Buffett
51In a New York MinuteRonnie McDowell
1231It Ain't Gonna Worry My MindRay Charles and Mickey Gilley
1912It Should Have Been Love by NowBarbara Mandrell & Lee Greenwood
106It's a Short Walk from Heaven to HellJohn Schneider
1518It's All Over NowJohn Anderson
2049It's Time for LoveDon Williams
1010Kern RiverMerle Haggard
4A Lady Like YouGlen Campbell
98Lasso the MoonGary Morris
1921The Legend and the ManConway Twitty
16LeonaSawyer Brown
66Let It Roll (Let It Rock)Mel McDaniel
1633Let Me Down EasyJim Glaser
2320Let the Heartache RideRestless Heart
23Lie to You for Your LoveThe Bellamy Brothers
11Little ThingsThe Oak Ridge Boys
55A Long and Lasting LoveCrystal Gayle
11Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)Ronnie Milsap
14(Love Always) Letter to HomeGlen Campbell
11Love Don't Care (Whose Heart It Breaks)Earl Thomas Conley
11Love Is AliveThe Judds
914Love TalksRonnie McDowell
1014Major MovesHank Williams Jr.
11Make My Life with YouThe Oak Ridge Boys
823Maybe My BabyLouise Mandrell
41Me Against the NightCrystal Gayle
146Me and PaulWillie Nelson
119Meet Me in MontanaMarie Osmond (with Dan Seals)
2032The Mississippi Squirrel RevivalRay Stevens
12Modern Day RomanceNitty Gritty Dirt Band
22My Baby's Got Good TimingDan Seals
99My Old Yellow CarDan Seals
13My Only LoveThe Statler Brothers
19My Toot-TootRockin' Sidney
12Natural HighMerle Haggard
11Nobody Falls Like a FoolEarl Thomas Conley
34Nobody Wants to Be AloneCrystal Gayle
21Old HippieThe Bellamy Brothers
43One Owner HeartT. G. Sheppard
56Only in My MindReba McEntire
98Operator, OperatorEddy Raven
11A Place to Fall ApartMerle Haggard featuring Janie Fricke
1012Pretty LadyKeith Stegall
11Radio HeartCharly McClain
11Real LoveDolly Parton (duet with Kenny Rogers)
99Rollin' LonelyJohnny Lee
1212Save the Last ChanceJohnny Lee
11Seven Spanish AngelsRay Charles (with Willie Nelson)
11She Keeps the Home Fires BurningRonnie Milsap
1111She Used to Love Me a LotDavid Allan Coe
11She's a MiracleExile
622She's Comin' Back to Say GoodbyeEddie Rabbitt
95She's Gonna Win Your HeartEddy Raven
21She's My RockGeorge Jones
22She's Single AgainJanie Fricke
1911Size Seven Round (Made of Gold)George Jones with Lacy J. Dalton
107Slow Burning MemoryVern Gosdin
11Some Fools Never LearnSteve Wariner
44Somebody Else's FireJanie Fricke
18Somebody Should LeaveReba McEntire
2614Someone Like YouEmmylou Harris
21Something in My HeartRicky Skaggs
624Sometimes When We TouchMark Gray & Tammy Wynette
53Stand UpMel McDaniel
11Step That StepSawyer Brown
10(That's What You Do) When You're in LoveThe Forester Sisters
11(There's A) Fire in the NightAlabama
724There's No Love in TennesseeBarbara Mandrell
12There's No WayAlabama
1937They Never Had to Get Over YouJohnny Lee
1414Thing About YouSouthern Pacific with Emmylou Harris
422This Ain't DallasHank Williams Jr.
11Too Much on My HeartThe Statler Brothers
11Touch a Hand, Make a FriendThe Oak Ridge Boys
1418Two Old Cats Like UsRay Charles with Hank Williams Jr.
31Used to BlueSawyer Brown
23Walkin' a Broken HeartDon Williams
1014Waltz Me to HeavenWaylon Jennings
43Warning SignEddie Rabbitt
31What I Didn't DoSteve Wariner
86What She WantsMichael Martin Murphey
1746When Givin' Up Was EasyEd Bruce
146White LineEmmylou Harris
32Who's Gonna Fill Their ShoesGeorge Jones
59With Just One Look in Your EyesCharly McClain (with Wayne Massey)
76Working ManJohn Conlee
1027A World Without LoveEddie Rabbitt
22Years After YouJohn Conlee
2020You Can't Run Away from Your HeartLacy J. Dalton
78You Make Me Feel Like a ManRicky Skaggs
11You Make Me Want to Make You MineJuice Newton
33You Turn Me On (Like a Radio)Ed Bruce
108You're Going Out of My MindT. G. Sheppard
96You've Got a Good Love Comin'Lee Greenwood
107You've Got Something on Your MindMickey Gilley

Singles released by Canadian artists

USCANSingleArtist
12Blue Moon CafeAlbert Hall
13Counting the I Love YousTerry Carisse
7310Heaven KnowsAudie Henry
12Hold On to What You GotGilles Godard
74I Don't Think I'm Ready for YouAnne Murray
18I Just Didn't Love You Very WellJohn Winters
9I'll Take Her Love AnytimeGeorge Carone
10I'm Glad We're Bad at SomethingRonnie Prophet & Glory-Anne Carriere
9If You Can't Stand the HeatCarroll Baker
955It Always Hurts the First TimeCarroll Baker
19The Loneliest Star in TexasTerry Sumsion
7Love Is the ReasonMercey Brothers
9Magic in the MusicC-Weed Band
11She Saves Her Love for MeStoker Bros
18She's No LadyPaul Weber
17Sonny's DreamValdy
10Sweet BlueTerry Carisse
7110Sweet SalvationAudie Henry
10Take Me Home MississippiJamie Warren
15That's When You Know It's OverTerry Sumsion
21Time Don't Run Out on MeAnne Murray
17Two Broken HeartsTerry Carisse
12We Can Only PretendGeorge Carone
7We Won't Ever Say GoodbyeGilles Godard
10You Lifted Me High EnoughMercey Brothers

Top new album releases

USAlbumArtistRecord label
140-Hour WeekAlabamaRCA
8Alabama ChristmasAlabamaRCA
25Amber Waves of GrainMerle HaggardEpic
1Anything GoesGary MorrisWarner Bros.
8The Ballad of Sally RoseEmmylou HarrisWarner Bros.
7CenterfieldJohn FogertyWarner Bros.
22''Darlin', Darlin'''David Allan CoeColumbia
7Don't Call Him a CowboyConway TwittyWarner Bros.
24Favorite Country HitsRicky SkaggsEpic
1Five-OHank Williams Jr.Curb/Warner Bros.
4The Forester SistersThe Forester SistersWarner Bros.
4Greatest HitsGeorge StraitMCA
25Get to the HeartBarbara MandrellMCA
1Greatest HitsEarl Thomas ConleyRCA
4Greatest HitsLee GreenwoodMCA
1Greatest Hits Vol. 2Ronnie MilsapRCA
10Half NelsonWillie NelsonColumbia
1Greatest Hits Volume 2Hank Williams Jr.Curb/Warner Bros.
2Hang On to Your HeartExileEpic
1The Heart of the MatterKenny RogersRCA
23High Country SnowsDan FogelbergFull Moon/Epic
1HighwaymanThe HighwaymenColumbia
10Howard & DavidThe Bellamy BrothersCurb/MCA
1I Have ReturnedRay StevensMCA
8Kern RiverMerle HaggardEpic
7Last Mango in ParisJimmy BuffettMCA
4Let It RollMel McDanielCapitol
22Life HighwaySteve WarinerMCA
1Live in LondonRicky SkaggsEpic
1Lost in the Fifties TonightRonnie MilsapRCA
17Love Is What We Make ItKenny RogersLiberty
3Me and PaulWillie NelsonColumbia
1A Memory Like YouJohn SchneiderMCA
13My Toot TootRockin' SidneyEpic
17Nobody Wants to Be AloneCrystal GayleWarner Bros.
12Old FlameJuice NewtonRCA
24Old WaysNeil YoungGeffen
20One Good Night Deserves AnotherSteve WarinerMCA
19One Step CloserSylviaRCA
1Pardners in RhymeThe Statler BrothersMercury/PolyGram
9Partners, Brothers and FriendsNitty Gritty Dirt BandWarner Bros.
15Radio HeartCharly McClainEpic
9Real LoveDolly PartonRCA
10Restless HeartRestless HeartRCA
1Rhythm & RomanceRosanne CashColumbia
1Rockin' with the RhythmThe JuddsCurb/RCA
2Sawyer BrownSawyer BrownCapitol/Curb
3Shakin'Sawyer BrownCapitol/Curb
21Somebody Else's FireJanie FrickeColumbia
1Something SpecialGeorge StraitMCA
25Southern PacificSouthern PacificWarner Bros.
25Stand UpMel McDanielCapitol
3Step On OutThe Oak Ridge BoysMCA
1StreamlineLee GreenwoodMCA
6*Sweet Dreams–The Life and
Times of Patsy Cline (Soundtrack)*Patsy ClineMCA
16There's No Stopping Your HeartMarie OsmondCapitol/Curb
24Tokyo, OklahomaJohn AndersonWarner Bros.
15Tryin' to Outrun the WindJohn SchneiderMCA
23Turn the PageWaylon JenningsRCA
6Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?George JonesEpic
1Won't Be Blue AnymoreDan SealsCapitol

Other top albums

USAlbumArtistRecord label
2712 Greatest HitsPatsy ClineMCA
5019 Hot Country RequestsVarious ArtistsEpic
5919 Hot Country Requests–Vol. 2Various ArtistsEpic
33AtlantaAtlantaMCA
61The Bama BandThe Bama BandCompleat
29The Best of Reba McEntireReba McEntireMercury/PolyGram
39*Big River–The Adventures
of Huckleberry Finn*Various ArtistsMCA
39Biggest HitsCharly McClainEpic
33Can't Run Away from Your HeartLacy J. DaltonColumbia
29Chasin' RainbowsConway TwittyWarner Bros.
42Christmas PresentThe Statler BrothersMercury/PolyGram
29Christmas to ChristmasLee GreenwoodMCA
38Cut from a Different StoneRazzy BaileyMCA
40Dallas–The Music StoryVarious ArtistsWarner Bros.
28Don't Make Me Wait on the MoonShelly WestViva
64Dreamland ExpressJohn DenverRCA
34Eddie Rabbitt #1'sEddie RabbittWarner Bros.
42From My HeartKathy MatteaMercury/PolyGram
27Greatest HitsBarbara MandrellMCA
33Greatest Hits Vol. 2John ConleeMCA
60Greatest Hits, Volume 2Charley PrideRCA
60Greatest Hits Vol. IVDon WilliamsMCA
27Have I Got a Deal for YouReba McEntireMCA
38His BestMerle HaggardMCA
40I Feel Good (About Lovin' You)Mickey GilleyEpic
32It's Just a Matter of TimeGlen CampbellAtlantic America
49John McEuenJohn McEuenWarner Bros.
63Just a WomanLoretta LynnMCA
36Keep Me Hangin' OnJohnny LeeWarner Bros.
45Keith StegallKeith StegallEpic
55Lane BrodyLane BrodyCapitol
53Live! At Gilley'sMickey GilleyEpic
26Livin' on the EdgeT. G. SheppardColumbia
62Lone JusticeLone JusticeGeffen
64Love and Other Hard TimesEddy RavenRCA
60Maybe My BabyLouise MandrellRCA
27Me and the BoysThe Charlie Daniels BandEpic
35Memories to BurnGene WatsonEpic
55*Music from Rustler's Rhapsody
and Other Songs*Various ArtistsWarner Bros.
58Old FriendsTerri GibbsWarner Bros.
40Past the Point of No ReturnJim GlaserMCA/Noble Vision
48...Say WhenNicolette LarsonMCA
35SmileLarry Gatlin and the Gatlin BrothersColumbia
32Sometimes When We TouchTammy WynetteEpic
63Song in a SeashellTom T. HallMercury/PolyGram
27Songs You Know by HeartJimmy BuffettMCA
42The Spirit of ChristmasRay CharlesColumbia
54T. G. SheppardT. G. SheppardWarner Bros.
54Tender Loving CareTom JonesMercury/PolyGram
45Tennessee ChristmasVarious ArtistsMCA
63The Things That MatterVince GillRCA
48Till I Made It with YouMac DavisMCA
31Time Stood StillVern GosdinCompleat
27Two Heart HarmonyThe KendallsMercury/PolyGram
49UnchainedDavid Allan CoeColumbia
33The Very Best of JanieJanie FrickeColumbia
64Wall of TearsGus HardinRCA
52Where's the FireLeon EveretteMercury/PolyGram
42Whole New WorldThe WhitesMCA

On television

Regular series

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

Specials

Births

  • January 20 – Brantley Gilbert, singer of the 2010s best known for "Country Must Be Country Wide" and "You Don't Know Her Like I Do"
  • May 14 – Dustin Lynch, country singer-songwriter of the 2010s and 2020s
  • May 20 – Jon Pardi, country singer of the 2010s
  • June 12 – Chris Young, winner on the fourth season of Nashville Star
  • August 26 – Brian Kelley, member of Florida Georgia Line, a duo of the 2010s.
  • September 1 — Charlie Worsham, singer/multi-instrumentalist honored by the Mississippi state senate
  • September 19 — Chase Rice, country singer of the 2010s

Deaths

  • July 17 – Wynn Stewart, 51, key progenitor of the Bakersfield sound, known for hits such as "It's Such a Pretty World Today" (heart attack)
  • August 8 – Benny Barnes, 51, former rhythm guitarist for George Jones, best known for his 1956 hit "Poor Man's Riches"
  • October 11 -- Tex Williams, 68, Western swing and talking blues performer best known for "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" (pancreatic cancer)

Hall of Fame inductees

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Flatt and Scruggs (Lester Flatt 1914–1979 and Earl Scruggs 1924–2012)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Don Messer
  • Hank Snow

Major awards

Grammy Awards

  • Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me", Rosanne Cash
  • Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "Lost in the Fifties Tonight", Ronnie Milsap
  • Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Why Not Me" The Judds
  • Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Cosmic Square Dance", Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler
  • Best Country Song — "Highwayman," Jimmy Webb (Performer: The Highwaymen)

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 — Family Brown

Academy of Country Music

  • Entertainer of the Year — Alabama
  • Song of the Year — "Lost in the Fifties Tonight", Fred Parris, Mike Reid and Troy Seals (Performer: Ronnie Milsap)
  • Single of the Year — "Highwayman", The Highwaymen
  • Album of the YearDoes Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, George Strait
  • Top Male Vocalist — George Strait
  • Top Female Vocalist — Reba McEntire
  • Top Vocal Duo — The Judds
  • Top Vocal Group — Alabama
  • Top New Male Vocalist — Randy Travis
  • Top New Female Vocalist — Judy Rodman
  • Video of the Year — "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?", George Jones (Directors: Marc Ball)

Canadian Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year — Dick Damron
  • Male Artist of the Year — Terry Carisse
  • Female Artist of the Year — Carroll Baker
  • Group of the Year — The Mercey Brothers
  • SOCAN Song of the Year — "Counting the I Love You's", Terry Carisse, Bruce Rawlins (Performer: Terry Carisse)
  • Single of the Year — "Riding on the Wind", Gary Fjellgaard
  • Album of the YearClosest Thing to You, Terry Carisse
  • Top Selling AlbumOnce Upon a Christmas, Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
  • Vista Rising Star Award — Ginny Mitchell
  • Duo of the Year — Anita Perras and Tim Taylor

Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year — Ricky Skaggs
  • Song of the Year — "God Bless the USA", Lee Greenwood (Performer: Lee Greenwood)
  • Single of the Year — "Why Not Me", The Judds
  • Album of the YearDoes Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, George Strait
  • Male Vocalist of the Year — George Strait
  • Female Vocalist of the Year — Reba McEntire
  • Vocal Duo of the Year — Dave Loggins and Anne Murray
  • Vocal Group of the Year — The Judds
  • Horizon Award — Sawyer Brown
  • Music Video of the Year — "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight", Hank Williams Jr. (Director: John Goodhue)
  • Instrumentalist of the Year — Chet Atkins
  • Instrumental Group of the Year — Ricky Skaggs Band

References

References

  1. "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 44". Billstatus.ls.state.ms.us.
  2. Whitburn, Joel. (2008). "Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008". Record Research, Inc.
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