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1988 in country music

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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1988.

Events

  • May 21 – Country music stars highlight a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Featured: Alabama, The Judds, George Strait and Randy Travis.
  • December –
    • Record producer Jimmy Bowen establishes the Universal Records label.
    • LS Records releases "Spelling on the Stone", a song about Elvis Presley without an artist credit. The song's lyrics, which call the singer's 1977 death into question, are sung by a vocalist whom many believe to be Presley himself.

No dates

  • Time-Life Records releases the first volume of its "Country USA" series. The series, which would eventually include 23 volumes, each chronicles one year per volume – 1950 through 1972. Each volume – offered on two record albums, or one cassette or compact disc – contains liner notes from some of country music's most respected historians. In many cases, the songs offered on each volume represented the first time they had ever been re-released on compact disc. "Country USA" was offered through television and magazine advertisements.
  • The Country Music Association Awards introduced a new award, Vocal Event of the Year, awarding collaborative efforts by two or more artists who normally don't work together (previously such efforts had to be included with Best Duo or Group nominations). The first recipient was the group of Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt for their Trio album.
  • MTM Records is sold and disestablished after four years. During its short stay in the music business, two songs released by MTM will top the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart: Judy Rodman's "Until I Met You" (1986) and S-K-O's "Baby's Got a New Baby" (1987).
  • Real Country, a 24-hour satellite music network focusing on classic country and neotraditional country, is planned for a 1989 launch by country star Buck Owens out of his Phoenix Arizona radio studios and carried by the Satellite Music Network. It is heard primarily in smaller- and medium-sized markets. Real Country was later sold to ABC Disney which then moved the operations to its radio headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Real Country was later sold to Citadel and is now owned and distributed by Cumulus Media.

Top hits of the year

Singles released by American artists

USCANSingleArtist
11AddictedDan Seals
95Always Late with Your KissesDwight Yoakam
8AmericanaMoe Bandy
5Another Place, Another TimeDon Williams
13Baby BlueGeorge Strait
21Baby I'm YoursSteve Wariner
1533The Best I Know HowThe Statler Brothers
1018Blue LoveThe O'Kanes
58Blue to the BoneSweethearts of the Rodeo
12The Bluest Eyes in TexasRestless Heart
1010Boogie Woogie Fiddle Country BluesCharlie Daniels Band
44Button Off My ShirtRonnie Milsap
912Chill FactorMerle Haggard
63Chiseled in StoneVern Gosdin
11Cry, Cry, CryHighway 101
48Crying ShameMichael Johnson
11DarleneT. Graham Brown
75DesperatelyDon Williams
413Do You Believe Me NowVern Gosdin
11(Do You Love Me) Just Say YesHighway 101
12Don't Close Your EyesKeith Whitley
10Don't Give Candy to a StrangerLarry Boone
11Don't We All Have the RightRicky Van Shelton
11Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen RosesKathy Mattea
5218Every Step of the WayThe Wagoneers
113Everybody's SweetheartVince Gill
11Face to FaceAlabama
63The FactoryKenny Rogers
11Fallin' AgainAlabama
11Famous Last Words of a FoolGeorge Strait
42The GiftThe McCarters
21Give a Little LoveThe Judds
88Givers and TakersS-K-B
13Goin' GoneKathy Mattea
11Gonna Take a Lot of RiverThe Oak Ridge Boys
711Goodbye TimeConway Twitty
413Heaven Can't Be FoundHank Williams Jr.
11He's Back and I'm BlueThe Desert Rose Band
1412High Ridin' HeroesDavid Lynn Jones with Waylon Jennings
11Honky Tonk MoonRandy Travis
11I Can't Get Close EnoughExile
11I Couldn't Leave You If I TriedRodney Crowell
1214I Didn't (Every Chance I Had)Johnny Rodriguez
834I Don't Have Far to FallSkip Ewing
2816I Give You MusicThe McCarters
744I Have YouGlen Campbell
11I Know How He FeelsReba McEntire
21I Should Be with YouSteve Wariner
1218I Still BelieveLee Greenwood
11I Told You SoRandy Travis
11I Wanna Dance with YouEddie Rabbitt
1841I Want a Love Like ThatJudy Rodman
719I Will Whisper Your NameMichael Johnson
52I Wish That I Could Fall in Love TodayBarbara Mandrell
110I Won't Take Less Than Your LoveTanya Tucker with Paul Davis and Paul Overstreet
97I Wouldn't Be a ManDon Williams
11I'll Always Come BackK. T. Oslin
612I'll Give You All My Love TonightThe Bellamy Brothers
11I'll Leave This World Loving YouRicky Van Shelton
517I'll Pin a Note on Your PillowBilly Joe Royal
11I'm Gonna Get YouEddy Raven
1333I'm Gonna Love Her on the RadioCharley Pride
34I'm Gonna Miss You, GirlMichael Martin Murphey
186I'm TiredRicky Skaggs
21I've Been Lookin'Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
1If It Don't Come EasyTanya Tucker
109If My Heart Had WindowsPatty Loveless
1637If Ole Hank Could Only See Us NowWaylon Jennings
822If the South Woulda WonHank Williams Jr.
11If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')George Strait
11If You Change Your MindRosanne Cash
679If You're Gonna Tell Me LiesRosemary Sharp
1715It Keeps Right on Hurtin'Billy Joe Royal
85It's Only Make BelieveRonnie McDowell
11It's Such a Small WorldRodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash
11Joe Knows How to LiveEddy Raven
59Just Lovin' YouThe O'Kanes
93Just One KissExile
44The Last ResortT. Graham Brown
97Letter HomeThe Forester Sisters
11Life Turned Her That WayRicky Van Shelton
18A Little Bit CloserTom Wopat
2A Little Bit in LovePatty Loveless
20Louisiana RainJohn Wesley Ryles
39Love Helps ThosePaul Overstreet
43Love of a LifetimeLarry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers
11Love Will Find Its Way to YouReba McEntire
55Lyin' in His Arms AgainThe Forester Sisters
54Mama KnowsShenandoah
1416Midnight HighwaySouthern Pacific
1311MoneyK. T. Oslin
115My Baby's GoneSawyer Brown
21New Shade of BlueSouthern Pacific
72No More One More TimeJo-El Sonnier
227Nobody's AngelCrystal Gayle
5Oh What a LoveNitty Gritty Dirt Band
212Old FolksRonnie Milsap & Mike Reid
11One FriendDan Seals
215One Step ForwardThe Desert Rose Band
45One True LoveThe O'Kanes
1118Only Love Can Save Me NowCrystal Gayle
107Out of Sight and on My MindBilly Joe Royal
62Please, Please BabyDwight Yoakam
94Real Good Feel Good SongMel McDaniel
919Rebels Without a ClueThe Bellamy Brothers
12Runaway TrainRosanne Cash
52Santa FeThe Bellamy Brothers
511Satisfy YouSweethearts of the Rodeo
919Saturday Night SpecialConway Twitty
12Set 'Em Up JoeVern Gosdin
936She Doesn't Cry AnymoreShenandoah
178She's No LadyLyle Lovett
819She's Sittin' PrettyBilly Parker
529Shouldn't It Be Easier Than ThisCharley Pride
1632Some Old Side RoadKeith Whitley
83Spanish EyesWillie Nelson with Julio Iglesias
547Still Within the Sound of My VoiceGlen Campbell
736Strangers AgainHolly Dunn
11Streets of BakersfieldDwight Yoakam & Buck Owens
12Strong Enough to BendTanya Tucker
22Summer WindThe Desert Rose Band
59Sunday Kind of LoveReba McEntire
88Sure ThingFoster & Lloyd
1623Talkin' to Myself AgainTammy Wynette
41Talkin' to the Wrong ManMichael Martin Murphey (with Ryan Murphey)
95Tear-Stained LetterJo-El Sonnier
82Tell Me TrueJuice Newton
12A Tender LieRestless Heart
11Tennessee Flat Top BoxRosanne Cash
18Texas in 1880Foster & Lloyd
1710Thanks AgainRicky Skaggs
64That's My JobConway Twitty
98That's ThatMichael Johnson
56That's What Your Love Does to MeHolly Dunn
21This Missin' You Heart of MineSawyer Brown
56Timeless and True LoveThe McCarters
11Too Gone Too LongRandy Travis
53Touch and Go CrazyLee Greenwood
521True HeartThe Oak Ridge Boys
15Turn It LooseThe Judds
11Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky StarMerle Haggard
413Untold StoriesKathy Mattea
11The WandererEddie Rabbitt
11We Believe in Happy EndingsEarl Thomas Conley with Emmylou Harris
72We Must Be Doin' Somethin' RightEddie Rabbitt
617What Do You Want from Me This TimeFoster & Lloyd
12What She Is (Is a Woman in Love)Earl Thomas Conley
11WheelsRestless Heart
2616When You Put Your Heart in ItKenny Rogers
11When You Say Nothing at AllKeith Whitley
11Where Do the Nights GoRonnie Milsap
97Wilder DaysBaillie & the Boys
68WildflowersDolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris
46Workin' Man (Nowhere to Go)Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
7210You Are My AngelBilly Parker
2021You Can't Fall in Love When You're Cryin'Lee Greenwood
22Young CountryHank Williams Jr.
17Your Memory Wins AgainSkip Ewing

Singles released by Canadian artists

USCANSingleArtist
8AngelinaGeorge Fox
7Cheater's MoonCarroll Baker
15Cinderella/Gingerbread ManDick Damron
18The Circle of WoodWayne Pronger
6110Do You Have Any DoubtsAlibi
8Fifty Years AgoIan Tyson
17The GiftIan Tyson
12Give InTerry Carisse
8Gone So LongThe Good Brothers
10Highway to HeavenStoker Bros
14I Still Think of YouColleen Peterson & Gilles Godard
217I'm Down to My Last Cigarettek.d. lang
17If You're Up for LoveRonnie Prophet
10Isn't That the Strangest ThingAnita Perras & Tim Taylor
9LeannaKen Harnden
15Listening to the SingerCindi Cain
15The Music Still in MeCindi Cain
9One Smokey RoseAnita Perras
9The Rhythm of RomanceMichelle Wright
8She Knows I Can't Say NoKen Harnden
14Straight to Your HeartMercey Brothers
10Thank You for Being My FriendThe Ellis Family Band
8Thought Leaving Would Be EasyTerry Carisse
1Til I Find My LoveFamily Brown
7Town of TearsFamily Brown
14You Won't Fool This Fool This TimeThe Good Brothers
7You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'Carroll Baker

Top new album releases

USAlbumArtistRecord label
8101²Highway 101Warner Bros.
1Alabama LiveAlabamaRCA
25All Keyed UpBecky HobbsMTM
4Big Dreams in a Small TownRestless HeartRCA
1Buenas Noches from a Lonely RoomDwight YoakamReprise
7Chiseled in StoneVern GosdinColumbia
22Come as You WereT. Graham BrownCapitol
12Comin' Home to StayRicky SkaggsEpic
7Copperhead RoadSteve EarleMCA
8Diamonds & DirtRodney CrowellColumbia
8Don't Close Your EyesKeith WhitleyRCA
1Greatest HitsThe JuddsCurb/RCA
16Homesick HeroesThe Charlie Daniels BandEpic
7Honky Tonk AngelPatty LovelessMCA
20I Should Be with YouSteve WarinerMCA
1If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin'George StraitMCA
1Loving ProofRicky Van SheltonColumbia
9MonongahelaThe Oak Ridge BoysMCA
1Old 8×10Randy TravisWarner Bros.
11One Time, One NightSweethearts of the RodeoColumbia
12PontiacLyle LovettCurb/MCA
6Rage OnDan SealsCapitol
1RebaReba McEntireMCA
11River of TimeMichael Martin MurpheyWarner Bros.
9Shadowlandk.d. langSire
21The Statlers Greatest HitsThe Statler BrothersMercury
9Strong Enough to BendTanya TuckerCapitol
25This Is My CountryLee GreenwoodMCA
2This WomanK. T. OslinRCA
21Tired of the Runnin'The O'KanesColumbia
6What a Wonderful WorldWillie NelsonColumbia
1Wild StreakHank Williams Jr.Curb/Warner Bros.

Other top albums

USAlbumArtistRecord label
5110John AndersonMCA
26Across the Rio GrandeHolly DunnMTM
46Alive & WellLarry Gatlin and the Gatlin BrothersColumbia
29All in LoveMarie OsmondCapitol/Curb
29As I AmAnne MurrayCapitol
36The Best of Eddy RavenEddy RavenRCA
60Brand NewGary StewartHightone
52Chasing RainbowsMickey GilleyAirborne
61A Christmas Tradition, Vol. IIVarious ArtistsWarner Bros.
29The Coast of ColoradoSkip EwingMCA
56Every ChristmasGary MorrisWarner Bros.
33Exchange of HeartsDavid SlaterCapitol
36Full CircleWaylon JenningsMCA
36The GiftThe McCartersWarner Bros.
66Greatest HitsKenny RogersRCA
27Greatest Hits Volume TwoLee GreenwoodMCA
33The Heart of It AllEarl Thomas ConleyRCA
49Higher GroundJohn DenverWindstar
37Hot Dog!Buck OwensCapitol
51I Guess I Just Missed YouCanyon16th Avenue
52I Never Made a Record I Didn't LikeRay StevensMCA
34I Wanna Dance With YouEddie RabbittRCA
35I'll Be Your Jukebox TonightBarbara MandrellCapitol
36I'm Gonna Love Her on the RadioCharley Pride16th Avenue
45I'm Still Missing YouRonnie McDowellCurb
33If My Heart Had WindowsPatty LovelessMCA
64Just Enough LoveRay PriceStep One
58Light YearsGlen CampbellMCA
27Little Love AffairsNanci GriffithMCA
60Live at the OpryPatsy ClineMCA
62Making BelieveConway Twitty & Loretta LynnMCA
64New Faces of CountryVarious ArtistsK-Tel
28No RegretsMoe BandyCurb
63Nobody's AngelCrystal GayleWarner Bros.
51''Now You're Talkin'''Mel McDanielCapitol
43One Fair Summer EveningNanci GriffithMCA
45Rebels Without a ClueThe Bellamy BrothersCurb/MCA
26RunningThe Desert Rose BandCurb/MCA
64Saddle the WindJanie FrickieColumbia
30SincerelyThe Forester SistersWarner Bros.
28Still in Your DreamsConway TwittyMCA
47Stout & HighThe WagoneersA&M
47Swingin' Doors, Sawdust FloorsLarry BooneMercury
39View from the HouseKim CarnesMCA
48Water from the Wells of HomeJohnny CashMercury
34Western Standard TimeAsleep at the WheelEpic
33Wide OpenSawyer BrownCapitol/Curb
63Who Was That StrangerLoretta LynnMCA
33Workin' BandNitty Gritty Dirt BandWarner Bros.
27ZumaSouthern PacificWarner Bros.

On television

Regular series

  • Dolly (1987–1988, ABC)
  • Hee Haw (1969–1993, syndicated)

Specials

Births

  • March 24 – Blanco Brown, country rap/trap performer best known for 2019's "The Git Up."
  • March 30 – Jordan Davis, singer of the 2010s ("Singles You Up")
  • April 29 – Michael Ray, singer-songwriter known for his 2015 debut hit "Kiss You in the Morning".
  • May 24 – Billy Gilman, the youngest artist to ever have a country hit record (2000's "One Voice").
  • July 20 – Julianne Hough, rising country music star and professional dancer, best known for her appearances on Dancing with the Stars.
  • August 21 – Kacey Musgraves, rising country music star of the 2010s.
  • November 17 – Reid Perry, member of The Band Perry.

Deaths

  • August 24 – Nat Stuckey, 54, singer-songwriter whose biggest hit-making time was the 1960s and 1970s (lung cancer).
  • September 20 – Leon McAuliffe, 71, prominent member of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys and a star in his own right.
  • December 6 – Roy Orbison, 52, American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll.

Hall of Fame inductees

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Loretta Lynn (1932–2022)
  • Roy Rogers (1911–1998)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Jack Feeney

Major awards

Grammy Awards

  • Best Female Country Vocal Performance – "Hold Me", K. T. Oslin
  • Best Male Country Vocal PerformanceOld 8×10, Randy Travis
  • Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal – "Give a Little Love". The Judds
  • Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – "Crying", Roy Orbison and k.d. lang
  • Best Country Instrumental Performance – "Sugarfoot Rag", Asleep at the Wheel
  • Best Country Song – "Hold Me", K. T. Oslin
  • Best Bluegrass Recording – "Southern Flavor", Bill Monroe

Juno Awards

  • Country Male Vocalist of the Year – Murray McLauchlan
  • Country Female Vocalist of the Year – k.d. lang
  • Country Group or Duo of the Year – Family Brown

Academy of Country Music

  • Entertainer of the Year – Hank Williams Jr.
  • Song of the Year – "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses", Charles Nelson and Paul Nelson (Performer: Kathy Mattea)
  • Single of the Year – "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses," Kathy Mattea
  • Album of the YearThis Woman, K. T. Oslin
  • Top Male Vocalist – George Strait
  • Top Female Vocalist – K. T. Oslin
  • Top Vocal Duo – The Judds
  • Top Vocal Group – Highway 101
  • Top New Male Vocalist – Rodney Crowell
  • Top New Female Vocalist – Suzy Bogguss
  • Video of the Year – "Young Country", Hank Williams Jr. (Director: Bill Fishman)

ARIA Awards

(presented in Sydney on February 29, 1988)

  • Best Country AlbumThis Town (Flying Emus)
  • ARIA Hall of Fame – Slim Dusty

Canadian Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year – k.d. lang
  • Male Artist of the Year – Ian Tyson
  • Female Artist of the Year – k.d. lang
  • Group of the Year – Family Brown
  • SOCAN Song of the Year – "One Smokey Rose", Tim Taylor (Performer: Anita Perras)
  • Single of the Year – "One Smokey Rose", Anita Perras
  • Album of the YearShadowland, k.d. lang
  • Top Selling AlbumAlways & Forever, Randy Travis
  • Vista Rising Star Award – Blue Rodeo
  • Duo of the Year – Anita Perras and Tim Taylor

Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year – Hank Williams Jr.
  • Song of the Year – "80's Ladies", K. T. Oslin (Performer: K. T. Oslin)
  • Single of the Year – "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses", Kathy Mattea
  • Album of the YearBorn to Boogie, Hank Williams Jr.
  • Male Vocalist of the Year – Randy Travis
  • Female Vocalist of the Year – K. T. Oslin
  • Vocal Duo of the Year – The Judds
  • Vocal Group of the Year – Highway 101
  • Horizon Award – Ricky Van Shelton
  • Vocal Event of the Year – Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt
  • Musician of the Year – Chet Atkins

References

References

  1. (December 9, 1988). "Universal Label Makes Big Nashville Splash". [[Radio & Records]].
  2. Dan Rosenfeld. (December 23, 1988). "Is 'The King' back? New song may be by Elvis or may be a 'very cruel hoax'". [[The Jersey Journal]].
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