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Country pop reached its peak in the 1980s, but it remains popular today. Some of the most famous country-pop singers of the 80s include Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Ronnie Milsap, and Crystal Gayle. Kris Kristofferson. Olivia Newton-John.
- Randy Travis. 72 votes. With a voice as pure as a mountain spring, Randy Travis played a pivotal role in revitalizing the traditionalist movement in 1980s country music.
- George Strait. 80 votes. A Texan native, George Strait emerged as a fresh face in the country music scene during the 1980s, introducing a traditional yet refined style that ushered in the neo-traditionalist movement.
- Waylon Jennings. 62 votes. Outlaw country pioneer Waylon Jennings carried his groundbreaking spirit into the 1980s, further solidifying his legacy as a cornerstone of country music.
- Johnny Cash. 54 votes. The Man in Black, Johnny Cash, held a special place in the hearts of country music fans during the 1980s, thanks to his deep, resonant voice and unwavering authenticity.
- Alabama
- Kenny Rogers
- Dolly Parton
- Keith Whitley
- George Strait
- Earl Thomas Conley
- Dwight Yoakam
- Randy Travis
- The Judds
- The Oak Ridge Boys
Formed in Fort Payne in 1969, country band Alabamastarted out as a group of three cousins combining country southern rock, bluegrass, folk, gospel, and pop. The group was most successful In the 1980s when they had ten songs hit the US country music charts. Eight of those songs made it all the way to #1. “Mountain Music” was Alabama’s most popular s...
Singer Kenny Rogers, born in 1938, has had a successful career spanning over four decades, during which time he released 60 albums and sold over 100 million records. Rogers had 13 songs on the US country music charts in the 1980s, and four of those made it to #1. “Eyes That See in the Dark” and “Share Your Love” were the two most popular. Both peak...
Born in 1946 in rural Tennessee, Dolly Partonwas the fourth of 12 children and raised in a sharecroppers family. Parton began performing at an early age, and by 13, she was appearing on a local television show. In 1964, she moved to Nashville to pursue a career in country music. There she found work as a songwriter, and soon her compositions were r...
Born in 1955 and raised in Kentucky, Keith Whitley’s music career began in the early 1970s when he played in various country bands. In 1984, he signed with RCA Records and released his debut album, Hard Act to Follow. The album’s lead single, “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” became a hit, and Whitley quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned wi...
Hailing from Poteet, Texas, George Strait, born in 1952, began his musical career in the early 1970s when he started playing in honky-tonks around Texas. Critics called him a new traditionalist, breaking the ‘80s trend of being a crossover country and pop artist. He released 28 singles in the 1980s, and 18 of those went to #1 on the country chart. ...
Born in 1941 in Portsmouth, Ohio, Earl Thomas Conleyserved in the US Navy before he moved to Nashville in 1966 to pursue a career in country music. He quickly found success as a songwriter, penning hits for such artists as Conway Twitty and George Jones. He released 11 albums and 33 singles in the 1980s, with 18 of them reaching the #1 spot on the ...
American singer-songwriter Dwight Yoakamwas born in Kentucky in 1956 and began his musical career in the 1970s. However, it wasn’t until he moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s to develop his honky tonk revivalist style that he started to thrive. He sought an audience beyond typical country fans, doing shows in various rock and punk-rock clubs around ...
Born Randy Bruce Traywick—professionally known as Randy Travis—was born in 1959 in Marshville, North Carolina. His music career began in the early 1980s when Warner Bros. Records signed him. His debut album, Storms of Life, was released in 1984 and quickly became a commercial success. The lead single from the album, “On the Other Hand,” reached #1 ...
Next, we have the Judds. They were a daughter-and-mother duo comprising Naomi Judd (born 1946) and Wynonna Judd (born 1964). Active between 1983 and 1991, the duo recorded seven studio albums, three Greatest Hits albums, one live album, and a box set during their successful career. When their first album hit stores in 1984, it became an instant cla...
Hailing from Oakridge, Tennessee, the Oak Ridge Boysstarted out as a gospel vocal quartet in the 1940s. While they started as a southern gospel band, they began focusing on their non-religious country image in the 1970s and had several crossover hits by the time 1980s rolled in. The Oak Ridge Boys had 28 singles on the country music charts in the 1...
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- Randy Travis. Randy Travis' album Storms of Life in 1986 put him on the country music map and made him one of the biggest 80s country musicians. His song “Forever Ever and Ever, Amen” was one of the decade's most popular country love songs.
- Reba McEntire. Hailed as the “Queen of Country,” Reba McEntire's first charting songs were from the 1970s, but her breakout album was My Kind of Country in 1984.
- Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks was so popular during the 80s and 90s that he became the only musical artist in history with nine albums that each sold 10 million copies in the US.
- The Judds. Mother and daughter duo Naomi and Wynonna Judd built a career around a traditional country sound, making them one of the biggest 80s country artists.
- George Strait. Watch this video on YouTube. Known as the “King of Country,”George Strait overwhelmed the diagrams during the 80s with hits like “Amarillo Before Breakfast”and “All My Ex Live in Texas.”
- Reba McEntire. Reba McEntire’s strong voice and narrating skills made her an awe-inspiring phenomenon. Hits like “Extravagant” and “Whoever’s in New Britain” cemented her status as one of the top female down-home craftsmen ever.
- Garth Brooks. Watch this video on YouTube. Even though Garth Brooks rose to conspicuousness in the last part of the 80s, his effect on bluegrass music can’t be put into words.
- Merle Haggard. Merle Worn Down was at that point a carefully prepared veteran by the 80s, having laid out his profession during the 60s. His honky-tonk sound and crude narration made him one of the most persuasive country artists of his time.
Mar 17, 2024 · In 1985, “Lost in the Fifties Tonight” was named Song of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.”. 5. Randy Travis. Country music singer, guitarist, and actor Randy Travis was discovered by Elizabeth “Lib” Hatcher when he and his brother won a singing contest in the club she owned.
May 7, 2024 · The 1980s gave us some of the best 80s country songs, tunes that not only climbed the charts but also established the decade's unique place within the annals of country music history. The era's distinctive sound still resonates with fans whose passion for twangy ballads and toe-tapping melodies refuses to wane.
