Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
arts

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

1984 in country music

none


none

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
8*Atlanta Blue*The Statler BrothersMercury/PolyGram
18*The Best of Don Williams Volume III*Don WilliamsMCA
20*The Best of Michael Martin Murphey*Michael Martin MurpheyEMI America
22*The Best Year of My Life*Eddie RabbittWarner Bros.
14*Blue Highway*John ConleeMCA
18*By Heart*Conway TwittyWarner Bros.
13*Cafe Carolina*Don WilliamsMCA
1*City of New Orleans*Willie NelsonColumbia
8*Clean Cut*Barbara MandrellMCA
25*Conway's Latest Greatest Hits Volume 1*Conway TwittyWarner Bros.
1*Country Boy*Ricky SkaggsEpic
1*Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind*George StraitMCA
25*Doin' What I Feel*Leon EveretteRCA
24*EB 84*The Everly BrothersMercury/PolyGram
3*Eye of a Hurricane*John AndersonWarner Bros.
12*Faded Blue*Gary MorrisWarner Bros.
17*The First Word in Memory*Janie FrickeColumbia
22*Forever You*The WhitesMCA
1*Friendship*Ray CharlesColumbia
21*The Good Ol' Boys – Alive and Well*Moe Bandy & Joe StampleyColumbia
7*The Great Pretender*Dolly PartonRCA
2*Greatest Hits 2*The Oak Ridge BoysMCA
3*He Thinks He's Ray Stevens*Ray StevensMCA
4*Heart Over Mind*Anne MurrayCapitol
21*Heartaches, Love & Stuff*Gene WatsonMCA
9*Houston to Denver*Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin BrothersColumbia
7*It Takes Believers*Mickey Gilley & Charly McClainEpic
1*It's All in the Game*Merle HaggardEpic
23*Just a Little Love*Reba McEntireMCA
22*Just Divorced*David Allan CoeColumbia
1*Kentucky Hearts*ExileEpic
25*Ladies' Choice*George JonesEpic
1*Major Moves*Hank Williams, Jr.Curb/Warner Bros.
5*Meant for Each Other*Barbara Mandrell & Lee GreenwoodMCA
21*Music from Songwriter*Willie Nelson & Kris KristoffersonColumbia
13*My Kind of Country*Reba McEntireMCA
20*Never Could Toe the Mark*Waylon JenningsRCA
12*Once Upon a Christmas*Kenny Rogers & Dolly PartonRCA
10*One More Try for Love*Ronnie MilsapRCA
8*Pictures*AtlantaMCA
8*Plain Dirt Fashion*Nitty Gritty Dirt BandWarner Bros.
24*Profile II: The Best of Emmylou Harris*Emmylou HarrisWarner Bros.
22*Restless*The Bellamy BrothersCurb/MCA
18*Riddles in the Sand*Jimmy BuffettMCA
1*Roll On*AlabamaRCA
24*San Antone*Dan SealsCapitol
17*There Is a Season*Vern GosdinCompleat
23'*Til the Bars Burn Down*Johnny LeeWarner Bros.
4*Too Good to Stop Now*John SchneiderMCA
2*Treadin' Water*Earl Thomas ConleyRCA
9*What About Me?*Kenny RogersRCA
1*Why Not Me*The JuddsCurb/RCA
23''Workin' for a Livin'''Johnny LeeWarner Bros.
6*You've Got a Good Love Comin'*Lee GreenwoodMCA
17*You've Still Got a Place in My Heart*George JonesEpic

Other top albums

USAlbumArtistRecord label
47*Building Bridges*Larry WilloughbyAtlantic America
33*By Request*George JonesEpic
55*Can't Slow Down*Lionel RichieMotown
42*Can't Wait All Night*Juice NewtonRCA
29*Charly*Charly McClainEpic
31*Christmas at Our House*Barbara MandrellMCA
56*Day by Day*McGuffey LaneAtlantic America
55*Do I Ever Cross Your Mind*Ray CharlesColumbia
43*Duets*Kenny Rogers, Sheena Easton
Dottie West & Kim CarnesLiberty
55*Easy Street*The Wright BrothersMercury/PolyGram
63*Fallen Angel*Gus HardinRCA
45*First Time Live*George JonesEpic
35*Foolin' with Fire*Johnny RodriguezEpic
46*For the Record: The First 10 Years*David Allan CoeColumbia
55*A Golden Celebration*Elvis PresleyRCA
45*Golden Duets–The Best of Frizzell & West*David Frizzell & Shelly WestViva
28*Greatest Hits*John AndersonWarner Bros.
64*Greatest Hits*Juice NewtonCapitol
40*Hearts on Fire*Karen BrooksWarner Bros.
57''Highrollin'''The Maines Brothers BandMercury/PolyGram
41*His Epic Hits: The First 11 (To Be Continued...)*Merle HaggardEpic
41*Homecoming*Ed BruceRCA
41*I Could Use Another You*Eddy RavenRCA
58*I Still Do*Bill MedleyRCA
54*I'm Not Through Loving You Yet*Louise MandrellRCA
33*In Session*David Frizzell & Shelly WestViva
41*Julio*Julio IglesiasColumbia
63*Karen*Karen Taylor-GoodMesa
42*Kathy Mattea*Kathy MatteaMercury/PolyGram
52*Let Me Be the First*Deborah AllenRCA
30*Letter to Home*Glen CampbellAtlantic America
34*Little by Little*Gene WatsonMCA
40*Love Is on the Radio*Tom JonesMercury/PolyGram
26*Magic*Mark GrayColumbia
64*Mel McDaniel with Oklahoma Wind*Mel McDanielCapitol
36*The Midnight Hour*Razzy BaileyRCA
45*Motel Matches*Moe BandyColumbia
42*Natural Dreams*Tom T. HallMercury/PolyGram
62*New Beginnings*David WillsRCA
34*New Patches*Mel TillisMCA
26*One Owner Heart*T. G. SheppardWarner Bros.
57*One Way Rider*The Osmond BrothersWarner Bros./Curb
49*Power of Love*Charley PrideRCA
32*Rhinestone (Soundtrack)*Dolly Parton and various artistsRCA
40*Shining*B. J. ThomasColumbia
65*Soft Talk*Mac DavisCasablanca
40*Surprise*SylviaRCA
56*Ten Years of Hits*Mickey GilleyEpic
33*This Ol' Piano*Mark GrayColumbia
34*Too Good to Stop Now*Mickey GilleyEpic
64*Turn Me Loose*Vince GillRCA
27*Waylon's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2*Waylon JenningsRCA
57*Where Is a Woman to Go*Gail DaviesRCA
33*Willing*Ronnie McDowellEpic
47*Writers in Disguise*Pinkard & BowdenWarner Bros.
61*You and I – Classic Country Duets*Various 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

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 1984 in country music — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report