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1986 in country music

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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1986.

Events

  • January 18 — "American Country Countdown" with Bob Kingsley expands from three to four hours. Several new features — including a chronological playback of songs reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and a calendar feature (highlighting a birthday, or anniversary of a notable song or event in country music) — are added.
  • June 25 — Jenifer Strait, the 13-year-old daughter of George Strait (who by now is one of country music's top performers) is killed in a car accident in San Marcos, Texas. Her father still refuses to talk about his daughter's death to this day.
  • July 19 — Columbia Records drops Johnny Cash from the label's roster after 28 years.

No dates

  • For the first time in its 42-year history, there is a new No. 1 song for each week of the year, according to Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles Chart.
  • 1986 was a renaissance year in country music, with a host of "A New Traditionalist"-minded artists reinvigorating a genre that critics were saying had grown increasingly stagnant and pop-oriented. Among the most successful new artists: Holly Dunn, Judy Rodman, Ricky Van Shelton, Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam. Keith Whitley, another artist who had been around for a few years, has his first major hit early in the year. They – along with popular newcomers from earlier in the decade such as Alabama, George Strait and Reba McEntire, and longtime artists like George Jones, Merle Haggard and Conway Twitty – proved not only that country music was the music of the people, but also that the genre had real resiliency.
  • After 17 years of playing co-host to Roy Clark, Buck Owens announces his departure from the still-popular "Hee Haw." Clark would soldier on alone for the next six years, with rotating guest stars each week.

Top hits of the year

Singles released by American artists

USCANSingleArtist
11[100% Chance of Rain](100-chance-of-rain)Gary Morris
65[1982](1982-randy-travis-song)Randy Travis
11Ain't Misbehavin'Hank Williams, Jr.
61All Tied UpRonnie McDowell
11Always Have, Always WillJanie Fricke
1953ArleneMarty Stuart
516At the Sound of the ToneJohn Schneider
72(Back to The) Heartbreak KidRestless Heart
147Back When Love Was EnoughMark Gray
1215Bad LovePake McEntire
11BopDan Seals
177Born YesterdayThe Everly Brothers
11Both to Each Other (Friends and Lovers)Eddie Rabbitt & Juice Newton
10Burned Like a RocketBilly Joe Royal
11Cajun MoonRicky Skaggs
95Cheap LoveJuice Newton
31Come On In (You Did the Best You Could Do)The Oak Ridge Boys
54Count On MeThe Statler Brothers
24Country State of MindHank Williams, Jr.
11CryCrystal Gayle
7Daddy's HandsHolly Dunn
11Desperado LoveConway Twitty
137The Devil's on the LooseWaylon Jennings
1010Didn't WeLee Greenwood
11Diggin' Up BonesRandy Travis
11Don't Underestimate My Love for YouLee Greenwood
69Doo-Wah DaysMickey Gilley
1235Down in TennesseeJohn Anderson
917Dreamland ExpressJohn Denver
821Drinkin' My Baby GoodbyeCharlie Daniels
515Easy to PleaseJanie Fricke
2047Every NightPake McEntire
11Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)Dan Seals
42Fast Lanes and Country RoadsBarbara Mandrell
28Feelin' the Feelin'The Bellamy Brothers
912A Friend in CaliforniaMerle Haggard
1719A Girl Like EmmylouSouthern Pacific
11Got My Heart Set on YouJohn Conlee
12Gotta Learn to Love Without YouMichael Johnson
11Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)The Judds
77Guitar TownSteve Earle
42Guitars, CadillacsDwight Yoakam
11Happy, Happy Birthday BabyRonnie Milsap
1019HarmonyJohn Conlee
1416Heart Don't Fall NowSawyer Brown
12Heartbeat in the DarknessDon Williams
11Hearts Aren't Made to Break (They're Made to Love)Lee Greenwood
11Hell and High WaterT. Graham Brown
56Hold OnRosanne Cash
31Home Again in My HeartNitty Gritty Dirt Band
107Honky Tonk CrowdJohn Anderson
31Honky Tonk ManDwight Yoakam
11HurtJuice Newton
11I Could Get Used to YouExile
54I Had a Beautiful TimeMerle Haggard
97I Love You by HeartSylvia & Michael Johnson
14I Miss You AlreadyBilly Joe Royal
7I Tell It Like It Used to BeT. Graham Brown
32I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way AgainT. Graham Brown
107I've Got a New HeartacheRicky Skaggs
11In LoveRonnie Milsap
928In Over My HeartT. G. Sheppard
15It Ain't Cool to Be Crazy About YouGeorge Strait
11It'll Be MeExile
77It's Just a Matter of TimeGlen Campbell
1516JulietThe Oak Ridge Boys
11Just Another LoveTanya Tucker
12Just in CaseThe Forester Sisters
12Life's HighwaySteve Wariner
12Little RockReba McEntire
11Living in the PromiselandWillie Nelson
23Lonely AloneThe Forester Sisters
3Love at the Five and DimeKathy Mattea
14Love Will Get You Through Times of No MoneyGirls Next Door
41Love's Gonna Get You SomedayRicky Skaggs
11Makin' Up for Lost Time (The Dallas Lovers' Song)Crystal Gayle and Gary Morris
11Mama's Never Seen Those EyesThe Forester Sisters
52Memories to BurnGene Watson
1438Miami, My AmyKeith Whitley
11Mind Your Own BusinessHank Williams, Jr.
11Morning DesireKenny Rogers
12Never Be YouRosanne Cash
411NightsEd Bruce
65No One Mends a Broken Heart Like YouBarbara Mandrell
11Nobody in His Right Mind Would've Left HerGeorge Strait
129Nothing but Your Love MattersLarry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers
106Oh Darlin' (Why Don't You Care for Me No More)The O'Kanes
927Oklahoma BorderlineVince Gill
53Old FlameJuice Newton
56Old SchoolJohn Conlee
11On the Other HandRandy Travis
11Once in a Blue MoonEarl Thomas Conley
32The One I Loved Back Then (The Corvette Song)George Jones
31One Love at a TimeTanya Tucker
114Out Goin' Cattin'Sawyer Brown with Cat Joe Bonsall
63Partners, Brothers and FriendsNitty Gritty Dirt Band
1824Perfect StrangerSouthern Pacific
73Please Be LoveMark Gray
45Read My LipsMarie Osmond
919Reno BoundSouthern Pacific
45Repetitive RegretEddie Rabbitt
11Rockin' with the Rhythm of the RainThe Judds
1514Rollin' NowhereMichael Martin Murphey
34Savin' My Love for YouPake McEntire
54Second to No OneRosanne Cash
157Shakin'Sawyer Brown
11She and IAlabama
23She Used to Be Somebody's BabyLarry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers
2218Shoe StringMel McDaniel
715Since I Found YouSweethearts of the Rodeo
8Slow Boat to ChinaGirls Next Door
920Somebody Wants Me Out of the WayGeorge Jones
32Sometimes a LadyEddy Raven
53Stand a Little RainNitty Gritty Dirt Band
125Stand on ItMel McDaniel
411Starting Over AgainSteve Wariner
11Strong HeartT. G. Sheppard
1421Super LoveExile
834Sweeter and SweeterThe Statler Brothers
916Ten Feet AwayKeith Whitley
12That Rock Won't RollRestless Heart
99That's How You Know When Love's RightNicolette Larson (with Steve Wariner)
11There's No Stopping Your HeartMarie Osmond
11Think About LoveDolly Parton
1720Tie Our Love (In a Double Knot)Dolly Parton
1011Til I Loved YouRestless Heart
11Tomb of the Unknown LoveKenny Rogers
23Too Many TimesEarl Thomas Conley & Anita Pointer
11Too Much Is Not EnoughThe Bellamy Brothers with The Forester Sisters
11Touch Me When We're DancingAlabama
1Until I Met YouJudy Rodman
10Walk the Way the Wind BlowsKathy Mattea
32We've Got a Good Fire Goin'Don Williams
87What You'll Do When I'm GoneWaylon Jennings
11What's a Memory Like You (Doing in a Love Like This)John Schneider
1727When It's Down to Me and YouCharly McClain (with Wayne Massey)
2033When You Get to the HeartBarbara Mandrell (with The Oak Ridge Boys)
13Whoever's in New EnglandReba McEntire
55Will the Wolf SurviveWaylon Jennings
1013Wine Colored RosesGeorge Jones
1619Working Class ManLacy J. Dalton
75Working Without a NetWaylon Jennings
108You Are My Music, You Are My SongCharly McClain (with Wayne Massey)
11You Can Dream of MeSteve Wariner
9You Can't Stop LoveSchuyler, Knobloch & Overstreet
2420You Made a Rock of a Rolling StoneThe Oak Ridge Boys
33You Should Have Been Gone by NowEddy Raven
44You're Something Special to MeGeorge Strait
11You're Still New to MeMarie Osmond with Paul Davis
11You're the Last Thing I Needed TonightJohn Schneider
52Your Memory Ain't What It Used to BeMickey Gilley

Singles released by Canadian artists

USCANSingleArtist
919Being a Fool AgainAudie Henry
15Call Me UpRae Palmer
16Fiddlin' ManWhiskey Jack
13Forget About MeAnne Lord
4He's My Gentle ManAudie Henry
10Heads You Win (Tails I Lose)Anita Perras
8Hot on the Heels of LoveThe Haggertys
6I'll Never Get Over YouAnne Lord
13I'm Best at Lovin' YouMurray McLauchlan
9I'm Taking Care of MyselfCarroll Baker
5In My Arms TonightBootleg
9It's Times Like ThisCarol Martyn
18Love CrazyGilles Godard
6Love Sweet LoveTerry Carisse
16Lovin' the Night AwayTerry Sumsion
11Now and Forever (You and Me)Anne Murray
8Pretty Diamond RingMercey Brothers
9Reach Out and Touch HerHarvey Henry
14Rise Against the WindDick Damron with Ginny Mitchell
19Something GoodAnita Perras with Tim Taylor
14Stealer of HeartsRonnie Prophet
17Summer NightsThe Ellis Family Band
6Take a Little Chance on LoveMercey Brothers
15Two Hearts in a Lonely MindJules
808What If It's RightFamily Brown
18You Can't Hide from LoveStoker Bros

Top new album releases

USAlbumArtistRecord label
1*[#7](7-george-strait-album)*George StraitMCA
1*Black & White*Janie FrickieColumbia
22*Born Yesterday*The Everly BrothersMercury/PolyGram
15*Class of '55*Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis,
Roy Orbison & Johnny CashAmerica/Smash
17*Countrified*John AndersonWarner Bros.
7*Four for the Show*The Statler BrothersMercury/PolyGram
2*A Friend in California*Merle HaggardEpic
16*From the Pages of My Mind*Ray CharlesColumbia
20*Girls Like Me*Tanya TuckerCapitol
1*Greatest Hits*AlabamaRCA
2*Greatest Hits*ExileEpic
1*Guitar Town*Steve EarleMCA
1*Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.*Dwight YoakamReprise
9*Harmony*John ConleeColumbia
13*Heroes*Johnny Cash & Waylon JenningsColumbia
19*I Only Wanted You*Marie OsmondCapitol/Curb
15*I Tell It Like It Used to Be*T. Graham BrownCapitol
23*Judy*Judy RodmanMTM
25*Just Can't Sit Down Music*Mel McDanielCapitol
21*Looking Ahead*Billy Joe RoyalAtlantic America
9*Love Will Find Its Way to You*Lee GreenwoodMCA
3*Love's Gonna Get Ya!*Ricky SkaggsEpic
14*Lyle Lovett*Lyle LovettCurb/MCA
17*Merry Christmas Strait to You*George StraitMCA
1*Montana Cafe*Hank Williams, Jr.Curb/Warner Bros.
9*The O'Kanes*The O'KanesColumbia
12*On the Front Line*Dan SealsCapitol
15*Out Among the Stars*Merle HaggardEpic
8*Out Goin' Cattin'*Sawyer BrownCapitol/Curb
13*Partners*Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin BrothersColumbia
13*Partners*Willie NelsonColumbia
9*Plain Brown Wrapper*Gary MorrisWarner Bros.
1*The Promiseland*Willie NelsonColumbia
6*Rabbitt Trax*Eddie RabbittRCA
8*Seasons*The Oak Ridge BoysMCA
2*Something to Talk About*Anne MurrayCapitol
1*Storms of Life*Randy TravisWarner Bros.
12*Straight to the Heart*Crystal GayleWarner Bros.
11*Surely You Joust*Ray StevensMCA
8*Sweethearts of the Rodeo*Sweethearts of the RodeoColumbia
17*Take the Long Way Home*John SchneiderMCA
16*They Don't Make Them
Like They Used To*Kenny RogersRCA
9*Thirteen*Emmylou HarrisWarner Bros.
3*Too Many Times*Earl Thomas ConleyRCA
1*The Touch*AlabamaRCA
10*Twenty Years of Dirt*Nitty Gritty Dirt BandWarner Bros.
13*Walk the Way the Wind Blows*Kathy MatteaMercury
1*What Am I Gonna Do About You*Reba McEntireMCA
1*Wheels*Restless HeartRCA
1*Whoever's in New England*Reba McEntireMCA
1*Will the Wolf Survive*Waylon JenningsMCA
5*Wine Colored Roses*George JonesEpic

Other top albums

USAlbumArtistRecord label
34*All Tied Up in Love*Ronnie McDowellMCA
53*American Vagabond*William Lee GoldenMCA
59*The Boys Are Back in Town*The Maines Brothers BandMercury/PolyGram
65*Chance*ChanceMercury/PolyGram
50*Christmas Again*The Oak Ridge BoysMCA
65*Christmas with Ronnie Milsap*Ronnie MilsapRCA
49*Everybody Knows I'm Yours*Jim GlaserMCA/Noble Vision
37*Fallin' for You for Years*Conway TwittyWarner Bros.
47*Fire at First Sight*The KendallsMCA
29*Floridays*Jimmy BuffettMCA
30*The Girls Next Door*Girls Next DoorMTM
48*Greatest Hits*Vern GosdinCompleat
27*Greatest Hits Volume Two*The Bellamy BrothersCurb/MCA
32*Highway Diner*Lacy J. DaltonColumbia
29*Holly Dunn*Holly DunnMTM
26*It Still Rains in Memphis*T. G. SheppardColumbia
35*Killbilly Hill*Southern PacificWarner Bros.
26*L.A. to Miami*Keith WhitleyRCA
34*Marty Stuart*Marty StuartColumbia
62*Memphis Sessions*Rick NelsonEpic
53*Moments*Barbara MandrellMCA
66*New Grass Revival*New Grass RevivalCapitol
29*New Moves*Don WilliamsCapitol
53*Night Things*Ed BruceRCA
40*One and Only*Mickey GilleyEpic
35*Patty Loveless*Patty LovelessMCA
27*Perfume, Ribbons & Pearls*The Forester SistersWarner Bros.
56*Portrait of a Singer*Ray PriceStep One
31*Radio Gospel Favorites*The Statler BrothersMercury/PolyGram
40*Reba Nell McEntire*Reba McEntireMercury/PolyGram
31*Repossessed*Kris KristoffersonMercury/PolyGram
57*Robin Lee*Robin LeeEvergreen
40*Rose of My Heart*Nicolette LarsonMCA
39*Schuyler, Knobloch & Overstreet*S-K-OMTM
70*The Shoppe*The ShoppeMTM
31*Son of the South*David Allan CoeColumbia
49*Starting New Memories*Gene WatsonEpic
38*Street Language*Rodney CrowellColumbia
59*Thank God for the Radio...
And All the Hits*The KendallsMercury/PolyGram
35*That Feeling Inside*Mark GrayColumbia
54*Think About Love*Dolly PartonRCA
46*Tonight We Ride*Michael Martin MurpheyWarner Bros.
52*Too Old to Grow Up*Pake McEntireRCA
28*When Love Is Right*Charly McClain & Wayne MasseyEpic
26*Wings*Michael JohnsonRCA
50*Winners*Donna FargoMercury/PolyGram

On television

Regular series

  • Hee Haw (1969–1993, syndicated)

Specials

Births

  • February 2 — Blaine Larsen, 2000's (decade) singer better known for his single "How Do You Get That Lonely".
  • March 23 — Brett Eldredge, singer of the 2010s best known for hits including "Don't Ya" and "Beat of the Music".
  • April 1 — Hillary Scott, member of Lady Antebellum and daughter of Linda Davis.
  • April 2 — Chris Janson, singer-songwriter known for his 2015 hit "Buy Me a Boat".
  • June 18 — Jimmie Allen, singer-songwriter known for his late 2010s hits "Best Shot" and "Make Me Want To".
  • June 28 — Kellie Pickler, sixth-place finalist on the fifth season of American Idol.
  • August 16 — Ashton Shepherd, debuted in late 2007-early 2008 with her top 20 single "Takin' Off This Pain".
  • September 10 — Ashley Monroe, singer-songwriter of the 2000s and 2010s and member of the Pistol Annies.
  • September 19 — Chase Rice, singer of the 2010s best known for the hit "Ready Set Roll."

Deaths

  • February 10 — Arthur E. Satherley, 96, music executive.
  • May 30 — "Papa Joe" Brown, 60, founding member of Canadian country group Family Brown.
  • June 20 — Whitey Ford, 85, beloved Grand Ole Opry comedian and storyteller.
  • June 25 — Jenifer Strait, 13, daughter of George Strait (car accident).
  • June 27 — Joe Maphis, 65, prolific guitarist and fiddler, prominently featured on the theme to "Bonanza" (cancer).
  • December 5 — Carmol Taylor, 53, songwriter.

Hall of Fame inductees

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Duke of Paducah (1901–1986)
  • Wesley Rose (1918–1990)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Papa Joe Brown

Major awards

Grammy Awards

  • Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "Whoever's in New England", Reba McEntire
  • Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "Lost in the Fifties Tonight", Ronnie Milsap
  • Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Ol' Days)". The Judds
  • Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Raisin' the Dickins", Ricky Skaggs
  • Best Country Song — "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)", Jamie O'Hara (Performer: The Judds)

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 — Prairie Oyster

Academy of Country Music

  • Entertainer of the Year — Hank Williams, Jr.
  • Song of the Year — "On the Other Hand", Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz (Performer: Randy Travis)
  • Single of the Year — "On the Other Hand", Randy Travis
  • Album of the YearStorms of Life, Randy Travis
  • Top Male Vocalist — Randy Travis
  • Top Female Vocalist — Reba McEntire
  • Top Vocal Duo — The Judds
  • Top Vocal Group — The Forester Sisters
  • Top New Male Vocalist — Dwight Yoakam
  • Top New Female Vocalist — Holly Dunn
  • Video of the Year — "Whoever's in New England", Reba McEntire (Directors: Jeff Schock and Jon Small)

Canadian Country Music Association

  • Entertainer(s) of the Year — Family Brown
  • Male Artist of the Year — Terry Carisse
  • Female Artist of the Year — Anita Perras
  • Group of the Year — Family Brown
  • SOCAN Song of the Year — "Now and Forever", David Foster, Jim Vallance, Charles Randolph Goodrum (Performer: Anne Murray)
  • Single of the Year — "Now and Forever," Anne Murray
  • Album of the YearFeel the Fire, Family Brown
  • Top Selling AlbumHymns of Gold, Carroll Baker
  • Vista Rising Star Award — J. K. Gulley
  • Duo of the Year — Anita Perras and Tim Taylor

Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year — Reba McEntire
  • Song of the Year — "On the Other Hand", Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz (Performer: Randy Travis)
  • Single of the Year — "Bop", Dan Seals
  • Album of the YearLost in the Fifties Tonight, Ronnie Milsap
  • Male Vocalist of the Year — George Strait
  • Female Vocalist of the Year — Reba McEntire
  • Vocal Duo of the Year — Marie Osmond and Dan Seals
  • Vocal Group of the Year — The Judds
  • Horizon Award — Randy Travis
  • Music Video of the Year — "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?", George Jones (Director: Marc Ball)
  • Instrumentalist of the Year — Johnny Gimble
  • Instrumental Group of the Year — The Oak Ridge Boys

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Country stars who got a star in 1986

the Everly Brothers

References

References

  1. (July 19, 1986). "Columbia Label Drops Johnny Cash". [[Los Angeles Times]].
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