1981 in country music
From Freepedia
See also: 1980 in country music, 1981 in music, other events of 1981, 1982 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music
Contents |
Events
Top Hits of the Year
No. 1 Hits
(As certified by Billboard magazine)
- January 10 – "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink" – Merle Haggard
- January 17 – "I Love a Rainy Night" – Eddie Rabbitt
- January 24 – "9 to 5" – Dolly Parton
- January 31 – "I Feel Like Loving You Again" – T.G. Sheppard
- February 7 – "I Keep Coming Back" – Razzy Bailey
- February 14 – "Who's Cheatin' Who" – Charly McClain
- February 21 – "Southern Rains" – Mel Tillis
- February 28 – "Are You Happy Baby" – Dottie West
- March 7 – "Do You Love as Good as You Look" – Bellamy Brothers
- March 14 – "Guitar Man" – Elvis Presley
- March 21 – "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" – Willie Nelson
- March 28 – "Texas Women" – Hank Williams Jr.
- April 4 – "Drifter" – Sylvia
- April 11 – "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" – David Frizzell and Shelly West
- April 18 – "Old Flame" – Alabama
- April 25 – "A Headache Tomorrow (or a Heartache Tonight)" – Mickey Gilley
- May 2 – "Rest Your Love on Me" – Conway Twitty
- May 9 – "Am I Losing You" – Ronnie Milsap
- May 16 – "I Loved 'Em Every One" – T.G. Sheppard
- May 23 – "Seven Year Ache" – Rosanne Cash
- May 30 – "Elvira" – Oak Ridge Boys
- June 6 – "Friends" – Razzy Bailey
- June 13 – "What Are We Doin' in Love" – Dottie West and Kenny Rogers
- June 20 – "But You Know I Love You" – Dolly Parton
- June 27 – "Blessed Are the Believers" – Anne Murray
- July 4 – "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" – Barbara Mandrell (with special guest George Jones)
- July 11 – "Fire and Smoke" – Earl Thomas Conley
- July 18 – "Feels So Right" – Alabama
- August 1 – "Dixie on My Mind" – Hank Williams Jr.
- August 8 – "Too Many Lovers" – Crystal Gayle
- August 15 – "I Don't Need You" – Kenny Rogers
- August 29 – "(There's) No Getting Over Me" – Ronnie Milsap
- September 12 – "Older Women" – Ronnie McDowell
- September 19 – "You Don't Know Me" – Mickey Gilley
- September 26 – "Tight Fittin' Jeans" – Conway Twitty
- October 3 – "Midnight Hauler" – Razzy Bailey
- October 10 – "Party Time" – T.G. Sheppard
- October 17 – "Step by Step" – Eddie Rabbitt
- October 24 – "Never Been So Loved (In All My Life)" – Charley Pride
- November 7 – "Fancy Free" – Oak Ridge Boys
- November 14 – "My Baby Thinks He's a Train" – Rosanne Cash
- November 21 – "All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)" – Hank Williams Jr.
- November 28 – "My Favorite Memory" – Merle Haggard
- December 5 – "Bet Your Heart on Me" – Johnny Lee
- December 12 – "Still Doin' Time" – George Jones
- December 19 – "All Roads Lead to You" – Steve Wariner
- December 26 – "Love in the First Degree" – Alabama
Other Major Hits
- "The Baron" -- Johnny Cash
- "Beautiful You" -- Oak Ridge Boys
- "By Now" -- Steve Wariner
- "Can I See You Tonight" -- Tanya Tucker
- "Chicken Truck" -- John Anderson
- "Don't Get Above Your Raisin'" -- Ricky Skaggs
- "Don't Wait on Me" -- Statler Brothers
- "Down and Out" -- George Strait
- "Dream of Me" -- Vern Gosdin
- "Falling Again" -- Don Williams
- "Fool By Your Side" -- Dave & Sugar
- "Hey Moe, Hey Joe" -- Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley
- "Hooked on Music" -- Mac Davis
- "Hurricane" -- Leon Everette
- "I Need Someone to Hold Me When I Cry" -- Janie Fricke
- "I Still Believe in Waltzes" -- Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
- "I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal" -- John Anderson
- "It Don't Hurt Me Half as Bad" -- Ray Price
- "It's Now or Never" -- John Schneider
- "Leonard" -- Merle Haggard
- "Louisiana Saturday Night" -- Mel McDaniel
- "Lovin' Arms" -- Elvis Presley
- "Lovin' Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" -- Tompall and the Glaser Brothers
- "Lovin' What Your Lovin' Does to Me" -- Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn
- "Matador" -- Sylvia
- "Miracles" -- Don Williams
- "Miss Emily's Picture" -- John Conlee
- "Pickin' Up Strangers" -- Johnny Lee
- "Prisoner of Hope" -- Johnny Lee
- "Rainbow Stew" -- Merle Haggard
- "Roll On, Mississippi" -- Charley Pride
- "Sleepin' With the Radio On" -- Charly McClain
- "Surround Me With Love" -- Charly McClain
- "Unwound" -- George Strait
- "Wandering Eyes" -- Ronnie McDowell
- "You May See Me Walkin'" -- Ricky Skaggs
- "Your Memory" -- Steve Wariner
Top New Album Releases
- 9 to 5 and Other Odd Jobs – Dolly Parton (RCA)
- Fancy Free – Oak Ridge Boys (MCA)
- Feels So Right – Alabama (RCA)
- The Pressure is On – Hank Williams Jr. (Elektra/Curb)
- Share Your Love – Kenny Rogers (United Artists)
- Strait Country – George Strait (MCA)
Births
Deaths
Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees
Major Awards
Grammy Awards
Academy of Country Music
- Entertainer Of The Year -- Alabama
- Song Of The Year -- "You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma" - David Frizzell and Shelly West
- Single Of The Year -- "Elvira" - Oak Ridge Boys
- Album Of The Year -- Feels So Right - Alabama
- Top Male Vocalist -- Merle Haggard
- Top Female Vocalist -- Barbara Mandrell
- Top Vocal Duo -- Shelly West and David Frizzell
- Top New Male Vocalist -- Ricky Skaggs
- Top New Female Vocalist -- Juice Newton
