1986 in country music
From Freepedia
See also: 1985 in country music, 1986 in music, other events of 1986, 1987 in country music, 1980s in music and the List of years in Country Music
Contents |
Events
- 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 renissance year in country music, with a host of "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, Ricky Van Shelton, Randy Travis and Dwight Yoakam. They - along with popular newcomers from earlier in the decade such as George Strait and Reba McEntire, and longtime artists like George Jones, Merle Haggard and Conway Twitty - prove that country music was not only the music of the people, but also the genre's resiliancy.
- 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.
- 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
No. 1 Hits
(As certified by Billboard magazine)
- January 11 - "Morning Desire" - Kenny Rogers
- January 18 - "Bop" - Dan Seals
- January 25 - "Never Be You" - Rosanne Cash
- February 1 - "Just In Case" - Forester Sisters
- February 8 - "Hurt" - Juice Newton
- February 15 - "Making Up for Lost Time (The Dallas Lovers Song)" - Gary Morris and Crystal Gayle
- February 22 - "There's No Stopping Your Heart" - Marie Osmond
- March 1 - "You Can Dream of Me" - Steve Wariner
- March 8 - "Think About Love" - Dolly Parton
- March 15 - "I Could Get Used to You" - Exile
- March 22 - "What's a Memory Like You (Doing in a Love Like This)" - John Schneider
- March 29 - "Don't Underestimate My Love for You" - Lee Greenwood
- April 5 - "100% Chance of Rain" - Gary Morris
- April 12 - "She and I" - Alabama
- April 19 - "Cajun Moon" - Ricky Skaggs
- April 26 - "Now and Forever (You and Me)" - Anne Murray
- May 3 - "Once in a Blue Moon" - Earl Thomas Conley
- May 10 - "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)" - The Judds
- May 17 - "Ain't Misbehavin'" - Hank Williams Jr.
- May 24 - "Tomb of the Unknown Love" - Kenny Rogers
- May 31 - "Whoever's in New England" - Reba McEntire
- June 7 - "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" - Ronnie Milsap
- June 14 - "Life's Highway" - Steve Wariner
- June 21 - "Mama's Never Seen Those Eyes" - Forester Sisters
- June 28 - "Living in the Promiseland" - Willie Nelson
- July 5 - "Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)" - Dan Seals
- July 12 - "Hearts Aren't Made to Break (They're Made to Love)" - Lee Greenwood
- July 19 - "Until I Met You" - Judy Rodman
- July 26 - "On the Other Hand" - Randy Travis
- August 2 - "Nobody in His Right Mind Would've Left Her" - George Strait
- August 9 - "Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain" - The Judds
- August 16 - "You're the Last Thing I Needed Tonight" - John Schneider
- August 23 - "Strong Heart" - T.G. Sheppard
- August 30 - "Heartbeat in the Darkness" - Don Williams
- September 6 - "Desperado Love" - Conway Twitty
- September 13 - "Little Rock" - Reba McEntire
- September 20 - "Got My Heart Set on You" - John Conlee
- September 27 - "In Love" - Ronnie Milsap
- October 4 - "Always Have, Always Will" - Janie Fricke
- October 11 - "Both to Each Other (Friends and Lovers)" - Eddie Rabbitt and Juice Newton
- October 18 - "Just Another Love" - Tanya Tucker
- October 25 - "Cry" - Crystal Gayle
- November 1 - "It'll Be Me" - Exile
- November 8 - "Diggin' Up Bones" - Randy Travis
- November 15 - "That Rock Won't Roll" - Restless Heart
- November 22 - "You're Still New to Me" - Marie Osmond and Paul Davis
- November 29 - "Touch Me When We're Dancing" - Alabama
- December 6 - "It Ain't Cool to be Crazy About You" - George Strait
- December 13 - "Hell and High Water" - T. Graham Brown
- December 20 - "Too Much is Not Enough" - Bellamy Brothers and Forester Sisters
- December 27 - "Mind Your Own Business" - Hank Williams Jr. featuring Reba McEntire, Tom Petty, Reverend Ike, & Willie Nelson
Other Major Hits
Top New Album Releases
Births
Deaths
- 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.
Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees
Major Awards
Grammy Awards
Academy of Country Music
- Entertainer Of The Year -- Hank Williams Jr.
- Song Of The Year -- "On The Other Hand" - Randy Travis - Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz
- Single Of The Year -- "On The Other Hand" - Randy Travis
- Album Of The Year -- Storms Of Life - Randy Travis
- Top Male Vocalist -- Randy Travis
- Top Female Vocalist -- Reba McEntire
- Top Vocal Duo -- The Judds
- Top Vocal Group -- 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
