1990 in Country Music: The Year That Was
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1990 was a big year in country music! Here’s a look back at some of the biggest moments and events that took place in country music in 1990.
The Year in Review
It’s hard to believe that it has been 30 years since 1990, the year that many country music fans consider to be one of the best years in the genre. That was the year that Garth Brooks released his self-titled debut album, which would go on to become the best-selling album of all time. Other country music legends released albums in 1990 that would go on to become classics, including George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Clint Black. Let’s take a look back at some of the biggest moments in country music from that year.
The top songs of the year
The top songs of the year were:
1) “Friends in Low Places” – Garth Brooks
2) “I’m Your Baby Tonight” – Whitney Houston
3) “The Power of Love” – Celine Dion
4) “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” – Bryan Adams
5) “Black or White” – Michael Jackson
6) “Unchained Melody” – The Righteous Brothers
7) “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection” – Nelson
8) “Place in This World” – Michael W. Smith
9)”From a Distance” – Bette Midler
10)”One More Try” – George Michael
The top albums of the year
The year 1990 in country music saw the continued rise of a more traditional-sounding brand of country music, personified by such artists as Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Wade Hayes, Alan Jackson, and Travis Tritt. This traditionalist wave was led by Brooks’ highly successful second album No Fences, which topped the Billboard country charts for an astounding 17 weeks and produced five Number One singles. Jackson’s outstanding third album Don’t Rock the Jukebox also attained similar success, spending seven weeks at Number One on the album chart and spawning two chart-topping singles. Other major releases during the year included Black’s debut album Killin’ Time, Tritt’s sophomore effort Country Club, and Lyle Lovett’s third record Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. A number of other artists also released noteworthy albums during 1990, including John Anderson, Emmylou Harris, George Jones,Alan Parsons Project, Mark Chesnutt, Wynonna Judd (in her solo debut), Exile, Juice Newton, Pam Tillis, Tanya Tucker, Keith Whitley, Lee Ann Womack (in her debut), and Trisha Yearwood.
The biggest news stories of the year
The biggest news stories of the year in country music included the launches of Garth Brooks’ and George Strait’s careers, the deaths of Hank Williams Sr. and Sr. George Jones, and the retirement of Johnny Cash. Other top stories included Reba McEntire’s marriage to Narvel Blackstock, Alan Jackson’s marriage to Denise Richards, and the start of Vince Gill’s career.
The Decade in Review
The 1990s in country music were a time of change. Garth Brooks and Shania Twain rose to prominence and changed the sound and style of the genre. At the same time, the traditional values of country music were being challenged by a new generation of artists. This decade was a time of transition for country music.
The top songs of the decade
In this section, we’ll take a look at the top songs of the decade. These are the songs that truly defined country music in the 1990s, and they continue to be some of the most iconic and popular songs in the genre today.
1. “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks
2. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
3. ” Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus
4. “The Dance” by Garth Brooks
5. “Anywhere but Here” by Radney Foster
6. “No One Else on Earth” by Wynonna Judd
7. “She’s in Love with the Boy” by Trisha Yearwood
8. “Strawberry Wine” by Deana Carter
9. “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
10. “Amazed” by Lonestar
The top albums of the decade
As the decade came to a close, many of the industry’s most successful artists released what would become some of their best-selling albums. George Strait continued his streak of number one albums with Livin’ It Up, Garth Brooks released his double album No Fences, which would become the best-selling album of all time by a solo artist, and Strait’s former protege Reba McEntire released her biggest album to date, For My Broken Heart. Other successful albums from country music’s biggest stars included Alan Jackson’s Don’t Rock the Jukebox, Kenny Chesney’s Me and You, Tim McGraw’s All I Want, and Faith Hill’s Breathe.
Beyond the superstars, there were a number of other successful albums from more obscure or niche artists. Brad Paisley’s debut album Who Needs Pictures was well-received by critics and fans alike, helping to pave the way for his mainstream success in the years to come. Dixie Chicks’ Fly was another critical and commercial success, earning them their first Grammy Award for Best Country Album. The year 2000 saw the release of two very different but equally successful albums: Keith Urban’s self-titled debut album and Toby Keith’s Pull My Chain.
There were also a number of significant compilations and greatest hits albums released in 1990, including George Strait’s Greatest Hits Volume Two, Hank Williams Jr.’s Greatest Hits Volume II & III: Bocephus & Friends, Alabama’s 40 Hour Week (for a Livin’), and Patsy Cline’s 12 Greatest Hits. These collections helped introduce the music of these artists to new audiences and solidified their legacies as some of country music’s all-time greats.
The biggest news stories of the decade
The 1990s was a decade of change in country music. With the increasing popularity of alternative and indie rock, country artists began to experiment with new sounds and styles, giving rise to what is known as “new country” or “hat country.” This decade also saw the rise of several superstar female artists, such as Shania Twain and Faith Hill. Here are some of the biggest news stories from country music in the 1990s.
-In 1993, Garth Brooks releases his third album, In Pieces, which features the hits “Standing Outside the Fire” and “Ain’t Going Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up).” The album is a huge success, selling over four million copies.
-In 1995, Shania Twain releases her second album, The Woman in Me. The album is a massive success, selling over 20 million copies worldwide and earning Twain her first Grammy Award.
-In 1996, Faith Hill releases her debut album, Take Me as I Am. The album is a huge success, selling over five million copies and spawning the hit single “This Kiss.”
-In 1998, Tim McGraw releases his fourth album, A Place in the Sun. The album is a massive success, selling over six million copies and spawning the hit singles “Something Like That” and “Please Remember Me.”
-In 1999, David Foster produces Whitney Houston’s seventh studio album My Love Is Your Love. The album is a critical and commercial success, selling over three million copies in the United States alone.
