The Best of Country Music in the 80s

The best of country music in the 80s was a great time for the genre. Some of the biggest names in country music released some of their best work during this decade.

Introduction

There are few genres of music more polarizing than country. For some, it evokes images of hay bales, line dancing, and good ol’ boys; for others, it’s the epitome of Americana. But whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that country music has had a profound impact on American culture.

And in the 1980s, country was enjoying a renaissance. After years of languishing in the shadow of disco and rock, country music made a big comeback in the 1980s. Thanks to a new crop of talented artists like George Strait, Ronnie Milsap, and Alabama, country music enjoyed its greatest popularity in years.

If you’re a fan of country music, then you’ll want to check out our list of the best country songs from the 1980s. From heart-wrenching ballads to uptempo toe-tappers, these are the songs that helped define a decade.

The Best of Country Music in the 80s

The best of country music in the 80s was a time when the genre was truly beginning to find its voice. Artists like George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Clint Black were starting to make a name for themselves, and country music was becoming more popular than ever. This was also a time when country music was starting to become more experimental, and artists were beginning to experiment with different sounds and styles.

George Strait

George Strait is one of the most popular country artists of all time, and he got his start in the 1980s. He released his debut album, Strait Country, in 1981, and it contained some of his most well-known hits, such as “Unwound” and “Down Texas Way.” He followed this album up with a string of successful releases throughout the decade, cementing his place as one of the top country artists of the time. Some of his other popular songs from the 1980s include “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” “Ocean Front Property,” and ” Amarillo by Morning.”

Randy Travis

Randy Travis is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since 1985, he has recorded twenty studio albums and placed more than forty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, fifteen of which peaked at number one. His songs “Hard to Say” and “Forever and Ever, Amen” were both named Single of the Year by the Country Music Association, while his album Old 8×10 was named Album of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. Randy Travis received six Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards (including a Fan-Voted Milestone Award in 2010), seven American Music Awards, ten CMA Awards (including Entertainer of the Year in 1987), eight GMA Dove Awards and five BMI awards. He was inducted into both the Grand Ole Opry and Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006 and inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Alabama

Alabama is an American country music band formed in Fort Payne, Alabama, in 1969. The band was founded by lead singer Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry. They were soon joined by Jeff Cook. First operating under the name Wildcountry, the group toured the South and Midwest opening for acts such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Charlie Daniels before signing with RCA Records in 1977.

The band’s discography comprises 21 studio albums, of which 14 were certified multi-platinum, nine were certified platinum, and one was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “Tennessee River” was the band’s first Single of the Year on Billboard magazine’s Country Singles chart; “Mountain Music” was its second. *My Home’s in Alabama* (1980) and *The Closer You Get* (1983) were both presented as Album of the Year to the Academy of Country Music; “The Closer You Get” also won as Single Record of the Year. Roll On (1984) and When It All Goes South (1987) charted within the top 10 while *Greatest Hits* (1988), which collected 16 of their singles plus two new tracks, peaked at No. 1 on Billboard Top Country Albums.

The accompanying singles “+ Just Another Thing” and ” Tar Top” both reached Number One on Billboard Country Singles in 1988; between them, these three releases formed Alabama’s seventh consecutive album to achieve either platinum or multi-platinum certification. The band has also received five Grammy Awards: two for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (“Mountain Music”, 1983; “Jukebox in My Mind”, 1990), one for Best Country Instrumental Performance (“Dixieland Delight”, 1984), one for Best Country Song (“Forever’s as Far as I’ll Go”, 1996) and one for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album (Angels Among Us: Hymns & Gospel Favorites, 2002). Forty-one singles by Alabama have reached Number One on Billboard: 21 Number One country singles, 20 of which were consecutive; a record number of single weeks at Number One on Hot Country Songs; and nine Number One singles on Canada RPM country charts.

The Judds

The Judds were an American country music duo composed of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna Judd. Signed to RCA Records in 1983, the duo released six studio albums between then and 1991. One of the most successful acts in country music history, The Judds won five Grammy Awards for their work. The duo also charted twenty-five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, fourteen of which went to Number One and six more of which made Top Ten on that chart. In 1985, The Judds appeared on one of the two covers (the other featuring Alabama) of Time magazine’s special report on the state of country music.

Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire is a legendary country music artist who rose to fame in the 1980s. She is known for her powerful voice and emotional lyrics, which have earned her numerous awards and accolades over the years.

Born in Oklahoma in 1955, Reba began performing with her family’s band at a young age. She released her first album in 1977, and although it was not a commercial success, she persevered. Her breakthrough came in 1980 with the release of her fourth album, which contained the hit single “Can’t Even Get the Blues.”

From there, Reba’s career took off. She released a string of successful albums throughout the 1980s, culminating in the release of her greatest hits album in 1989. She also began appearing on television, starring in her own sitcom, “Reba,” from 2001 to 2007.

Today, Reba remains a country music legend. She continues to release new music and tour regularly, and she remains an influential figure in country music.

Conclusion

That’s our list! The best of country music in the 80s. What did you think? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below!