The Best of Country Music in the 80s

Take a stroll down memory lane with a look at some of the best country music the 1980s had to offer!

The Best of Country Music in the 80s

The 1980s was a decade that saw the birth of country music legends. Some of the biggest names in country music rose to prominence in the 1980s. This was a decade of great country music, and here are some of the best country songs of the 1980s.

The Best Country Songs of the 80s

The 1980s were a decade of transition for country music. The genre was growing in popularity, but was still seeing a considerable divide between the traditionalists and the more pop-leaning artists.

However, there were plenty of great country songs released in the 80s, by both mainstream and more traditional artists. Here are some of the best country songs of the 80s:

-“The Dance” by Garth Brooks
-“Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis
-“I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton
-“Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
-“On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson
– “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash
– “Seven Spanish Angels” by Willie Nelson and Ray Charles
– “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

The Best Country Albums of the 80s

The decade of the 1980s in country music involved many changes, including an increase in the prominence of album-oriented country (AOC) music and the growth of neo-traditionalist country. AOC music was more focused on polished pop production values, while neo-traditionalist artists preserved traditional country music forms and aesthetics. Hoping to return to more basic, emotive influences, a number of artists in the late 1980s began to turn away from polished AOC productions in favor of a rootsier sound. The success of these “new traditionalists” helped to revive mainstream interest in country music during the decade.

In 1980, veteran artist Ronnie Milsap enjoyed one of his most successful years, winning five Grammy Awards, including for his album Any Day Now. Another veteran artist who reached new heights during this time was Merle Haggard, whose duet with Bonnie Raitt on “Someday When Things Are Good” won him a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Male Artist. Dolly Parton also enjoyed success during the decade with her 1981 album Heartbreak Express, which produced the hit singles “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You” and “9 to 5”, as well as with 1984’s The Great Pretender, which featured the hits “Save the Last Dance for Me” and “Real Love”.

In terms of commercial success, two artists emerged during this time who would come to be among the most successful country artists of all time: George Strait and Ronnie Dunn. Strait’s debut single, “Unwound”, was released in 1981 and became a No. 1 hit; his second album, Strait from the Heart (1982), would go on to sell more than two million copies. Dunn released his self-titled debut album in 1985; it would go on to sell more than five million copies and produce three No. 1 singles: “She Used to Be Mine”, “I Can’t Be Your Friend”, and “My Maria”.

The Best Country Artists of the 80s

The decade of the 1980s was an important one for country music. It was a time when the genre began to embrace new sounds and technologies, which led to the birth of contemporary country music. This new sound brought with it a whole new crop of country artists who would go on to become some of the biggest names in the genre. Here are some of the best country artists of the 1980s.

George Strait
One of the most popular country artists of all time, George Strait shot to fame in the 1980s with a string of hit songs and albums. His traditional country sound was a breath of fresh air in an era when many country artists were starting to experiment with more contemporary sounds. Some of his most popular songs from this period include “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” “A Fire I Can’t Put Out,” and “Ocean Front Property.”

The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys are a country/gospel vocal group that has been around since the 1940s, but they hit their stride in the 1980s with a series of very successful albums and singles. Some of their most popular songs from this period include “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue,” and “American Made.”

Willie Nelson
One of the most respected and influential country artists of all time, Willie Nelson continued to enjoy success in the 1980s with a series of popular albums and singles. Some of his most popular songs from this decade include “On The Road Again,” “Always On My Mind,” and “Pancho & Lefty.”