1984 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1984.

Events

• June 22 — The movie Rhinestone, starring Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone, is released to universally negative reviews. The much-hyped movie – about a singer's effort to transform a New York City taxicab driver into a country star within two weeks – flops, but still produces several hit singles, most notably the No. 1 hit "Tennessee Homesick Blues".
• July 28 — With his No. 1 hit "Angel in Disguise", Earl Thomas Conley becomes the first artist in any genre to have four Billboard chart-topping songs from the same album. The album in question is Don't Make it Easy For Me, and in addition to "Angel in Disguise" and the title track, Conley also hit with 1983's "Your Love's on the Line" and "Holding Her and Loving You". The feat is part of Conley's impressive 1980s streak, where he enjoyed 16 No. 1 hits through 1989.
• September 11 — Barbara Mandrell is seriously injured in a car accident. She suffers multiple injuries and takes an 18-month sabbatical from performing to recover.

Top hits of the year

Singles released by American artists

Singles released by Canadian artists

Top new album releases

Other top albums

On television

Regular series

• Hee Haw (1969–1993, syndicated)
• That Nashville Music (1970–1985, syndicated)

Specials

Births

• February 5 – Tyler Farr, singer-songwriter since the mid-2010s, with hits including "Whiskey in My Water" and "Redneck Crazy".
• March 10 – Ruthie Collins, singer-songwriter and recording artist based in Nashville, Tennessee.
• March 30 – Justin Moore, singer-songwriter from the late 2000s onward, who had hits including "Small Town USA" and "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away".
• April 19 – Matt Stell, singer-songwriter better known for his 2019 single "Prayed for You".
• August 3 – Whitney Duncan, country music singer and reality TV contestant.
• November 26 – Mike Gossin, member of Gloriana.
• December 8 – Sam Hunt, singer-songwriter of the 2010s ("Leave the Night On").

Deaths

• January 28 — Al Dexter, 81, early honky tonk stylist best known for "Pistol Packin' Mama."
• May 11 — Nudie Cohen, 81, famous costume designer for country stars.
• July 30 - Jack Benny Lynn, 34, Son of Loretta Lynn and Oliver Lynn passes away after trying to ford the duck river at his parents Ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN. Lynn was 34 years of age and left behind a wife and 2 children. His mother, Loretta Lynn would not perform for another year after his death.
• September 6 — Ernest Tubb, 70, the "Texas Trubador" and a superstar since the 1940s (emphysema).
• December 26 — Sheila Andrews, 31, late 70s singer with several minor hits.

Hall of Fame inductees

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

• Ralph S. Peer (1892–1960)
• Floyd Tillman (1914–2003)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

• Wilf Carter
• Tommy Hunter
• Orval Prophet
• William Harold Moon

Major awards

Grammy Awards

• Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "In My Dreams", Emmylou Harris
• Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "That's the Way Love Goes", Merle Haggard
• Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Mama He's Crazy", The Judds
• Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Wheel Hoss", Ricky Skaggs
• Best Country Song — "City of New Orleans", Steve Goodman (Performer: Willie Nelson)

Juno Awards

• Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Murray McLauchlan
• Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Anne Murray
• Country Group or Duo of the Year — The Good Brothers

Academy of Country Music

• Entertainer of the Year — Alabama
• Song of the Year — "Why Not Me", Harlan Howard, Brent Maher and Sonny Throckmorton (Performer: The Judds)
• Single of the Year — "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias
• Album of the Year — Roll On, Alabama
• Top Male Vocalist — George Strait
• Top Female Vocalist — Reba McEntire
• Top Vocal Duo — The Judds
• Top Vocal Group — Alabama
• Top New Male Vocalist — Vince Gill
• Top New Female Vocalist — Nicolette Larson
• Video of the Year — "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight", Hank Williams, Jr. (Directors: John Goodhue)

Canadian Country Music Association

• Entertainer of the Year — Ronnie Prophet
• Male Artist of the Year — Terry Carisse
• Female Artist of the Year — Marie Bottrell
• Group of the Year — Family Brown
• SOCAN Song of the Year — "Jesus It's Me Again", Dick Damron (Performer: Dick Damron)
• Single of the Year — "A Little Good News", Anne Murray
• Album of the Year — Repeat After Me, Family Brown
• Top Selling Album — Eyes That See in the Dark, Kenny Rogers
• Vista Rising Star Award — Roni Summers
• Duo of the Year — Glory Anne Carriere and Ronnie Prophet

Country Music Association

• Entertainer of the Year — Alabama
• Song of the Year — "Wind Beneath My Wings", Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar (Performer: Gary Morris)
• Single of the Year — "A Little Good News", Anne Murray
• Album of the Year — A Little Good News, Anne Murray
• Male Vocalist of the Year — Lee Greenwood
• Female Vocalist of the Year — Reba McEntire
• Vocal Duo of the Year — Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
• Vocal Group of the Year — The Statler Brothers
• Horizon Award — The Judds
• Instrumentalist of the Year — Chet Atkins
• Instrumental Group of the Year — Ricky Skaggs Band

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Country stars who got a star in 1984

Mickey Gilley and Dolly Parton

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Country stars who were honored in 1984

Tennessee Ernie Ford

Further reading

• Kingsbury, Paul, "The Grand Ole Opry: History of Country Music. 70 Years of the Songs, the Stars and the Stories," Villard Books, Random House; Opryland USA, 1995
• Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947–1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 ()
• Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 ()
• Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005.

Other links

• Country Music Association
• Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame

External links

• Country Music Hall of Fame