The 1970s were a golden age for country music. The decade brought stars to the forefront that music fans today—even some fifty-plus years later—still adore. But what happened after that? How did the next decade of country music begin and blossom?
Well, that’s just what we wanted to highlight here below. We wanted to explore three of the country stars who were in the limelight at the beginning of the 1980s. Indeed, these are three country music American Music Award winners from 1980 we still sing along with.
Videos by American Songwriter
Barbara Mandrell
Sometimes all you need to do to understand a certain year is to get down to a single song. And in 1980, it was country star Barbara Mandrell who took home the American Music Awards trophy for Favorite Country Song, thanks to her track, “Sleeping Single In A Double Bed”, from the LP, Moods. If you want to understand a certain year or era, just see which songs were earning accolades. That will tell you all you need to know! And this song is a lively lament—perfect for the start of a new decade.
Kenny Rogers
The Houston, Texas-born country star Kenny Rogers had quite the night at the 1980 American Music Awards. While he was nominated for (but didn’t win) the trophy for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist (Barry Manilow took that one home), Rogers did win awards for Favorite Country Male Artist and Favorite Country Album for his LP, The Gambler. Today, music fans know the song “The Gambler” well. It’s the track that tells you when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em. Those who grew up around the turn of the 21st century also got to know the song again thanks to the track by Wyclef Jean, which sampled the timeless music.
Crystal Gayle
While Rogers took home the award for Favorite Country Male Artist, it was the Paintsville, Kentucky-born country singer Crystal Gayle who won Favorite Country Female Artist, beating out the likes of Barbara Mandrell and Dolly Parton. The nod came after Gayle released two records in 1979—We Should Be Together and Miss The Mississippi. She also released These Days later in 1980. Also during the show, Gayle received a nomination for Favorite Country Album.
Photo by Ross Marino/Getty Images
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These 1970s parody songs beat all the "real" music on the charts. They blurred the lines between fake song and true hit. -
AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 01: Photo of AC DC and Angus YOUNG and AC/DC and Mark EVANS and Bon SCOTT; Mark Evans, Angus Young (playing Gibson SG guitar), Bon Scott – performing live onstage, c.1975/1976 (Photo by Bob King/Redferns) -
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Don Gibson Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE — Episode 2 — Pictured: Musical guest Boz Scaggs performs on September 25, 1976 — Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank -
Barry Manilow in concert at the Bottom Line, NYC during Barry Manilow Achive Images – 1975 in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage) -
(Original Caption) Charlie Daniels (3rd from left), the entertainer who dedicated his last album to "gun-rotting whiskey and hellatious fights" says he will not play gentle music just to please "damn Yankees drinking martinis" 1/20 at Jimmy Carter's inaugural reception. Daniels said he plans to play the same brand of foot-stomping Southern music he and his band have always produced. They are (from left), Charlie Hayward, Tom Crain, Daniels, Joel Digregorio, Don Murray and Fred Edwards.
