This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1952.

List of years in country music (table)
+...

Events

edit

No dates

edit
  • The life of Hank Williams continues its downward spiral. Even though he enjoys several major hits, his drug and alcohol problems ruin his marriage to Audrey (the divorce was finalized on May 29), and in October, he is fired from the Grand Ole Opry.[1] Williams marries Billie Jean Jones Eshliman in October in New Orleans, Louisiana, and rejoins Louisiana Hayride about that same time. Also during the year, he makes what turn out to be his final recordings.


Top Hits Of 1952

edit

United States

edit

(as certified by Billboard)

Year End Rank Single Name Artist Peak Date Weeks At Peak Spec. Note
001 The Wild Side of Life Hank Thompson and His Brazo Valley Boys May 10 15 [1]
002 Jambalaya (On the Bayou) Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys Sept 6 14 [2]
003 (When You Feel Like You're in Love) Don't Just Stand There Carl Smith March 29 8 [2]
004 It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels Kitty Wells August 23 6 [A]
  • The answer song to "The Wild Side of Life"
005 Wondering Webb Pierce March 1 4 [A]
006 Back Street Affair Webb Pierce Dec 6 4 [2]
007 A Full-Time Job Eddy Arnold August 16 4
008 Give Me More, More, More (Of Your Kisses) Lefty Frizzell February 2 3 [2]
009 That Heart Belongs to Me Webb Pierce July 12 3 [2]
010 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes Skeets McDonald Dec 27 3 [B]
011 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes Slim Willet Dec 6 1 [B]
012 Are You Teasing Me Carl Smith July 19 1
013 Easy on the Eyes Eddy Arnold May 3 1
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
  • 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
  • A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.

Other major hits

edit
US Single Artist
2 Almost George Morgan
4 Baby, We're Really in Love Hank Williams
6 Blackberry Boogie Tennessee Ernie Ford
5 Blue Christmas Ernest Tubb
4 Bundle of Southern Sunshine Eddy Arnold
8 Busybody Pee Wee King
9 Call Her Your Sweetheart Eddy Arnold
4 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes Ray Price
2 Don't Stay Away (Till Love Grows Cold) Lefty Frizzell
6 Forever (And Always) Lefty Frizzell
5 Fortunes in Memories Ernest Tubb
2 The Gold Rush Is Over Hank Snow
2 Half as Much Hank Williams
2 Honky Tonk Blues Hank Williams
7 How Long Will It Take (To Stop Loving You) Lefty Frizzell
7 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Jimmy Boyd
3 I Went to Your Wedding Hank Snow
9 I'd Trade All of My Tomorrows (For Just One Yesterday) Eddy Arnold
2 Indian Love Call Slim Whitman
5 It's a Lovely, Lovely World Carl Smith
2 Lady's Man Hank Snow
2 Let's Live a Little Carl Smith
10 Love Song of the Waterfall Slim Whitman
8 Married by the Bible, Divorced by the Law Hank Snow
8 Milk Bucket Boogie Red Foley
3 Missing in Action Ernest Tubb
4 Music Makin' Mama from Memphis Hank Snow
10 My Heart Is Broken in Three Slim Whitman
10 The New Wears Off Too Fast Hank Thompson
6 Our Honeymoon Carl Smith
8 Salty Dog Rag Red Foley
2 Settin' the Woods on Fire Hank Williams
5 Silver and Gold Pee Wee King
7 Slow Poke Hawkshaw Hawkins
9 Somebody's Stolen My Honey Ernest Tubb
3 Talk to Your Heart Ray Price
7 Three Ways of Knowing Johnnie & Jack
10 Till the End of the World Bing Crosby and Grady Martin
8 'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered Cowboy Copas
9 'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered Flatt & Scruggs
5 Too Old to Cut the Mustard Ernest Tubb and Red Foley
6 Too Old to Cut the Mustard The Carlisles
3 Waiting in the Lobby of Your Heart Hank Thompson
6 The Wild Side of Life Burl Ives and Grady Martin
10 You Win Again Hank Williams

Top new album releases

edit

Births

edit

Deaths

edit
  • March 22 — Uncle Dave Macon, 81, country music pioneer; comedian and banjo player; the first major star of the Grand Ole Opry.
  • May 4 – J.L. "Joe" Frank, 52, music executive.
  • December 4 – Rabon Delmore, 36, one half of the old-time harmony duo Delmore Brothers.

Further reading

edit
  • Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947–1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
  • Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
  • Whitburn, Joel. "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005.

References

edit
  1. ^ Thiel, John. "Why Did Hank Williams Get Banned From the Opry?". Music Industry. Retrieved 23 November 2022.