This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1970.

List of years in country music (table)
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Events

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No Dates

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Early in the year, Marty Robbins suffers a major heart attack which almost takes the life of the country star.

Top hits of the year

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Number-one hits

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United States

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(as certified by Billboard)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 CAN peak Spec. Note
January 3 Baby, Baby (I Know You're a Lady) David Houston 4 [B]
January 31 A Week in a Country Jail Tom T. Hall 2 32 [A]
February 14 It's Just a Matter of Time Sonny James 4 4 Cover of Brook Benton hit.
March 14 The Fightin' Side of Me Merle Haggard 3
April 4 Tennessee Bird Walk Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan 2 [C]
April 18 Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone Charley Pride 2
May 2 My Woman My Woman My Wife Marty Robbins 1
May 9 The Pool Shark Dave Dudley 1 4 [C]
May 16 My Love Sonny James 3 3
June 6 Hello Darlin' Conway Twitty 4 2 [1]
July 4 He Loves Me All the Way Tammy Wynette 3 2
July 25 Wonder Could I Live There Anymore Charley Pride 2
August 8 Don't Keep Me Hangin' On Sonny James 4 17
September 5 All for the Love of Sunshine Hank Williams, Jr. with
The Mike Curb Congregation
2 [A] – Hank Williams, Jr.
[C] – The Mike Curb Congregation
September 19 For the Good Times Ray Price 1 2
September 26 There Must Be More to Love Than This Jerry Lee Lewis 2
October 10 Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down Johnny Cash 2
October 24 Run Woman Run Tammy Wynette 2
November 7 I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me Charley Pride 2
November 21 Fifteen Years Ago Conway Twitty 1
November 28 Endlessly Sonny James 3 10
December 19 Coal Miner's Daughter Loretta Lynn 1
December 26 Rose Garden Lynn Anderson 5 [A]
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
  • A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist to date.

Canada

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(as certified by RPM)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 U.S. peak Spec. Note
January 10 Blistered/See Ruby Fall Johnny Cash 1 4
January 17 Baby, Baby (I Know You're a Lady) David Houston 1
January 24 Big in Vegas Buck Owens 1 5
January 31 Six White Horses Tommy Cash 2 4 [C]
February 14 Fancy Bobbie Gentry 2 26 [B]
February 28 Brown Eyed Handsome Man Waylon Jennings 1 3
March 7 If I Were a Carpenter Johnny Cash and
June Carter Cash
1 2 [C] – June Carter Cash
March 14 Honey Come Back Glen Campbell 1 2
March 21 Welfare Cadillac Guy Drake 1 6 [C]
March 28 Wayward Woman of the World Gary Buck 1 [B]
April 4 The Fightin' Side of Me Merle Haggard 1
April 11 Tennessee Bird Walk Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan 1 [C]
April 18 Kentucky Rain Elvis Presley 1 31 [A]
April 25 My Woman My Woman My Wife Marty Robbins 2
May 9 Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone Charley Pride 1
May 16 The Way You Play Merv Smith 1 [C]
May 23 Big Joe Mufferaw Stompin' Tom Connors 2 [A]
June 6 What Is Truth Johnny Cash 3 3
June 27 Street Singer Merle Haggard 1 9
July 4 She's a Little Bit Country George Hamilton IV 3 3
July 25 Ketchup Song Stompin' Tom Connors 2
August 8 Wonder Could I Live There Anymore Charley Pride 2
August 22 Snowbird Anne Murray 3 10 [A]
September 12 Everything a Man Could Ever Need Glen Campbell 1 5
September 19 Me and Bobby McGee Gordon Lightfoot 1 [A]
September 26 Countryfied Dick Damron 3 [2]
  • Fell to #3 on the week of October 10.
October 10 All for the Love of Sunshine Hank Williams, Jr. 1 [A]
October 17 Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down Johnny Cash 1
October 24 There Must Be More to Love Than This Jerry Lee Lewis 1
October 31 Back Where It's At George Hamilton IV 1 16
November 7 Run Woman Run Tammy Wynette 1
November 14 Ode to Suburbia R. Harlan Smith 1 [A]
November 28 The Ballad of Muk Tuk Annie Jimmy Arthur Ordge 1 [B]
December 5 I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me Charley Pride 1
December 12 Fifteen Years Ago Conway Twitty 1
December 19 Coal Miner's Daughter Loretta Lynn 1
December 26 Sweet Dreams of Yesterday Hank Smith 1 [A]
Notes
  • 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
  • A^ First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.

Other major hits

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Singles released by American artists

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US CAN Single Artist
6 4 After Closing Time David Houston and Barbara Mandrell
6 2 All I Have to Do Is Dream Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell
9 12 All My Hard Times Roy Drusky
16 Amos Moses Jerry Reed
34 11 Angel of the Morning Connie Eaton
4 21 Angels Don't Lie Jim Reeves
12 Another Lonely Night Jean Shepard
23 9 Big Mama's Medicine Show Buddy Alan
27 18 Big Wheel Cannonball Dick Curless
10 19 Biloxi Kenny Price
10 2 Carmella Marty Robbins
29 3 Carolina in My Mind George Hamilton IV
16 10 Charlie Brown The Compton Brothers
8 14 Commercial Affection Mel Tillis
7 16 Country Girl Jeannie C. Riley
19 Cowboy Convention Buddy Alan and Don Rich
7 12 Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
20 Do It to Someone You Love Norro Wilson
13 Don't Cry Daddy Elvis Presley
17 31 Don't Take All Your Loving Don Gibson
37 8 Down in the Boondocks Penny DeHaven
21 13 Duty Not Desire Jeannie C. Riley
16 Georgia Sunshine Jerry Reed
5 8 Goin' Steady Faron Young
41 9 Gotta Get to Oklahoma ('Cause California's Gettin' to Me) The Hagers
8 9 The Great White Horse Buck Owens and Susan Raye
15 He'd Still Love Me Lynn Anderson
3 5 Heart Over Mind Mel Tillis
5 3 Heaven Everyday Mel Tillis
11 6 Heavenly Sunshine Ferlin Husky
26 4 Hello I'm a Jukebox George Kent
14 9 Hello Mary Lou Bobby Lewis
3 22 How I Got to Memphis Bobby Bare
20 46 How I Love Them Old Songs Carl Smith
5 24 Humphrey the Camel Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan
3 2 I Can't Be Myself Merle Haggard
7 4 I Can't Seem to Say Goodbye Jerry Lee Lewis
3 4 I Do My Swinging at Home David Houston
4 13 I Know How Loretta Lynn
5 17 I Never Once Stopped Loving You Connie Smith
5 2 I Never Picked Cotton Roy Clark
12 33 I Walked Out on Heaven Hank Williams, Jr.
22 11 I Wish I Had a Mommy Like You Patti Page
9 I Wouldn't Live in New York City
(If They Gave Me the Whole Damn Town)
Buck Owens
11 33 I'll Make Amends Roy Drusky
2 3 I'll See Him Through Tammy Wynette
9 7 I'm a Lover (Not a Fighter) Skeeter Davis
20 37 I'm Alright Lynn Anderson
18 21 I'm Leaving It Up to You Johnny & Jonie Mosby
16 21 I've Been Everywhere Lynn Anderson
17 6 I've Just Been Wasting My Time John Wesley Ryles
4 2 If I Ever Fall in Love (With a Honky Tonk Girl) Faron Young
62 13 If I'd Only Come and Gone Clay Hart
2 8 If It's All the Same to You Bill Anderson and Jan Howard
13 33 It's a Beautiful Day Wynn Stewart
3 4 It's Only Make Believe Glen Campbell
3 3 Jesus, Take a Hold Merle Haggard
7 7 Jolie Girl Marty Robbins
2 6 The Kansas City Song Buck Owens
20 24 Land Mark Tavern Del Reeves and Penny DeHaven
17 Lilacs and Fire George Morgan
16 24 Live for the Good Times Warner Mack
23 19 Lodi Buddy Alan
5 4 Long Long Texas Road Roy Drusky
16 16 Lord Is That Me Jack Greene
14 Louisiana Man Connie Smith
19 23 Love Hungry Warner Mack
5 10 Love Is a Sometimes Thing Bill Anderson
14 A Lover's Question Del Reeves
13 (Lovin' Man) Oh Pretty Woman Arlene Harden
42 5 Luziana River Van Trevor
17 27 Marty Gray Billie Jo Spears
4 2 Morning Jim Ed Brown
18 The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I've Ever Heard Henson Cargill
3 4 Mule Skinner Blues Dolly Parton
15 42 No Love at All Lynn Anderson
10 4 Nobody's Fool Jim Reeves
17 6 Northeast Arkansas Mississippi County Bootlegger Kenny Price
6 15 Occasional Wife Faron Young
25 11 Oh Happy Day Glen Campbell
2 17 Once More with Feeling Jerry Lee Lewis
2 2 One Minute Past Eternity Jerry Lee Lewis
9 One Song Away Tommy Cash
9 Orange Blossom Special Doug Kershaw
16 Perfect Mountain Don Gibson
18 48 Playin' Around with Love Barbara Mandrell
18 Pull My String and Wind Me Up Carl Smith
21 16 Right or Left at Oak Street Roy Clark
9 8 Rise and Shine Tommy Cash
17 33 Rocky Top Lynn Anderson
71 12 Roll Over Beethoven Linda Gail Lewis and Jerry Lee Lewis
20 2 Runnin' Bare Jim Nesbitt
8 14 Salute to a Switchblade Tom T. Hall
3 8 She Goes Walking Through My Mind Billy Walker
10 4 She'll Be Hangin' Around Somewhere Mel Tillis
6 33 She's Mine George Jones
8 10 Shoeshine Man Tom T. Hall
12 11 Singer of Sad Songs Waylon Jennings
33 16 Sittin' in Atlanta Station Nat Stuckey
12 14 So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) Hank Williams, Jr. and Lois Johnson
4 3 Someday We'll Be Together Bill Anderson and Jan Howard
18 26 Something to Brag About Charlie Louvin and Melba Montgomery
36 14 Something to Think About Luke the Drifter, Jr.
15 17 Something Unseen Jack Greene
15 24 South Roger Miller
7 22 Stay There, Till I Get There Lynn Anderson
8 8 Take a Letter Maria Anthony Armstrong Jones
5 8 The Taker Waylon Jennings
14 Talk About the Good Times Jerry Reed
13 10 Tell Me My Lying Eyes Are Wrong George Jones
6 2 Thank God and Greyhound Roy Clark
3 4 That's When She Started to Stop Loving You Conway Twitty
8 27 Then He Touched Me Jean Shepard
31 12 Then She's a Lover Roy Clark
7 There's a Story (Goin' 'Round) Dottie West and Don Gibson
9 32 Thinking 'Bout You, Babe Billy Walker
20 22 This Night (Ain't Fit for Nothing but Drinking) Dave Dudley
12 18 Togetherness Buck Owens and Susan Raye
9 34 Tomorrow Is Forever Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
63 3 Wabash Cannon Ball Danny Davis
56 6 Walk a Mile in My Shoes Joe South
13 6 We're Gonna Get Together Buck Owens and Susan Raye
3 When a Man Loves a Woman (The Way That I Love You) Billy Walker
21 6 When You're Hot, You're Hot Porter Wagoner
6 9 Where Have All Our Heroes Gone Bill Anderson
14 13 The Whole World Comes to Me Jack Greene
11 5 Wings Upon Your Horns Loretta Lynn
2 21 Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely
17 A Woman Lives for Love Wanda Jackson
37 17 The Wonder of You Elvis Presley
6 5 Wonders of the Wine David Houston
15 30 You and Me Against the World Bobby Lord
6 4 You Wanna Give Me a Lift Loretta Lynn
8 15 You Wouldn't Know Love Ray Price
27 11 You've Got Your Troubles (I've Got Mine) Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan

Singles released by Canadian artists

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US CAN Single Artist
15 The Call Gene MacLellan
6 Cool Green Waters Donna Ramsay
18 Don't Hate, Communicate Gary Buck
12 Don't It Make You Wanna Go Home Terry Roberts
20 Foolin' Around Chaparrel Brothers
12 Fortunate Son The Rainvilles
12 From Pulpit to Prison Singing Parson
18 Hot Wheels Stan Farlow
2 My Song for You Mercey Brothers
19 Newfie Screech Stevedore Steve
14 No Pity for a Fool Mike Graham
26 13 Patches Ray Griff
4 Pickin' Up the Pieces Mercey Brothers
12 These Things Mike Graham
20 Thorn in My Shoe Gene MacLellan
2 To-Ma-Ray Tom-O-Ray Billy Charne
9 Trucker's Cafe Great Speckled Bird
3 Wait for Sunday Tommy Hunter
4 Walk with Your Neighbour Tommy Hunter

Top new album releases

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Single Artist Record Label
Charley Pride's 10th Album Charley Pride RCA
Christmas in My Home Town Charley Pride RCA
Coal Miner's Daughter Loretta Lynn Decca
The Fightin' Side of Me Merle Haggard Capitol
For the Good Times Ray Price Columbia
Hello Darlin' Conway Twitty Decca
Hello, I'm Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Columbia
Just Plain Charley Charley Pride RCA
Love Is a Sometimes Thing Bill Anderson Decca
Okie From Muskogee Merle Haggard Capitol
Tammy's Touch Tammy Wynette Epic
The Johnny Cash Show Johnny Cash Columbia
The World of Tammy Wynette Tammy Wynette Epic

Other top albums

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Single Artist Record Label
A Real Live Dolly Dolly Parton RCA
Color Me Country Linda Martell Plantation
Country Boy & Country Girl Jimmy Dean and Dottie West RCA
Forever Yours Dottie West RCA
Husband Hunting Liz Anderson RCA
I'm Alright Lynn Anderson Chart
If It's All the Same to You Bill Anderson and Jan Howard Decca
Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely Decca
Look at Mine Jody Miller Epic
No Love at All Lynn Anderson Columbia
Rock Me Back to Little Rock Jan Howard Decca
Skid Row Joe: Down in the Alley Porter Wagoner RCA
Snowbird Anne Murray Capitol
Stay There 'Til I Get There Lynn Anderson Columbia
Uptown Country Girl Lynn Anderson Chart
We're Gonna Get Together Buck Owens and Susan Raye Capitol
Where Have All Our Heroes Gone Bill Anderson Decca
Here's Loretta Singing "Wings Upon Your Horns" Loretta Lynn Decca

Births

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Deaths

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Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

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Major awards

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Grammy Awards

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Juno Awards

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Academy of Country Music

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Country Music Association

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Further reading

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  • 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 (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.
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