First of all, let me start by wishing you Happy National One-Hit Wonder Day!

Now, let's start celebrating some true one-hit wonders from the past quarter of a century or so. I started working in country radio back in January of 1998. Over the last 26 years, there have been some truly incredible one hit wonders. In fact, here at my station- WBKR in Owensboro, KY- we have a really fun tie to one of them.

Back in 2006, we were hosting a party in our station parking lot for our advertising clients. We wanted to book some live entertainment for it and worked with one of our Nashville contacts to make that happen. And it did! We were told about this group called Heartland and were assured that they were about to score a massive hit with their latest song. So, we decided to ask the band to come play for us. They did and, that night, they played this song for our guests.

That song- a massive hit- became THE wedding song of that year. It hit #1 on the chart and, in true one-hit-wonder fashion, we didn't hear much else from Heartland.

But we'll always have that song and the memories of them playing it for us in our parking lot.

Here are eleven other one-hit wonders I have had the pleasure of playing during me tenure at the station. There are some really good songs on this list, from incredibly talented artists, who, for whatever reason, could just not strike chart gold twice.

WHAT I REALLY MEANT TO SAY- CYNDI THOMPSON

"What I Really Meant to Say" sailed all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart.

NOBODY KNOWS- KEVIN SHARP

"Nobody Knows," the country version of Tony Rich's R&B/Pop version, peaked at #1 way back in 1996.

WHO I AM- JESSICA ANDREWS

Jessica scored her only hit way back in the year 2000. "Who I Am" peaked at #1!

COMPLICATED- CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON

In April of 2001, Carolyn Dawn Johnson's only hit climbed its way to #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart.

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YES!- CHAD BROCK

Chad Brock's signature song spent a total of three weeks at #1!

PRAY FOR YOU- JARON & THE LONG ROAD TO LOVE

Though it didn't crack the Top 10 on the Billboard Country Chart (it peaked at #13), "Pray for You" certainly had a devoted fan base, who thought the song was hysterically clever.

BREAK DOWN HERE- JULIE ROBERTS

"Break Down Here" peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Singles Sales chart and #18 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

WHEN YOU LIE NEXT TO ME- KELLIE COFFEY

Kellie's only trip to the Top 10 came with this song, which topped out at #8.

IN COLOR- JAMEY JOHNSON

Jamey's first Top 10 song was hit last. "In Color" peaked at #9 in 2008.

LEAVE THE PIECES- THE WRECKERS

Back in 2006, the duo hit #1 with "Leave the Pieces." Though they technically hit the Top 10 again with "My, Oh My", their first song was the only one most country fans remember!

And I think my personal favorite 'one-hit wonder' from the world of country actually comes from the world of rock. Remember when Jon Bon Jovi released a country song with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles?  As you can imagine, it was a massive #1 hit. Of course, as with any other one-hit wonder, Jon was one and done!

What's YOUR favorite country music one-hit wonder of all time?

See 50 Essential 90s Country Songs

 

 

 

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