4 Legendary Country Songs That Changed the Rules of Radio Airplay

Country music is endlessly evolving, whether country music radio agrees or not. There have been times in the past when country music fans didn’t take well to change. There’s a lot of pride attached to country music traditions, and there has been significant pushback against changes within the genre on the radio. There have also been times when the genre grew out of its own radio airplay, and country music made its way onto other radio stations. Here are 4 legendary country songs that changed the rules of radio airplay.

“It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” by Kitty Wells

In 1952, it was practically unheard of to hear a female voice on country music radio. When Kitty Wells penned a No. 1 hit with “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,” there was some controversy. Not only was country music radio male-dominant, but the song’s lyrics were also deemed “suggestive.” The lyrics blatantly blame unfaithful men for unfaithful women. The hit song was banned by NBC, and Kitty Wells was briefly prohibited from performing at the Grand Ole Opry. Despite this, the song topped the US Hot Country Songs chart for six weeks, and the Grand Ole Opry reversed their decision. Kitty Wells paved the way for artists like Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn to dominate country radio for the next few decades.

“Okie From Muskogee” by Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard‘s 1969 No. 1 hit “Okie From Muskogee” brought outlaw country to the radio. At the time, pop-centric country dominated the country airwaves. Haggard said the song was written from the perspective of his father’s generation. It became a political statement during the Vietnam War era, as anti-war protests spread across the country. The “slightly satirical” track paved the way for fellow outlaw country artists to gain airplay on country radio stations. Outlaw country artists such as Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings received significant radio airplay in the 1970s.

“Thank God I’m A Country Boy” by John Denver

In 1975, John Denver received cross radio airplay with his hit “Thank God I’m A Country Boy.” The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Singles chart as well. But years before in 1972, radio stations banned “Rocky Mountain High” claiming the song referenced drug use. Denver vehemently defended his song, denying the song’s lyric “high” as meaning drug use. Despite this, the song was still a Top 40 hit and set Denver on a path to transform country music radio in 1975, further expanding the genre to other radio stations.

“Rhinestone Cowboy” by Glen Campbell

What John Denver outlined in 1975, Glen Campbell capitalized on a few months later. “Rhinestone Cowboy” also hit No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Singles chart. Campbell was a well-respected studio musician and was briefly a touring member of The Beach Boys. He began a solo music career in the late ’60s, and by 1975 was among the top country stars in the country. Glen Campbell was widely respected and received significant cross-airplay on the radio. Hit songs like “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” and “Rhinestone Cowboy” challenged traditional rules of what stations could play a country song, as these songs were so huge, pop radio had to play them.