4 of the First Country Songs to Ever Cross Over to the Pop Charts in the 20th Century

It’s fairly common for songs to cross from one genre to another, and country songs in particular have been crossing over into the pop charts for decades—many country artists have proven to have widespread appeal and have become household names. Country pop as a subgenre first began to emerge and gain popularity in the 1970s, peaking in 1975, when a record-setting six country songs hit No. 1 on the pop charts. But country’s earliest crossover hits came decades earlier, as early as the 1940s.

“Pistol Packin’ Mama” by Al Dexter


Starting in 1944, Billboard began tracking the most popular country songs in the nation with a chart titled Most Played Juke Box Folk Records, which, as the title suggests, tracked the songs played most often in jukeboxes and was later renamed Hot Country Songs. The first song to top the chart was Al Dexter’s “Pistol Packin’ Mama,” released in 1943. It was featured in the film of the same name. A version recorded by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters also topped the charts that same year.

“I’ll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)” by Eddy Arnold

Eddy Arnold had a huge hit in 1947 with “I’ll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)”—it was his third No. 1 song on the Folk Records chart, and his first crossover hit. It peaked at number 22 on the Best Sellers in Stores chart. His success helped usher in a subgenre of country known as the Nashville sound, known for background vocals and a smoother sound more commonly associated with the pop music of the time.

“Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy” by Red Foley

Country musician Red Foley is still best remembered for his hit “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy,” released in 1949 and written by Harry Stone and Jack Stapp. The song was also a hit for other artists, including Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, but Foley’s was the most successful. It’s thought to be the first country record to sell one million copies. Foley also enjoyed a long career in country music—he was one of the genre’s biggest stars for about 20 years and sold over 25 million records.

“The Battle of New Orleans” by Jimmy Horton

“The Battle of New Orleans,” based on actual events, was written by Jimmy Driftwood in 1936, but the most successful and most popular recording came from Johnny Horton over two decades later, in 1959. His version topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts and was particularly popular with teenagers. It won the 1960 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording, and in 2002, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The song is also one of a few in country music inspired by historical events.

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