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On This Day: 5 Female Artists Dominate the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Chart in 1980

Five female artists held down the Top 5 spots on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on April 19, 1980.

Crystal Gayle, Dottie West, Debby Boone, Emmylou Harris, and Tammy Wynette were the leaders in the country clubhouse this week in 1980, with an assist from Tammy’s former hubby, George Jones.

1. Crystal Gayle – ‘It’s Like We Never Said Goodbye’

Crystal Gayle was a hit-making machine when “It’s Like We Never Said Goodbye” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on April 19, 1980. Crystal had already scored No. 1 singles with “I’ll Get Over You,” “You Never Miss a Real Good Thing (Till He Says Goodbye),” and her signature hit, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” among others.

Penned by Roger Greenaway and Geoff Stephens, “It’s Like We Never Said Goodbye” was featured on Crystal’s 1979 album, Miss the Mississippi.

2. Dottie West – ‘A Lesson in Leavin”

Dottie West had a lot of success teaming with Kenny Rogers in the late 1970s, including No. 1 hits “Every Time Two Fools Collide” and “All I Ever Need Is You.”

While it was No. 2 on April 19, 1980, “A Lesson in Leavin’” reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart the next week on April 26. The tune became Dottie’s first solo chart-topper. Of course, Jo Dee Messina scored a Top 5 hit with the song in 1999.

3. Debby Boone – ‘Are You on the Road to Lovin’ Me Again’

Debby Boone earned a No. 1 hit on the pop charts with “You Light Up My Life” in 1977. However, “Are You on the Road to Lovin’ Me Again” was her first and only No. 1 hit on the country charts.

On April 19, 1980, the song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Two weeks later on May 3, Debby had her lone country chart-topper.

4. Emmylou Harris – ‘Beneath Still Waters’

Interestingly enough, Emmylou Harris entered the country charts for the first time on April 19, 1975, with “Too Far Gone.” She was just in time to help launch a neo-traditionalist revival.

Five years later on April 19, 1980, Emmylou’s “Beneath Still Waters” was No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Three weeks later on May 10, the tune reached No. 1 to become Emmylou’s fourth chart-topper. The song helped Emmylou take home the trophy for Female Vocalist of the Year at the 1980 CMA Awards.

5. Tammy Wynette & George Jones – ‘Two Story House’

While Tammy Wynette and George Jones divorced in 1975 after six years of marriage, they still enjoyed plenty of post-breakup chart success together. In 1980, Tammy and George released their eighth collaborative studio album, Together Again.

The album was buoyed by the lead single, “Two Story House,” which became a Top 5 hit on April 19, 1980. The tune eventually peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.