Rick Diamond // Getty Images Whether you’re a country music fan or not, nearly everyone has heard of the icons of the genre: Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Johnny Cash, to name a few. But what about Deana Carter? Or Jamey Johnson? Sometimes, artists who once appeared to be on the cusp of country music greatness lose that momentum in the highly competitive industry, only to become dreaded one-hit wonders. Take the duo The Wreckers, for example. They released their hit “Leave the Pieces” in 2006, only to unexpectedly break up a year later. Remember the band Sawyer Brown, best known for their 1992 track “Some Girls Do”? Though they went on to release several more albums and singles, none recreated their early ’90s success story. It’s difficult to define a one-hit wonder, but one clear measure is sales. The aforementioned musicians, and many others like them, released one massive hit that went gold or platinum during their careers but were never able to duplicate that success. These certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America translate to big bucks: Gold means that 500,000 units of a single or album were sold, while platinum singles or albums sold 1 million units. In the era of music streaming, 150 streams is considered equal to one unit sale. While it’s easy to think that an artist has “made it” once their music goes gold or platinum, it doesn’t guarantee future career stability. In an effort to reflect on some of the most memorable country artists you may have forgotten, Stacker used information from the Recording Industry Association of America to compile a list of 20 one-hit wonders from country music history. A word to the wise: You might raise your eyebrows at some of the artists on this list since they had other well-known tracks. But popularity–even for songs like John Anderson’s “Seminole Wind” or the Charlie Daniels Band’s “Simple Man”–doesn’t always ensure gold or platinum status. You may also like: 20 of the best Christmas albums of all time Debby Boone Bettmann Archive // Getty Images The ballad “You Light Up My Life” originally appeared on the soundtrack for a 1977 summer romance movie of the same name, where it was performed by studio singer Kasey Cisyk. But it was country crooner Debby Boone’s subsequent cover that made the track go platinum. The song spent 10 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart (the first to ever do so) and won a Golden Globe and an Oscar. “You Light Up My Life” also propelled Boone to her first Grammy Award win. But after the hubbub surrounding the track died down, Boone couldn’t replicate the same success with her later releases. Though her future work did feature on Billboard’s country music charts, Boone eventually moved on to perform Christian music and has won two more Grammys since. Charlie Daniels Band Rick Diamond // Getty Images Though it may be hard to believe, the Charlie Daniels Band only scored one RIAA-certified single over the course of their career: “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Perhaps one of the most famous country songs of all time, the platinum-selling track blends influences from classic fiddle tunes and the bluegrass storytelling tradition to create an unforgettable earworm about a Faustian bargain in the Deep South. The band did produce several other hits, including “Simple Man” and “In America.” But they didn’t see the same sales as “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Daniels, the band’s lead singer and fiddle player, died in 2020 at age 83. Heartland Ethan Miller // Getty Images Any early-aughts country fans are likely familiar with Heartland’s platinum-certified debut single “I Loved Her First.” The slow, sentimental 2006 track about fatherly love shot up to #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart shortly after its release. The original members of Heartland went their separate ways in 2012 after a string of low-performing songs. But the group got back together with a new lineup in 2023. Jeannie C. Riley Hulton Archive // Getty Images Few could forget Jeannie C. Riley’s spunky 1968 ballad “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” which saw one of the most meteoric rises in Billboard chart history and attained gold status the same year of its release. The song follows a miniskirt-wearing single mother who confronts the local parent-teacher association after receiving complaints about her parenting and personal life. “Harper Valley P.T.A.” landed Riley a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and led to a movie and a 1981 TV show of the same name, both starring Barbara Eden. Though Riley recorded a handful of songs that also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 over the course of her career, like “Oh, Singer” and “The Girl Most Likely,” none saw the same success as “Harper Valley P.T.A.” Jamey Johnson Paul Natkin // Getty Images Nostalgia is a perennially popular motif in country music, and Jamey Johnson took the wistful theme to the bank with his gold-certified hit “In Color.” In this mostly acoustic track, a boy and his grandfather look through the family’s black-and-white photographs while reminiscing together. After debuting in 2008, “In Color” made it to #9 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in early 2009 and won Song of the Year at both the Academy of Country Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards. Johnson has since released several albums and singles and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2022. But, in 2017, he revealed that a concussion and a busy touring schedule took their toll on his songwriting abilities. You may also like: 20 iconic rock songs written on the spot The Wreckers Moses Robinson // Getty Images The early 2000s duo The Wreckers, which consisted of Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp, was a short-lived success story. In 2006, the two released their one and only album together: “Stand Still, Look Pretty.” Its lead single, “Leave the Pieces,” garnered a gold certification and shot to the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, making The Wreckers the first duo of women to have a #1 hit with their debut single in more than 50 years. Unfortunately for their newly acquired fanbase, The Wreckers disbanded in 2007, forestalling any hopes for future hits. Julie Roberts
The one-hit wonders every country music fan will remember
