Country music is what it is today due to the incredible contributions of musicians, bands, and songwriters across many subgenres. And many of those stellar contributors to country music are considered one-hit wonders (or two-hit wonders). Let’s take a quick look at just a few stand-out contributions from artists who deserved more than just one or two solitary hits!
Videos by American Songwriter
“Pray For You” by Jaron & The Long Road To Love
“Pray For You” by Jaron & The Long Road To Love gained quite a hefty fanbase after it hit the airwaves in 2009. This song was the singer’s debut single, and it made it all the way to the Billboard US Hot Country Songs chart at No. 13. The tune even made it to the Top 40 on the Hot 100 chart. Jaron’s follow-up single, “That’s Beautiful To Me”, made it to No. 44 on the Hot Country Songs chart, but none of his subsequent songs charted at all.
“What I Really Meant To Say” by Cyndi Thomson
If you were a country fan in the 2000s, you definitely remember this early aughts hit by Cyndi Thomson. “What I Really Meant To Say” is a memorable tune that will transport you back to the turn of the millennium with ease, considering it was on repeat on country radio stations for years.
The song peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and also hit No. 26 on the Hot 100. A couple of Thomson’s follow-up singles did well, but by the end of 2002, she wasn’t charting at all. There was a reason for that, too. Thomson announced that she was leaving her recording career, as she could not “commit to obligations” related to the entertainment industry.
“Complicated” by Carolyn Dawn Johnson
This one’s a bit of a deep cut, but I’m still bummed out that Carolyn Dawn Johnson didn’t get more attention in the country music world after “Complicated” sailed to the Top 5 of the Hot Country Songs chart in 2001.
I’d consider Johnson more of a two-hit wonder, as “I Don’t Want You To Go” from that same year ranked just under the Top 5. Johnson enjoyed plenty of charting success in Canada through 2012, but she never had as much success in the States again.
“When You Lie Next To Me” by Kellie Coffey
One-hit wonders in country music usually have that it-factor that could translate to chart longevity, but for some unknown reason, it never happens. In my opinion, that was the case for the very talented Kellie Coffey. Sadly, she never made it to the Hot 100 chart again after “When You Lie Next To Me” peaked at No. 54 on that chart.
Photo by Brooke Boling / Courtesy of Sweet Talk Publicity
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