Emerging on scene in the early 1960s as a grittier, more unpolished answer to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones solidified their position as one of the most significant rock bands of all time. While mainly grounded in blues and early rock and roll, the Stones never shied away from their twangier influences. They often leaned (if insincerely) into country sounds on tracks like “Far Away Eyes”. Perhaps the most famous example of the Londoners’ country influences is “Honky Tonk Women”, released as a non-album single in July 1969.
On this day (August 23) in 1969, “Honky Tonk Women” climbed to the top of the Billboard pop chart. It would hold that position for four weeks straight until it was bested by the Archies’ “Sugar Sugar” the week of September 20, 1969.
Videos by American Songwriter
How the Rolling Stones Knew They Had a Hit on Their Hands
Even before the Rolling Stones had put the finishing touches on “Honky Tonk Women”, they were fully aware they had something special.
As guitarist Keith Richards put it: “[It’s] one of those tracks that you knew was a number one before you’d finished the mother—er.”
Richards co-wrote “Honky Tonk Women” with frontman Mick Jagger while the two vacationed at a ranch in rural Brazil.
The songwriting duo took inspiration from the Caipira people living in remote areas of Brazil.
“Mick and I were sitting on the porch of this ranch house and I started to play, basically fooling around with an old Hank Williams idea,” Richards said. “‘Cause we really thought we were like real cowboys. Honky tonk women.”
The song’s original direction was more in the vein of classic country stars like Williams and Jimmie Rodgers. However, the full band helped transform it into the iconic blues-rock version we all know and love today.
The Stones released “Honky Tonk Women” in the United Kingdom on July 4, 1969 — one day after founding guitarist Brian Jones died by drowning at age 27 in the swimming pool at his East Sussex home.
[RELATED: 3 Country Songs by The Rolling Stones That Proved They Could Play With the Best of Them]
The song was fans’ first introduction to Mick Taylor, who had replaced Jones a month earlier.
Featured image by David Fenton/Getty Images
-
Willie Nelson performing at the Aragon Ballroom In Chicago, Ilinois, February 26, 1978. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
Connie B. Gay (August 22, 1914 – December 3, 1989), founding president of the Country Music Association (Photo courtesy of Facebook) -
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA – MAY 09 : Kenny Rogers performs in concert, May 9, 1986 at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California. (Photo by Getty Images/Bob Riha, Jr.) -
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – Kacey Musgraves performs at the Mojave Tent during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 18, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Coachella)
