Name That Tune (Country Version) Quiz

Answer: Ring of Fire

"Ring of Fire" was released in 1963 on the 16th studio album by Johnny Cash. It was written by his second wife June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. Johnny's first wife, Vivian, contends that Johnny wrote the song, but gave song writing credit to June Carter because, as John said, "she needs the money, and I feel sorry for her". Vivian said she would get highly annoyed hearing June go on and on about how she wrote the song.

The complete first line of lyrics are, "Love is a burning thing".

Answer: Hey Good Lookin'

"Hey Good Lookin'" was written and recorded by Hank Williams Sr., and was released as a single in 1957. Hank was friends with "Little" Jimmy Dickens, and told him he needed a signature song if he ever had hopes of becoming a star. So, Hank penned "Hey Good Lookin'" in 20 minutes on a plane ride with Dickens and Grand Ol' Opry maven Minnie Pearl.

A week later Williams recorded it for himself, and joked with "Little" Jimmy that, "the song was just too darn good for you to have". The complete first line of lyrics are, "Say hey, good lookin', what you got cookin'?".

Answer: Okie From Muskogee

"Okie From Muskogee" was written by Merle Haggard and the drummer from his band, The Stranglers, Roy Burris. It was released in 1969 on Merle's first live album. For those that may not know, an "Okie" is a person born in Oklahoma, and Muskogee is the 11th biggest city in the state of Oklahoma. Merle wrote the song in response to the Vietnam War protests.

He said, "When I was in prison I knew what having your freedom taken away felt like, and to see our servicemen dying for that cause only to have kids spitting on them. Well, that just ain't right".

The complete first line of lyrics are, "We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee".

Answer: Stand By Your Man

"Stand By Your Man" was released in 1968 on the fourth studio album by Tammy Wynette. It was written by Wynette and her record producer Billy Sherrill. It has been a song of contention with the feminist movement for over 50 years. Its stature and/or contempt was elevated even further when Hillary Clinton stated, "I'm not some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette", during one of husband Bill's many infidelities.

The complete first line of lyrics are, "Sometimes it's hard to be a woman".

Answer: Coal Miner's Daughter

"Coal Miner's Daughter" was released as a single in 1970. It was written and performed by Loretta Lynn. The song was entirely autobiographical in nature. Loretta once said, "The song doesn't tell half the story. If I had told the whole thing nobody would of believed it".

The song and Loretta's career were revitalized when the film of the same name became a critically acclaimed hit in 1980. The complete first line of lyrics are, "Well, I was borned a coal miner's daughter".

Answer: Friends in Low Places

"Friends in Low Places" was released in 1990 on the second studio album by Garth Brooks. It was written by Earl Bud Lee and Dewayne Blackwell. The concept for the song came when one day Lee was eating at a Nashville diner and realized he forgot his wallet at home.

When asked by the waitress how he was going to pay he responded with, "Don't worry I got friends in low places. I know the cook". Blackwell said, "That was a cool line you gave the waitress, and would make a helluva good song title". The complete first line of lyrics are, "Blame it all on my roots".

Answer: Crazy

"Crazy" was written by Willie Nelson in 1958. It was recorded and released on the second studio album by Patsy Cline in 1961. The inspiration for the song came from the fact Willie had three jobs while chasing his dream of being part of the music industry, but was still too broke to take care of his wife and three children. From its release until the late 1990s the song was the most played song in jukeboxes throughout the U.S.A.

The complete first line of lyrics are, "Crazy, I'm crazy for feeling so lonely".

Answer: The Gambler

"The Gambler" was written in 1976 by Don Schultz, and recorded that same year by the likes of Johnny Cash and Bobby Bare. Neither had much success with their renditions. However, in 1978 Kenny Rogers released his version on the album of the same name.

The song became a monster crossover hit on various Billboard charts. It also spawned a series of made for T.V. movies about "The Gambler", and starred Kenny Rogers. This song and Rogers' subsequent stardom helped drag country music from the ashes in the late 1970s.

Modern day country stars owe a huge debt of gratitude to Kenny for resurrecting the genre. The complete first line of lyrics are, "On a warm summer's evening".

Answer: Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys

"Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" was written by Ed and Patsy Bruce. Ed, as well as Chris LeDoux, recorded the song, but with little fanfare. It was the duet by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson released in 1978 that gained iconic status.

The song is a warning to all mothers to steer their children away from the tough and wandering life of an American cowboy. The complete first line of lyrics are, "Cowboys ain't easy to love".

Answer: He Stopped Loving Her Today

"He Stopped Loving Her Today" was released in 1980 on the 42nd studio album by George Jones. It was written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putnam. "The Possum", as Jones was fondly called, was on a downward slide come the early 1980s. He had not had a hit song or album in over a decade, and was highly immersed in the world of drugs and alcohol. Most had left his career for dead.

However, the song went to number one on the Billboard Country charts, and stayed there for 18 weeks. Alan Jackson and George Strait sang a duet of the song at his funeral in 2013.

The complete first line of lyrics are, "He said I'll love you till I die".