The Songs of Country #5 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sammi Smith

The song was written by Kris Kristofferson in 1970 after he read an article written about Frank Sinatra and how he made it through the night. Sammi won a Grammy for Best Vocal Performance at the 1971 awards show.

Answer: Johnny Wright

Tom T. Hall wrote the song in 1965 with Kitty Wells backing up her husband, Johnny Wright. The song is a pro-Vietnam War song that was used in the opening of "Full Metal Jacket".

Answer: Dave Dudley

Kris Kristofferson also wrote the song that was performed by Dave Dudley in 1966. He wrote it to be a spoken word song. The lyrics discuss a soldier meeting anti-war demonstrators in Washington, D.C. hours before leaving for Saigon.

Answer: Kenny Rogers

Rogers performed the song along with First Edition. It was written by Mel Tillis in 1969. Mel wrote the song remembering a similar story of a neighbor who saw another man while her husband was in the VA. He changed the ending of the song from the real life story with Ruby's husband thinking about killing her, while the real life story ended with a murder-suicide.

Answer: Larry Gatlin

In 1974, Gatlin wrote and performed the song for the first time at the Evangel Temple outside of Nashville, Tennessee. June Carter Cash heard the song while visiting the Temple. She brought Johnny Cash with her next time she went to the Evangel Temple and Johnny offered Larry the chance to perform the song on his ABC show filmed at the Ryman Auditorium. Even though Larry Gatlin wrote and performed it, Elvis made it more popular.

Answer: Kris Kristofferson

Kris wrote the hymn after going to church with Connie Smith in 1972. The week Kris wrote this song he performed it with Connie Smith and Larry Gatlin on the "Jimmie Rodgers Grand Ole Gospel Time". "Why Me?" became Kris Kristofferson's number one single on the country charts and his biggest hit as a solo artist. Elvis performed the song often when he sang hymns.

Answer: Carter Family

"Will the Circle Be Unbroken" was initially written in 1908, but in 1935 the Carter Family got a hold of the song and reworked it to release it for a second time. The song wasn't played much on country radios, but it was entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" was performed as the final song at the Ryman Auditorium before the doors were closed for the last time.

Answer: Dolly Parton

In 1974, Dolly wrote this song especially for Porter Wagoner to express her love for him, but her desire to leave his show and go out on her own. Porter gave her his blessing to leave his show as long as he was able to produce "I Will Always Love You". Dolly agreed. The song is Dolly Parton's best selling song, mostly due to the song's occurrence in the 1992 movie, "The Bodyguard".

Answer: Tanya Tucker

In 1972, Tanya Tucker burst on the country music scene as a thirteen year old girl singing "Delta Dawn". Her music producer, Billy Sherrill, gave her songs to perform that were too old for her, but earned her two Grammy nominations before the age of seventeen.

Answer: Townes Van Zandt

Townes Van Zandt wrote and performed this song in 1972. He told many an interviewer that the song was not reminiscent of Pancho Villa. The lyrics just came to him about a Mexican gentleman and his friend, Lefty, who travelled around Mexico. Pancho was eventually hanged and Lefty was left alone to wander.