The Year in Country Music: 1989 Quiz

Answer: Clint Black

The song was written by Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas and it was Clint's first release from his first album "Killin Time". He was the first artist since Freddy Fender to gain a number one song with his first single. Clint also won the Horizon award from the Country Music Association in 1989.

Answer: Taylor Swift

Taylor Alison Swift was born in Pennsylvania on December 13 1989 and is best known for her hit song, "Tim McGraw". The song only went to number six on Billboard country charts, but the video was number one on both CMT and GAC.

Answer: George Strait

George Strait won his first Entertainer of the Year awards in 1989. He was awarded with the same prize the following year from the CMA. This was the same year Alabama became the Artist of the Decade and Kathy Matea won Song of the Year with "Where've You Been?" from the ACM.

Answer: Keith Whitley

May 9, 1989 husband of Lorrie Morgan and country music singer/songwriter, Keith Whitley was found dead in his home. His cause of death was alcohol poisoning and the coroner reported his blood alcohol level was five times the legal limit. The same year Keith had one song hit the country charts after his death. On September 9 1989, "I Wonder Do You Think of Me" hit number one making Keith the seventh country artist to do this posthumously.

Answer: The Judds

The Judds won the Vocal Duo prize from both the ACM and CMA and had their last number one as a duo with the song "Let Me Tell You About Love" from their album, "River of Time". Wynona went solo in 1994 and her first four singles went to number one. Any songs she has sung with her mother since Naomi's retirement have been credited to Wynona singing with Naomi Judd, not to The Judds.

Answer: Garth Brooks

His first album was self titled and the first single released was "Much Too Young to Feel This Damn Old". It was a top ten, but his second single "If Tomorrow Never Comes" hit number one.

Answer: Mary Chapin Carpenter

Mary Chapin Carpenter had two songs on the Country Billboard in 1989. "How Do" which went to number 19 and "Never Had It So Good" which went to number 8. Both songs were from her second album "State of the Heart" which was her first Gold album. Her first number one song was on her Grammy winning album, "Stones in the Road", released in 1994. "Shut Up and Kiss Me" is her only number one song to date.

Answer: Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson's first album had four songs that hit the US Country Top 100. One of those was his first number two hit, "Chasin That Neon Rainbow". Alan wrote or co-wrote every song on the album.

Answer: Hank Williams Sr.

Using a technique called 'electronic dubbing'; Hank Jr. was able to perform a duet with his father Hank Sr. who died in 1953. The song was written by Hank Sr. and a black and white stage performance by the senior Williams was used and Hank Jr. was dubbed in to make it look like he was singing with his father.

The video won awards from the Country Music Association, Academy of Country music in 1989, and a Grammy in 1990.

Answer: Nickel Creek

Chris Thile on the mandolin, Sara Watkins on the fiddle and her brother Sean on the guitar, make up the group Nickel Creek. They were formed in 1989 in California when Sean Watkins, the oldest of the group, was just twelve. Since then the trio has gone on to perform and tour all over the country at Bluegrass Festivals.

They have won several Grammys and announced in 2006 that after playing together for seventeen years, they are taking a break to further their solo careers.