The Year in Country Music: 1994 Quiz

Answer: John Michael Montgomery

John Michael Montgomery had three number one songs in 1994 according to Country Billboard. "I Swear" was written by Frank J. Meyers and Gary Baker and stayed at number one for four weeks. The song crossed over to the pop charts and topped out at number forty two. "I Swear" won Single of the Year from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association, along with a Grammy for Best Country Song. John Michael also won the Horizon Award from the Country Music Association that year. His other two hits were, "Be My Baby Tonight" and "If You've Got Love".

Answer: Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly used the line, "That'll be the day" taken from a John Ford western to name his first album. The song with the same title was released on his second album, "The Chirping Crickets" and the song was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the UK Billboard. It was his only number one hit during his lifetime. Buddy was inducted into the Country Music Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994.

Answer: Merle Haggard

Said to be inspired by a performance by Johnny Cash at a San Quentin prison, Merle Haggard has gone on to become one of the best known "outlaw" country singers in history. He is a songwriter, guitar player and country music legend who has inspired the next generation of country music performers and he was the only person inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the year 1994.

Answer: Tim McGraw

In 1992, Tim McGraw released his first album, "Tim McGraw" but none of the singles broke the top forty on country radio. However with the release of his first single in 1994, "Indian Outlaw", Tim was finally being talked about. The song was called offensive to Native Americans and banned by some country radio stations.

The single hit number eight on Country Billboard and is still one of his signature songs. Extra: The song is played whenever my favorite Yankees pitcher takes the mound because Joba Chamberlain is one of only two Native American professional baseball players in the United States.

Answer: Garth Brooks

"Country Weekly's" first cover was graced by none other than Garth Brooks. This is the only major publication that has cosponsored a country music award ceremony.

Answer: John Berry

John Berry had his only number one on country radio with the song "Your Love Amazes Me." The South Carolina native's last country album was released in 2004 and he's never had another song hit number one in country radio.

Answer: Neal McCoy

"No Doubt About It" hit number one on March 19, 1994 and on June 18 the song, "Wink" hit number one and stayed there for four weeks, tying John Michael Montgomery for the most weeks on the countdown that year. Neal McCoy had those two songs hit number one in 1994 and didn't have another number one hit in thirteen years.

Answer: Reba McEntire

In 1994 her tour grossed more than any other country music act and Reba McEntire won awards such as the People's Choice for Favorite Female Country Singer, Billboard's Favorite Female Country Singer, Country Music Association's Vocal Event of the Year, and the top prize for any country artist, ACM's Entertainer of the Year.

Answer: Pickup Man

The song "Pickup Man" was written by Howard Perdew and Kerry Kurt Phillips and sung by Joe Diffie. It was his second number one in 1994. The first was "Third Rock from the Sun". Both songs were on his "Third Rock from the Sun" album which was his top grossing album of his entire career and was certified Platinum. In 2006, "Pickup Man" was revamped and used in commercials for the restaurant chain, "Applebees."

Answer: Boy Howdy

Jeffery Steele was the lead singer of the group Boy Howdy for six years until he left the group to pursue a solo career. He is the writer of songs such as, "What Hurts the Most" (Rascal Flatts), "The Cowboy in Me" (Tim McGraw) and "Brand New Girlfriend", (Steve Holy). He had an album released in 2006 titled "Hell on Wheels."