List of Hot Country Singles number ones of 1973
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File:Tanya_Tucker.png had her first chart-topper in 1973 at the age of 14.|alt=A young woman with long blonde hair]]
Hot Country Songs is a record chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1973, 36 different singles topped the chart, at the time published under the title Hot Country Singles, in 52 issues of the magazine. Chart placings were based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.{{cite book|title=Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944–2005|page=ix|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|authorlink=Joel Whitburn|publisher=Record Research|date=2005|isbn=9780898201659}}
At the start of the year, the number one song was "She's Got to Be a Saint" by Ray Price, which had reached number one the previous week,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1972-12-30 |title=Hot Country Songs chart for December 30, 1972 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-date=March 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329045333/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1972-12-30 |url-status=live }} and remained atop the chart for two weeks in 1973. Price returned to the top spot for a single week later in the year with "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me". This marked his final appearance at the top of the Hot Country Singles chart,{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/top-ray-price-songs/|title=Top 5 Ray Price Songs|first=Billy|last=Dukes|date=December 16, 2013|work=Taste of Country|publisher=Townsquare Media|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-date=July 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707114529/http://tasteofcountry.com/top-ray-price-songs/|url-status=live}} fifteen years after he had been at number one on the very first combined country sales and airplay chart published by Billboard.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8A9EDwAAQBAJ&q=%22hot+c%26w+sides%22+first+number+one+ray+price+1958&pg=PT138|page=123|title=Popular Music in America: The Beat Goes On|first=Michael|last=Campbell|publisher=Cengage Learning|date=2018|isbn=9781337671965}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1958-10-20 |title=Hot Country Songs chart for October 20, 1958 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613051927/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1958-10-20 |url-status=live }} Conway Twitty spent the highest number of weeks at number one by any artist in 1973 with six, including one week at the top with a duet with Loretta Lynn. Twitty and Lynn had a run of success with duet recordings in the early 1970s alongside their ongoing solo careers,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/conway-twitty-mn0000780451/biography|title=Conway Twitty Biography & History|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 23, 2019|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223083207/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/conway-twitty-mn0000780451/biography|url-status=live}} and each had three number one singles during the year, tying with Charley Pride, Tammy Wynette and Merle Haggard for the most number ones by an artist. Despite being banned by some radio stations due to its lyrical content, Twitty's "You've Never Been This Far Before" spent three weeks at number one, tying for the longest unbroken run of the year with "The Most Beautiful Girl" by Charlie Rich.
Artists to reach number one for the first time in 1973 included Tanya Tucker, who took "What's Your Mama's Name" to the top spot at the age of 14.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tanya-tucker-mn0000013384/biography|title=Tanya Tucker Biography & History|work=AllMusic|first=Sandra|last=Brennan|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405152900/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tanya-tucker-mn0000013384/biography|url-status=live}} Later in the year, another 14-year old, Marie Osmond, reached the top spot with "Paper Roses". She became the first female solo artist to top the chart with her debut single and set a new record as the youngest female artist to top the chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/marie-osmond-mn0000270060/biography|title=Marie Osmond Biography & History|work=AllMusic|first=Steve|last=Huey|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405092142/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/marie-osmond-mn0000270060/biography|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/flashback-see-kris-kristofferson-play-han-solo-in-campy-star-wars-20160504|title=Flashback: See Kris Kristofferson Play Han Solo in Campy 'Star Wars'|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Stephen L.|last=Betts|date=May 4, 2016|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405090632/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/flashback-see-kris-kristofferson-play-han-solo-in-campy-star-wars-20160504|url-status=live}} A number of other artists achieved a first country number one in 1973. Joe Stampley was the first when he spent one week at the top of the chart with "Soul Song" in January.{{cite book|title=Contemporary Musicians|url=https://archive.org/details/contemporarymusi0053unse|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/contemporarymusi0053unse/page/156 156]|publisher=Gale Research, Incorporated|date=2005|isbn=9780787680640}} In March, Cal Smith topped the chart for the first time with "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking",{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cal-smith-mn0000647518/biography|title=Cal Smith Biography & History|work=AllMusic|first=James|last=Manheim|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-date=March 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315154206/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cal-smith-mn0000647518/biography|url-status=live}} as did Barbara Fairchild with "The Teddy Bear Song".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/barbara-fairchild/chart-history/csi/|title=Barbara Fairchild Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-date=November 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118030122/https://www.billboard.com/artist/barbara-fairchild/chart-history/csi/|url-status=live}} In April, Charlie Rich gained his first number one with "Behind Closed Doors", beginning a run of five consecutive first-time chart-toppers which also included Roy Clark with "Come Live with Me",{{cite web|url=https://www.axs.com/the-ten-best-songs-by-roy-clark-49752|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408073433/https://www.axs.com/the-ten-best-songs-by-roy-clark-49752|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2018|publisher=AXS TV|first=Linda|last=McCloud|title=The ten best songs by Roy Clark|date=April 20, 2015|access-date=April 7, 2018}} Tucker's "What's Your Mama's Name", "Satin Sheets" by Jeanne Pruett,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jeanne-pruett-mn0000815386/biography|title=Jeanne Pruett Biography & History|work=AllMusic|first=Steve|last=Huey|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-date=April 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408010441/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jeanne-pruett-mn0000815386/biography|url-status=live}} and Johnny Rodriguez's "You Always Come Back to Hurting Me".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-rodriguez-mn0000248081|title=Johnny Rodriguez Biography & History|work=AllMusic|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-date=April 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408010331/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-rodriguez-mn0000248081|url-status=live}} In July, Kris Kristofferson, who had written a number of major hits including "Me and Bobby McGee", which had topped the Billboard Hot 100 for Janis Joplin,{{cite web|url=http://theboot.com/kris-kristofferson-me-and-bobby-mcgee-lyrics/|title=Story Behind the Song: Kris Kristofferson,'Me and Bobby McGee'|work=The Boot|publisher=Townsquare Media|date=January 20, 2017|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-date=April 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408010158/http://theboot.com/kris-kristofferson-me-and-bobby-mcgee-lyrics/|url-status=live}} achieved his only number one as a solo performer with "Why Me".{{cite web|url=http://theboot.com/top-kris-kristofferson-songs/|title=Top 10 Kris Kristofferson Songs|work=The Boot|publisher=Townsquare Media|date=June 22, 2017|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-date=April 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408010254/http://theboot.com/top-kris-kristofferson-songs/|url-status=live}} The final number one of the year was the aptly-titled "If We Make It Through December" by Merle Haggard.
Chart history
File:Charley-Pride 1981.JPEG had three number ones in 1973.|alt=A dark-skinned man wearing a tuxedo, singing into a microphone]]
File:Kris_Kristofferson_(ZMF_2017)_jm34701.jpg (pictured in 2017) had already achieved considerable success as a songwriter for other acts, but in 1973 he gained his only number one as a solo singer.|alt=An old man with grey hair and beard, wearing a black shirt, playing a guitar]]
File:Marie_Osmond_aboard_USS_Ranger_(CV-61),_1981.JPEG (pictured in 1981) became the youngest female singer to top the Hot Country chart.|alt=A young woman with long brown hair, wearing a long yellow dress, singing into a microphone]]
File:Charlie_Rich_1973.JPG's "The Most Beautiful Girl" was not only a country number one but also topped the magazine's all-genre chart, the Hot 100.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-rich-mn0000179730/biography|title=Charlie Rich Biography & History|work=AllMusic|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|access-date=April 7, 2018}}|alt=A man with grey hair]]
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!scope=col|Issue date !scope=col|Title !scope=col|Artist(s) !scope=col class=unsortable|Ref. |
| scope=row|{{dts|January 6}}
| rowspan="2"|"She's Got to Be a Saint" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Ray|Price|Ray Price (musician)}} |
|---|
| scope=row|{{dts|January 13}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|January 20}}
|"Soul Song" |{{sortname|Joe|Stampley}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|January 27}}
|"{{sort|Old|(Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine}}" |{{sortname|Tom T.|Hall}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|February 3}}
| rowspan="2"|"She Needs Someone to Hold Her (When She Cries)" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Conway|Twitty}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|February 10}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|February 17}}
|"I Wonder If They Ever Think of Me" |{{sortname|Merle|Haggard}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|February 24}}
|"Rated "X"" |{{sortname|Loretta|Lynn}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|March 3}}
|"{{sort|Lord|The Lord Knows I'm Drinking}}" |{{sortname|Cal|Smith}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|March 10}}
|"{{sort|Til I|'Til I Get It Right}}" |{{sortname|Tammy|Wynette}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|March 17}}
| rowspan="2"|"{{sort|Teddy|The Teddy Bear Song}}" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Barbara|Fairchild}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|March 24}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|March 31}}
|{{sortname|Lynn|Anderson}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|April 7}}
|{{sortname|Freddie|Hart|Freddie Hart (musician)}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|April 14}}
|"{{sort|Shoulder|A Shoulder to Cry On}}" |{{sortname|Charley|Pride}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|April 21}}
|"Superman" |{{sortname|Donna|Fargo}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|April 28}}
|rowspan="2"|"Behind Closed Doors" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Charlie|Rich}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|May 5}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|May 12}}
|{{sortname|Roy|Clark}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|May 19}}
|{{sortname|Tanya|Tucker}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|May 26}}
| rowspan="2"|"Satin Sheets" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Jeanne|Pruett}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|June 2}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|June 9}}
|"You Always Come Back to Hurting Me" |{{sortname|Johnny|Rodriguez}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|June 16}}
|"Kids Say the Darndest Things" |{{sortname|Tammy|Wynette}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|June 23}}
|"Satin Sheets" |{{sortname|Jeanne|Pruett}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|June 30}}
|"Don't Fight the Feelings of Love" |{{sortname|Charley|Pride}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|July 7}}
|"Why Me" |{{sortname|Kris|Kristofferson}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|July 14}}
|rowspan="2"|"Love Is the Foundation" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Loretta|Lynn}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|July 21}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|July 28}}
|{{sortname|Donna|Fargo}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|August 4}}
|{{sortname|Jerry|Reed}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|August 11}}
|{{sortname|Freddie|Hart|Freddie Hart (musician)}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|August 18}}
|"Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" |{{sortname|Loretta|Lynn}} & Conway Twitty |
| scope=row|{{dts|August 25}}
| rowspan="2"|"Everybody's Had the Blues" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Merle|Haggard}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|September 1}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|September 8}}
| rowspan="3"|"You've Never Been This Far Before" |rowspan="3"|{{sortname|Conway|Twitty}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|September 15}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|September 22}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|September 29}}
|{{sortname|Tanya|Tucker}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|October 6}}
|"You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me" |{{sortname|Ray|Price|Ray Price (musician)}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|October 13}}
| rowspan="2"|"Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Johnny|Rodriguez}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|October 20}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|October 27}}
| rowspan="2"|"We're Gonna Hold On" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|George|Jones}} & Tammy Wynette |
| scope=row|{{dts|November 3}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|November 10}}
|rowspan="2"|"Paper Roses" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Marie|Osmond}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|November 17}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|November 24}}
|rowspan="3"|"{{sort|Most|The Most Beautiful Girl}}" |rowspan="3"|{{sortname|Charlie|Rich}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|December 1}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|December 8}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|December 15}}
|"Amazing Love" |{{sortname|Charley|Pride}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|December 22}}
|rowspan="2"|"If We Make It Through December" |rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Merle|Haggard}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|December 29}} |
See also
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Hot Country Songs}}
{{featured list}}