4 Country Legends Who Had Only One No. 1 Single in Their Career

Sending a single to the top of the charts is something that many artists aspire to. It is, without a doubt, an achievement that deserves to be celebrated. At the same time, chart success isn’t always an indication of quality nor can the number of chart-topping hits give the full measure of an artist’s importance, influence, or longevity. There are plenty of influential singer/songwriters who don’t have a single No. 1 in their discography. Then again, there are country legends who only have one No. 1 song.

The four country legends below prove that they didn’t need to send a legion of singles to the No. 1 spot to be major players in the genre.

1 Johnny Paycheck—An Outlaw Country Legend with One No. 1 Single

Johnny Paycheck started his country music career as a songwriter. He also sang backup and played steel guitar and bass for George Jones as a member of his band, the Jones Boys. Over the course of his solo career, he recorded several timeless tracks like “I’m the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised),” “Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets” “(Don’t Take Her) She’s All I Got,” and many more.

However, the Outlaw Country legend only had one No. 1 single. Penned by David Allen Coe, his 1977 single “Take This Job and Shove It” was the only one to reach the top of the charts for Paycheck.

2 Roy Clark—Host of Hee Haw and a Country Icon

Roy Clark was a singer, musician, and TV host. Fans of a certain age will remember him as the host of the country-themed variety show Hee Haw. More than that, he helped to popularize country music and his guitar style has influenced countless bluegrass players over the years. It is impossible to overstate Clark’s importance in the country music world.

Unfortunately, the charts didn’t reflect his status. This country legend had his only No. 1 single. The Felice and Boudleaux Bryant-penned track “Come Live with Me” went to the top of the country chart in 1973.

3 Bobby Bare—An Outlaw Country Hero

Bobby Bare is a largely unsung hero of the Outlaw Country movement. He is credited as the person who introduced Waylon Jennings to RCA Records. He was also the first recording artist to cut songs from songwriters like Kris Kristofferson, Billy Joe Shaver, “Cowboy” Jack Clement, Tom T. Hall, and others. Later in his career, he hosted a TV show called Bobby Bare & Friends, A Songwriter Showcase in which he interviewed and showcased songwriters.

He has had several hits over his career, but this Outlaw Country legend only had one No. 1 single. Penned by Shel Silverstein and Baxter Taylor, Bare released “Marie Laveau” as the second single from his 1974 album Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends, and Lies. The novelty song was his sole chart-topper.

4 Kris Kristofferson—A Country Legend Who Wrote No. 1 Songs for Other Artists

Kris Kristofferson was hailed as one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century. He penned several iconic songs including “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” and many more. He also had a successful career as a performer and recording artist and was a member of The Highwaymen. However, this country legend only had one No. 1 single.

Kristofferson wrote “Why Me” and released it as the third single from his hit album Jesus Was a Capricorn. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was the only single from the album to chart. Additionally, It reached No. 16 on the publication’s all-genre Hot 100 chart. It was his only chart-topper as a recording artist.

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