Tim McGraw "Tiny Dancer"

Tim McGraw choose the safe (and wise) route when remaking Elton John's signature "Tiny Dancer". His 2002 effort perfectly matched the original. In fact, the two performed the song together on the American Music Awards in celebration of the song's 30th birthday.

Terri Gibbs "Somebody's Knockin"

Plenty of Country music found its way onto the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1981. Juice Newton, Kenny Rogers, Eddie Rabbitt, Ronnie Milsap, and Rosanne Cash joined Terri Gibbs as successful crossover artists. "Somebody's Knockin" peaked at #3 that year. Later in the '80s, Gibbs turned to Christian music where she found additional success.

Shania Twain "You're Still the One"

They said it would never last. Critics dismissed the relationship between budding country star Shania Twain and her successful producer boyfriend Robert "Mutt" Lange...even after the pair married. And, for 17 years, Twain proved them wrong...the two even wrote "You're Still the One" as a memento of their relationship and how they overcame all the naysayers. All of this crashed to the floor when Shania learned Mutt was having an affair with her best friend. The pair divorced in 2010. Twain told Andy Cohen that if she ever saw her now ex-friend, she'd tell her: "I wish I never met you." Is it possible for his story to get even more bonkers? Yes! Shania bonded with her ex-friend's ex-husband and the two commiserated over being jilted lovers...only to later become lovers. WTF!

LeAnn Rimes "Looking Through Your Eyes"

The list of country music that found its way over to Adult Contemporary radio stations expanded in the late-90s thanks to names like Shania Twain, Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes. LeAnn's 1998 ballad "Looking Through Your Eyes" originally debuted on the Quest for Camelot Soundtrack.

Bon Jovi "Who Says You Can't Go Home"

Bon Jovi made sure everyone heard his 2005 song "Who Says You Can't Go Home". His plan for worl dominance consisted of recording a rock and country version of his upbeat tune. Jon recruited Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland for her vocal services in the country version. The song(s) proved to be so popular both on the radio and off; Republicans even used it in 2008 at events to support Vice Presidential-nominee Sarah Palin. Since they used it without permission, Bon Jovi ordered them to stop and then went on to perform at rallies in support of presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

Kenny Rogers "Lucille"

Mistakenly believing her husband is trying to kill her, a woman enlists her neighbor for help keeping her alive. This paranoia causes her husband to believe she's gone crazy. Enter the neighbor's husband who suggests "slipping her a mickey" to get her to relax. The husband goes along with the plan which leads to further hi-jinx. Believe it or not, this was the plot of an I Love Lucy episode. The ever-wholesome "Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Kill Her" originally aired in 1951.

After reading a murder mystery book, Lucy overhears Ricky talking on the phone and incorrectly believes he is trying to replace, and ultimately, kill her. As usual, Lucy turns to Ethel for help. Lucy's paranoia causes concern in Ricky who gets the idea to slip Lucy a Mickey from Fred. Ricky obliges, but Lucy is onto him. She re-arranges the drinks Ricky made so that he will drink the laced cocktail. Ricky foils her plan which causes Lucy to eventually fall asleep. Thinking Lucy is dead, Ethel covers her with a blanket causing Lucy to wake up. The two head then to Ricky's rehearsal where they learn Ricky was looking to rid of the same dogs that were part of his show's act. And here you thought every episode featured Lucy attempting to weasel her way into Ricky's show...

Billy Ray Cyrus "Achy Breaky Heart"

My family became one of the first accidental wedding crashers back in the late-1980s. Whenever our family of four ventured out to eat, it usually meant we went to one of three familiar Northwest Indiana places: either a diner named Michaels or Zantes or an all-you-can-eat pizza & buffet called Shakey's. These were my Dad's favorite places and (today) I assume they were also the least expensive places.

During one stormy Saturday night, Dad proudly announced we would be trying a new place: D.C.'s Country Junction in Lowell, Indiana. My Mom heard about the place (known for their line dancing) and somehow talked Dad into going. While my Dad drove our family's Buick Skylark toward Lowell, my brother and I nervously watched the lightning fill in the night sky. After seeing a tornado in an old black-and-white movie at my Grandmother's house, the two of us were fascinated (and terrified) of severe thunderstorms. This particular nasty summer thunderstorm safely moved through the area during our 30-minute commute and left the air feeling more humid after we finally stepped out of the car at D.C.'s crowded parking lot.

As the four of us stood at the entrance awaiting the host to seat us, I immediately noticed the action on the dance floor as folks stomped their feet and did a form of dancing that was completely unfamiliar to me. My parents never exposed us to Country Music and, thus, line dancing.

Growing impatient (and hungry), Dad finally approached a passing staff member. The young bus boy motioned for us to sit wherever we chose...so we did. We moved to a booth close enough to the dance floor and buffet. After a few more minutes of waiting, my dad finally flagged the same bus boy and inquired about our waitress. The bus boy told us to just grab a plate and head to the buffet; this news delighted me as an abundance of fried chicken sat within a few feet of us. At this point, my Mom whispered something into my Dad's ear which caused a moment of panic between my parents.

My Dad waved over the bus boy a third time and the two struck up another conversation. When it ended, my Dad signaled to us that we had to leave. Wait, what? The thought of leaving without eating while the smell of crispy fried chicken danced in my brain wasn't sitting well with me. My parents hurried us to the car where Dad finally revealed what really happened inside D.C.'s Country Junction. His nervousness morphed into laughter as my Dad admitted that D.C.'s was actually closed that night for a private wedding reception! The poor busboy thought we were part of the wedding. We wound up eating at some nearby diner and, from that day forward, my Dad never veered outside his comfort zone of Michael's, Zante's or Shakey's Restaurants. 

Bonnie Raitt "Have A Heart"

Bonnie Raitt kicked the booze and drugs in the late-1980s with the help of Stevie Ray Vaughan. She said, "I thought I had to live that partying lifestyle in order to be authentic, but in fact if you keep it up too long, all you're going to be is sloppy or dead." 

Kenny Rogers "Through the Years"

"There are three versions of each of us. The version you think I am, the version I think I am and who I really am. The closer you can make those 3 versions, the longer you’ll last and the more authentic you are.”

                                                                                                              -Kenny Rogers

Tamara Walker "Didn't We Love"

Things we loved in the year 2000: young girls in skimpy clothing dancing on bars. In this case, it wasn't bar patrons, but rather bar staff donning leather pants and cowboy boots while dancing on the bar top of country bars all across America. Credit the movie, Coyote Ugly, for jump-starting the trend.

Kenny Rogers "You Decorated My Life"

I still remember eating applesauce in a suburban (aren't they all?) Red Lobster at the innocent age of seven and being asked who my favorite musician was. "Kenny Rogers!" I immediately answered. Why Kenny Rogers, you ask? Well, I had no idea who Kenny was or what he sang. I did remember my neighbor's mom always talked about him and I thought he must be a nice guy.

Dixie Chicks "Landslide"

Near the end of the '90s, the Dixie Chicks were one of the hottest country acts in the country...if not the world. Things changed in 2003 when the band's lead singer Natalie Maines told a European audience the she was ashamed President George W. Bush was from Texas and voiced opposition to US involvement in the impending Iraq War. The result was a backlash felt from coast to coast: country music radio stations shunned the band and its music, some organized stunts where bulldozers demolished the band's CDs, sponsors pulled from the group's tour, and Maines fielded numerous death threats including many who threatened to shoot her while she performed on stage. It took the group a while to get over the hoopla and, when the dust settled, the band even released the song "Not Ready to Make Nice". One could argue that Maines took the proverbial bullet for numerous acts who followed with their own criticism of Bush, the Iraqi War and, later, Donald Trump. 

Bob Seger & Martina McBride "Chances Are"

Included on the Hope Floats Soundtrack, the ballad "Chances Are" features the unmistakable Bob Seger with Martina McBride. The duet charted on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1998, but wasn't the album's crown jewel. That gem belonged to Garth Brooks who remade Bob Dylan's "To Make You Feel My Love". The remake finished first on the Country Chart during the summer of 1998 and earned Brooks a Grammy nomination in 1999. Other big names on the soundtrack include The Rolling Stones, Lyle Lovett, Trisha Yearwood, and Sheryl Crow.

Faith Hill "Cry"

Faith Hill spent the majority of her early career toeing the line between Country and Adult Contemporary artist. Her 2002 ballad "Cry" found most of its success on the Adult Contemporary Chart. The song sat in the #1 spot for 11 weeks. Despite this, the song netted Hill a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

Crystal Gayle "Talking in Your Sleep"

Crystal Gayle continued her ascent from country artist to crossover artist with her sentimental ballad "Talking in Your Sleep". The song went to the coveted #1 spot on the Country Chart and even peaked at #3 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1978.

Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes & James Ingram "What About Me?"

The year 2017 saw Kenny Rogers wave goodbye to touring with the conclusion of his world farewell tour. Rogers remarkable career spans nearly 60 years...beginning with "That Crazy Feeling" in 1957. By the 1970s, Rogers etched his name in the history books as his music dominated the Country Music, Hot 100, and Adult Contemporary Charts. The list of artists connected to his 1984 hit "What About Me?" also spans multiple formats, genres and generations. Rogers originally enlisted Barbara Streisand and Lionel Richie to be part of the song, but both dropped out. Then came Jeffrey Osborne and Olivia Newton-John, who both had scheduling conflicts. Rogers settled on Kim Carnes and James Ingram, and the trio turned the ballad into Rogers final #1 hit on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

Wynonna Judd "Tell Me Why"

For years, US 99 (WUSN-FM) was the premiere country music radio station in Chicago. After launching in 1982, the station went on to knock out their four main competitors en route to twenty-plus years of dominance. They actually billed themselves as "America's Country Station" after becoming the most listened to country station in the country -- so take that! In 2015, Clear Channel/iHeartMedia launched a country station called "Big 95.5" that did what all the stations (including KICKS Country 94.7FM) couldn't--it gave US99 a formidable opponent. The result: multiple staff shakeups, management changes and numerous tweaks to the music. Today, US 99 continues to hold the title of #1 country radio station in Chicago...for now.

Ronnie Milsap "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World"

Country music that crossed over into the world of pop was all the rage in the early-80s. Ronnie Milsap followed the likes of Kenny Rogers and Anne Murray as a successful country-pop crossover artist.

The Dirt Band "Make a Little Magic"

During the time The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band cranked out the country-pop song "Make A Little Magic", the band simply went by The Dirt Band. Singer Nicolette Larson provided backup vocals to the 1980 song.

Eddie Rabbitt "Drivin' My Life Away"

People who tend to say they "like all music except for country" -- well, those folks should give Eddie Rabbitt's "Drivin' My Life Away" a listen. The catchy 1980 tune helped Rabbitt crossover from Country to Mainstream music. This move set him up for follow-up soft rock hits "I Love A Rainy Night" and the duet "You & I".