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.

Dolly Parton "9 to 5"

That typewriter you hear in Dolly Parton's 1980 hit "9 to 5" isn't a typewriter at all. It's actually the sound of Dolly's acrylic fingernails running back and forth over one another.

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.

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.

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".

Faith Hill "This Kiss"

The following is a real phone call I received while working at a soft rock radio station in 1998.

"Hi, Windy 100."
"Oh, hi. Could you play that new song from Faith Hill?"
"This Kiss?"
"Yeah, that one!"
"Um, I'm actually playing it right now."
"Oh. Can you play it again?"
"(deep breath)"

Anne Murray "Could I Have This Dance"

Anne Murray was to '70s Adult Contemporary radio as Celine Dion was to '90s Adult Contemporary radio. With her country-pop ballads, Murray racked up a string of radio-friendly hits including the 1980 wedding reception favorite "Could I Have This Dance".

LeAnn Rimes "Soon"

"I want to make abundantly clear to you that this album is not a reflection of myself as an artist but is solely the conception of Curb Records, and for that I am truly and deeply sorry."

-LeAnn Rimes

Not often does an artist release an album and immediately disown it, but that happened with LeAnn Rimes in 2001.  Her record company released "I Need You", a compilation album of various songs and B-sides, because Rimes was contractually obligated to release it.
(this is post #1100 on Growing Up Adult Contemporary)

Diamond Rio "One More Day"

"One More Day" touches on the theme of wanting one more day with someone you loved and lost. Released in late-2000, the song was a band-aid of sorts following a couple tragic events. The first happened after the death of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt as the song became an unofficial tribute to him. The second happened following the tragic events on September 11th, 2001. Nearly a year after its popularity, the song returned to the radio as our nation struggled to heal and move forward after the 9/11 attacks.

Michael Martin Murphey "What's Forever For?"

"Doesn't anybody ever stay together anymore?" 

Restless Heart - "I'll Still Be Loving You"

POP QUIZ:  What do Restless Heart and Miley Cyrus have in common?  Restless Heart's country-pop ballad "I'll Still Be Loving You" was the last country song to cross over to the Hot 100 until Billy Ray Cyrus did it in 1992 with "Achy Breaky Heart".  Restless Heart accomplished the feat in 1987.  Oh, and of course, Billy Ray is Miley's dad.  [Side note: this is post #900 on Growing Up Adult Contemporary!]

Mary Chapin Carpenter - "Passionate Kisses"

"Shouldn't I have this?   Shouldn't I have this?  Shouldn't I have all of this...and passionate kisses from you?"

Lonestar - "I'm Already There"

The 9/11 Attacks helped propel Lonestar's "I'm Already There" to multi-format success in 2001.

Shania Twain - "From This Moment On"

Shania Twain originally wanted Elton John to perform the male portion of duet, "From This Moment On".  That didn't work out, so fellow country singer Bryan White stepped in and helped put this song on wedding reception soundtracks from 1998 onward.