1938 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1938.

Top hits of the year

• "Aura Lee" – Shelton Brothers (this melody was used for Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender")
• "Hi-Yo, Silver" – Roy Rogers
• "It Makes No Difference Now" – Cliff Bruner
• "Maiden's Prayer" – Bob Wills¹
• "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland" – Jimmie Davis
• "Ragtime Cowboy Joe"- Girls of the Golden West (country music duo)
• "Red Hot Fannie" – Hoosier Hot Shots
• "Wabash Cannon Ball" – Roy Acuff

¹Recorded in 1935 but released in 1938.

Births

• January 30 - Norma Jean, female singer of the 1960s and regular on The Porter Wagoner Show from 1961-1967.
• March 12 – Lew DeWitt, songwriter and former member of The Statler Brothers (he sang tenor) (died 1990).
• March 18 – Charley Pride, the most successful African-American country music performer, active since the mid-1960s.
• April 4 – Norro Wilson, prominent songwriter and record producer (died 2017).
• August 18 – Allen Reynolds, prominent record producer, best known for his association with Garth Brooks.
• August 21 – Kenny Rogers, pop-styled country crooner who has enjoyed hits since the late 1960s.

Further reading

• Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947–1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 ( ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
• Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 ( ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
• Whitburn, Joel. "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005.