No dates

• Drake-Chenault syndicates The History of Country Music, a 52-hour country music version of the radio syndicator's successful The History of Rock and Roll (which had three editions issued, the last in 1981). Produced in 1981 and early 1982 before syndicating to radio stations, the radio documentary was hosted by Ralph Emery. Like its rock and roll forebear, the program featured artist interviews, outtakes from notable radio and television broadcasts; spotlights on notable artists, styles and trends, along with songs that helped illustrate the subject; and time sweeps of individual years through 1981, with a montage of the biggest and most noteworthy hits of each year played. The final hour, Hour 52, was a time sweep of all of the country No. 1 songs from 1944 to the then-present, or approximately 650 individual songs that had topped the Billboard country charts.^[1] The special was structured much like the Rock and Roll program, allowing radio programmers to air it as a one-time "marathon" special (such as over holiday weekends), in multiple parts over a period of time, or as one-hour weekly programs.

Singles released by American artists

Singles released by Canadian artists

Other top albums

Regular series

• Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980–1982, NBC)
• Hee Haw (1969–1993, syndicated)
• Pop! Goes the Country (1974–1982, syndicated)
• That Nashville Music (1970–1985, syndicated)

Specials

Grammy Awards

• Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "Break It to Me Gently", Juice Newton
• Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "Always on My Mind", Willie Nelson
• Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Mountain Music", Alabama
• Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Alabama Jubilee," Roy Clark
• Best Country Song — "Always on My Mind", Johnny Christopher, Wayne Carson Thompson and Mark James (Performer: Willie Nelson)

Juno Awards

• Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Ronnie Hawkins
• Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Anne Murray
• Country Group or Duo of the Year — The Good Brothers

Academy of Country Music

• Entertainer of the Year — Alabama
• Song of the Year — "Are the Good Times Really Over (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver)", Merle Haggard (Performer: Merle Haggard)
• Single of the Year — "Always on My Mind," Willie Nelson
• Album of the Year — Always on My Mind, Willie Nelson
• Top Male Vocalist — Ronnie Milsap
• Top Female Vocalist — Sylvia
• Top Vocal Duo — Shelly West and David Frizzell
• Top Vocal Group — Alabama
• Top New Male Vocalist — Michael Martin Murphey
• Top New Female Vocalist — Karen Brooks

Canadian Country Music Association

• Entertainer of the Year — Family Brown
• Male Artist of the Year — Terry Carisse
• Female Artist of the Year — Carroll Baker
• Group of the Year — Family Brown
• SOCAN Song of the Year — "Some Never Stand a Chance", Family Brown (Performer: Family Brown)
• Single of the Year — "Some Never Stand a Chance", Family Brown
• Album of the Year — Raised on Country Music, Family Brown
• Vista Rising Star Award — Ruth Ann

Country Music Association

• Entertainer of the Year — Alabama
• Song of the Year — "Always on My Mind", Johnny Christopher, Wayne Carson Thompson and Mark James (Performer: Willie Nelson)
• Single of the Year — "Always on My Mind", Willie Nelson
• Album of the Year — Always on My Mind, Willie Nelson
• Male Vocalist of the Year — Ricky Skaggs
• Female Vocalist of the Year — Janie Fricke
• Vocal Duo of the Year — David Frizzell and Shelly West
• Vocal Group of the Year — Alabama
• Horizon Award — Ricky Skaggs
• Instrumentalist of the Year — Chet Atkins
• Instrumental Group of the Year — Alabama