1983 Timeless Ballad, Named One of the 'Best Country Songs' of All Time, Never Made It to No. 1

George Straithas over 40 Billboard No. 1 hits, but surprisingly, "Amarillo by Morning" isn't one of them.

The 1982 country staple is one of Strait's only singles to not reach No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, instead peaking at No. 4.

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But despite never earning the No. 1 spot on the charts, "Amarillo by Morning" is still regarded as a fan-favorite country track. It's even included on Rolling Stone's list of the 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time, where it's ranked at No. 10. It's also included on Billboard's roundup of the 100 Best Country Songs of All Time, coming in at No. 17 on that list.

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"Amarillo by Morning" was included on Strait's 1982 album Strait from the Heart, and later released as a single in January 1983. It debuted on the Hot Country Songs chart the next month, and later peaked at No. 4 in April of that year.

But Strait wasn't the original artist behind the rodeo-themed ballad. It was first recorded in 1973 by singer Terry Stafford, who co-wrote the track with Paul Fraser, though it was Strait's version that brought the song to the mainstream.

George Strait's Other No. 1 Hits

"Amarillo by Morning" is one of Strait's only singles not to reach No. 1, but the country music icon has plenty of other chart-toppers in his catalog. Here are all 44 of Strait's No. 1 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart :

1. "Write this Down"
2. "Living and Living Well"
3. "The Best Day"
4. "She'll Leave You With a Smile"
5. "She Let Herself Go"
6. "A Fire I Can't Put Out"
7. "River of Love"
8. "You Look So Good In Love"
9. "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind"
10. "Right Or Wrong"
11. "Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her"
12. "It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You"
13. "The Chair"
14. "It Just Comes Natural"
15. "Love Without End, Amen"
16. "Ocean Front Property"
17. "Ace In The Hole"
18. "Let's Fall To Pieces Together"
19. "I Just Want To Dance With You"
20. "Carrying Your Love With Me"
21. "Round About Way"
22. "Carried Away"
23. "One Night At A Time"
24. "Check Yes Or No"
25. "Blue Clear Sky"
26. "The Big One"
27. "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody"
28. "What's Going On In Your World"
29. "I Cross My Heart"
30. "Heartland"
31. "Easy Come, Easy Go"
32. "I've Come To Expect It From You"
33. "If I Know Me"
34. "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')
35. "You Know Me Better Than That"
36. "Give It Away"
37. "I Hate Everything"
38. "I Saw God Today"
39. "Baby Blue"
40. "Famous Last Words Of A Fool"
41. "Fool Hearted Memory"
42. "Baby's Gotten Good At Goodbye"
43. "Am I Blue"
44. "All My Ex's Live in Texas"

Related: 1949 Hit, Named One of the 'Best Country Songs Ever,' Was the 'Saddest' Song Elvis Presley Ever Heard

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This story was originally published April 18, 2026 at 10:30 AM.