Ten Biggest Billboard Chart Songs  (1944 ~1993) 

1. Hank Snow:  Hank was one of the most prolific singers and songwriters in country music during his illustrious career. In a career that spanned over four decades, Snow recorded over 120 albums, and sold roughly 70 million records. Hank dominated the charts in 1950 with I’m Moving On. It is the All-time Biggest Song in Country Music as it spent 44 weeks on the Billboard top-40 chart and a record-breaking 21 at the No. 1 chart position. Hank was inducted into the Country Music hall of Fame in 1979. 

2. Eddy Arnold: Eddy was the most successful country artist of all time, selling 85 million records in a career that spanned six decades. He was a pioneer of the Nashville Sound in the late 1950s and had 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones (154). I’ll Hold You in My Heart (1947) is the 2^nd All-time Biggest Song in Country Music. It spent 46 weeks on the Billboard top-40 chart and 21 weeks at No. 1. Arnold was inducted into the Country Music hall of Fame in 1966.

 3. Webb Pierce: In the Jailhouse Now (1955) is a novelty blues song originally found in Vaudeville performances from the early twentieth century, usually credited to Jimmie Rodgers. Pierce was one of the most popular honky-tonk vocalists of the 1950s. His version of the song is ranked as the 3rd All-time Biggest Song in Country Music. It spent 37 weeks on the Billboard top-40 chart and 21 weeks at No. 1. Webb was inducted into the Country Music hall of Fame in 2001. 

4. Ray Price: Ray started out as a Hank Williams protégé and ended up as a crooning country smoothie. In between, he was one of the best honky-tonk singers ever. Crazy Arms (1956) is listed as the 4th All-time Biggest Song in Country Music. It spent 45 weeks on the Billboard top-40 chart and 21 weeks at No. 1. Price was inducted into the Country Music hall of Fame in 1996. 

5. Hank Snow. Hank was one of the most popular and successful vocalists of the '1950s in a competitive arena that included such greats as Ray Price, Hank Williams, Faron Young and Eddy Arnold. His success was reflected in his Billboard chart activity as Snow racked up 43 top-10 hits between 1999 ad 1974. I Don’t Hurt Anymore (1954) is the 5th All-time Biggest Song in Country Music. It spent 41 weeks on the Billboard top-40 chart and 20 weeks at No. 1. 

6. Eddy Arnold: According to Billboard magazine, Eddy Arnold, not Hank Williams, not George Jones, not Merle Haggard and not even Garth Brooks; is the top country artist of the modern era. During his lengthy career, Arnold placed 94 singles in country music's top-ten. Bouquet of Roses (1948), written by Steve Nelson and Bob Hillard, it is the 6th All-time Biggest Song in Country Music. It spent 54 weeks on the Billboard top-40 chart and 19 weeks at No. 1. In 1967, Arnold was voted Entertainer of the Year By the Country Music Association (CMA). 

7. Leroy Van Dyke: Singer/songwriter Leroy Van Dyke was best known for penning the country novelty standard The Auctioneer and the highly successful country-pop smash, Walk on By (1961), his biggest hit. Walk on By is the 7th All-time Biggest Song in Country Music. Written by Kendall Hayes and Gary Walker, the classic song is his most successful single, spending spent 37 weeks on the Billboard top-40 chart and 19 weeks at No. 1. 

8. Webb Pierce: Webb was one of the most popular and successful honky-tonk vocalists of the '50s in a competitive arena that included such greats as Ray Price, Hank Williams, Hank Snow and Eddy Arnold. His success was reflected in his Billboard chart activity as Pierce racked up 61top-20 hits between 1952 and 1962. Slowly (1954) spent 36 weeks on the Billboard top-40 chart and 17 weeks at No. 1. 

9. Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely: Along with Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Tex Ritter, Jimmy Wakely defined Hollywood s American Western and was also the first Country & Western artist to cross over into the pop charts. Slipping Around (1949), the multi million selling duet with Margaret Whiting spent 28 weeks on the Billboard top-40 chart and 17 weeks at No. 1. 

10. Elvis Presley: Although, Elvis is the undisputed King of Rock & Roll, Heartbreak Hotel (1956 was much more successful on the country chart. It spent 27 weeks on the Billboard top-40 country chart and 17 weeks at No. 1. The song spent 8 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop chart.

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Researched, compiled and written by Richard Bell, Country Music Historian, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. June, 2011.