1956 in country music

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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1956.

Events

No dates

Although he already has had one No. 1 hit (with "I Forgot to Remember to Forget") and several other smaller-scale hits, Elvis Presley's national star power explodes when "Heartbreak Hotel" soars to the top of all three of Billboard's country charts by the end of March. The song also completes a rare feat by topping each of the Billboard pop and Rhythm & Blues Records charts.
With release of Ray Price's "Crazy Arms", the 4/4 shuffle is established and would transform country music, especially honky tonk.

Top hits of the year

Number one hits

United States

(as certified by Billboard)

Date	Single Name	Artist	Wks. No.1	Spec. Note
February 11	Why Baby Why	Webb Pierce	2
February 25	I Forgot to Remember to Forget	Elvis Presley	3	^[A]
March 17	Heartbreak Hotel	Elvis Presley	2	Also reached Number One on the Billboard Pop chart.
March 17	I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby	The Louvin Brothers	2	^[B]
April 7	Blue Suede Shoes	Carl Perkins	11	^[B]
June 23	Crazy Arms	Ray Price	3	^[A]
July 14	I Want You, I Need You, I Love You	Elvis Presley	1	Also reached Number One on the Billboard Pop chart.
July 21	I Walk the Line	Johnny Cash	8	^[A]
September 15	Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog	Elvis Presley	8	Also reached Number One on the Billboard Pop and R&B chart.
November 10	Singing the Blues	Marty Robbins	12

Notes

1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
B^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.

Note: Several songs were simultaneous No. 1 hits on the separate "Most Played C&W in Juke Boxes," "Most Played C&W by Jockeys" and "C&W Best Sellers in Stores" charts.

Other major hits

"The Blackboard of My Heart" - Hank Thompson
"Eat, Drink and Be Merry (Tomorrow You'll Cry)" - Porter Wagoner
"Folsom Prison Blues" - Johnny Cash
"Honky Tonk Man" - Johnny Horton
"I Take the Chance" - The Browns featuring Jim Ed Brown
"I've Got Five Dollars and it's Saturday Night" - Faron Young
"It's a Great Life (If You Don't Weaken)" - Faron Young
"Searching (For Someone Like You)" - Kitty Wells
"Sweet Dreams" - Faron Young
"You're Still Mine" - Faron Young
"I'm A One Woman Man"-Johnny Horton
"You're Free To Go"-Carl Smith
"You Are The One"-Carl Smith
"Be Bop A Lula"- Gene Vincent
"So Doggone Lonesome"-Johnny Cash
"You Don't Know Me"-Eddy Arnold
"You And Me"- Red Foley & Kitty Wells
"You're Running Wild"-Louvin Brothers
"According To My Heart"-Jim Reeves
"Yes I Know Why"-Webb Pierce
"Just One More" - George Jones
"Poor Man's Riches"-Benny Barne
"My Lips Are Sealed"-Jim Reeves
"If Jesus Came To Your House"-Porter Wagoner
"Love Me Tender"-Elvis Presley
"I've Got A New Heartache"-Ray Price
"For Rent"-Sonny James–
"Before I Met You"-Carl Smith
"Wicked Lies"-Carl Smith

Top new album releases

Songs of a Love Affair - Jean Shepard (Capitol)

Births

January 18 — Mark Collie, country artist of the early 1990s.
March 26 — Charly McClain, country vocalist of the early-to-mid-1980s.
June 19 — Doug Stone, popular country vocalist during the early- to mid-1990s.
July 6 — John Jorgenson, member of The Desert Rose Band.
September 22 — Debby Boone, granddaughter of Red Foley who enjoyed country success of her own in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
October 23 — Dwight Yoakam, neotraditionalist since the mid-1980s who helped revitalize interest in the Bakersfield Sound.
December 9 — Sylvia Kirby, pop-styled female vocalist of the early-1980s who became best known as "Sylvia."
December 21 — Lee Roy Parnell, alternative country star who enjoyed mainstream country success during the mid-1990s.
December 30 — Suzy Bogguss, folk-styled country artist who rose to fame in the early 1990s.