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‘How To Be A Country Star’: The Statler Brothers’ Country Dream Team

Demand for the song was so high after the Statlers played it at the CMAs, they added it to what would be their next album, ‘The Originals.’

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Statler Brothers - Photo: GAB Archive/Redferns
Statler Brothers - Photo: GAB Archive/Redferns

One of the great qualities behind the Statler Brothers’ amazing run of two-and-a-half-decades of smash hit country records was their humility. The easy-listening country group from Staunton, Virginia always retained a down-to-earth approachability in their demeanor and their recording style.

That virtue was to the fore on March 31, 1979. As the quartet toured the US in a powerful double bill with Barbara Mandrell, their next success rolled off the record presses and into the charts, “How To Be A Country Star.”

How To Be A Country Star

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The group had performed the song at the CMA Awards the previous October where for once, they hadn’t won Vocal Group of the Year. They would claim the title no fewer than nine times in their illustrious career. But demand for the song was so high after the CMAs telecast that they added it to what would be their next gold-certified album The Originals.

Christmas Music 2024 Playlist
Christmas Music 2024 Playlist
Christmas Music 2024 Playlist

Country hits by the dozen

Brothers Harold and Don Reid, Lew DeWitt, and Phil Baisley had been a much-loved country music institution for years, by the time that latest Mercury Records 45 took its bow on the Hot Country Singles chart that date in late March 1979. Starting with their first hit “Flowers On The Wall” way back in 1965, they’d already had 32 chart entries. Thirteen of them were Top 10 hits.

Produced by Jerry Kennedy, “How To Be A Country Star” was a distinctly tongue-in-cheek composition by the Reid brothers. It light-heartedly advised the listener that if they sounded like any one of the real-life artists name-checked in the song, stardom surely beckoned.

Namechecking Merle, Jerry Lee, Willie, et al

The novelty was in that inventory of celebrities because it was quite a list. No fewer than 27 artists were acknowledged over four verses, sometimes by their full name but often just by their first. That encouraged the listener to recognize a complete team that included Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Webb Pierce, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, and Dolly Parton. Quite the dream team.

Listen to uDiscover Music’s Statler Brothers Best Of playlist.

The punchline came in the final verse, in which the group modestly added that if you didn’t have the talents of any of those names, “come backstage and ask for Harold, Phil, Don or Lew…and we’ll see you get an audition for the Statler Brothers Revue.” Twenty-seven fellow stars plus the Statlers ensured yet another Top 10 hit, as “How To Be A Country Star” reached No.7.

Buy or stream “How To Be A Country Star” on The Definitive Collection, MCA Years.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Clara

    May 1, 2016 at 3:00 am

    I want to see the Statler Brother’s in person, can you tell me where to hunt for news on them!
    The same for Dolly Parton, I just love her & their music. We are not getting younger I want to get this done.

    • Greg

      September 23, 2016 at 8:56 am

      Hi Clara, unfortunately the wonderful Statler Brothers retired from touring back in October 2002. However you can purchase their FAREWELL dvd from their website: statlerbrothers.com

      As for Dolly, she toured again this year and I got to see her. She is awesome! Go to her website for tour dates.

      Hope this helps!

  2. Darlene Poggensee

    November 6, 2016 at 8:34 pm

    I love the Statler Bros.! They have always been my favorite singers ever since I first heard them many years ago. I had a tape by them “Gospel Favorites” which my tape player “ate” for me. I surely would love to get another one. I’m 68 yrs young, so time is running out to find the “oldies”.

  3. Darlene Poggensee

    April 27, 2017 at 9:56 pm

    How can I get a copy of Gospel Favorites?

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