1982 Classic Ballad Was This Country Icon's First No. 1 Hit-And It Still Holds Up

George Straithas had over 40 songs hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, but it all started with one 1982 track.

The country star's classic ballad "Fool Hearted Memory" was the first of his songs to hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts, starting what would become an incredible run of career chart-toppers.

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"Fool Hearted Memory," written by Byron Hill and Blake Mevis for the 1982 film The Soldier. It was recorded by Strait and included on his album Strait From the Heart, becoming a massive commercial success and one of his landmark hits.

It hit the Hot Country Songs chart in June 1982, reaching No. 1 in August of that year. In 2023, "Fool Hearted Memory" was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

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Strait From the Heart was Strait's second studio album, producing a few other hit singles for the crooner, like "A Fire I Can't Put Out," which hit No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1983. The same album also hosts popular tracks that didn't go No. 1, like "Amarillo by Morning" and "Marina del Rey."

George Strait's Other No. 1 Hits

"Fool Hearted Memory" was Strait's first Billboard No. 1 hit, but the country music icon has had over 40 other chart-toppers since then (and over 60 No. 1 hits overall). Here are all 44 of George 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: 1975 Career-Defining Hit for Willie Nelson Wasn't Originally Sung By Him

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This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 6:48 AM.