John Anderson has one of the most unique voices that graced '70s, '80s, and '90s country radio. Starting with his first single, "I've Got a Feelin' (Somebody's Been Stealin')," Anderson has landed more than 40 tracks on the Billboard country music charts, including five No. 1's: "Wild and Blue," "Swingin'," "Black Sheep," "Straight Tequila Night," and "Money in the Bank."
His climb to the top wasn't always easy. It took nearly 10 years of hard-hitting work before charting a No. 1 single in the early '80s. Anderson told the Los Angels Times, "My band and I still loved what we were able to do. We were still able to write songs and do records, and we were, fortunately, able to keep out on the road. I'd say the biggest thing that kept us going were those true fans who kept coming out, even though we didn't have a hit record. There were, fortunately, enough of them that we were able to keep things going."
Thankfully, Anderson kept his head on right and kept recording albums. In 1992, his name reached the No. 1 spot again with his single "Straight Tequila Night" from his record Seminole Wind. This new record was the first record Anderson recorded that wasn't full of his songwriting.
He told the LA Times, "I had more songs written for this album," he said, "but it seemed we just found other ones that seemed to fit a little better. I think I'm able to bring as much feeling to a song I didn't write. I know my songs come from the heart, and when I choose songs that other people have written, it's when I relate to them to the point that I wish I had written them."
Thanks to Debbie Hupp and Kent Robbins, the songwriters of "Straight Tequila Night," Anderson found himself back on top. The single was considered his comeback song, and Seminole Wind was considered his comeback album.
Anderson has recorded 22 studio albums. His newest album, Years, was released on April 10, 2020. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014.
You can add John Anderson next to stars like Tim McGraw, George Strait, Garth Brooks, and Alan Jackson on your "Country Music's Greatest Hits" playlist.
'Straight Tequila Night' Lyrics:
If you really want to know
She comes here a lot
She just loves to hear the music and dance
K13 is her favorite song
If you play it, you might have a chance
Tonight she's only sippin' white wine
She's friendly and fun lovin' most of the time
But don't ask her on a straight tequila night
She'll start thinkin' about him, and she's ready to fight
Blames her broken heart on every man in sight
On a straight tequila night
Here's a glass of Chablis, and some quarters and change
Maybe you can turn her love life around
Then she won't need the salt or the lime anymore
To shoot that old memory down
Just remember her heart's on the mend
So if you ever come back to see her again
Don't ask her on a straight tequila night
She'll start thinkin' about him, then she's ready to fight
Blames her broken heart on every man in sight
On a straight tequila night
Don't ask her on a straight tequila night
She'll start thinkin' about him, then she's ready to fight
Blames her broken heart on every man in sight
On a straight tequila night (x3)
Now Watch: Meet Kris Kristofferson's 8 Children, From Soap Opera Star Jesse to Country Singer Casey
