I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool by Barbara Mandrell (#1, 1981) as performed by Martina McBride and George Strait at the 2009 CMA Awards for Mandrell's induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. It opens, "I remember wearin' straight leg Levi's, flannel shirts, even when they weren't in style..." The song was written specifically for Barbara by the prolific songwriting duo of Rhonda 'Kye' Fleming and Dennis Morgan, who did many of her biggest songs, along with other mega country hits by Ronnie Milsap and Sylvia, among others.
And Barbara's original version, live from the Music City News Country Awards in 1981 (introduction by the great Statler Brothers):
And Barbara's original version, live from the Music City News Country Awards in 1981 (introduction by the great Statler Brothers):
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