CMT Blog: Archive

A hit record can launch or propel a career. On occasion, a great debut single can grab the nation's attention. More often than not, though, it takes a few tries to break through. For instance, Jamey Johnson had already released an album for another record label before he gained traction with "In Color," one of the songs featured on his Mercury Nashville album, That Lonesome Song. In Dolly Parton's case, she had enjoyed hits as a solo artist and with Porter Wagoner before she became a superstar in the mid '70s. In fact, she'd even scored a No. 1 solo hit in 1970 with "Joshua." Her second one to top the chart was her 1973 single, "Jolene," which paved the way for her third -- "I Will Always Love You" in 1974. In a playlist titled "Breakout Hits," CMT.com compiled several performances from the Studio 330 Sessions series. While these songs may or may not be an artist's first or biggest singles, they're among the hits that captured our interest and helped their career.