Honoring The Barrier-Breaking Career Of Country Legend Charley Pride

Tom Fox/Staff Photographer via The Dallas Morning News

With 39 number one hits on the Billboard country charts, Charley Pride has certainly left his mark on the music industry. 

Pride’s influence on country music in particular is so great that he is one of only three African Americans that have been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

After being active as a performer and recording artist for a quarter of a century, Pride has countless Gold albums and is also a three time Grammy Award winner. The CMA presented him with the Entertainer of the Year award in 1971, the same year he released his signature song “Kiss an Angel Good Morning.”

In honor of Pride’s 78th birthday, we’ve gathered up three of his best songs, including “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” and other favorites.

“All I Have To Offer You (Is Me)”

Released in 1969 as the lead single off of Pride’s album The Best of Charley Pride, “All I Have to Offer You” soared to the top of the Billboard country chart only two months after its release. It was the first of many number one hits to come for Pride.

“All I Have to Offer You” was especially significant since it marked the first time in 25 years that an African American artist had a number one hit on the Billboard country chart.

The song’s lyrics tell the story of a man speaking to his significant other, telling her that he doesn’t have any riches to offer her. However, the one thing he does have to give her is himself, and all of his love, singing “The only gold I have for you is in this wedding band/cause all I have to offer you is me.“

“All I Have to Offer You” was the song that truly started it all for Pride, and when you listen to it, you can tell why.

“Someone Loves You Honey”

As the second single and title track from his album of the same name “Someone Loves You Honey” was another milestone song for Pride. Once the song hit number one on the country charts it became Pride’s 20th number one hit, only 12 years after the release of his first single.

In total, “Someone Loves You Honey” spent two weeks at number one on the charts, and remained on the chart for 12 weeks overall.

Written by Don Devaney, the song serves as the narrator’s reminder to his special someone that his love will always be with her. No matter what happens, the narrator just wants his girl to know “whatever you do and wherever you go/Remember someone loves you honey.“

Pride has recorded a wealth of love songs over the years, but “Someone Loves You Honey” is definitely one of our favorites.

“Kiss An Angel Good Morning”

Regarded as Pride’s signature song, “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” was released in 1971 as the first single off his album, Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs. Not only was the song Pride’s eighth number one on the country charts, but his first to cross over to the pop charts, where it peaked at the 21st spot.

“Kiss an Angel Good Morning” ended up spending a total of four months on the pop chart, and was so successful that Billboard went on to rank it as the 74th greatest song of 1972. The song sold millions of copies, and led to Pride being named as the CMA Entertainer of the Year.

The narrator in the song sings about his friends, who constantly question him as to why he’s smiling all the time. He replies that the reason for his joy is that he gets to “kiss an angel good morning.”

Pride’s signature song is still just as iconic today as it was when it was first released, proving how timeless his music is.

At the age of 78, Pride continues to entertain and charm audiences around the world with his unforgettable songs. 

We’d like to congratulate Pride on an incredible career, and wish him great luck and success in his future!