20 Years Of Number Ones – Return To Greatness

Now that our 20 Years of Number Ones Weekend is over, I am still compiling stats for many different things, from most number ones, to biggest gaps between number ones, to one hit wonders, but now let's take a look at some artists that made their return to number one in this 20 year period after past number ones.

Shenandoah

Marty Raybon led the group to 4 number ones prior to 1992, but only managed one after with the quirky, If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too).  Somehow that still didn't stand up to their great hits like The Church On Cumberland Road and Next To You, Next To Me.  Raybon then left the group to team with his brother and then finally go solo, neither of which did much for him.

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Steve Wariner

Steve jumped back on the charts in 1998 teaming with Anita Cochran for the hit, What If I Said.  It had been 1990 since Steve had a number one, though he had 8 chart-toppers total.  This duet would be his only official number one of 1992-2012, even though he did some harmonies on tunes like Garth Brooks' Longneck Bottle.

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Willie Nelson

From 1989 to 2003 Willie was still working hard (despite what his IRS reports may say), but it was a single with Toby Keith, Beer For My Horses that put him back at the top of the country charts for the first time since 1989 when he released Nothing I Can Do About It Now.

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Kenny Rogers

Out of this group, most legends made it back by singing a duet.  The one that really got back there on his own was Kenny Rogers (even though Billy Dean and Alison Krauss technically sang on the song too).  In 2000 he scored a number one with Buy Me A Rose.  At the time, Kenny hadn't seen the top ten since 1989, and it was 1987 when he last held the number one slot with Ronnie Milsap and Make No Mistake, She's Mine.

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Dolly Parton

As likeable as Dolly is, it's amazing that it took her 11 years to get back to number one, 13 years if you count her last solo single.  It was Yellow Roses in 1989 and Rockin' Years with Ricky Van Shelton in 1991 that hit number one, before Dolly found her way back with Brad Paisley in 2005 with When I Get Where I'm Going.