Country Music Memories - Jimmy Buffett Lands #1 Country Album

Kevin Richards' Country Music Memories - June 2025

On this month in 2020, Jimmy Buffett was at Number One on the Country Albums chart with this 30th studio album 'Life On The Flip Side'.  Most people aren't aware of Jimmy Buffett's contributions to The Country Music format, but the man did more in Country Music than most people realize.  While many of his songs were crossover hits, on multiple charts - 'Come Monday' 'Margaritaville' 'Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes' - he did have a 'Nashville' record deal in the mid-80s that gave us Country charting hits like 'If The Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me' and 'Who's The Blonde Stranger?'. 

While the entertainment giant really created his own musical genre, In the 2000's he did focus on more Country based projects like 'License To Chill' (a country duets album), 'Take The Weather With You' and 'Life On The Flipside'.  Of course, cameos on Hit Country Records like 'Trip Around The Sun' with Martina McBride, 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere' with Alan Jackson, 'Knee Deep' with Zac Brown Band, 'Salt Water Gospel' with Eli Young Band and 'Too Drunk To Karaoke' with Toby Keith showed that he was always a friend and fan of Country Music.

Today, we remember the 'Country Side' of Jimmy Buffett- and thank him for sharing a bit of those Caribbean vibes with the world.  Other than Dolly Parton, there are few artists than can boast an empire beyond an amazing catalog of self-penned songs.  Buffet's world included Retirement Resorts, Casinos, Restaurants, A Cruise Ship, Beer, Cannabis, Record Labels, Clothing and Merchandise- not to mention his own musical, 'Escape To Margaritaville', that landed on Broadway for a short run in 2018. 

In a note released with his 'License To Chill' album, Buffett actually stated: "I have been a country singer for a long time. So here’s to Hank and all the great cowboys and cowgirls who came down to the beach and helped me apply, study for and be granted my license to chill." (Read More)