{{Infobox song | name = Norma Jean Riley | cover = Norma Jean Riley.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Diamond Rio | album = Diamond Rio | B-side = Pick Me Up | released = March 23, 1992 | recorded = 1991 | studio = | venue = | genre = Country | length = 3:06 | label = Arista Nashville <small>12407</small> | writer = Rob Honey<br>Monty Powell<br>Dan Truman | producer = Tim DuBois<br>Monty Powell | prev_title = Mama Don't Forget to Pray for Me | prev_year = 1991 | next_title = Nowhere Bound | next_year = 1992 }} "'''Norma Jean Riley'''" is a song written by Rob Honey, Monty Powell and Dan Truman, and recorded by American country music group Diamond Rio. It was released on March 23, 1992 as the fourth single from their self-titled album. Unlike the four other singles released from the album, a music video was not made for this song.
==Content== "Norma Jean Riley" is a very upbeat, bluegrass influenced song where the narrator is pining for Norma Jean Riley's affections. In each verse, he comes up with different ways to get her attention. By the time the song is over, he is planning to propose to her.
The song was originally titled "Pretty Little Lady" until co-writer and producer Monty Powell suggested that song would be improved if the female focus had a name.<ref>{{cite book |author = Diamond Rio |last2 = Roland |first2 = Tom |title = Beautiful Mess: The Story of Diamond Rio |year = 2009 |publisher = Thomas Nelson Publishers |isbn = 978-1-59555-268-6 |page = 160}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/470042646/ | title=Provo songwriter's work tops chart | work=The Daily Herald | date=July 17, 1992 | access-date=July 10, 2020 | author=Christi Conover | pages=D4}}</ref>
==Chart performance== The song peaked at number 2 on The ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart<ref>{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=105}}</ref> and number 3 on Canada's ''RPM'' country chart.
{|class="wikitable sortable" !align="left"|Chart (1992) !align="center"|Peak<br />position |- {{singlechart|Canadacountry|3|chartid=2013|publishdate=July 4, 1992|accessdate=August 15, 2013}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|2|artist=Diamond Rio}} |}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !scope="col"|Chart (1992) !scope="col"|Position |- | Canada Country Tracks (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.1861&type=1&interval=24|title=RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1992|work=RPM|date=December 19, 1992|access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref> | align="center" | 40 |- | US Country Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1992/hot-country-songs| title=Best of 1992: Country Songs | work=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | date=1992| access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref> | align="center" | 34 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Diamond Rio singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:1992 singles Category:Diamond Rio songs Category:Arista Nashville singles Category:Songs written by Monty Powell Category:1991 songs
{{1992-country-song-stub}}