{{about|the song}} {{Infobox song | name = Rhinestone Cowboy | cover = Rhinestone Cowboy Glen Campbell.jpg |border=yes | alt = Cover image from Glen Campbell's hit single recording "Rhinestone Cowboy" | type = single | artist = Glen Campbell | album = Rhinestone Cowboy | B-side = Lovelight | released = May 26, 1975 | recorded = February 24–March 19, 1975 | studio = Sound Labs, Hollywood, California | genre = * Country * symphonic pop<ref name= "Breihan 2019">{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy"|website= Stereogum |date= August 6, 2019 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2053672/the-number-ones-glen-campbells-rhinestone-cowboy/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= “Rhinestone Cowboy” didn’t really sound like a country song. Instead, it was a grand, symphonic pop stomper...|accessdate= June 26, 2023}}</ref> | length = 3:15 | label = Capitol | writer = Larry Weiss<ref>{{Citation |title=Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell - Track Info {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/rhinestone-cowboy-mt0012241938 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-16}}</ref> | producer = Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter | prev_title = It's a Sin When You Love Somebody | prev_year = 1975 | next_title = Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.) | next_year = 1975 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|8kAU3B9Pi_U|"Rhinestone Cowboy"}} }} }} "'''Rhinestone Cowboy'''" is a song written and recorded by Larry Weiss in 1974, then popularized the next year by American country music singer Glen Campbell, and considered to be Campbell's signature song.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/glen-campbell-20-essential-songs-192861/rhinestone-cowboy-1975-193007/|title=Glen Campbell: 20 Essential Songs|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 21, 2017|access-date=July 3, 2019}}</ref> When released on May 26, 1975, as the lead single and title track from his album ''Rhinestone Cowboy'', it enjoyed huge popularity with both country and pop audiences.
==Background and writing== Weiss wrote and recorded "Rhinestone Cowboy" in 1974, and it appeared on his 20th Century Records album ''Black and Blue Suite''. It did not, however, have much of a commercial impact as a single, although it peaked at number 71 in Australia in August 1974.<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=335}}</ref>
In late 1974, Campbell heard the song on the radio and, during a tour of Australia, decided to learn it. Soon after his return to the United States, Campbell went to Al Coury's office at Capitol Records, where he was approached about "a great new song" – "Rhinestone Cowboy".<ref>Gilbert, Bob and Gary Theroux, "The Top Ten: 1956-Present," Pop Record Research, Fireside Books, Simon & Schuster, New York. 1982 ({{ISBN|0-671-43215-X}})</ref>
Several music writers noted that Campbell identified very strongly with the subject matter of "Rhinestone Cowboy" – survival and making it, particularly when the chips are down. As Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic put it, the song is about a veteran artist "who's aware that he's more than paid his dues during his career ... but is still surviving, and someday, he'll shine just like a rhinestone cowboy."<ref>{{cite web|author=Song Review by Ed Hogan |url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/rhinestone-cowboy-mt0027089974 |title=Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell | Song Info |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2016-10-10}}</ref>
===Personnel=== Credits sourced from Mix<ref>{{cite web|title=Classic Tracks: 'Rhinestone Cowboy'|url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-track-rhinestone-cowboy-425566|access-date=2023-04-10|website=mixonline.com|date=3 September 2015 }}</ref>
*Glen Campbell - lead and harmony vocals; 12-string acoustic guitar *Dean Parks - electric guitar *Ben Benay - electric guitar *Fred Tackett - acoustic guitar *David Paich - piano *Dennis Lambert - clavinet; piano (low notes at end of chorus) *Scott Edwards - bass guitar *Ed Greene - drums *Gary L. Coleman - tambourine; snare drum; cymbals *Tom Scott - flute *Don Menza - flute
==Chart performance== {{More citations needed section|date=September 2025}} Released in May 1975, "Rhinestone Cowboy" immediately caught on with both country and pop audiences. The song spent that summer climbing both the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles and ''Billboard'' Hot 100 charts before peaking at No. 1 by season's end – three nonconsecutive weeks on the country chart, two weeks on the Hot 100. ''Billboard'' ranked it as the No. 2 for 1975. It also topped the charts in Canada and several other countries.
During the week of September 13 – the week the song returned to No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' country chart, after having been nudged out for a week by "Feelins'" by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn – "Rhinestone Cowboy" topped both the country and Hot 100 charts simultaneously. This was the first time a song had accomplished the feat since November 1961, when "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean did so.
"Rhinestone Cowboy" was one of six songs released in 1975 that topped both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and Hot Country Singles charts. The other songs were "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" by Freddy Fender, "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B. J. Thomas, "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and "I'm Sorry"/"Calypso," both by John Denver, and "Convoy" by C. W. McCall.
The song was also the sole Glen Campbell track in a promotional-only compilation album issued by Capitol records titled ''The Greatest Music Ever Sold'' (Capitol SPRO-8511/8512), that was distributed to record stores during the 1976 holiday season as part of Capitol's "Greatest Music Ever Sold" campaign, which promoted 15 "Best Of" albums released by the record label.
After Campbell's death in August 2017, "Rhinestone Cowboy" charted on the Country Digital Song chart at No. 12. {{As of|2017|8}}, the song had been downloaded more than 368,000 times in the digital era in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2017/08/42180-top-30-digital-country-singles-sales-chart-august-21-2017 |title=Top 30 Digital Country Singles Sales Chart: August 21, 2017 |first=Matt |last=Bjorke |date=August 21, 2017 |work=Roughstock |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826032713/http://roughstock.com/news/2017/08/42180-top-30-digital-country-singles-sales-chart-august-21-2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1975) !Peak<br />position |- |Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="Kent">{{cite book |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |year=1993 |publisher=Australian Chart Book |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|5 |- {{Single chart|Flanders|4|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy}} |- {{Single chart|Wallonia|22|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy|access-date=January 1, 2021}} |- {{Single chart|Canadacountry|1|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy|chartid=4010|access-date=January 1, 2021}} |- {{Single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy|chartid=100215|access-date=January 1, 2021}} |- {{Single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|7|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy|chartid=4013|access-date=January 1, 2021}} |- {{Single chart|Ireland2|1|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy|access-date=January 1, 2021}} |- {{single chart|Dutch40|3|artist=Glen Campbell}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|3|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy}} |- {{Single chart|New Zealand|2|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy}} |- |South African Singles Chart | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- {{Single chart|Sweden|17|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy}} |- {{Single chart|UK|4|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy|date=19751102|access-date=January 1, 2021}} |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles<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=66}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- {{Single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Glen Campbell}} |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=44}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- {{Single chart|West Germany|31|artist=Glen Campbell|song=Rhinestone Cowboy|songid=9158|year=1975}} |- |Yugoslavian Singles Chart | style="text-align:center;"|1 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1975) !Rank |- |Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus75">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/8a2fnGs|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1975|publisher= Kent Music Report |issue= 79 |via= Imgur |date= December 29, 1975 |access-date= January 15, 2022 }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|50 |- |Belgian VRT Top 30 | style="text-align:center;"|43 |- |Canadian ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5173a&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=enic7sdhqrbeuu9iiip880d0j4|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada|work=collectionscanada.gc.ca}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|4 |- |Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1975|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1975|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=22 September 2020}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|81 |- |Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1975|publisher=Single Top 100. Hung Medien|access-date=March 13, 2018|url= http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1975&cat=s|language=nl}}</ref> |align="center"|56 |- |UK Singles Chart | style="text-align:center;"|21 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- |US ''Cashbox'' Top 100 | style="text-align:center;"|2 |}
===All-time charts=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (1958-2018) ! Position |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|157 |}
{{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Rhinestone Cowboy"}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=New Zealand|artist=Glen Campbell|title=Rhinestone Cowboy|relyear=1975|certyear=2025|award=Platinum|number=1|source=radioscope|access-date=January 27, 2026}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Glen Campbell|title=Rhinestone Cowboy|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2024|access-date= October 8, 2024|id=5505-3528-1}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Glen Campbell|title=Rhinestone Cowboy|award=Gold|relyear=1975|certyear=1975|access-date= September 13, 2024}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
==Re-recorded version== Campbell recorded a new version of the song on his 2013 studio album ''See You There''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2053672/the-number-ones-glen-campbells-rhinestone-cowboy/columns/the-number-ones/|title=The Number Ones: Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy"|last=Breihan|first=Tom|date=August 6, 2019|work=Stereogum}}</ref>
==Awards== "Rhinestone Cowboy" was certified gold for sales of 1 million units by the Recording Industry Association of America.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gp/database/search_results.asp |title=Recording Industry Association of America |website=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=2007-06-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519171716/http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/search_results.asp |archive-date=2007-05-19 }}</ref>
The song became one of Glen Campbell's signature songs and won numerous awards from the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, and American Music Awards. It also obtained nominations for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, as well as for Record of the Year, but did not win.
==Notable cover versions== {{More citations needed section|date=December 2014}} "Rhinestone Cowboy" has been covered by artists including Thom Yorke and Radiohead, Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey, Soul Asylum, Belle and Sebastian, Lloyd Green, David Hasselhoff, Charley Pride, Chris LeDoux, Loretta Lynn and White Town.
In 1975, Cher performed it live during her ''The Cher Show''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNkP5SD0SPA|title=Cher - Rhinestone Cowboy (Official Video)|date=20 September 2016 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
The American country singer Slim Whitman covered the song in 1976 on his ''Red River Valley'' album. Also in 1976, Canadian comedian Nestor Pistor recorded a parody version, "Winestoned Plowboy", which was itself a modest hit on Canada's country music charts in 1977.<ref>"Nestor Pistor, Winestoned Plowboy". ''Ontario Library Review'', Volumes 62-63 (1978). p. 51</ref>
Johnny Carson performed a comedic cover version to open the March 4, 1976, broadcast of ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson''. The episode was released on DVD in 2016 along with other episodes from that particular week, with Carson referencing his preparations for the performance and Doc Severinsen and the NBC Orchestra performing instrumental versions of the song each night. After his performance, Carson announced that songwriter Larry Weiss was in the audience, a fact he claimed to be unaware of when he sang it a few minutes earlier.<ref>''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'', March 4, 1976; released on DVD as part of ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: The Vault Series'' (Time-Life, 2016)</ref>
South African singer Ray Dylan covered it on his album ''Goeie Ou Country - Vol. 3''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musica.co.za/cd/id/6005298031754/Ray_Dylan-Goeie_Ou_Country_-_Vol3 |title=Ray Dylan, Goeie Ou Country - Vol.3, CDS, Musica a World awaits - 6005298031754 |access-date=2014-01-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110111302/http://www.musica.co.za/cd/id/6005298031754/Ray_Dylan-Goeie_Ou_Country_-_Vol3 |archive-date=2014-01-10 }}</ref>
Canadian country singer George Canyon covered it in 2016 for the #ForeverCountry series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti8pfca1spE|title=George Canyon - Rhinestone Cowboy (Forever Country Cover Series)|date=23 October 2016 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
In 2019, Bruce Springsteen covered the song in his documentary film and live album promoting his studio album ''Western Stars.''
===Non-English versions===
Belgian singer Claire recorded the song in 1975 as "Vreemde Vogels" ("Strange Birds") and had a hit with her version in Flanders. It made it to No. 14 on the Ultratop Flanders chart, staying in the chart for 5 weeks. It also made it to No. 2 on the Vlaamse Top 10 chart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/606ef/Claire-Vreemde-vogels|title=Claire - Vreemde vogels - ultratop.be|website=www.ultratop.be}}</ref>
In 1975, with lyrics more in line with the English original lyrics, it was recorded as "Cowgirl dorée" by the French Canadian singer Renée Martel. The French lyrics of Martel's version were written by Robert Charlebois. The song was covered in 1976 in French as "Je m'appelle Michèle", interpreted as an autobiographical piece by French singer Michèle Torr.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
Filipino singer comedian Fred Panopio covered it as a parody song version, "Ang Kawawang Cowboy", which was released in 1976.
In 1977 it was released as a duo by Peter Belli and Ulvene in Danish under the title "Verdens bedste kone", and in 1977 in Finnish as "Muukalainen oon kai" interpreted by Kari Tapio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/8446/versions|title=Cover versions of Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell | SecondHandSongs|website=secondhandsongs.com}}</ref>
==Rikki & Daz version== In 2002, the British duo Rikki & Daz (made up of Daz Sampson and Ricardo Autobahn (real name John Matthews) released a revamped version of the song in a different arrangement, with additional lyrics and music. Titled "Rhinestone Cowboy (Giddy Up Giddy Up)", the single actually features Glen Campbell singing in the refrain. A music video was also released including Campbell.
===Track listing=== #"Rhinestone Cowboy (Giddy Up Giddy Up)" (Radio Edit) – 3:22 #"Rhinestone Cowboy (Giddy Up Giddy Up)" (Extended Version) – 5:01 #"Rhinestone Cowboy (Giddy Up Giddy Up)" (Shake Before Use Remix) – 6:00 #"Rhinestone Cowboy (Giddy Up Giddy Up)" (Spray Remix) – 5:27 Plus<br> :''Music video of "Rhinestone Cowboy (Giddy Up Giddy Up)"''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcezFWxrWUo|title=Rikki and Daz feat Glen Campbell - Rhinestone Cowboy|date=13 February 2006 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
===Charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for "Rhinestone Cowboy (Giddy Up, Giddy Up)" ! scope="col"| Chart (2002–2003) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite Ryan|page=236}}</ref> | 81 |- {{single chart|UK|12|date=20021124|rowheader=true|access-date=September 11, 2022}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.elyrics.net/read/g/glen-campbell-lyrics/rhinestone-cowboy-lyrics.html Lyrics of this song] * {{YouTube|8kAU3B9Pi_U|Glen Campbell - Rhinestone Cowboy (Official Music Video)}}
{{Glen Campbell}} {{American Music Award for Favorite Country Song}} {{American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Song}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Songs about cowboys and cowgirls Category:1975 singles Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Category:Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles of the year Category:Cashbox number-one singles Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles Category:1975 songs Category:Glen Campbell songs Category:Capitol Records singles Category:George Canyon songs Category:Songs written by Larry Weiss Category:Songs about fame