Crystal Gayle Celebrates 40th Anniversary of "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"

By Timothy Yap Jun 25, 2017 04:54 AM EDT

Rarely do first takes on a song become the master tracks for an artist, but that's how chart-topping history began for Crystal Gayle's "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue." Now, four decades later, Gayle's signature hit marks its 40th anniversary since its release on June 24, 1977.

"I did not re-sing it. It just fell into place beginning with Pig Robbins' opening work on the piano. It was magic in the studio that day," Gayle said with a smile.

"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" opened the world's eyes to Gayle. The crossover smash earned her a Grammy® Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and also made her album We Must Believe In Magic the first by a female country artist to go platinum. She was awarded CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1977 and 1978, and the Academy of Country Music honored her with the same award in 1976, 1977 and 1979.

"It opened up so many doors that I couldn't do everything that was offered for me to do. I was offered so many television specials. I hated turning anything down. It was only me, and I couldn't do it all. To be in California one night, and they would want you the next night in New York -- I couldn't do that constantly. But I did as much as I could," she told Billboard in 2014.

"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," became an iconic staple and solidified her as one of the top female vocalists during the 1970s and 1980s. Gayle is currently putting the finishing touches on a new album that will include some of her favorite classic country songs of all time.

Follow Crystal Gayle on Twitter and Facebook or visitcrystalgayle.com.

CRYSTAL GAYLE ON TOUR:
July 28 Ameristar Casino - Kansas City, Mo.
Aug. 05 Spencer Theater - Alto, N.M.
Aug. 31 Oxford Performing Arts Center - Oxford, Ala.
Sept. 02 Loretta Lynn Ranch - Hurricane Mills, Tenn
Sept. 08 Tulalip Resort Casino - Maryville, Wash.
Sept. 22 Cactus Pete's - Jackpot, Nev.
Sept. 23 Cactus Pete's - Jackpot, Nev.
Sept. 29 South Point Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, Nev.
Sept. 30 South Point Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, Nev.
Oct. 01 South Point Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, Nev.
Oct. 11 Northern Quest Resort & Casino - Airway Heights, Wash.
Oct. 13 Fort Hall Casino - Fort Hall, Idaho
Oct. 20 Dosey Doe - The Woodlands, Texas

ABOUT CRYSTAL GAYLE:
Grammy®-winning songstress Crystal Gayle is an award-winning country music icon whose reign in the music business includes 20 No. 1 country hits, six albums certified Gold by the RIAA and the first female artist in country music history to reach platinum sales with her 1977 album, We Must Believe in Magic. Her list of platinum and gold was to be matched only by her awards and accolades. CMA's "Female Vocalist of the Year," for two consecutive years, she became a Grammy® Award Winner for "Best Female Vocal Performance," thanks to her beloved "Brown Eyes" - a song that she today admits she has never grown tired of singing. Crystal swept the Academy of Country Music Awards for three of their "Top Female Vocalist" statuettes. She is the recipient of three "American Music Awards," voted by the nation as America's "Favorite Female Artist." Perhaps nothing sums up Crystal's career achievements as well as being awarded with a star on the fabled Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2009. Also famous for her nearly floor-length hair, she was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People Magazine in 1983. Gayle also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame near Lynn's star. In August 2016, the Academy of Country Music honored Crystal with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award during the 10th Annual ACM Honors. Gayle was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in January 2017 by her sister and Opry legend Loretta Lynn. For more information, visit crystalgayle.com.