Elvis Presley's First No. 1 Country Hit Gave Him National Breakthrough in 1956

The song "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" topped the country charts on February 25, 1956, launching Presley's transformative impact on popular music.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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On February 25, 1956, Elvis Presley's song "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country & Western chart, giving the rising singer his first national breakthrough. The song, recorded the previous year for Sun Records, blended country heartbreak with Presley's distinctive, electrifying voice, foreshadowing the impact he would soon have on popular music.

Why it matters

Presley's success with "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" set the stage for his meteoric rise to fame. The song's popularity launched Presley's transformative influence on the music industry, as he would go on to hold the record for most Billboard Hot 100 charted titles until 2011.

The details

Presley recorded "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" in 1955 while signed to Sun Records. The country ballad, written by Stan Kesler and Charlie Feathers, quietly climbed to the top of the Billboard Country & Western chart on February 25, 1956, outperforming songs by other popular country artists like Red Sovine and Webb Pierce. The song's success introduced Presley's distinctive sound, which blended country music with a new, electrifying edge, to a national audience.

  • On February 25, 1956, "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country & Western chart.
  • Presley recorded the song in 1955 while signed to Sun Records.

The players

Elvis Presley

An American singer and actor who became one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, known for pioneering the rock and roll genre.

Stan Kesler

An American songwriter who co-wrote "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" with Charlie Feathers.

Charlie Feathers

An American singer-songwriter who co-wrote "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" with Stan Kesler.

Red Sovine

An American country music singer and songwriter who had the No. 2 song on the Billboard Country & Western chart on February 25, 1956 with "Why, Baby, Why."

Webb Pierce

An American country music singer and songwriter who had the No. 3 song on the Billboard Country & Western chart on February 25, 1956 with "Love, Love, Love" and "If You Were Me."

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The takeaway

Elvis Presley's first national No. 1 country hit, "I Forgot to Remember to Forget," marked a pivotal moment in the singer's career, launching his transformative impact on popular music that would eventually lead him to hold the record for most Billboard Hot 100 charted titles until 2011.