The Country Duo, Carl and Pearl Butler
In 1961, Carl and Pearl Butler rose to fame as a husband and wife duo. They worked together until 1980. The pair was one of country music’s successful duos. Their first single to enter the Billboard chart was “Honky Tonkitis.” The song reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1961. The song was part of their first album Don’t Let Me Cross Over. Their album placed at No. 104 on the Billboard 200 chart. The following year, they released another single from their album. “Don’t Let Me Cross Over” was the country duo’s first No. 1 song on the Billboard Country Songs chart. Moreover, it crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 88.
“Don’t Let Me Cross Over”
“Don’t Let Me Cross Over” became a hit for Carl and Pearl Butler. Their appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in 1962 gave a boost to their career and helped make their song more popular. Carl and Pearl’s song was a record breaker because it was the longest charting No. 1 song by a duet on the Country chart. However, their record was broken by another country duo, The Florida Georgia Line. “Don’t Let Me Cross Over” remained at No. 1 on the chart for a total of eleven weeks. Moreover, it stayed on the chart for 24 weeks.
The Song’s Content
Penny Jay wrote the song for the duo. The song is all about a man who is in love with someone who is already in a relationship with another man. He wants to steal her away from her lover but, he tries not to do it if possible.
Other Versions
After the release and success of Carl and Pearl’s version, many artists recorded their own. In 1969, Jerry Lee Lewis and Linda Gail released their version. They have made their cover reach No. 9 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Another artist whose cover entered the Billboard chart was Jim Reeves’ solo version incorporated into Deborah Allen’s recording. The mixing of their vocals made their cover place at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Listen to Carl Butler and Pearl Butler’s first No. 1 song together.
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carl and pearl butler, carl butler, Don't Let Me Cross Over, pearl butler