Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Eight Facts About Tex Ritter That You Wouldn’t Want To Miss

Tex Ritter Facts
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Born as Woodward Maurice Ritter, Tex Ritter has become one of the pioneers of country music. He was known to be a singer and an actor, with over 50 acting credits. He also released several singles that entered the charts, some even taking the top spot.

Let’s learn some facts about Tex Ritter as he soared to success.

1. He went to law school.

Tex Ritter graduated with honors from South Park High School in Texas. In 1922, he studied pre-law and majored in government, economics, and political science. He then went to Northwestern Law School after traveling to Chicago.

2. He first had an interest in showbiz.

Before creating and recording numerous singles, he first developed an interest in the show business industry. He appeared in Broadway productions such as The New Moon, Green Grow the Lilacs, The Round-Up, Mother Lode, and Oklahoma! He also performed in TV and radio shows and appeared in radio dramas.

3. He has acted in 70 movies already.

Tex entered the show business industry and slowly established his name as an actor. He has acted in 70 movies, some being Song of the Gringo (1936), Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts (1937), The Golden Trail (1940), Oklahoma Raiders (1944), and his final film role, Sing a Country Song (1973).

4. He recorded his first hit in 1944.

RELATED: Country Artists Who Embrace The Limelight Of Movies And Television

After signing a deal with Capitol Records, Tex recorded and charted his first hit single, “I’m Wastin’ My Tears on You,” which became a #1 hit on the country chart. The song stayed for a total of 20 weeks on the chart.

5. He charted three #1 hit songs on the charts.

As Tex’s career continued to bloom, he released more singles that landed the second and first spots on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. “I’m Wastin’ My Tears on You,” “You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often,” and “You Will Have To Pay” were among his songs that became a chart-topper. His second-place songs include “There’s a New Moon Over my Shoulder,” “Jealous Heart,” and “Christmas Carols by the Old Corral.”

6. He participated in the 1970 senate campaign.

Tex participated in the senate campaign as he entered Tennessee’s Republican in hopes of being in the US Senate. Unfortunately, he lost to Bill Brock even though his name was starting to become known in the country.

7. He has numerous awards under his name.

Tex has contributed significantly to the country music and show business industry. He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was also inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998. He was also awarded the Golden Boot Award for his efforts in his films.

8. He voices a bear in famous theme parks.

Tex’s voice can still be heard in various theme parks in Disneyland in California (formerly), Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan as he voices an animatronic bear named Big Al.

We hope you enjoyed reading the facts about Tex Ritter! Stay tuned for more of these in the future.

Latest Stories

John Foster performs Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe” on American Idol as his emotional mom watches from the audience with a supportive sign on Mother’s Day.

John Foster Sings Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe” for His Mom and Brings Her to Tears in the Audience

It takes guts to sing a Brooks & Dunn song on national TV, especially one like “Believe.” But it takes something even heavier to pull it off on Mother’s Day, ...

Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban side by side as fans debate Stapleton's powerful ACM performance of "Blue Ain't Your Color" and whether it outshined the original.

Chris Stapleton Took On Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” but Who Sang It Better

Keith Urban may have recorded it first, but Chris Stapleton just might’ve claimed it for good. When Stapleton took the stage at the 2025 ACM Awards and delivered a smoldering ...

Maren Morris appears in a recent interview, attempting to clarify her stance on country music after previously signaling a departure from the genre.

Maren Morris Now Claims She Never Said She Was Leaving Country Music

Maren Morris wants you to know she never said she was leaving country music. Apparently, all that talk about burning it down was just a misunderstanding. In a new interview ...

Alan Jackson grows emotional during his 2025 ACM Awards speech after performing “Remember When” and receiving the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award named in his honor.

Alan Jackson Breaks Down Thanking His Wife at the ACMs After Lifetime Achievement Win

Alan Jackson has never been one for theatrics. His music has always spoken about love, life, and family in plain, honest language. But on Thursday night at the 2025 ACM ...

Brooks & Dunn share a laugh backstage as they reflect on their journey from million-dollar royalty checks on a bus to breaking records again at the 2025 ACM Awards.

Brooks & Dunn Remember the Day They Got Their First Million-Dollar Check on the Bus

Long before they were legends, Brooks & Dunn were just two guys chasing a country music dream. And like a scene straight out of a Nashville fairytale, they still remember ...

Gretchen Wilson attends the 2025 ACM Awards red carpet, re-emerging after years away due to health struggles and marking the start of her country music comeback.

Gretchen Wilson Reveals the Health Struggle That Took Her Away From Country Music

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Gretchen Wilson in the spotlight, but now we know why. The “Redneck Woman” singer has kept a low profile for the better part ...

Maren Morris appears on a talk show couch expressing her thoughts, shortly before calling out pop artists for "cosplaying" as country singers—a statement stirring irony given her own history with the genre.

Maren Morris Calls Out Pop Stars “Cosplaying” as Country and Yes the Irony Is Real

File this one under “you can’t make this up.” Maren Morris, who all but broke up with country music just two years ago, is now calling out pop stars for ...

Lainey Wilson poses with a horse in a star-studded outfit, capturing the same down-home authenticity and bold flair that earned her Entertainer of the Year at the 2025 ACM Awards.

Lainey Wilson Won Entertainer of the Year and There’s a Damn Good Reason

Another year, another win. Lainey Wilson walked out of the 2025 ACM Awards with the Entertainer of the Year trophy for the second time in a row, and while some ...

Morgan Wallen performs for a packed stadium crowd in an earlier concert moment—just months before his ACM Awards shutout sparked major fan backlash in 2025.

Morgan Wallen Fans Say There Was “Zero Reason He Shouldn’t Have Won” After ACM Snub

The 60th ACM Awards went off in Frisco, Texas, with big performances, big speeches, and big wins. But not for Morgan Wallen. And his fans are not keeping quiet about ...

Old Dominion captured here in a past promo photo, just before breaking Rascal Flatts’ record with their eighth straight Group of the Year win at the 2025 ACM Awards.

Old Dominion Snatched a Record Rascal Flatts Held for Over a Decade

It finally happened. Old Dominion broke a record that most thought would stand forever. At the 2025 ACM Awards, the Nashville-based five-piece won Group of the Year for the eighth ...