Long before Conway Twitty became one of country music’s biggest stars, he was a struggling rock ‘n’ roll singer hoping to make a name for himself. In November 1958, that dream came true when “It’s Only Make Believe” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Twitty the first major hit of his career.
The song topped the chart for two nonconsecutive weeks, November 4–10 and November 18–24, 1958, temporarily losing the top spot to the Kingston Trio’s “Tom Dooley.” Remarkably, despite the dozens of chart-toppers that followed during Twitty’s country music career, “It’s Only Make Believe” remained his first and only No. 1 hit on the Hot 100.
And the song that made him famous almost went unnoticed.
‘It’s Only Make Believe’ Started as a B-Side
Born Harold Lloyd Jenkins in Mississippi in 1933, Twitty initially had dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. According to Fred Bronson’s “The Billboard Book of Number One Hits,” he was offered a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies but ultimately chose to pursue music instead.
After serving in the military, Twitty formed a rock ‘n’ roll band and eventually adopted his now-famous stage name, reportedly taking inspiration from Conway, Arkansas, and Twitty, Texas.
While performing at the Flamingo Lounge in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1958, Twitty and drummer Jack Nance wrote “It’s Only Make Believe” during an intermission. Twitty subsequently recorded the song in Nashville with the Jordanaires providing backing vocals.
But MGM Records initially released “It’s Only Make Believe” as the B-side of “I’ll Try,” and the single failed to make an immediate impression.
Twitty was so discouraged that he returned home, believing the record had flopped. Then a disc jockey in Columbus, Ohio, began playing the B-side, and listeners responded. The song caught fire locally before spreading across the country, eventually reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
It also became an international success, reaching No. 1 in the United Kingdom and Canada.
‘It’s Only Make Believe’ Helped Launch a Country Music Legend
Twitty’s early rock ‘n’ roll career was heavily influenced by Elvis Presley, and the similarities between the two singers were unmistakable. Bronson noted that Twitty became so closely associated with Presley that he served as the inspiration for Conrad Birdie, the fictional rock star at the center of the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie.
But while “It’s Only Make Believe” established Twitty as a pop star, his greatest commercial success was still ahead of him.
By the mid-1960s, Twitty had decided to pursue country music, eventually signing with Decca Records. His first country No. 1 arrived in 1968 with “Next in Line,” and he went on to record such enduring hits as “Hello Darlin’,” “You’ve Never Been This Far Before” and “Linda on My Mind.”
Twitty also enjoyed a hugely successful recording partnership with Loretta Lynn, releasing a string of country duets beginning in the early 1970s.
According to Bronson, Twitty ultimately amassed 35 No. 1 country singles as a solo artist and another five with Lynn, a remarkable achievement for a singer whose breakthrough came as a rock ‘n’ roll performer.
‘It’s Only Make Believe’ Became a Hit for Other Artists Too
Decades after its original release, “It’s Only Make Believe” continued to resonate with musicians and audiences alike.
Glen Campbell recorded his own version in 1970, taking the song to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the country chart. Twitty also revisited the song with Lynn on their 1971 album We Only Make Believe, while Ronnie McDowell scored a Top 10 country hit with a new recording featuring Twitty in 1988.
In his retrospective series examining every Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, Stereogum critic Tom Breihan opened his assessment of Twitty’s recording with an enthusiastic declaration: “Our first banger!”
Breihan awarded the song a 9 out of 10, praising its emotional intensity and the way Twitty blended rock ‘n’ roll, country and dramatic pop balladry.
Although Twitty died in 1993 at age 59, “It’s Only Make Believe” remains one of his defining recordings. What began as an overlooked B-side ultimately launched a career that would make him one of the most successful country singers of all time.
Related: 1971 Heartbreaker Became First No. 1 for Legendary Duo 55 Years Ago Today
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