The Story Behind The Song: “How Can I Unlove You”

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Unfortunately, none of Anderson’s three follow-up singles in 1972 achieved the top spot. Lynn’s cover of Johnnie Ray’s 1951 pop classic, “Cry,” stopped at #3, while “Listen To A Country Song” and “Fool Me” both peaked at #4. Anderson did go on to log two more Billboard number ones: 1973’s “Keep Me In Mind” (arguably her best work) and 1974’s “What A Man My Man Is.”

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One of Glenn Sutton’s compositions was “There’s A Party Goin’ On,” a Top Five hit in 1972 for one of Anderson’s label mates, and Sutton points to that success as an example of the type of problem he and Lynn often faced in their marriage. Anderson was upset that she didn’t get first crack at “There’s A Party Goin’ On,” which Glenn co-wrote with Billy Sherrill. Billy was producing Jody Miller at the time and gave the song to her, which proved to be a very big record for Jody. This made Lynn Anderson angry with Glenn, who responded, “Look, it’s Billy Sherrill’s artist, he cut it on her. I wrote it with him, there’s nothing I can do!” This unusual type of spat happened occasionally right up to their divorce in 1977. 


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