40 years ago: Glen Campbell's 'Rhinestone Cowboy' hit No. 1

Larry Weiss said his song "Rhinestone Cowboy" was written about the cowboys like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, who he saw in movies and on television when he was a kid.

Glen Campbell heard Weiss' 1974 song and decided to record his own version — which hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart 40 years ago.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.