1979 No. 1 Hit Ranked Among ‘Greatest Country Songs of All Time' Became a Timeless Anthem of Forbidden Love
The 1972 soul, R&B classic "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" has been covered numerous times throughout history. Notably, the slow-tempo ballad has been closely associated with Luther Ingram.
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But it was on April 14, 1979, when Barbara Mandrell's version of the timeless classic and signature cheating song reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The tune also became a Top 10 single on the Adult Contemporary chart and was ranked at No. 156 on the 200 "Greatest Country Songs of All Time" by Rolling Stone Australia.
By the time Mandrell earned the chart triumph, she had already over a dozen charted singles to her name, with several in the Top 10. Some of those songs included "The Midnight Oil," "Standing Room Only," and "Sleeping Single In A Double Bed," which served as her first No. 1 hit, making "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" her second chart-topper.
A Crossover Success
Produced by Tom Collins, Mandrell's rendition of "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right," co-penned by Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, and Raymond Jackson, introduced the song to an entirely new audience. Unlike Ingram's version, which topped the R&B chart for four weeks, Mandrell put a female country spin on the tune, swapping out a few of the lyrics to give a woman's mistress perspective on a story about forbidden and adulterated love.
"My friends tell me there's no future in loving a married man /If I can't see you when I want / I'll see you when I can," the singer, 77, affectionately known as "The Princess of Steel," sings, showing off her smooth and soft signature vocals on the song. "If loving you is wrong / I don't wanna be right (I don't wanna be right) / If loving you is wrong / I don't wanna be right (I don't wanna be right)."
Several Renditions
With so many versions throughout the years, it may come as a surprise that "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" wasn't originally meant for any of the stars that reimagined the classic. The tune was first written for the Chicago-based vocal group The Emotions, whose recording of the song was never released.
Mandrell wasn't the only artist to put a female spin. Many others followed suit, including Millie Jackson, whose vocals on the song earned her two Grammy nominations. The Faces, Veda Brown, andRod Stewart are among many other artists from various genres who channeled the hit.
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 9:04 PM.