The End of the World, a mesmerizing pop music hit by Skeeter Davis, carved a unique place in the global music scene during the 1960s. Released by RCA Records in December 1962, the song skyrocketed to fame by March 1963, achieving astonishing chart success: it soared to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, secured #2 on the Billboard country singles chart—highlighting Davis’ crossover appeal—and impressively claimed the #1 spot on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary – Easy Listening chart. Remarkably, it also reached #4 on Billboard’s rhythm and blues chart—a rare feat for a Caucasian female vocalist, making Skeeter Davis one of the very few to ever secure a top-ten hit there. Her unprecedented four-chart top-ten accomplishment remains unmatched by any other female vocalist in Billboard history.
Although Ruby and the Romantics’ hit “Our Day Will Come” prevented “The End of the World” from topping the pop chart, its overwhelming popularity earned it the prestigious #3 spot on Billboard’s list of the year’s 20 biggest hits. This timeless masterwork was the collaborative effort of composer Arthur Kent and lyricist Sylvia Dee, who also penned the poignant lyrics for Nat King Cole’s classic, “Too Young.”
The song’s production, expertly crafted by the legendary Chet Atkins, is heralded as an iconic exemplar of the Nashville Sound of the 1960s—where smooth vocals fused with sophisticated, polished instrumentation to captivate and broaden audiences far beyond traditional country music boundaries. The deep emotional impact of the track was underscored when it was played instrumentally by Marty Stuart at Atkins’ funeral in 2001. Later, Davis’ original recording echoed throughout her 2004 funeral at the historic Ryman Auditorium, etching the song irrevocably into music lore.
Skeeter Davis continued to chart numerous country hits alongside several notable pop crossovers throughout her career, but she remained forever identified with “The End of the World”—performing it in nearly every concert after its sensational success.
Sandra White, Davis’ sister, recalled, “Every time she sang ‘The End of the World,’ the room would fall silent. The emotion she poured into that song was unlike anything else. It was her signature, her heart.”
Music historian Jim Cartwright noted, “This song transcended genres and demographics. Skeeter Davis didn’t just sing ‘The End of the World’—she made it an anthem that connected deeply with listeners across different backgrounds.”
