# On This Day in 1979, the Eagles Scored Their Final No. 1 Hit with a Song Co-Written by Glenn Frey’s Former Roommate and a Classic Rock Legend

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/on-this-day-in-1979-the-eagles-scored-their-final-no-1-hit-with-a-song-co-written-by-glenn-freys-former-roommate-and-a-classic-rock-legend/
- Published: 2026-11-10T23:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T00:22:52+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/on-this-day-in-1979-the-eagles-scored-their-final-no-1-hit-with-a-song-co-written-by-glenn-freys-former-roommate-and-a-classic-rock-legend/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- “Heartache Tonight” was the Eagles’ fifth and final US number one.
- Bob Seger contributed the song’s chorus.
- The track earned a Grammy and Platinum certification.

## Summary

The Eagles’ “Heartache Tonight” reached number one on the US Hot 100 on 10 November 1979, becoming the band’s fifth and final chart-topping single. The song’s success marked a major moment in the group’s career, and it later won a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Glenn Frey and Don Henley co-wrote the track with JD Souther and Bob Seger, both long-time friends of Frey. Souther and Frey developed much of the lyrics while listening to Sam Cooke, but struggled to find a chorus; Seger supplied one after hearing the verses over the phone. The single was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.