The single became among West's commercially-successful releases, reaching the top ten of the US and Canadian country charts.

Many of the jingles had become so popular with audiences that its lyrics were reworked and released as singles that were played on radio.

[3] Known for her characteristic "plaintive" vocal delivery, Dottie West had risen to fame in the 1960s with songs like "Would You Hold It Against Me", "Paper Mansions" and "Here Comes My Baby".

The commercial was a success and in response, Coke offered West a lifetime contract to write jingles for their company.

Her writing impressed West enough that she arranged for Whiles to cut demos of these songs which included "Country Sunshine."

Whiles states that she heard nothing more on the matter of her demoed songs until seeing one of the televised Coca-Cola ads with West singing "Country Sunshine" in 1973.

Whiles, who in 1973 was a single mother of four, has stated that she sued and, after extended litigation, received a credit for co-writing the song plus a financial settlement which she is forbidden to discuss.

[11] The single version of "Country Sunshine" was cut at the RCA Victor Studios on July 30, 1973.

Entering the chart on October 15, it spent a total of five weeks, reaching number 37 by November 3.

[7] Following its release, the song as adapted for the 1974 campaign of Tennessee governor candidate Ray Blanton.

Amanda Marie Martinez noted that along with Merle Haggard's "Big City", the song portrayed rural living as "idyllic".