"Rhinestone Cowboy" is a song written and recorded by Larry Weiss in 1974, then popularized the next year by American country music singer Glen Campbell.

When released on May 26, 1975, as the lead single and title track from his album Rhinestone Cowboy, it enjoyed huge popularity with both country and pop audiences.

Soon after his return to the United States, Campbell went to Al Coury's office at Capitol Records, where he was approached about "a great new song" – "Rhinestone Cowboy".

[4] Several music writers noted that Campbell identified with the subject matter of "Rhinestone Cowboy" – survival and making it, particularly when the chips are down – very strongly.

As Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic put it, the song is about a veteran artist "who's aware that he's more than paid his dues during his career ... but is still surviving, and someday, he'll shine just like a rhinestone cowboy.

"Rhinestone Cowboy" has been covered by artists including Thom Yorke and Radiohead, Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey, Soul Asylum, Belle and Sebastian, Lloyd Green, Charley Pride, Chris LeDoux, Loretta Lynn and White Town.

Also in 1976, Canadian comedian Nestor Pistor recorded a parody version, "Winestoned Plowboy", which was itself a modest hit on Canada's country music charts in 1977.

After his performance, Carson announced that songwriter Larry Weiss was in the audience, a fact he claimed to be unaware of when he sang it a few minutes earlier.

Belgian singer Claire recorded the song in 1975 as "Vreemde Vogels" ("Strange Birds") and had a hit with her version in Flanders.

[citation needed] Filipino singer comedian Fred Panopio covered it as a parody song version, "Ang Kawawang Cowboy, which was released in 1976.

In 1977 it was released as a duo by Peter Belli and Ulvene in Danish under the title "Verdens bedste kone", and in 1977 in Finnish as "Muukalainen oon kai" interpreted by Kari Tapio.