Introduction:
There are certain songs that never truly grow old. They may belong to another decade, another stage, another chapter in an artist’s life—but the moment the first notes begin, time seems to disappear. Conway Twitty’s unforgettable performance of “It’s Only Make Believe” in 1990 is one of those rare moments.
Long before Conway Twitty became one of country music’s most beloved and recognizable voices, he had already captured the world’s attention with the dramatic, passionate sound of rock and rockabilly. “It’s Only Make Believe” was one of the songs that helped introduce that extraordinary voice to millions of listeners. Decades later, appearing on this eclectic U.S. television program, Conway returned to the song that had played such an important role in the beginning of his remarkable career.
And what makes this performance so special is not simply nostalgia.
It is the voice.
By 1990, Conway Twitty had lived through years of recording, touring, success, change, and musical evolution. Yet when he began singing “It’s Only Make Believe,” the power was still there. That unmistakable warmth, the controlled intensity, the tenderness beneath every phrase—none of it had disappeared. If anything, the passing years seemed to give the song even greater emotional weight.
The younger Conway had sung these words with the desperation of a man dreaming of a love he could not truly possess. The older Conway sang them with something deeper: experience.
You can hear a lifetime between the notes.
There is heartbreak in his delivery, but also dignity. There is longing, but never excess. Conway never needed to force emotion upon his audience. He simply opened his voice and allowed the story to unfold. That was one of his greatest gifts. Whether singing country, rockabilly, or a timeless love ballad, he had the ability to make listeners feel as though he were singing directly to them.
Watching this 1990 performance also reminds us just how versatile Conway Twitty truly was. Many remember him as the country superstar behind decades of unforgettable recordings, but his musical roots reached much further. “It’s Only Make Believe” carries us back to the young performer who once stood at the crossroads of rock ’n’ roll, rockabilly, pop, and country—and possessed a voice powerful enough to belong in all of them.
Perhaps that is why this performance remains so moving today.
We are not simply watching a legendary singer revisit an old hit. We are watching an artist meet his younger self again through music.
The years had changed the man, but they had not taken away the voice.
And for a few beautiful minutes in 1990, Conway Twitty proved that a truly great song—and a truly great singer—can survive every passing decade.
Close your eyes, listen to that voice, and suddenly it feels as though no time has passed at all.
Conway Twitty – “It’s Only Make Believe.”
A song from the beginning of a legendary career, performed by a man whose voice had become timeless.