As the eighties neared, Gilley's was growing bigger with every day.  Country music's biggest stars used the club as a launching pad.  A television show was developed which only added to the phenomenon.  But it was when Esquire Magazine caught wind of the excitement and featured an article called "The Ballad of the Urban Cowboy" that caused Gilley's to develop into an urban cowboy craze.

With the club rising in popularity so did Mickey's.  He released hit after hit from "City Lights", I Overlooked an Orchard", and "Don't the Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time"; all reaching number one on the Billboard country Charts.  People started to take notice of the phenomenon on a national level.  Paramount decided to make a movie about the craze and cast John Travolta and Debrah Winger to play the parts.

The Movie was a success and Gilley's flourished.  The soundtrack that featured many popular artists including a huge hit by Mickey, "Stand By Me", went platinum and Mickey became a household name.