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List of years in Country Music
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This page indexes the individual year in country music pages. Each year is annotated with a significant event as a reference point.
2000s - 1990s - 1980s - 1970s - 1960s - 1950s - 1940s - 1930s - 1920s - Pre-1920s
2000s
- 2008 in country music, George Strait makes new record with 56 number 1 singles.
- 2007 in country music, Country music's big night at the Grammys; Garth Brooks' record-breaking hit single; deaths of Del Reeves, Porter Wagoner and Hank Thompson.
- 2006 in country music, George Strait's 41st No. 1 on the Billboard charts (53 including other charts); new host for "American Country Countdown"; death of Buck Owens.
- 2005 in country music, Carrie Underwood wins "American Idol"; Walk the Line biopic released, death of Chris LeDoux.
- 2004 in country music, Invasion of the MuzikMafia; death of Opry star Skeeter Davis.
- 2003 in country music, Rascal Flatts "I Melt" video and Dixie Chicks controversies; deaths of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash; 70-year-old Willie Nelson has No. 1 hit.
- 2002 in country music, Toby Keith/Natalie Maines feud; comeback albums from Shania Twain, Faith Hill and The Dixie Chicks; death of Waylon Jennings.
- 2001 in country music, Tributes to those killed in September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
- 2000 in country music, Toby Keith's breakthrough; Vince Gill and Amy Grant marry; Kenny Rogers becomes the oldest singer to have a No. 1 song; Rascal Flatts debut album released.
1990s
- 1999 in country music, Lonestar's "Amazed" spends eight weeks at No. 1, and becomes a major pop hit.
- 1998 in country music, Deaths of Tammy Wynette, Eddie Rabbitt, Carl Perkins and Gene Autry.
- 1997 in country music, Six weeks at No. 1 for "It's Your Love"; Shania Twain's Come On Over album released.
- 1996 in country music, Marriage of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
- 1995 in country music, The rise of Shania Twain; death of Charlie Rich.
- 1994 in country music, The push for more pop-influenced country (tied to the success of Garth Brooks and rise of newcomers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw); the comeback of Johnny Cash.
- 1993 in country music, Death of Conway Twitty; marriage of Shania Twain to Robert Lange.
- 1992 in country music, Hee Haw ends first-run production; the rise of line dancing and related hit singles, particularly "Achy Breaky Heart" and "Boot-Scootin' Boogie."
- 1991 in country music, Ropin' the Wind by Garth Brooks debuts at No. 1 on pop album chart, death of Dottie West.
- 1990 in country music, Resurgence in multi-week No. 1s ("Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart," "Love Without End, Amen").
1980s
- 1989 in country music, chart debuts of Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Travis Tritt and Alan Jackson; death of Keith Whitley.
- 1988 in country music, chronicling the history of country music on compact disc (among the first being the Country USA series); Merle Haggard's last No. 1 hit.
- 1987 in country music, Reba McEntire wins unprecedented fourth Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association; K. T. Oslin becomes a star in her late forties, a first for a country female vocalist.
- 1986 in country music, Debuts of Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam and others reinvigorate country music.
- 1985 in country music, New York Times declares country music "dead." Alabama sets a new Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles record for most consecutive No. 1 singles without a miss.
- 1984 in country music, Willie Nelson, Julio Iglesias duet "To All the Girls I've Loved Before." Hank Williams Jr. records the video for "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight."
- 1983 in country music, CMT, The Nashville Network premiere on cable television; The Judds sign a national recording contract.
- 1982 in country music, Alabama wins first CMA "Entertainer of the Year" award.
- 1981 in country music, With the chart debuts of George Strait and Ricky Skaggs, neotraditional country is introduced and would feed the success of artists such as Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam, Keith Whitley, Clint Black, and Alan Jackson in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Oak Ridge Boys release their biggest hit song Elvira
- 1980 in country music, Urban Cowboy premieres, Dolly Parton becomes a major movie star with 9 to 5, two country songs nominated for best song Academy Award (Parton's "9 to 5" and Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again").
1970s
- 1979 in country music, Kenny Rogers releases his second signature story song, "Coward Of The County."
- 1978 in country music, Barbara Mandrell's decade-old career hits new heights with her first No. 1 record; Kenny Rogers releases "The Gambler."
- 1977 in country music, Death of Elvis Presley; six weeks at No. 1 for Waylon Jennings' "Lukenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love);" Kenny Rogers makes comeback as solo country singer; Dolly Parton begins recording pop-oriented music instead of merely country.
- 1976 in country music, The CB radio-song craze hits its peak; Wanted! The Outlaws released; Loretta Lynn's autobiography becomes a New York Times best seller.
- 1975 in country music, Backlash over John Denver being named CMA Entertainer of the Year; country music records chart highly on the Billboard Hot 100; Willie Nelson becomes a major star fifteen years after his first recordings with his album Redheaded Stranger.
- 1974 in country music, Australian pop singer Olivia Newton-John racks up a string of country hits and stuns the industry by winning the Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year award. A group of veteran country performers form the short-lived Association of Country Entertainers in an attempt to keep country music "country."
- 1973 in country music, Grand Ole Opry moves from the Ryman Auditorium to its new house in Opryland; murder of Stringbean; premiere of "American Country Countdown"; Johnny Rodriguez becomes the first Hispanic country star.
- 1972 in country music, Fan Fair debuts, Opryland USA opens, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" album issued; 13-year-old Tanya Tucker becomes an overnight sensation.
- 1971 in country music, Television's rural purge. African-American singer Charley Pride named CMA Entertainer of the Year, Lynn Anderson tops pop charts around the world with her crossover music country hit "Rose Garden".
- 1970 in country music, Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty — who each release their signature songs during the year (she with "Coal Miner's Daughter, he with "Hello Darlin'") — record their first duet, "After the Fire is Gone."
1960s
- 1969 in country music, Hee Haw premieres. Tammy Wynette's Stand by Your Man becomes an anthem of country music.
- 1968 in country music, Johnny Cash records at Folsom State Prison, Jeannie C. Riley socks it to the charts with Harper Valley PTA.
- 1967 in country music, First Country Music Association awards (non-televised this year only), chart debut of Dolly Parton, who later that year becomes a regular on The Porter Wagoner Show.
- 1966 in country music, Chart debuts of Lynn Anderson, Tammy Wynette.
- 1965 in country music, Eddy Arnold hits pop top 10 for first time with "What's He Doing n My World" #6 and "Make The World Go Away" #5
- 1964 in country music, Plane crash kills Jim Reeves, chart debuts of Hank Williams Jr. and Dottie West.
- 1963 in country music, Plane crash kills Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins.
- 1962 in country music, Ray Charles releases Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
- 1961 in country music, Country Music Association announces creation of Country Music Hall of Fame, Patsy Cline has her first #1 hit called "I Fall to Pieces".
- 1960 in country music, Only four songs reach No. 1 on Billboard magazine country chart during the entire year, chart debut of Loretta Lynn.
1950s
- 1959 in country music, Buck Owens makes his metoric rise to the top of Country Music. A place he would hold for more than a decade. The peak of the saga song.
- 1958 in country music, Billboard magazine consolidates best-sellers and disc jockeys' charts into one all-encompassing C&W chart. Johnny Cash tops Best Seller list for first time. Don Gibson arrives.
- 1957 in country music, Rock-flavored acts – Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Everly Brothers – dominate charts. Patsy Cline debuts on the charts.
- 1956 in country music, Ray Price, Marty Robbins, and Johnny Horton emerge and resurrect traditional country music after the influx of rock and roll threatens the heart of country music. Horton is new to the scene, while Robbins and Price each have had previous hits.
- 1955 in country music, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Elvis Presley have first national hits; Webb Pierce spends 42 weeks at #1 on BS list with "In The Jailhouse Now"(20), "I Don't Care"(14) and "Love Love Love"(8)
- 1954 in country music, Elvis Presley makes first recordings, one and only appearance on Grand Ole Opry; the rise of the pedal steel guitar.
- 1953 in country music, Death of Hank Williams.
- 1952 in country music, The fall of Hank Williams; Kitty Wells has first solo female No. 1 song. Carl Smith becomes only Country artists to have two records tied at #1 "Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way" and "Don't Just Stand There" week ending April 4 Billboard
- 1951 in country music,The year of "Hank and Lefty". Hank Snow and Eddy Arnold were equally dominating. Newcomer Carl Smith hits it big.
- 1950 in country music, 21 weeks at No. 1 for Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On."
1940s
- 1949 in country music, Hank Williams first giant hit, "Lovesick Blues." #1 song of year
- 1948 in country music, Eddy Arnold has five of the year's six new No. 1 songs, with "Boquet of Roses" and "Anytime" the biggest of the lot. "Bouquet Of Roses" #1 hit of all time based on total chart performance.
- 1947 in country music, Hank Williams has first national hit; Eddy Arnold spends 21 weeks at No. 1.
- 1946 in country music, "New Spanish Two Step" (Bob Wills) top country record
- 1945 in country music, "Shame On You" (Spade Cooley) Top Country Record. Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs join the Bluegrass Boys. Often considered the beginning of Bluegrass music.
- 1944 in country music, Billboard magazine creates first national chart to track popularity of country music records. "So Long Pal" (Al Dexter) Top Country Record
- 1943 in country music, "Pistol Packin' Mama (Al Dexter) Top Country Record
- 1942 in country music, Musicians' strike and ban on recording; Acuff-Rose Music forms. Gold record for "There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" with Elton Britt."I'm Walking The Floor Over You" (Ernest Tubb) Top Country Record
- 1941 in country music, "Be Honest With Me" Gene Autry top country record. Ernest Tubb's "Walking the Floor Over You."
- 1940 in country music, "You Are My Sunshine (Jimmie Davis) top country record.
1930s
- 1939 in country music, Formation of the Bluegrass Boys. "San Antonio Rose" with Bob Wills top country record.
- 1938 in country music, "Wabash Cannonball" recorded by Roy Acuff top country record.
- 1937 in country music, Beginning of Renfro Valley Barn Dance. "Steel Guitar Rag" recorded by Bob Wills top country record.
- 1936 in country music, First recordings of Ernest Tubb. Formation of Monroe Brothers and Blue Sky Boys. "Mexicali Rose" with Gene Autry top country record.
- 1935 in country music, First recordings of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" with Gene Autry top country record.
- 1934 in country music, "The Last Roundup" recorded by Gene Autry top country record.
- 1933 in country music, Death of Jimmie Rodgers. "Yellow Rose Of Texas" with Gene Autry and Jimmy Long top country record.
- 1932 in country music, "That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine" with Gene Autry and Jimmy Long top country record.
- 1931 in country music, "Mule Skinner Blues" recorded by Jimmie Rodgers top country record.
- 1930 in country music, Ken Maynard becomes first singing screen cowboy. "Lulu Walls" with Carter Family top country record.
1920s
- 1929 in country music, "I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes" with Carter Family top country record. Gene Autry makes his first recordings.
- 1928 in country music, "Blue Yodel" recorded by Jimmie Rodgers top country record.
- 1927 in country music, The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers make first recordings. "Sleep Baby Sleep" with Jimmie Rodgers top country record.
- 1926 in country music, Formation of the The Skillet Lickers. "The Dying Cowboy" with Carl T.Sprague top country record.
- 1925 in country music, WSM signs on; first WSM Barn Dance. "The Death Of Floyd Collins" recorded by Vernon Dalhart top country record.
- 1924 in country music, "The Prisoner's Song" recorded by Vernon Dalhart becomes first million-selling country record.
- 1923 in country music, First radio "barn dance" WBAP in Fort Worth, Texas.
- 1922 in country music, First commercial recordings of country music by Eck Robertson.
- 1921 in country music
- 1920 in country music
Pre-1920s
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