Showing posts with label Country Music Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Country Music Association. Show all posts

Friday, August 7, 2026

Country Music: Annual Awards, 1922-2025

Country Music:

Annual Song Awards, 1922-2025

This page offers a consolidated list of the country songs of each year as determined by various organizations and entities. They include:

  • Academy of Country Music: Singles and Songs of the Year, 1967-2025
  • American Music Awards: Country Song of the Year, 1974-1995, 2016-2022
  • Billboard: Country Song of the Year, 1944-2025. The magazine began its country chart in 1944 and the song with the most weeks at #1 each year from then through 1997 is noted below. After 1997, Billboard’s Country Song of the Year is based on the year-end charts at Billboard.com.
  • Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI): Country Song of the Year, 1998-2024. Music publishing company tracks most-played songs each year.
  • Country Music Association: Singles and Songs of the Year, 1967-2025
  • Dave’s Music Database: the highest-ranked country song each year, 1922-2025
  • Grammys: Country Song of the Year, 1965-2025

See links at bottom of page for more details on above.

Note: awards were typically given a year after the date noted. For example, the Highwomen’s “Crowded Table” won the Grammy for Country Song of the Year in 2021, but it was for the eligibility year of 2020.

Click here to see other ‘Songs of the Year’ lists.

2025:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Ella Langley “Choosin’ Texas”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Ella Langley “Choosin’ Texas”
  • AMA: Ella Langley “Choosin’ Texas”
  • Billboard: Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Ella Langley & Riley Green “You Look Like You Love Me”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Ella Langley & Riley Green “You Look Like You Love Me”
  • DMDB: Ella Langley “Choosin’ Texas”
  • Grammy: Tyler Childers “Bitin’ List”
2024:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Ella Langley & Riley Green “You Look Like You Love Me”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Cody Johnson “Dirt Cheap”
  • AMA: Post Malone & Morgan Wallen “I Had Some Help”
  • Billboard: Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
  • BMI: Morgan Wallen “Last Night”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Chris Stapleton “White Horse”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Chris Stapleton “White Horse”
  • DMDB: Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
  • Grammy: Kacey Musgraves “The Architect”
2023:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Luke Combs “Fast Car”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Jordan Davis “Next Thing You Know”
  • Billboard: Morgan Wallen “Last Night”
  • BMI: Morgan Wallen “You Proof”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Luke Combs “Fast Car”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Luke Combs “Fast Car”
  • DMDB: Morgan Wallen “Last Night”
  • Grammy: Chris Stapleton “White Horse”

2022:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Cole Swindell “She Had Me at Heads Carolina”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Cole Swindell “She Had Me at Heads Carolina”
  • AMA: -- (show canceled)
  • Billboard: Parmalee “Take My Name”
  • BMI: Luke Combs “Forever After All”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Cody Johnson “Til You Can’t”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Jordan Davis with Luke Bryan “Buy Dirt”
  • DMDB: Morgan Wallen “You Proof”
  • Grammy: Cody Johnson “Til You Can’t”
2021:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean “If I Didn’t Love You”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Lainey Wilson “Things a Man Oughta Know”
  • AMA: Morgan Wallen “Wasted on You”
  • Billboard: Luke Combs “Forever After All”
  • BMI: Lee Brice “One of Them Girls”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Chris Stapleton “Starting Over”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Chris Stapleton “Starting Over”
  • DMDB: Walker Hayes “Fancy Like”
  • Grammy: Chris Stapleton “Cold”
2020:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Carly Pearce & Lee Brice “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Maren Morris “The Bones”
  • AMA: Gabby Barrett “The Good Ones”
  • Billboard: Gabby Barrett with Charlie Puth “I Hope”
  • BMI: Morgan Wallen “Whiskey Glasses”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Maren Morris “The Bones”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Maren Morris “The Bones”
  • DMDB: Gabby Barrett “The Good Ones”
  • Grammy: The Highwomen “Crowded Table”

2019:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Blake Shelton “God’s Country”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Old Dominion “One Man Band”
  • AMA: Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber “10,000 Hours”
  • Billboard: Morgan Wallen “Whiskey Glasses”
  • BMI: Dan + Shay “Tequila”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Carly Pearce & Lee Brice “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Luke Combs “Beautiful Crazy”
  • DMDB: Gabby Barrett with Charlie Puth “I Hope”
  • Grammy: Tanya Tucker “Bring My Flowers Now”
2018:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Dan + Shay “Tequila”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Dan + Shay “Tequila”
  • AMA: Dan + Shay “Speechless”
  • Billboard: Bebe Rexha with Florida Georgia Line “Meant to Be”
  • BMI: Brett Young “In Case You Didn’t Know”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Chris Stapleton “Broken Halos”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Chris Stapleton “Broken Halos”
  • DMDB: Dan + Shay “Tequila”
  • Grammy: Kacey Musgraves “Space Cowboy”
2017:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Sam Hunt “Body Like a Back Road”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Miranda Lambert “Tin Man”
  • AMA: Kane Brown “Heaven”
  • Billboard: Sam Hunt “Body Like a Back Road”
  • BMI: Florida Georgia Line “H.O.L.Y.”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Keith Urban “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Little Big Town “Better Man”
  • DMDB: Bebe Rexha with Florida Georgia Line “Meant to Be”
  • Grammy: Chris Stapleton “Broken Halos”

2016:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Florida Georgia Line “H.O.L.Y.”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Thomas Rhett “Die a Happy Man”
  • AMA: Keith Urban “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
  • Billboard: Florida Georgia Line “H.O.L.Y.”
  • BMI: Thomas Rhett “Die a Happy Man”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Thomas Rhett “Die a Happy Man”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Tim McGraw “Humble and Kind”
  • DMDB: Florida Georgia Line “H.O.L.Y.”
  • Grammy: Tim McGraw “Humble and Kind”
2015:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Thomas Rhett “Die a Happy Man”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Chris Stapleton “Nobody to Blame”
  • AMA: Tim McGraw “Humble and Kind”
  • Billboard: Sam Hunt “Take Your Time”
  • BMI: Brett Eldredge “Beat of the Music”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Little Big Town “Girl Crush”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Little Big Town “Girl Crush”
  • DMDB: Thomas Rhett “Die a Happy Man”
  • Grammy: Little Big Town “Girl Crush”
2014:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Lee Brice “I Don’t Dance”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Miranda Lambert “Automatic”
  • Billboard: Florida Georgia Line with Luke Bryan “This Is How We Roll”
  • BMI: Darius Rucker “Wagon Wheel”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert “Automatic”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Kacey Musgraves “Follow Your Arrow”
  • DMDB: Jason Aldean “Burnin’ It Down”
  • Grammy: Glen Campbell “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”
2013:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert “Mama’s Broken Heart”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Lee Brice “I Drive Your Truck”
  • Billboard: Florida Georgia Line with Nelly “Cruise”
  • BMI: Hunter Hayes “Wanted”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Florida Georgia Line with Nelly “Cruise”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Lee Brice “I Drive Your Truck”
  • DMDB: Kacey Musgraves “Follow Your Arrow”
  • Grammy: Kacey Musgraves “Merry Go Round”

2012:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert “Over You”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Miranda Lambert “Over You”
  • Billboard: Josh Turner “Time Is Love”
  • BMI: Rodney Atkins “Take a Back Road”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Little Big Town “Pontoon”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Miranda Lambert “Over You”
  • DMDB: Florida Georgia Line with Nelly “Cruise”
  • Grammy: Carrie Underwood “Blown Away”
2011:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Eli Young Band “Crazy Girl”
  • Billboard: Eli Young Band “Crazy Girl”
  • BMI: Josh Turner “All Over Me”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: The Band Perry “If I Die Young”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: The Band Perry “If I Die Young”
  • DMDB: Hunter Hayes “Wanted”
  • Grammy: Taylor Swift “Mean”
2010:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert “The House That Built Me”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Miranda Lambert “The House That Built Me”
  • Billboard: Lee Brice “Love Like Crazy”
  • BMI: Taylor Swift “You Belong with Me”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Lady Antebellum “Need You Now”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Miranda Lambert “The House That Built Me”
  • DMDB: The Band Perry “If I Die Young”
  • Grammy: Lady Antebellum “Need You Now”
2009:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Lady Antebellum “Need You Now”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Lady Antebellum “Need You Now”
  • Billboard: Lady Antebellum “I Run to You”
  • BMI: Taylor Swift “Love Story”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Lady Antebellum “I Run to You”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Jamey Johnson “In Color”
  • DMDB: Lady Antebellum “Need You Now”
  • Grammy: Taylor Swift “White Horse”

2008:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Trace Adkins “You’re Gonna Miss This”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Jamey Johnson “In Color”
  • Billboard: James Otto “Just Got Started Lovin’ You”
  • BMI: Taylor Swift “Teardrops on My Guitar”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: George Strait “I Saw God Today”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Sugarland “Stay”
  • DMDB: Taylor Swift “Love Story”
  • Grammy: Sugarland “Stay”
2007:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Sugarland “Stay”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Sugarland “Stay”
  • Billboard: Rodney Atkins “Watching You”
  • BMI: Rascal Flatts “What Hurts the Most”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Carrie Underwood “Before He Cheats”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: George Strait “Give It Away”
  • DMDB: Kid Rock “All Summer Long”
  • Grammy: Carrie Underwood “Before He Cheats”
2006:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: George Strait “Give It Away”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: George Strait “Give It Away”
  • Billboard: Rodney Atkins “If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)”
  • BMI: Toby Keith “As Good As I Once Was”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Brooks & Dunn “Believe”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Brooks & Dunn “Believe”
  • DMDB: Dixie Chicks “Not Ready to Make Nice”
  • Grammy: Carrie Underwood “Jesus, Take the Wheel”
2005:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Carrie Underwood “Jesus, Take the Wheel”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Brooks & Dunn “Believe”
  • Billboard: Craig Morgan “That’s What I Love about Sunday”
  • BMI: Tim McGraw “Live Like You Were Dying”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Lee Ann Womack “I May Hate Myself in the Morning”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss “Whiskey Lullaby”
  • DMDB: Carrie Underwood “Before He Cheats”
  • Grammy: Rascal Flatts “Bless the Broken Road”
2004:

2003:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Alan Jackson with Jimmy Buffett “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Randy Travis “Three Wooden Crosses”
  • Billboard: Lonestar “My Front Porch Looking In”
  • BMI: Dixie Chicks “Landslide”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Johnny Cash “Hurt”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Randy Travis “Three Wooden Crosses”
  • DMDB: Alan Jackson with Jimmy Buffett “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”
  • Grammy: Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”
2002:

2001:
2000:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Lee Ann Womack with Sons of the Desert “I Hope You Dance”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Lee Ann Womack with Sons of the Desert “I Hope You Dance”
  • Billboard: Toby Keith “How Do You Like Me Now?!”
  • BMI: Lonestar “Amazed”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Lee Ann Womack with Sons of the Desert “I Hope You Dance”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Lee Ann Womack with Sons of the Desert “I Hope You Dance”
  • DMDB: Lee Ann Womack with Sons of the Desert “I Hope You Dance”
  • Grammy: Lee Ann Womack with Sons of the Desert “I Hope You Dance”

1999:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Lonestar “Amazed”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Lonestar “Amazed”
  • Billboard: Lonestar “Amazed”
  • BMI: Shania Twain “You’re Still the One”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Dixie Chicks “Wide Open Spaces”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Faith Hill “This Kiss”
  • DMDB: Lonestar “Amazed”
  • Grammy: Shania Twain “Come on Over”
1998:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Faith Hill “This Kiss”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Steve Wariner “Holes in the Floor of Heaven”
  • Billboard: Tim McGraw “Just to See You Smile”
  • BMI: Tim McGraw & Faith Hill “It’s Your Love”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Steve Wariner “Holes in the Floor of Heaven”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Steve Wariner “Holes in the Floor of Heaven”
  • DMDB: Faith Hill “This Kiss”
  • Grammy: Shania Twain “You’re Still the One”
1997:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Tim McGraw & Faith Hill “It’s Your Love”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Tim McGraw & Faith Hill “It’s Your Love”
  • Billboard: Tim McGraw & Faith Hill “It’s Your Love”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Deana Carter “Strawberry Wine”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Deana Carter “Strawberry Wine”
  • DMDB: Shania Twain “You’re Still the One”
  • Grammy: Bob Carlisle “Butterfly Kisses”

1996:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: LeAnn Rimes “Blue”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: LeAnn Rimes “Blue”
  • Billboard: Brooks & Dunn “My Maria”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: George Strait “Check Yes or No”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Vince Gill “Go Rest High on That Mountain”
  • DMDB: LeAnn Rimes “Blue”
  • Grammy: LeAnn Rimes “Blue”
1995:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: George Strait “Check Yes or No”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Tracy Byrd “The Keeper of the Stars”
  • Billboard: Tim McGraw “I Like It, I Love It”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Alison Krauss & Union Station “When You Say Nothing at All”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Martina McBride “Independence Day”
  • DMDB: George Strait “Check Yes or No”
  • Grammy: Vince Gill “Go Rest High on That Mountain”
1994:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: John Michael Montgomery “I Swear”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: John Michael Montgomery “I Swear”
  • AMA: Vince Gill “Whenever You Come Around”
  • Billboard: Joe Diffie “Pickup Man”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: John Michael Montgomery “I Swear”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Alan Jackson “Chattahoochee”
  • DMDB: Alan Jackson “Summertime Blues”
  • Grammy: John Michael Montgomery “I Swear”

1993:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Alan Jackson “Chattahoochee”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: John Michael Montgomery “I Love the Way You Love Me”
  • AMA: Alan Jackson “Chattahoochee”
  • Billboard: Alan Jackson “Chattahoochee”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Alan Jackson “Chattahoochee”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Vince Gill “I Still Believe in You”
  • DMDB: John Michael Montgomery “I Swear”
  • Grammy: Mary Chapin Carpenter “Passionate Kisses”
1992:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Brooks & Dunn “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Vince Gill “I Still Believe in You”
  • AMA: Billy Ray Cyrus “Achy Breaky Heart”
  • Billboard: Billy Ray Cyrus “Achy Breaky Heart”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Billy Ray Cyrus “Achy Breaky Heart”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Vince Gill “Look at Us”
  • DMDB: Billy Ray Cyrus “Achy Breaky Heart”
  • Grammy: Vince Gill “I Still Believe in You”

1991:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Alan Jackson “Don’t Rock the Jukebox”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Billy Dean “Somewhere in My Broken Heart”
  • AMA: Garth Brooks “The Thunder Rolls”
  • Billboard: Alan Jackson “Don’t Rock the Jukebox”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Garth Brooks “Friends in Low Places”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Vince Gill “When I Call Your Name”
  • DMDB: Brooks & Dunn “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”
  • Grammy: The Judds “Love Can Build a Bridge”
1990:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Garth Brooks “Friends in Low Places”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Garth Brooks “The Dance”
  • AMA: Garth Brooks “If Tomorrow Never Comes”
  • Billboard: George Strait “Love Without End, Amen”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Vince Gill “When I Call Your Name”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Kathy Mattea “Where’ve You Been”
  • DMDB: Garth Brooks “Friends in Low Places”
  • Grammy: Kathy Mattea “Where’ve You Been”
1989:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Clint Black “A Better Man”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Kathy Mattea “Where’ve You Been”
  • AMA: Randy Travis “Deeper Than the Holler”
  • Billboard: Ronnie Milsap “A Woman in Love”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Keith Whitley “I’m No Stranger to the Rain”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Vern Gosdin “Chiseled in Stone”
  • DMDB: Garth Brooks “The Dance”
  • Grammy: Rodney Crowell “After All This Time”
1988:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Kathy Mattea “Eighteen Wheels and Dozen Roses”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Kathy Mattea “Eighteen Wheels and Dozen Roses”
  • AMA: Randy Travis “I Told You So”
  • Billboard: Keith Whitley “When You Say Nothing at All”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Kathy Mattea “Eighteen Wheels and Dozen Roses”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: K.T. Oslin “‘80s Ladies”
  • DMDB: Kathy Mattea “Eighteen Wheels and Dozen Roses”
  • Grammy: K.T. Oslin “Hold Me”
1987:

1986:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Randy Travis “On the Other Hand”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Randy Travis “On the Other Hand”
  • AMA: The Judds “Grandpa, Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Ol’ Days”
  • Billboard: Hank Williams, Jr. “Mind Your Own Business”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Dan Seals “Bop”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Randy Travis “On the Other Hand”
  • DMDB: Dwight Yoakam “Guitars, Cadillacs”
  • Grammy: The Judds “Grandpa, Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Ol’ Days”
1985:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: The Highwaymen “The Highwayman”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Ronnie Milsap “Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)”
  • AMA: Willie Nelson “Forgiving You Was Easy”
  • Billboard: The Judds “Have Mercy”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: The Judds “Why Not Me”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Lee Greenwood “God Bless the U.S.A.”
  • DMDB: Dan Seals “Bop”
  • Grammy: The Highwaymen “The Highwayman”
1984:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: The Judds “Why Not Me”
  • AMA: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton “Islands in the Stream”
  • Billboard: The Judds “Why Not Me”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Anne Murray “A Little Good News”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Gary Morris “Wind Beneath My Wings”
  • DMDB: Lee Greenwood “God Bless the U.S.A.”
  • Grammy: Willie Nelson “City of New Orleans”
1983:

1982:
1981:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: The Oak Ridge Boys “Elvira”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: David Frizzell “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma”
  • AMA: Anne Murray “Could I Have This Dance” / Willie Nelson “On the Road Again”
  • Billboard: Alabama “Love in the First Degree”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: The Oak Ridge Boys “Elvira”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: George Jones “He Stopped Loving Her Today”
  • DMDB: Juice Newton “Angel of the Morning”
  • Grammy: Dolly Parton “9 to 5”
1980:

1979:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: The Gatlin Brothers “All the Gold in California”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Moe Bandy “It’s a Cheating Situation”
  • AMA: Barbara Mandrell “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed”
  • Billboard: Eddie Rabbitt “Every Which Way But Loose”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: The Charlie Daniels Band “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Kenny Rogers “The Gambler”
  • DMDB: The Charlie Daniels Band “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”
  • Grammy: Kenny Rogers “You Decorated My Life”
1978:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Don Williams “Tulsa Time”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Anne Murray “You Needed Me”
  • AMA: Linda Ronstadt “Blue Bayou”
  • Billboard: Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson “Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: The Kendalls “Heaven’s Just a Sin Away”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Crystal Gayle “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue”
  • DMDB: Kenny Rogers “The Gambler”
  • Grammy: Kenny Rogers “The Gambler”
1977:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Kenny Rogers “Lucille”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Kenny Rogers “Lucille”
  • AMA: Kenny Rogers “Lucille”
  • Billboard: Waylon Jennings “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Kenny Rogers “Lucille”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Kenny Rogers “Lucille”
  • DMDB: Crystal Gayle “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue”
  • Grammy: Crystal Gayle “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue”
1976:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Mickey Gilley “Bring It on Home to Me”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Mickey Gilley “Don’t Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time”
  • AMA: Willie Nelson “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”
  • Billboard: Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson “Good Hearted Woman”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson “Good Hearted Woman”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Glen Campbell “Rhinestone Cowboy”
  • DMDB: Bellamy Brothers “Let Your Love Flow”
  • Grammy: Larry Gatlin “Broken Lady”

1975:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Glen Campbell “Rhinestone Cowboy”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Glen Campbell “Rhinestone Cowboy”
  • AMA: Glen Campbell “Rhinestone Cowboy”
  • Billboard: C.W. McCall “Convoy”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Freddy Fender “Before the Next Teardrop Falls”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: John Denver “Back Home Again”
  • DMDB: Glen Campbell “Rhinestone Cowboy”
  • Grammy: B.J. Thomas “Hey Won’t You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song”
1974:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Cal Smith “Country Bumpkin”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Cal Smith “Country Bumpkin”
  • AMA: Charlie Rich “The Most Beautiful Girl”
  • Billboard: Charlie Rich “A Very Special Love Song”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Cal Smith “Country Bumpkin”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Cal Smith “Country Bumpkin”
  • DMDB: Olivia Newton-John “I Honestly Love You”
  • Grammy: Charlie Rich “A Very Special Love Song”
1973:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Charlie Rich “Behind Closed Doors”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Charlie Rich “Behind Closed Doors”
  • AMA: Charlie Rich “Behind Closed Doors”
  • Billboard: Merle Haggard “If We Make It Through December”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Charlie Rich “Behind Closed Doors”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Charlie Rich “Behind Closed Doors”
  • DMDB: Charlie Rich “Behind Closed Doors”
  • Grammy: Charlie Rich “Behind Closed Doors”

1972:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Donna Fargo “The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Donna Fargo “The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.”
  • Billboard: Freddie Hart “My Hang-Up Is You”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Donna Fargo “The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Freddie Hart “Easy Loving”
  • DMDB: Eagles “Take It Easy”
  • Grammy: Charley Pride “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’”
1971:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Freddie Hart “Easy Loving”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Freddie Hart “Easy Loving”
  • Billboard: Charley Pride “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Sammi Smith “Help Me Make It Through the Night”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Freddie Hart “Easy Loving”
  • DMDB: Sammi Smith “Help Me Make It Through the Night”
  • Grammy: Sammi Smith “Help Me Make It Through the Night”
1970:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Ray Price “For the Good Times”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Ray Price “For the Good Times”
  • Billboard: Lynn Anderson “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Merle Haggard “Okie from Muskogee”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Johnny Cash “Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down”
  • DMDB: Lynn Anderson “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden”
  • Grammy: Marty Robbins “My Woman, My Woman, My Wife”
1969:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Merle Haggard “Okie from Muskogee”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Merle Haggard “Okie from Muskogee”
  • Billboard: Johnny Cash “Daddy Sang Bass”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Johnny Cash “A Boy Named Sue”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Porter Wagoner “The Carroll County Accident”
  • DMDB: Merle Haggard “Okie from Muskogee”
  • Grammy: Johnny Cash “A Boy Named Sue”
1968:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Roger Miller “Little Green Apples”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Glen Glen Campbell “Wichita Lineman”
  • Billboard: Henson Cargill “Skip a Rope”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Jeannie C. Riley “Harper Valley P.T.A.”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Bobby Goldsboro “Honey”
  • DMDB: Tammy Wynette “Stand by Your Man”
  • Grammy: Roger Miller “Little Green Apples”

1967:
  • ACM – Single of the Year: Glen Campbell “Gentle on My Mind”
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Wynn Stewart “It’s Such a Pretty World Today”
  • Billboard: Jack Greene “All the Time”
  • CMA – Single of the Year: Jack Greene “There Goes My Everything”
  • CMA – Song of the Year: Jack Greene “There Goes My Everything”
  • DMDB: Bobbie Gentry “Ode to Billie Joe”
  • Grammy: Glen Campbell “Gentle on My Mind”
1966:
  • ACM – Song of the Year: Bobby Austin “Apartment #9”
  • Billboard: David Houston “Almost Persuaded”
  • DMDB: Jim Reeves “Distant Drums”
  • Grammy: David Houston “Almost Persuaded”
1965:
1964:
  • Billboard: Connie Smith “Once a Day”
  • DMDB: Roger Miller “Dang Me”
  • Grammy: Roger Miller “Dang Me”

1963:
  • Billboard: Buck Owens “Love’s Gonna Live Here”
  • DMDB: Johnny Cash “Ring of Fire”
1962:
1961:
  • Billboard: Leroy Van Dyke “Walk on By”
  • DMDB: Patsy Cline “Crazy”

1960:
  • Billboard: Hank Locklin “Please Help Me, I’m Falling”
  • DMDB: Hank Locklin “Please Help Me, I’m Falling”
1959:
1958:
1957:
  • Billboard: Ferlin Husky “Gone”
  • DMDB: Elvis Presley “Jailhouse Rock”
1956:
  • Billboard: Ray Price “Crazy Arms”
  • DMDB: Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel”
1955:
  • Billboard: Webb Pierce “In the Jailhouse Now”
  • DMDB: Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons”
1954:
1953:
1952:
  • Billboard: Hank Thompson “The Wild Side of Life”
  • DMDB: Hank Williams “Jambalaya on the Bayou”
1951:
  • Billboard: Pee Wee King “Slow Poke”
  • DMDB: Hank Williams “Cold, Cold Heart”
1950:
  • Billboard: Hank Snow “I’m Moving On”
  • DMDB: Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz”

1949:
1948:
  • Billboard: Eddy Arnold “Bouquet of Roses”
  • DMDB: Eddy Arnold “Bouquet of Roses”
1947:
  • Billboard: Eddy Arnold “I’ll Hold You in My Heart Till I Can Hold You in My Arms”
  • DMDB: Tex Williams “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)”
1946:
  • Billboard: Al Dexter “Guitar Polka”
  • DMDB: Merle Travis “Dark As a Dungeon”
1945:
  • Billboard: Tex Ritter “You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often”
  • DMDB: Dick Thomas “Sioux City Sue”
1944:
  • Billboard: Al Dexter “So Long Pal”
  • DMDB: Nat “King” Cole “Straighten Up and Fly Right”
1943: DMDB: Al Dexter & His Troopers “Pistol Packin’ Mama”
1942: DMDB: Elton Britt “There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere”
1941: DMDB: Ernest Tubb “Walking the Floor Over You”
1940: DMDB: Jimmie Davis “You Are My Sunshine”

1939: DMDB: Gene Autry “Back in the Saddle Again”
1938: DMDB: Roy Acuff & the Smoky Mountain Boys “Wabash Cannonball”
1937: DMDB: Rex Griffin “The Last Letter”
1936: DMDB: Patsy Montana & the Prairie Ramblers “I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart”
1935: DMDB: The Carter Family “Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)”
1934: DMDB: The Sons of the Pioneers “Tumbling Tumbleweeds”
1933: DMDB: The Delmore Brothers “Brown’s Ferry Blues”
1932: DMDB: --
1931: DMDB: Jimmie Rodgers “T.B. Blues”
1930: DMDB: The Mississippi Sheiks “Sitting on Top of the World”

1929: DMDB: Clarence (Tom) Ashley “The Coo Coo Bird”
1928: DMDB: Jimmie Rodgers “Blue Yodel #1 (T for Texas)”
1927: DMDB: Dock Boggs “Country Blues”
1926: DMDB: Charlie Poole “White House Blues”
1925: DMDB: Vernon Dalhart “The Prisoner’s Song”
1924: DMDB: Uncle Dave Macon “Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy”
1923: DMDB: Fiddlin’ John Carson “The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane”
1922: DMDB: Eck Robertson “Sallie Gooden”

Resources/Related Links:

First posted 10/31/2021; last updated 8/7/2026.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Country Music: Albums of the Year

Country Music:

Albums of the Year

Since 1967, both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association have handed out awards for Album of the Year. The Grammys gave a country album award in 1965 and 1966, but then discontinued it until 1995. The American Music Awards have given out a Country Album of the Year award since 1974. Billboard magazine has acknowledged the country album of the year since 1990. Finally, Dave’s Music Database has acknowledged the best country album of the year since 1965. This page will show which albums won for any of the four awards each year.

Check out other album of the year awards here.

2024:
  • DMDB: Beyoncé Cowboy Carter
  • Grammy: Beyoncé Cowboy Carter
2023:
  • ACM: Chris Stapleton Higher
  • CMA: Cody Johnson Leather
  • DMDB: Morgan Wallen One Thing at a Time
  • Grammy: Lainey Wilson Bell Bottom Country
2022:
  • ACM: Lainey Wilson Bell Bottom Country
  • AMA: Taylor Swift Red (Taylor’s Version)
  • Billboard: Taylor Swift Red (Taylor’s Version)
  • CMA: Lainey Wilson Bell Bottom Country
  • DMDB: Zach Bryan American Heartbreak
  • Grammy: Willie Nelson A Beautiful Time
2021:
2020:
  • ACM: Chris Stapleton Starting Over
  • AMA: Blake Shelton Fully Loaded: God’s Country
  • Billboard: Luke Combs What You See Is What You Get
  • CMA: Chris Stapleton Starting Over
  • DMDB: Chris Stapleton Starting Over
  • Grammy: Miranda Lambert Wildcard
2019:
  • ACM: Luke Combs What You See Is What You Get
  • AMA: Carrie Underwood Cry Pretty
  • Billboard: Luke Combs This One’s for You
  • CMA: Maren Morris Girl
  • DMDB: Various Artists Country Music (box set: 1928-2002)
  • Grammy: Tanya Tucker While I’m Living
2018:
2017:
  • ACM: Chris Stapleton From a Room: Volume 1
  • AMA: Keith Urban Ripcord
  • Billboard: Chris Stapleton Traveller
  • CMA: Chris Stapleton From a Room: Volume 1
  • DMDB: Luke Combs This One’s for You
  • Grammy: Chris Stapleton From a Room: Volume 1
2016:
2015:
  • ACM: Chris Stapleton Traveller
  • AMA: Florida Georgia Line Anything Goes
  • Billboard: Jason Aldean Old Boots, New Dirt
  • CMA: Chris Stapleton Traveller
  • DMDB: Chris Stapleton Traveller
  • Grammy: Chris Stapleton Traveller
2014:
  • ACM: Miranda Lambert Platinum
  • AMA: Brantley Gilbert Just As I Am
  • Billboard: Luke Bryan Crash My Party
  • CMA: Miranda Lambert Platinum
  • DMDB: Miranda Lambert Platinum
  • Grammy: Miranda Lambert Platinum
2013:
  • ACM: Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer, Different Park
  • AMA: Taylor Swift Red
  • Billboard: Taylor Swift Red
  • CMA: Blake Shelton Based on a True Story
  • DMDB: Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer, Different Park
  • Grammy: Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer, Different Park
2012:
  • ACM: Eric Church Chief
  • AMA: Carrie Underwood Blown Away
  • Billboard: Jason Aldean My Kinda Party
  • CMA: Eric Church Chief
  • DMDB: Taylor Swift Red
  • Grammy: Zac Brown Band Uncaged
2011:
  • ACM: Miranda Lambert For the Record
  • AMA: Taylor Swift Speak Now
  • Billboard: Taylor Swift Speak Now
  • CMA: Jason Aldean My Kind of Party
  • DMDB: Jason Aldean My Kind of Party
  • Grammy: Lady Antebellum Own the Night
2010:
2009:
  • ACM: Miranda Lambert Revolution
  • AMA: Taylor Swift Fearless
  • CMA: Taylor Swift Fearless
  • DMDB: Miranda Lambert Revolution
  • Grammy: Taylor Swift Fearless
2008:
  • ACM: Taylor Swift Fearless
  • AMA: Carrie Underwood Carnival Ride
  • CMA: George Strait Troubadour
  • DMDB: Taylor Swift Fearless
  • Grammy: George Strait Troubadour
2007:
  • ACM: Miranda Lambert Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
  • AMA: Carrie Underwood Some Hearts
  • CMA: George Strait It Just Comes Natural
  • DMDB: Miranda Lambert Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
  • Grammy: Vince Gill These Days
2006:
2005:
  • ACM: Brad Paisey Time Well Wasted
  • AMA: Tim McGraw Live Like You Were Dying
  • CMA: Lee Ann Womack There’s More Where That Came From
  • DMDB: Carrie Underwood Some Hearts
  • Grammy: Alison Krauss & Union Station Lonely Runs Both Ways
2004:
  • ACM: Keith Urban Be Here
  • AMA: Toby Keith Shock’n Y’All
  • CMA: Kenny Chesney When the Sun Goes Down
  • DMDB: Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose
  • Grammy: Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose
2003:
  • ACM: Toby Keith Shock’n Y’All
  • AMA: Dixie Chicks Home
  • AMA: Toby Keith Unleashed
  • Billboard: Shania Twain Up!
  • CMA: Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around
  • DMDB: Toby Keith Shock’n Y’All
  • Grammy: Various Artists Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers
2002:
  • ACM: Alan Jackson Drive
  • AMA: Tim McGraw Set This Circus Down
  • CMA: Alan Jackson Drive
  • DMDB: Dixie Chicks Home
  • Grammy: Dixie Chicks Home
2001:
2000:
1999:
  • ACM: Dixie Chicks Fly
  • AMA: Garth Brooks Sevens
  • CMA: Tim McGraw A Place in the Sun
  • DMDB: Dixie Chicks Fly
  • Grammy: Dixie Chicks Fly
1998:
1997:
  • ACM: George Strait Carrying Your Love with Me
  • AMA: George Strait Blue Clear Sky
  • CMA: George Strait Carrying Your Love with Me
  • DMDB: Shania Twain Come on Over
  • Grammy: Johnny Cash American II: Unchained
1996:
  • ACM: George Strait Blue Clear Sky
  • AMA: Garth Brooks The Hits
  • CMA: George Strait Blue Clear Sky
  • DMDB: LeAnn Rimes Blue
  • Grammy: Lyle Lovett The Road to Ensenada
1995:
1994:
  • ACM: Tim McGraw Not a Moment Too Soon
  • AMA: Alan Jackson A Lot About Livin’ and a Little ‘Bout Love
  • CMA: Various Artists Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles
  • DMDB: Johnny Cash American Recordings
  • Grammy: Mary Chapin Carpenter
  • Stones in the Road
1993:
  • ACM: Alan Jackson A Lot About Livin’ and a Little ‘Bout Love
  • AMA: Reba McEntire For My Broken Heart
  • CMA: Vince Gill I Still Believe in You
  • DMDB: Garth Brooks In Pieces
1992:
1991:
  • ACM: Alan Jackson Don’t Rock the Jukebox
  • AMA: Reba McEntire Reba Live (live)
  • Billboard: Garth Brooks No Fences
  • CMA: Garth Brooks No Fences
  • DMDB: Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind
1990:
  • ACM: Garth Brooks No Fences
  • AMA: Randy Travis Old 8 x 10
  • Billboard: Clint Black Killin’ Time
  • CMA: Kentucky Headhunters Pickin’ on Nashville
  • DMDB: Garth Brooks No Fences
1989:
  • ACM: Clint Black Killin’ Time
  • AMA: Randy Travis Always and Forever
  • CMA: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will the Circle Be Unbroken Vol. 2
  • DMDB: Clint Black Killin’ Time
1988:
  • ACM: K.T. Oslin This Woman
  • AMA: Randy Travis Always and Forever
  • CMA: Hank Williams Jr. Born to Boogie
  • DMDB: Lyle Lovett Pontiac
1987:
  • ACM: Dolly Parton with Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris Trio
  • AMA: Alabama Greatest Hits (compilation: 1980-86, released 1986)
  • CMA: Randy Travis Always and Forever
  • DMDB: Randy Travis Always and Forever
1986:
  • ACM: Randy Travis Storms of Life
  • AMA: Alabama 40 Hour Week
  • CMA: Ronnie Milsap Lost in the Fifties Tonight
  • DMDB: Steve Earle Guitar Town
1985:
  • ACM: George Strait Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?
  • AMA: Kenny Rogers Eyes That See in the Dark
  • CMA: George Strait Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?
  • DMDB: Alabama 40 Hour Week
1984:
  • ACM: Alabama Roll On
  • AMA: Alabama The Closer You Get
  • CMA: Anne Murray A Little Good News
  • DMDB: Alabama Roll On
1983:
  • ACM: Alabama The Closer You Get
  • AMA: Willie Nelson Always on My Mind
  • CMA: Alabama The Closer You Get
  • DMDB: Alabama The Closer You Get
1982:
1981:
  • ACM: Alabama Feels So Right
  • AMA: Kenny Rogers The Gambler
  • CMA: Don Williams I Believe in You
  • DMDB: Alabama Feels So Right
1980:
  • ACM: Urban Cowboy soundtrack
  • AMA: Kenny Rogers The Gambler
  • CMA: Loretta Lynn Coal Miner’s Daughter soundtrack
  • DMDB: Loretta Lynn Coal Miner’s Daughter soundtrack
1979:
  • ACM: Larry Gatlin Straight Ahead
  • AMA: Kenny Rogers Ten Years of Gold (compilation: 1967-77, released 1978)
  • CMA: Kenny Rogers The Gambler
  • DMDB: Kenny Rogers Kenny
1978:
  • ACM: The Oak Ridge Boys Y’All Come Back Saloon
  • AMA: Dolly Parton New Harvest…First Gathering
  • CMA: Ronnie Milsap It Was Almost Like a Song
  • DMDB: Kenny Rogers The Gambler
1977:
  • ACM: Kenny Rogers Kenny Rogers
  • AMA: Glen Campbell Rhinestone Cowboy
  • CMA: Ronnie Milsap Live
  • DMDB: Elvis Presley Moody Blue
1976:
  • ACM: Mickey Gilley Gilley’s Smoking
  • AMA: John Denver Back Home Again
  • CMA: Waylon Jennings with Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, & Jessi Colter Wanted! The Outlaws
  • DMDB: Waylon Jennings with Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, & Jessi Colter Wanted! The Outlaws
1975:
  • ACM: Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn Feelins’
  • AMA: Olivia Newton-John Let Me Be There
  • CMA: Ronnie Milsap A Legend in My Time
  • DMDB: Willie Nelson Red-Headed Stranger
1974:
  • ACM: John Denver Back Home Again
  • AMA: Charley Pride A Sunshiny Day with Charley Pride
  • CMA: Charlie Rich Very Special Love Songs
  • DMDB: Gram Parsons Grievous Angel
1973:
  • ACM: Charlie Rich Behind Closed Doors
  • CMA: Charlie Rich Behind Closed Doors
  • DMDB: Gram Parsons G.P.
1972:
  • ACM: Donna Fargo The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A.
  • CMA: Merle Haggard Let Me Tell You About a Song
  • DMDB: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will the Circle Be Unbroken
1971:
  • ACM: Freddie Hart Easy Loving
  • CMA: Ray Price I Won’t Mention It Again
  • DMDB: Dolly Parton Coat of Many Colors
1970:
  • ACM: Ray Price For the Good Times
  • CMA: Merle Haggard Okie from Muskogee
  • DMDB: Kris Kristofferson Kristofferson (aka “Me and Bobby McGee”)
1969:
1968:
1967:
  • ACM: Glen Campbell Gentle on My Mind
  • CMA: Jack Greene There Goes My Everything
  • DMDB: Glen Campbell By the Time I Get to Phoenix
1966:
  • DMDB: Buck Owens Carnegie Hall Concert
  • Grammy: Roger Miller The Return of Roger Miller
1965:
  • DMDB: Eddy Arnold My World
  • Grammy: Roger Miller Dang Me/Chug-A-Lug

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 9/16/2020; last updated 2/2/2025.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, November 2, 2012

2012 Country Music Association Awards

image from nashvillegab.com

The 46th annual Country Music Association (CMA) awards were held on November 1, 2012. For a full list of nominees, check out the CMA site. Here are the winners in each category:

Entertainer of the Year: Blake Shelton
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year: Blake Shelton
New Artist of the Year: Hunter Hayes
Vocal Group of the Year: Little Big Town
Vocal Duo of the Year: Thompson Square
Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally (guitar)

Single of the Year: Little Big Town “Pontoon”

Song of the Year: Miranda Lambert “Over You”

Album of the Year: Eric Church Chief

Musical Event of the Year: Kenny Chesney with Tim McGraw “Feel Like a Rock Star”

Music Video of the Year: Toby Keith “Red Solo Cup”

Resources and Related Links:
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The 2012 Inductees for the Country Music Hall of Fame

2012 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
Hargus “Pig” Robbins, Connie Smith, and Garth Brooks (left to right)



The Country Music Hall of Fame announced its 2012 inductees today (See the full list of all inductees here). They include:

Garth Brooks will be inducted into the Country Hall of Fame in the “Modern Era Artist” category. His 1989 self-titled debut album with Capitol Records produced #1 songs “If Tomorrow Never Comes” and the career-defining ballad “The Dance.” He amassed 19 #1 songs, including the iconic “Friends in Low Places.” Third album, 1991’s Ropin’ the Wind, was the first country album in history to debut atop the Billboard Top 200 album chart. CM With more than 128 million albums sold, Brooks is the top-selling artist of the Soundscan era, which covers from 1991 to present. TN In 2007, he was named the best-selling solo artist in American music history. CM

During the ‘90s, Brooks was named CMA Entertainer of the Year four times. He retired from touring in 2000 (although he has since returned for limited runs) to move back home to Oklahoma with his daughters. Brooks said, “I feel honored and it’s kind of a mixed emotion of joy and a little bit of guilt…I’m very happy because I didn’t expect it. I was stunned, I guess because if they just got around to Reba last year I thought it was going to be another 10 or 15 years and deservedly so before my name ever came up, if it ever did.” TN He went on to specifically cite Randy Travis and Keith Whitley as contemporaries who should have been inducted before him. TN





Connie Smith is being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the “Veterans Era Artist” category, which is open to a singer 45 years after initial national prominence. She was born in 1941 and discovered at age 22 after winning a talent contest which gave her a chance to sing on an Opry-troupe concert. In 1964, Bill Anderson, the headliner of that concert, invited her to sing on Ernest Tubb’s Midnite Jamboree. That same year she signed to RCA Victor Records. Her first single, “Once a Day,” went to #1. She went on to rack up 30 top 20 hits on the country charts and recorded gospel as well. Dolly Parton once said of Smith, “You know, there’s really only three female singers in this world…Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt and Connie Smith. The rest of us are only pretending.” TN





Hargus “Pig” Robbins, a session pianist, is the third inductee for the Country Music Hall of Fame, entering in the “Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980” category. Robbins, who has been blind since 4 because of a knife accident, learned to play piano at age seven when he attended the Nashville School for the Blind. The focus was on classical music, but Robbins integrated his own style of rhythm & blues and country in the style of artists such as Ray Charles and Floyd Cramer. CM His nickname, “Pig,” came from him sneaking through a fire escape at school and playing when he wasn’t supposed to. Robbins’ supervisor said, he got as dirty as a pig. CM

In 1959, he played on his first of hundreds of professional recordings – George Jones’ “White Lightning”, his first #1 hit. Robbins went on to work with Patsy Cline, Porter Wagoner, Ray Price, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan (on the classic Blonde on Blonde album), Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt, and his fellow hall inductee Connie Smith. TN He has played on classic hits such as Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors” and Crystal Gayle’s “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” In 1976, Robbins won the CMA Instrumentalist of the Year award and in 2000 he received the CMA Musician of the Year Award. In 2007, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. Veteran producer Billy Sherrill, who discovered Tammy Wynette and worked on legendary tracks such as “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” has said Robbins “was probably the best musician I ever worked with.” TN

Resources and Related Links:
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Saturday, July 17, 2004

Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” hit #1 on country chart

Live Like You Were Dying

Tim McGraw

Writer(s): Tim Nichols, Craig Wiseman (see lyrics here)

Released: June 7, 2004

First Charted: June 5, 2004

Peak: 29 US, 34 RR, 4 AC, 21 A40, 17 CW, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.)

Sales (in millions): 4.0 US

Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 44.4 video, 194.26 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

Tim McGraw was already a well-established country singer when “Live Like You Were Dying” became the biggest hit of his career. His chart debut came in 1992 and two years later he achieved then-rare crossover appeal when hs songs “Indian Outlaw” and “Don’t Take the Girl” became top-20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. The latter became his first of 19 country chart-toppers leading up to “Dying.”

Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman wrote the song based around family and friends who’d gained new perspectives on life after learning they had cancer. The lyrics focus on “experiencing life to its fullest, while also becoming a better person.” WK The song focuses on a man diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and decides to do the things he’d always wanted to do, such as skydiving and mountain climbing. By the end of the song, the singer is following the same example.

The song had a personal connection for Tim McGraw. His father, baseball pitcher Tug McGraw, died of a brain tumor on January 5, 2004 – just two weeks before Tim went to Allaire studios in upstate New York to record “Live Like You Were Dying.” SF All Music Guide’s Thom Jurek said this is “the very best kind of modern country song; the emotion in McGraw’s delivery is honest, not saccharine…The lyric itself is sold and beautifully constructed, a perfect marriage of melody, hook, and direct, simple lyrics.” AMG

From an awards standpoint, the song can make a claim as the most celebrated in country music history, claiming prizes from the Academy of Country Music (Best Single and Song), Billboard (Country Song of the Year), Broadcast Music Inc. (Country Song of the Year), Country Music Association (Best Single and Song), and the Grammys (Country Song of the Year).

Resources:

Related Links:

First posted 11/2/2021; last updated 11/13/2023.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)