List of years in country music
This page indexes the individual year in country music pages. Each year is annotated with a significant event as a reference point.
Pre-1920s - 1920s - 1930s - 1940s - 1950s - 1960s - 1970s - 1980s - 1990s - 2000s - 2010s - 2020s -
Pre-1920s
- Prior to 1920 in country music,
- Train accidents – the Vaughn, Mississippi; and train 97 in 1903 near Danville, Virginia– become the subject of several early country recordings.
- The word "Hillbillie" printed for the first time in New York Journal on April 23, 1900.
- "Rube" comedy, long country dialect tales like "Uncle Josh" become popular in 1909.
1920s
- 1920 in country music
- 1921 in country music
- 1922 in country music, First commercial recordings of country music by Eck Robertson for Victor Records.
- 1923 in country music, First radio "barn dance" WBAP in Fort Worth, Texas. "Sally Gooden" by A.C. (Eck) Robertson top country record.[1]
- 1924 in country music, "It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo'"[2] by Wendell Hall top country record. "The Prisoner's Song" recorded by Vernon Dalhart in August sells 1.3 million records by end of decade.[3]
- 1925 in country music, WSM signs on; first WSM Barn Dance. "The Prisoner's Song"[4] by Vernon Dalhart top country record. Charlie Poole and The North Carolina Ramblers recorded the successful "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down Blues" and "The Girl I Loved in Sunny Tennessee" on July 27.[5]
- 1926 in country music, Formation of The Skillet Lickers. "The Prisoner's Song"[6] by Vernon Dalhart second chart run Top Country Record.
- Jimmie Rodgers make their first recordings. "Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow"[7]by the Carter Family Top Country Record.
- Jimmie Rodgers "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)"[8][9] Top Country Record, and one of several million sellers by Rodgers.[6]
- 1929 in country music, "Wildwood Flower"[10][9] by the Carter Family top country record and sells one million copies. Gene Autry makes his first recordings.
1930s
- Jimmie RodgersTop Country Record.
- Jimmie RodgersTop Country Record.
- Jimmie Rodgerswith Lani McIntire's Hawaiians Top Country Record.
- and Jimmy Long Top Country Record.
- 1934 in country music, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"[15][9] recorded by the Sons of the Pioneers Top Country Record.
- 1935 in country music, First recordings by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. "Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)"[16] by the Carter Family Top Country Record.
- Top Country Record.
- 1937 in country music, Beginning of Renfro Valley Barn Dance. "Steel Guitar Rag"[17] recorded by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys Top Country Record.
- 1938 in country music, "Wabash Cannonball"[18][9] recorded by Roy Acuff and the Crazy Tennesseans Top Country Record.
- Top Country Record. Billboard prints its first "Hillbilly...Hits" charts. These charts will continue, primarily on a monthly basis, until 1942.
1940s
- 1940 in country music, "You Are My Sunshine"[21] by Bob Atcher and Bonnie Blue Eyes Top Country Record.
- 1941 in country music, Gene Autry's "You Are My Sunshine"[22] Top Country Record and sells one million copies. Ernest Tubb records and releases "Walking the Floor Over You."
- Musicians' strike bans all recording starting August; Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., is incorporated in Tennessee.. "There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere"[23] by Elton BrittTop Country Record and earns Gold record.
- 1943 in country music, Al Dexter and His Troopers's "Pistol Packin' Mama"[24] Top Country Record, and becomes first Country record to also top Popular music chart.
- Billboard magazine creates national chart to track popularity of country music records. Al Dexter and His Troopers's "So Long Pal"[24]Top Country Record.
- Blue Grass Boys. Often considered the beginning of Bluegrass music.
- 1946 in country music, "Guitar Polka" by Al Dexter and His Troopers Top Country Record.
- 1947 in country music, Hank Williams has first national hit; Eddy Arnold and his Tennessee Plowboys - "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms) No. 1 record of 1947.
- 1948 in country music, Eddy Arnold has five of the year's six new No. 1 songs, with "Bouquet of Roses" and "Anytime" the biggest of the lot. "Bouquet of Roses" No. 1 hit of all time based on total chart performance.
- 1949 in country music, Hank Williams' first giant hit, "Lovesick Blues" Top Country Record.
1950s
- 1950 in country music, 21 weeks at No. 1 for Hank Snow's "I’m Moving On."
- Carl Smith.
- 1952 in country music, The fall of Hank Williams; Kitty Wells has first solo female No. 1 song with "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels." Carl Smith becomes only country artist to have two records tied at No. 1 on the modern Billboard country charts ("Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way" and "Don't Just Stand There")
- Betty Jack Davis; crash that kills Davis will also sideline duet partner Skeeter Davis' career until the end of the 1950s.
- Best Sellers in Stores" chart.
- Best Sellers in Stores" chart with "In the Jailhouse Now" (20 weeks), "I Don't Care" (12 weeks) and "Love Love Love" (eight weeks). Ozark Jubileepremieres on ABC-TV.
- Ray Price, Marty Robbins and Johnny Horton emerge, resurrect traditional country music after the influx of rock and rollthreatens the heart of country music.
- Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson — dominate charts; Patsy Clinedebuts on the charts.
- Billboard magazineconsolidates best-sellers and disc jockeys' charts into one all-encompassing "Hot C&W Sides" chart.
- Long Black Veil" and "El Paso."
1960s
- The Porter Wagoner Show."
- 1961 in country music, Country Music Association announces creation of Country Music Hall of Fame; Patsy Cline has first No. 1 hit ("I Fall to Pieces").
- 1962 in country music, Ray Charles releases Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.
- 1963 in country music, Tragedies befall country music, with deaths of Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins (plane crash); Jack Anglin (car accident, en route to Cline's funeral) and Texas Ruby (house fire) all in less than a month's span.
- 1964 in country music, Plane crash kills Jim Reeves; chart debut of Hank Williams Jr. Connie Smith begins her eight-week stay at number one with "Once a Day".
- "
- 1966 in country music, Chart debuts of Lynn Anderson, Tammy Wynette and Charley Pride, the latter who goes on to become the most successful black performer in country music; first Academy of Country Music awards show airs (shown on tape-delay on the fading The Jimmy Dean Show).
- The Porter Wagoner Show.
- 1968 in country music, Johnny Cash records At Folsom Prison; crossover successes of "Honey," "Harper Valley PTA"; Tammy Wynette records "Stand by Your Man"; final No. 1 hit for Eddy Arnold; death of Red Foley.
- The Johnny Cash Show. Marriage of George Jones and Tammy Wynette, known as "The First Couple of Country Music."
1970s
- After the Fire is Gone".
- Rose Garden".
- Fan Fair debuts; Opryland USA opens; Will the Circle be Unbroken album issued; 13-year-old Tanya Tuckerbecomes an overnight sensation.
- 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.
- The Porter Wagoner Show.
- Redheaded Stranger; divorce of George Jones and Tammy Wynette; deaths of Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell and George Morgan.
- New York Timesbest seller.
- 1977 in country music, Death of Elvis Presley; six weeks at No. 1 for Waylon Jennings' "Luckenbach, 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.
- 1978 in country music, Barbara Mandrell's decade-old career hits new heights with her first No. 1 record; Kenny Rogers releases "The Gambler"; Bob Kingsley becomes host of "American Country Countdown" (after several years of producing show). Deaths of Bob Luman, Johnny Bond and Mel Street.
- crossoverartist.
1980s
- Alabama signs with RCA Records and begins long-term success. Death of Red Sovine.
- Step By Step" during second peak wave of songs crossing over to pop charts. Barbara Mandrellbecomes first artist to win back to back Entertainer of the Year award 1980-1981 from CMA & ACM.
- crossover hit; death of Marty Robbins.
- crossoversmash.
- 1984 in country music, Willie Nelson, Julio Iglesias duet "To All the Girls I've Loved Before"; Hank Williams Jr. records video for "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight".
- Billboard magazine Hot Country Singlesrecord for most consecutive No. 1 singles without a miss.
- 1986 in country music, Debuts of Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam and others reinvigorate country music; Buck Owens leaves Hee Haw; no multi-week No. 1 songs on Billboard country chart; Columbia Records drops Johnny Cash after 28 years. Conway Twitty has last No. 1 hit, "Desperado Love".
- 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 40s, a first for a country female vocalist.
- 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.
- 1989 in country music, The rise and chart debuts of Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Travis Tritt and Alan Jackson; death of Keith Whitley; Ronnie Milsap has last No. 1 hit, "A Woman in Love."
1990s
- 1990 in country music, Resurgence in multi-week No. 1s ("Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart", "Love Without End, Amen").
- 1991 in country music, Debuts of Diamond Rio, Trisha Yearwood, Hal Ketchum, Davis Daniel, Brooks & Dunn, B. B. Watson, Sammy Kershaw and Tracy Lawrence; Ropin' the Wind by Garth Brooks debuts at No. 1 on pop album chart, deaths of Dottie West, Webb Pierce and Tennessee Ernie Ford.
- Boot-Scootin' Boogie". Deaths of Roy Acuff and Roger Miller. Chart debut of John Michael Montgomery and Tim McGraw.
- Robert Lange; Chart debut of Toby Keith.
- 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. Chart debut of Kenny Chesney.
- Great American Countrypremieres.
- 1996 in country music, Marriage of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill; deaths of Gus Hardin and Faron Young.
- .
- crossover hits, rekindling debate over pop-influenced country music.
- 1999 in country music, Lonestar's "Amazed" spends eight weeks at No. 1, and becomes a major pop hit. Deaths of Hoyt Axton, Rex Allen and Hank Snow.
2000s
- 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; Garth Brooks announces plans for retirement; Rascal Flatts' debut album released; RFD-TV, a cable/satellite TV network focusing on farming and rural living but also features reruns of classic country music TV programming, is launched.
- 2001 in country music, Tributes to those killed in the September 11 attacks. Death of Johnny Russell.
- Dixie Chicks, The Statler Brothers final concert and retirement. Death of Waylon Jennings.
- Dixie Chicks controversies; deaths of Don Gibson, Johnny Paycheck, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash; 70-year-old Willie Nelsonhas No. 1 hit.
- 2004 in country music, Invasion of the MuzikMafia; death of Opry star Skeeter Davis.
- 2005 in country music, Carrie Underwood wins American Idol; Garth Brooks marries Trisha Yearwood; Walk the Line biopic released; death of Chris LeDoux.
- Freddie Fender.
- Hank Thompson.
- crossover artist; Shania Twain and Robert John "Mutt" Langeseparate after 14 years of marriage.
- 2009 in country music, Brooks & Dunn announces their break up; Garth Brooks comes out of retirement; Taylor Swift-Kanye West conflict at an MTV awards show; deaths of Ernest Ashworth, Vern Gosdin, Dan Seals and Opry star Hank Locklin.
2010s
- crossoversmash.
- Lady Antebellum wins five Grammy Awards including Record and Song of the Year; Scotty McCreery wins American Idol. “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keithbecomes a viral and crossover hit upon release.
- 2012 in country music, George Jones and George Strait announce plans to retire from touring; Garth Brooks elected to Country Music Hall of Fame; Billboard makes changes to the Hot Country Songs chart; death of Kitty Wells.
- breaks chart records.
- pop orientated music; deaths of George Hamilton IV, Jimmy C. Newman, Dawn Sears, Kevin Sharp and Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers.
- 2015 in country music, Keith Hill controversy; Cledus T. Judd retires; Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert divorce; deaths of Lynn Anderson, Jim Ed Brown, Little Jimmy Dickens and Daron Norwood.
- .
- Hurricane Mills, TN.
- 2018 in country music, "Meant to Be" sets No. 1 longevity bar at 50 weeks; deaths of Lari White, Daryle Singletary, Freddie Hart and Roy Clark.
- Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year; "Old Town Road" chart controversy and related rise of trap country; Hal Ketchum announces he has Alzheimer's; deaths of Sanger D. Shafer, Jim Glaser, Earl Thomas Conley and Bob Kingsley.
2020s
- 2020 in country music, Deaths of Billy Joe Shaver, Kenny Rogers, Joe Diffie, Charlie Daniels, Mac Davis, John Prine, Jan Howard, Johnny Bush, Doug Supernaw, Hal Ketchum, Charley Pride and K. T. Oslin; ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacts multiple events, concerts; Lady A, The Chicks change to their new names following racial unrest.
- 2021 in country music, Deaths of Ed Bruce, Jamie O'Hara of The O'Kanes, Misty Morgan of Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan, B. J. Thomas, Tom T. Hall, Don Everly of The Everly Brothers and Stonewall Jackson; Taylor Swift begins to re-release her country albums and her re-recorded version of "Love Story" returned to number one on the country charts.
- Deborah McCrary, Joel Whitburn, Olivia Newton-John, Luke Bell, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Jeff Cook of Alabama; Toby Keith diagnosed with stomach cancer.
- 2023 in country music, Bill Anderson longevity on the Grand Ole Opry; Jason Aldean controversy over lyrical and video content of "Try That in a Small Town"; deaths of Gordon Lightfoot and Claude Gray.
- 2024 in country music, Death of Toby Keith.
References
- ^ "Victor matrix B-26664. Sallie Gooden / Eck Robertson - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
- ^ "Victor matrix B-28741. It ain't gonna rain no mo' / Wendell W. Hall - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
- ^ "The Victor Talking Machine Company". davidsarnoff.org. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "Victor matrix B-30633. The prisoner's song / Vernon Dalhart - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
- ^ "Columbia matrix W140789. Don't let your deal go down blues / North Carolina Ramblers; Charlie Poole - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research.
- ^ "Victor matrix BVE-39750. Bury me under the weeping willow / Carter Family - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
- ^ "Victor matrix BVE-40753. Blue yodel / Jimmie Rodgers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ^ a b c d "Complete National Recording Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ "Victor matrix BVE-45029. Wildwood flower / Carter Family - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ "Victor matrix BVE-56607. Anniversary blue yodel / Jimmie Rodgers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
- ^ "Victor matrix PBVE-54863. Blue yodel no. 8 / Jimmie Rodgers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
- ^ "Victor matrix PBVE-54850. Why should I be lonely? / Jimmie Rodgers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
- ^ "MELOTONE 78rpm numerical listing discography: 12500 - 12999". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- ^ "Decca matrix DLA 11. Tumbling tumbleweeds / Sons of the Pioneers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- ^ a b "MELOTONE 78rpm numerical listing discography: 13000 to end". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- ^ "Vocalion 78rpm numerical listing discography: 3500 - 4000". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
- ^ "Vocalion 78rpm numerical listing discography: 4000 - 4500". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- ^ "Decca matrix 64504. It makes no difference now / Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ^ "The Billboard pg 84" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. April 29, 1939. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- ^ "Vocalion 78rpm numerical listing discography - 5000 series (main sequence)". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- ^ "OKeh (by CBS) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 6000 - 6500". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- ^ "Victor matrix BS-073625. There's a star spangled banner waving somewhere / Elton Britt - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
- ^ a b "OKeh (by CBS) 78rpm numerical listing discography: 6500 - 6747 (end of series)". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-04-14.