2008 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2008.
| By location |
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| By genre |
| By topic |
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|---|---|---|---|
Events
- April 27 – A story in the New York Daily News reported a possible long-term relationship between Mindy McCready and baseball star Roger Clemens that began when she was 15 years old.[1] Though Clemens' attorney, Rusty Hardin, acknowledged that McCready was a "close family friend," Hardin denied the affair and threatened to bring a defamation suit against him.[1] However, McCready would state that the relationship was sexual,[2] and spoke about her affair with Clemens in more detail on the November 17 broadcast of Inside Edition.[3]
- May 15 – People Magazine reported Canadian singer Shania Twain and her husband, music producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, had separated after 14 years of marriage. The couple were married on December 28, 1993, after Twain met Lange at Nashville's Fan Fair earlier in the year.[4]
- May 23 – Anne Murray performs her final concert in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and retires from show business.
- June 14 – Sara Evans and radio show host/former University of Alabama quarterback Jay Barker are married in Franklin, Tennessee, with their children as their attendants.[5][6]
- November 11 – Country music superstar Reba McEntire departs her longtime record label MCA Nashville, after 24 years and signed to The Valory Music Co., sister label to Big Machine Records. McEntire and Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta had previously worked together in the 1990s when Borchetta was senior president of promotion for MCA Nashville.[7]
- November 20 – Julianne Hough announces that she would not be returning for the foreseeable future to Dancing with the Stars in order to further her country music career.[8]
- December 7 – The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honors George Jones for his lifetime contributions to the arts.
- December 18 – Equity Music Group, a label owned by Clint Black, closes after five years in operation.[9]
Top hits of the year
The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs charts in 2008:
Top new album releases
The following albums placed within the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums charts in 2008:
| US | Album | Artist | Record Label | Release Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35 Biggest Hits | Toby Keith | Show Dog | May 6 | |
| 4 | All I Intended to Be | Emmylou Harris | Nonesuch | June 10 | |
| 8 | Anne Murray Duets: Friends and Legends | Anne Murray | Manhattan/EMI | January 15 | |
| 3 | Around the Bend | Randy Travis | Warner Bros. Nashville | July 15 | |
| 3 | Back When I Knew It All | Montgomery Gentry | Columbia Nashville | June 10 | |
| 2 | Backwoods Barbie | Dolly Parton | Dolly | February 26 | |
| 1 | Beautiful Eyes | Taylor Swift | Big Machine | July 15 | |
| 4 | Call Me Crazy | Lee Ann Womack | MCA Nashville | October 21 | |
| 3 | Christmas Duets | Elvis Presley | RCA | October 14 | |
| 3 | C'mon! | Keith Anderson | Columbia Nashville | August 5 | |
| 2 | Damn Right, Rebel Proud | Hank Williams III | Bruc | October 21 | |
| 4 | Do You Believe Me Now | Jimmy Wayne | Valory Music Group | August 26 | |
| 1 | Do You Know | Jessica Simpson | Epic/Columbia Nashville | September 9 | |
| 1 | Fearless | Taylor Swift | Big Machine | November 11 | |
| 2 | The Foundation | Zac Brown Band | Atlantic/Home Grown/Big Picture | November 18 | |
| 7 | Going All Out | Dan Evans | Edje-Executive | October 7 | |
| 1 | Good Time | Alan Jackson | Arista Nashville | March 4 | |
| 1 | Greatest Hits 3 | Tim McGraw | Curb | October 7 | |
| 2 | Greatest Hits/ Every Mile a Memory 2003–2008 |
Dierks Bentley | Capitol Nashville | May 6 | |
| 1 | Greatest Hits: Limited Edition | Tim McGraw | Curb | April 29 | |
| 2 | Greatest Hits Volume 1 | Rascal Flatts | Lyric Street | October 28 | |
| 5 | Holler Back | The Lost Trailers | BNA | August 26 | |
| 5 | Jet Black & Jealous | Eli Young Band | Universal South | September 16 | |
| 1 | Julianne Hough | Julianne Hough | Mercury Nashville | May 20 | |
| 2 | Joy to the World | Faith Hill | Warner Bros. Nashville | September 30 | |
| 1 | Kellie Pickler | Kellie Pickler | BNA | September 30 | |
| 1 | Lady Antebellum | Lady Antebellum | Capitol Nashville | April 15 | |
| 1 | Learn to Live | Darius Rucker | Capitol Nashville | September 16 | |
| 10 | The Life of a Song | Joey & Rory | Vanguard/Sugar Hill | October 28 | |
| 2 | Little Bit of Everything | Billy Currington | Mercury Nashville | October 14 | |
| 1 | Love on the Inside | Sugarland | Mercury Nashville | July 22 | |
| 1 | Lucky Old Sun | Kenny Chesney | Blue Chair/BNA | October 14 | |
| 8 | Moment of Forever | Willie Nelson | Lost Highway | January 29 | |
| 1 | My Life's Been a Country Song | Chris Cagle | Capitol Nashville | February 19 | |
| 1 | Now That's What I Call Country | Various Artists | UMG/Sony BMG/Capitol | August 26 | |
| 1 | Perfectly Clear | Jewel | Valory Music Group | June 3 | |
| 8 | Phil Stacey | Phil Stacey | Lyric Street | April 29 | |
| 1 | Play | Brad Paisley | Arista Nashville | November 4 | |
| 3 | Prayer of a Common Man | Phil Vassar | Universal South | April 22 | |
| 3 | Randy Rogers Band | Randy Rogers Band | Mercury Nashville | September 23 | |
| 2 | Sounds of the Season: The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection |
Julianne Hough | Mercury Nashville | October 12 | |
| 7 | Startin' Fires | Blake Shelton | Warner Bros. Nashville | November 18 | |
| 7 | Starting Now | Chuck Wicks | RCA Nashville | January 22 | |
| 2 | Sunset Man | James Otto | Raybaw/Warner Bros. | April 8 | |
| 7 | Tennessee Pusher | Old Crow Medicine Show | Nettwerk | September 23 | |
| 1 | That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy | Toby Keith | Show Dog | October 28 | |
| 6 | That Lonesome Song | Jamey Johnson | Mercury Nashville | August 5 | |
| 8 | That's Why | Craig Morgan | BNA | October 21 | |
| 1 | Troubadour | George Strait | MCA Nashville | April 1 | |
| 4 | We Weren't Crazy | Josh Gracin | Lyric Street | April 1 | |
| 2 | What Am I Waiting For | Heidi Newfield | Curb | August 5 | |
| 8 | Why Wait | Kristy Lee Cook | Arista Nashville | September 16 | |
| 7 | X | Trace Adkins | Capitol Nashville | November 25 |
Other top albums
| US | Album | Artist | Record Label | Release Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 50 Greatest Hits | Reba McEntire | MCA Nashville | October 28 | |
| 50 | America | Johnny Cash | Legacy | October 28 | |
| 28 | Angels & Outlaws | Aaron Watson | Thirty Tigers | April 1 | |
| 35 | Anne Murray's Christmas Album | Anne Murray | Manhattan/EMI | October 7 | |
| 21 | Anything Goes | Randy Houser | Universal South | November 18 | |
| 17 | Beer for My Horses (soundtrack) | Various Artists | Show Dog | August 12 | |
| 47 | The Best of The Johnny Cash TV Show | Johnny Cash | Sony BMG | January 8 | |
| 27 | Blake Shelton: Collector's Edition | Blake Shelton | Warner Bros. Nashville | February 26 | |
| 50 | Blood, Sweat, and Steel | The Road Hammers | Montage | June 24 | |
| 33 | Broken In | Trent Willmon | Compadre | February 26 | |
| 22 | Bulletproof | Reckless Kelly | Yep Roc | June 24 | |
| 15 | Burn Your Playhouse Down | George Jones | Bandit | August 19 | |
| 48 | Cherryholmes III: Don't Believe | The Cherryholmes | Skaggs Family | September 30 | |
| 16 | Classic Christmas | George Strait | MCA Nashville | October 7 | |
| 26 | Classic Chris LeDoux | Chris LeDoux | Capitol Nashville | April 29 | |
| 30 | Comal County Blue | Jason Boland & the Stragglers | Thirty Tigers | August 26 | |
| 30 | Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas | Mary Chapin Carpenter | Zoe | September 30 | |
| 26 | Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume One | Bill Gaither | Gaither | August 19 | |
| 32 | Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume Two | Bill Gaither | Gaither | August 19 | |
| 44 | Country Love Songs | Various Artists | Compass/BMG | November 11 | |
| 15 | Country Sings Disney | Various Artists | Walt Disney | July 8 | |
| 16 | Dawn of a New Day | Crystal Shawanda | RCA Nashville | August 19 | |
| 42 | God Bless the USA | Various Artists | Word | April 29 | |
| 35 | Good Thing Going | Rhonda Vincent | Rounder | January 8 | |
| 16 | Greatest Hits | Craig Morgan | Broken Bow | September 30 | |
| 37 | Heart of Stone | Chris Knight | Drifter's Church | September 2 | |
| 39 | Here It Is | Roger Creager | Thirty Tigers | August 26 | |
| 18 | How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry |
Various Artists | RCA Nashville | February 5 | |
| 29 | Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947 |
Ricky Skaggs | Skaggs Family | March 25 | |
| 11 | The Imus Ranch Record | Various Artists | New West | September 16 | |
| 19 | I Turn to You | Richie McDonald | Lucid | June 3 | |
| 36 | I Will Always Love You: 17 Inspirational Songs | Various Artists | Word | January 15 | |
| 29 | If We Ever Make It Home | Wade Bowen | Sustain | September 30 | |
| 32 | Jeff Bates | Jeff Bates | Black River | April 8 | |
| 43 | Keep on Walkin' | The Grascals | Rounder | July 15 | |
| 38 | Limited Edition: Greatest Hits Volumes 1, 2 & 3 | Tim McGraw | Curb | October 7 | |
| 19 | Live in Concert | Martina McBride | RCA Nashville | April 29 | |
| 35 | Love Songs | Trisha Yearwood | MCA Nashville | January 15 | |
| 27 | Meet Glen Campbell | Glen Campbell | Capitol Nashville | August 19 | |
| 40 | More Greatest Fits | Roy D. Mercer | Capitol Nashville | June 10 | |
| 43 | Naïve | Micky & the Motorcars | Smith | July 29 | |
| 46 | One Hell of a Ride | Willie Nelson | Lost Highway | April 1 | |
| 14 | One on One | Randy Owen | Broken Bow | November 4 | |
| 27 | Patriotic Country 3 | Various Artists | Razor & Tie | June 24 | |
| 48 | Playlist: The Very Best of Brooks & Dunn | Brooks & Dunn | Sony BMG | December 2 | |
| 39 | Playlist: The Very Best of John Denver | John Denver | Sony BMG | April 29 | |
| 37 | Playlist: The Very Best of Johnny Cash | Johnny Cash | Sony BMG | April 29 | |
| 50 | Playlist: The Very Best of Roy Orbison | Roy Orbison | Sony BMG | April 29 | |
| 24 | Ride Through the Country | Colt Ford | Average Joe's | December 2 | |
| 35 | Rollin' with the Flow | Mark Chesnutt | Lofton Creek | June 24 | |
| 38 | Sex and Gasoline | Rodney Crowell | Yep Roc | September 2 | |
| 13 | Sleepless Nights | Patty Loveless | Saguaro Road | September 9 | |
| 16 | Sounds So Good | Ashton Shepherd | MCA Nashville | March 4 | |
| 35 | Time Flies | John Michael Montgomery | Stringtown | October 14 | |
| 41 | 'Tis the Season: A Country Christmas – 15 Christmas Classics |
Various Artists | |||
| 42 | The Unreleased Recordings | Hank Williams | Time Life | October 28 | |
| 49 | The Unreleased Recordings | Hank Williams | Time Life | October 28 | |
| 45 | Vagrants & Kings | Cory Morrow | Sustain | May 20 | |
| 11 | Vintage Country: The Golden Age of Country Music | Various Artists | Sony BMG | March 25 | |
| 28 | Waylon Forever | Waylon Jennings | Vagrant | October 21 | |
| 32 | Wheels | Dan Tyminski | Rounder | June 17 |
Deaths
- January 6 – Ken Nelson, 96, record producer for artists including Hank Thompson, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and many others.
- April 22 – Paul Davis, 60, crossover artist whose collaborations with Marie Osmond and Tanya Tucker reached No. 1 in the 1980s. (heart attack)
- May 1 – Jim Hager, 66, country singer and actor who along with his twin brother Jon were regulars on Hee Haw from 1969 to 1986. (heart attack)
- May 5 – Jerry Wallace, 79, crossover artist who scored several country hits during the 1970s including the No. 1 "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry" in 1972. (congestive heart failure)
- May 8 – Eddy Arnold, 89, country and pop singer whose career spanned seven decades. (natural causes)
- May 11 – Dottie Rambo, 74, southern gospel singer-songwriter. (bus accident)
- July 16 – Jo Stafford, 90, crossover artist from the 1940s with hits "Feudin’ and Fightin" and "Temptation". (congestive heart failure)
- August 11 – Don Helms, 81, steel guitarist and member of Hank Williams' Drifting Cowboys. (heart attack) [10]
- August 31 – Jerry Reed, 71, country singer and actor best known for his 1971 crossover hit "When You're Hot, You're Hot" (emphysema)
- September 12 – Charlie Walker, 81, honky tonk singer best known for "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" (colon cancer)
- December 24 – Alf Robertson, 67, Swedish country musician.
Hall of Fame inductees
Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees
- Bill Clifton
- Charles Wolfe
Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
- Tom T. Hall (born 1936), singer and songwriter, known as "The Storyteller"
- Emmylou Harris (born 1947), neo-traditional singer and songwriter
- The Statler Brothers (Harold Reid (born 1939), Don Reid (born 1945), Phil Balsley (born 1939), Lew DeWitt (1938–1990), Jimmy Fortune (born 1955)), diverse country music group known for pop-styled, nostalgic and gospel songs.
- Ernest "Pop" Stoneman (1893–1968), singer, songwriter, and musician, patriarch of the family group The Stonemans
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
- Prairie Oyster
- Brian Ferriman
- Wes Montgomery
Major awards
Grammy Awards
(presented February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles)
- Best Female Country Vocal Performance – "Last Name", Carrie Underwood
- Best Male Country Vocal Performance – "Letter to Me", Brad Paisley
- Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals – "Stay", Sugarland
- Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – "Killing the Blues", Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
- Best Country Instrumental Performance – "Cluster Pluck", Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert, and Steve Wariner
- Best Country Song – "Stay", Jennifer Nettles
- Best Country Album – Troubadour, George Strait
- Best Bluegrass Album – Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder
Juno Awards
(presented March 29, 2009 in Vancouver)
- Country Recording of the Year – Beautiful Life, Doc Walker
CMT Music Awards
(presented April 14 in Nashville)
- Video of the Year – "Our Song", Taylor Swift
- Male Video of the Year – "I Got My Game On", Trace Adkins
- Female Video of the Year – "Our Song", Taylor Swift
- Group Video of the Year – "Take Me There", Rascal Flatts
- Duo Video of the Year – "Stay", Sugarland
- USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year – "I Wonder", Kellie Pickler
- Collaborative Video of the Year – "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore", Bon Jovi & LeAnn Rimes
- Performance of the Year – "I Wonder", Kellie Pickler
- Supporting Character of the Year – Rodney Carrington in "I Got My Game On"
- Wide Open Country Video of the Year – "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)", Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
- Tearjerker Video of the Year – "I Wonder", Kellie Pickler
- Comedy Video of the Year – "Online", Brad Paisley
- Video Director of the Year – Michael Salomon
Academy of Country Music
(presented April 5, 2009 in Las Vegas)
- Entertainer of the Year – Carrie Underwood
- Top Male Vocalist – Brad Paisley
- Top Female Vocalist – Carrie Underwood
- Top Vocal Group – Rascal Flatts
- Top Vocal Duo – Sugarland
- Top New Male Vocalist – Jake Owen
- Top New Female Vocalist – Julianne Hough
- Top New Vocal Duo or Group – Zac Brown Band
- Top New Artist – Julianne Hough
- Album of the Year – Fearless, Taylor Swift
- Single Record of the Year – "You're Gonna Miss This", Trace Adkins
- Song of the Year – "In Color", Jamey Johnson
- Video of the Year – "Waitin' on a Woman", Brad Paisley
- Vocal Event of the Year – "Start a Band", Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
- Poets Award – Merle Haggard and Harlan Howard
- Jim Reeves International Award – Dolly Parton
- Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – Hank Williams, Jr., Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis and Jerry Reed
- Tex Ritter Award – Beer for My Horses
Americana Music Honors & Awards
- Album of the Year – Raising Sand (Robert Plant and Alison Krauss)
- Artist of the Year – Levon Helm
- Duo/Group of the Year – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
- Song of the Year – "She Left Me For Jesus" (Brian Keane and Hayes Carll
- Emerging Artist of the Year – Mike Farris
- Instrumentalist of the Year – Buddy Miller
- Spirit of Americana/Free Speech Award – Joan Baez
- Lifetime Achievement: Trailblazer – Nanci Griffith
- Lifetime Achievement: Songwriting – John Haitt
- Lifetime Achievement: Performance – Jason & the Scorchers
- Lifetime Achievement: Instrumentalist – Larry Campbell
- Lifetime Achievement: Executive – Terry Licknola
- Lifetime Achievement: Producer/Engineer – Tony Brown
ARIA Awards
(presented in Sydney on October 19, 2008)
Canadian Country Music Association
(presented September 8 in Winnipeg)
- Fans' Choice Award – Doc Walker
- Male Artist of the Year – Johnny Reid
- Female Artist of the Year – Jessie Farrell
- Group or Duo of the Year – Doc Walker
- Songwriter(s) of the Year – "Beautiful Life", written by Murray Pulver, Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw
- Single of the Year – "Beautiful Life", performed by Doc Walker
- Album of the Year – Beautiful Life, Doc Walker
- Top Selling Album – The Ultimate Hits, Garth Brooks
- Top Selling Canadian Album – Kicking Stones, Johnny Reid
- CMT Video of the Year – "Beautiful Life", Doc Walker
- Rising Star Award – Jessie Farrell
- Roots Artist or Group of the Year – Corb Lund
Country Music Association
(presented November 12 in Nashville)
- Entertainer of the Year – Kenny Chesney
- Female Vocalist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
- Male Vocalist of the Year – Brad Paisley
- New Artist of the Year – Lady Antebellum
- Vocal Group of the Year – Rascal Flatts
- Vocal Duo of the Year – Sugarland
- Single of the Year – "I Saw God Today", George Strait
- Album of the Year – Troubadour, George Strait
- Song of the Year – "Stay", Sugarland
- Musical Event of the Year – "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)", Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
- Music Video of the Year – "Waitin' on a Woman", Brad Paisley and Andy Griffith
- Musician of the Year – Mac McAnally
See also
- Country Music Association
- Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame
Bibliography
- Whitburn, Joel, Top Country Songs 1944–2005, 6th Edition. 2005, ISBN 9780898201659
References
- Thompson, Teri; Nanthaniel Vinton; Christian Red (2008-04-28). "Sources: Roger Clemens had 10-year fling with country star Mindy McCready". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- "Report: Mindy McCready Confirms Affair With Roger Clemens". Foxnews.com. 2008-04-29. Archived from the original on 2013-04-02. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
- "Report: Mindy McCready talks about Clemens Affair". [si.com]. 2008-11-17. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
- "Shania Twain & Husband Split". People Magazine. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
- Finan, Eileen. "Sara Evans Marries Her Football Hero – Weddings, Sara Evans". People.com. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
- Finan, Eileen (2008-06-17). "FIRST LOOK: Sara Evans Wedding Photo – Weddings, Music News, Sara Evans". People.com. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
- "Reba McEntire Signs New Record Deal With the Valory Music Co". CMT.com. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
- Dancing with the Stars: Julianne Will Sit Out Next Season Archived June 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine" TV Guide. November 20, 2008. Retrieved on November 21, 2008.
- "Equity Music Group Suspends Operations". CMT.com. 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
- Archived August 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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