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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1997.
Overview of the events of 1997 in country music
Events [ ]
July 12 — The song, "It's Your Love ," by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill becomes the first song in 20 years to spend six weeks atop Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The last song to do so was 1977's "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) " by Waylon Jennings . In that span, more than 750 songs had reached No. 1 on the country chart, a majority of them for just one week. The song sparked a renewed wave of songs that spend at least five weeks at No. 1, thanks in part to newer chart tracking methods and programming changes at country radio stations.
August 7 - Garth Brooks plays a free concert at New York's Central Park , drawing over 1 million fans, with many dubbing it "Garthstock"; the special is broadcast on HBO, with its audience drawing 14.6 million. Billy Joel and Don McLean make special guest appearances.
November 4 - Shania Twain releases her third studio album, Come On Over . The album becomes the best-selling country album of all time, best-selling studio album by a female act, best-selling album by a Canadian and ninth best-selling album in the United States and worldwide.
No dates [ ]
Jimmie Rodgers is elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as an early influence).
Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes both record the song "How Do I Live " for the movie Con Air . Producers from the film ask Rimes to record it first but feel her version is not what they have in mind due to the performance itself and her young age. Yearwood then records the song and releases at the same time Rimes releases her song. Although Rimes' version peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, her version is shunned from the country charts yet reaches No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 . Yearwood's version, meanwhile, peaks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and also makes the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, as well as reaching No. 1 in Canada and No. 1 on the US Radio & Records chart.
Top hits of the year [ ]
Singles released by American artists [ ]
Singles released by Canadian artists [ ]
Top new album releases [ ]
US
CAN
Album
Artist
Record Label
45
8
An Intimate Evening with Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Capitol
24
Back to You
Anita Cochran
Warner Bros.
23
31
Be Good at It
Neal McCoy
Atlantic
23
11
The Best of Billy Ray Cyrus: Cover to Cover
Billy Ray Cyrus
Mercury Nashville
4
3
The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits
Collin Raye
Epic
8
The Best of John Denver Live
John Denver
Legacy
7
26
Big Time
Trace Adkins
Capitol Nashville
24
Blink of an Eye
Ricochet
Columbia
1
Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace)
Bob Carlisle
DMG
1
1
Carrying Your Love with Me
George Strait
MCA Nashville
16
A Celebration of Life/The Last Recordings
John Denver
River North
4
CMT Canada '97
Various Artists
BMG
4
6
The Coast Is Clear
Tracy Lawrence
Atlantic
9
8
Collection
Wynonna
Curb/MCA Nashville
1
1
Come On Over
Shania Twain
Mercury/PolyGram
15
11
Complicated
Tanya Tucker
Capitol Nashville
12
A Country Superstar Christmas
Various Artists
Hip-O
16
28
Crazy Nights
Lonestar
BNA
5
2
Dancin' on the Boulevard
Alabama
RCA Nashville
8
Dream Walkin'
Toby Keith
Mercury Nashville
11
Everything's Alright
Charlie Major
ViK.
1
1
Everywhere
Tim McGraw
Curb
4
7
Evolution
Martina McBride
RCA Nashville
19
The Gift
Jim Brickman
Windham Hill
10
Greatest Country Love Songs
Various Artists
MCA
8
Greatest Hits
Diamond Rio
Arista Nashville
5
Greatest Hits
Neal McCoy
Atlantic
5
11
Greatest Hits
John Michael Montgomery
Atlantic
6
Greatest Hits
Pam Tillis
Arista Nashville
17
Greatest Hits… and Then Some
Aaron Tippin
RCA Nashville
2
1
The Greatest Hits Collection
Brooks & Dunn
Arista Nashville
5
Here's Your Sign
Bill Engvall
Warner Bros.
24
A Holiday Album to Benefit St. Jude
Various Artists
BNA
10
I Will Stand
Kenny Chesney
BNA
12
12
If I Don't Stay the Night
Mindy McCready
BNA
22
32
Just Between You and Me
The Kinleys
Epic
11
Kickin' Country 4
Various Artists
Sony
5
9
Labor of Love
Sammy Kershaw
Mercury/PolyGram
1
Leahy
Leahy
Virgin
9
Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack
Decca Nashville
25
23
Let Me In
Chely Wright
MCA Nashville
8
10
Lila
Lila McCann
Asylum
9
31
Long Stretch of Lonesome
Patty Loveless
Epic
8
Love & Gravity
BlackHawk
Arista Nashville
15
Love Travels
Kathy Mattea
Mercury/PolyGram
17
13
Michael Peterson
Michael Peterson
Reprise
1
New Country 4
Various Artists
Warner
4
5
Nothin' but the Taillights
Clint Black
RCA Nashville
15
One of the Fortunate Few
Delbert McClinton
Rising Tide
5
17
The Other Side
Wynonna
Curb/Universal
50
1
Outside the Frame
Paul Brandt
Reprise
17
Playin' for Keeps
Jason McCoy
Universal
7
15
The Right Place
Bryan White
Asylum
25
Roots and Wings
James Bonamy
Epic
4
7
Rumor Has It
Clay Walker
Giant
1
1
Sevens
Garth Brooks
Capitol Nashville
9
Shakin' Things Up
Lorrie Morgan
BNA
8
Six Days on the Road
Sawyer Brown
Curb
4
So Long So Wrong
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Rounder
1
1
(Songbook) A Collection of Hits
Trisha Yearwood
MCA Nashville
22
16
Stone Country: Songs of the Rolling Stones
Various Artists
Tommy Boy
48
22
Sunday Morning to Saturday Night
Matraca Berg
Rising Tide
19
Takin' the Country Back
John Anderson
Mercury Nashville
25
Thank God for Believers
Mark Chesnutt
Decca Nashville
1
Tremolo
Blue Rodeo
Warner
1
1
Unchained Melody: The Early Years
LeAnn Rimes
Curb
8
8
Under the Covers
Dwight Yoakam
Reprise
9
What My Heart Already Knows
Julian Austin
ViK.
1
1
You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs
LeAnn Rimes
Curb
Other top albums [ ]
US
CAN
Album
Artist
Record Label
26
Across My Heart
Kenny Rogers
Magnatone
40
Amazing Grace 2 – A Country Salute to Gospel
Various Artists
Sparrow
75
Annabelle's Wish Soundtrack
Various Artists
Rising Tide
45
The Best of Country
Various Artists
Madacy
29
The Best of Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Virgin
33
Big House
Big House
MCA Nashville
56
Billy Yates
Billy Yates
Almo Sounds
53
Bitter Sweet
Kim Richey
Mercury/PolyGram
45
Bluegrass Rules!
Ricky Skaggs
Rounder
75
Born Country
Alabama
BMG
69
The Buffalo Club
The Buffalo Club
Rising Tide
74
Burnin' Daylight
Burnin' Daylight
Curb
39
Butterfly Kisses
Jeff Carson
Curb
32
Come On Christmas
Dwight Yoakam
Reprise
75
Country Lovin' Songs from the Heart
Various Artists
Rhino
33
The Country Roads Collection
John Denver
RCA
44
Cowboy Up – The Official PRCA Rodeo Album
Various Artists
Edel America
75
Elvis Greatest Jukebox Hits
Elvis Presley
RCA
53
Every Night's a Saturday Night
Lee Roy Parnell
Arista Nashville
47
Gospel Super Hits Amazing Grace
Various Artists
Epic
74
The Girl Next Door
Crystal Bernard
River North
42
Hallelujah, He Is Born
Sawyer Brown
Curb
60
Hill Country Christmas
Willie Nelson & Bobbie Nelson
Finer Arts
75
Hits
Johnny Cash
Legacy
60
Hopechest
Stephanie Bentley
Epic
51
Hot Country '97
Various Artists
K-Tel
39
How Big a Boy Are Ya?
Roy D. Mercer
Capitol Nashville
43
How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 2
Roy D. Mercer
Capitol Nashville
31
How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 3
Roy D. Mercer
Capitol Nashville
53
I'd Be with You
Kippi Brannon
Curb
50
It's on the House
Emilio Navaira
Capitol Nashville
47
Little Texas
Little Texas
Warner Bros.
26
Live
Chris LeDoux
Capitol Nashville
32
Live at the Cimarron Ballroom
Patsy Cline
MCA Nashville
75
Merry Texas Christmas Y'all
Asleep at the Wheel
High Street
31
Peace in the Valley
Various Artists
Arista Nashville
69
Ray Stevens Christmas: Through a Different Window
Ray Stevens
MCA Nashville
31
The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers – A Tribute
Various Artists
Columbia
47
Tammy Graham
Tammy Graham
Career
44
36
The Truth
Brady Seals
Reprise
56
Three Chords and the Truth
Sara Evans
RCA Nashville
33
Twice Upon a Time
Joe Diffie
Epic
39
We Can't All Be Angels
David Lee Murphy
MCA Nashville
38
Whatever Comes First
Sons of the Desert
Epic
41
Words
Sherrié Austin
Arista Nashville
Deaths [ ]
January 8 – Smiley Bates , 59, Canadian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (Cancer).
January 21 — Colonel Tom Parker , 87, manager of prolific country singers Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow , comedian Minnie Pearl
June 19 — Bobby Helms , 62, singer who enjoyed his peak popularity in 1957; best known for "Jingle Bell Rock ."
August 16 – Donn Reynolds , 76, singer-songwriter and country yodeler; established 2 yodeling world records.
October 12 — John Denver , 53, country crossover artist of the 1970s; also a singer and songwriter (plane crash).
December 21 — Amie Comeaux , 21, a newcomer artist of the mid '90s (car accident).
December 31 — Floyd Cramer , 64, prolific session pianist.
Hall of Fame inductees [ ]
Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees [ ]
Country Music Hall of Fame inductees [ ]
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees [ ]
Major awards [ ]
Grammy Awards [ ]
Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "How Do I Live ", Trisha Yearwood
Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "Pretty Little Adriana ", Vince Gill
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Looking In the Eyes of Love", Alison Krauss & Union Station
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals — "In Another's Eyes ", Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Little Liza Jane ", Alison Krauss & Union Station
Best Country Song — "Butterfly Kisses ", Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas
Best Country Album — Unchained , Johnny Cash
Best Bluegrass Album — So Long So Wrong , Alison Krauss & Union Station
Juno Awards [ ]
Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Paul Brandt
Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Shania Twain
Country Group or Duo of the Year — Farmer's Daughter
Academy of Country Music [ ]
Entertainer of the Year — Garth Brooks
Song of the Year — "It's Your Love ," Stephony Smith
Single of the Year — "It's Your Love," Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
Album of the Year — Carrying Your Love with Me , George Strait
Top Male Vocalist — George Strait
Top Female Vocalist — Trisha Yearwood
Top Vocal Duo or Group — Brooks & Dunn
Top New Male Vocalist — Kenny Chesney
Top New Female Vocalist — Lee Ann Womack
Top New Vocal Duo or Group — The Kinleys
Video of the Year — "It's Your Love", Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (Director: Sherman Halsey )
Vocal Event of the Year — "It's Your Love", Tim McGraw with Faith Hill
ARIA Awards [ ]
(presented in Sydney on September 22, 1997)
Canadian Country Music Association [ ]
CMT Maple Leaf Foods Fans' Choice Award — Terri Clark
Male Artist of the Year — Paul Brandt
Female Artist of the Year — Terri Clark
Group or Duo of the Year — Farmer's Daughter
SOCAN Song of the Year — "I Do ", Paul Brandt
Single of the Year — "", Paul Brandt
Album of the Year — Just the Same , Terri Clark
Top Selling Album — The Woman in Me , Shania Twain
Video of the Year — "I Do", Paul Brandt
Wrangler Rising Star Award — Julian Austin
Vocal Collaboration of the Year — "Two Names on an Overpass", Duane Steele and Lisa Brokop
Country Music Association [ ]
Entertainer of the Year — Garth Brooks
Song of the Year — "Strawberry Wine ", Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison
Single of the Year — "Strawberry Wine", Deana Carter
Album of the Year — Carrying Your Love with Me , George Strait
Male Vocalist of the Year — George Strait
Female Vocalist of the Year — Trisha Yearwood
Vocal Duo of the Year — Brooks & Dunn
Vocal Group of the Year — Diamond Rio
Horizon Award — LeAnn Rimes
Music Video of the Year — "455 Rocket ", Kathy Mattea (Director: Steven Goldmann )
Vocal Event of the Year — "It's Your Love ", Tim McGraw (featuring Faith Hill )
Musician of the Year — Brent Mason
RPM Big Country Awards [ ]
Canadian Country Artist of the Year — Paul Brandt
Best Country Album — Calm Before the Storm , Paul Brandt
Best Country Single — "My Heart Has a History ", Paul Brandt
Male Artist of the Year — Paul Brandt
Female Artist of the Year — Terri Clark
Group of the Year — Farmer's Daughter
Outstanding New Artist — Chris Cummings
Canadian Country Video — "My Heart Has a History", Paul Brandt
Top Country Composer(s) — Shania Twain
Further reading [ ]
Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005.
Other links [ ]
External links [ ]