2008 in country music

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2008.

2008 in music
By location
By genre
By topic
  • List of albums released
List of years in country music (table)

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 or Canada Country charts in 2008:

See also: List of number-one country hits of 2008 (U.S.) and List of number-one country singles of 2008 (Canada)
US CAN Single Artist Reference
1 1 All-American Girl Carrie Underwood
14 41 All I Ever Wanted Chuck Wicks
1 3 All I Want to Do Sugarland
4 4 All Summer Long Kid Rock
15 45 Another Try Josh Turner featuring
Trisha Yearwood
16 41 Anything Goes Randy Houser
1 8 Back When I Knew It All Montgomery Gentry
1 2 Better as a Memory Kenny Chesney
15 26 Bob That Head Rascal Flatts
1 10 Chicken Fried Zac Brown Band
1 5 Cleaning This Gun (Come On in Boy) Rodney Atkins
18 16 Come On Over Jessica Simpson
10 28 Country Man Luke Bryan
1 3 Do You Believe Me Now Jimmy Wayne
1 3 Don't Think I Don't Think About It Darius Rucker
5 2 Everybody Keith Urban
1 1 Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven Kenny Chesney
featuring The Wailers
2 5 Every Day Rascal Flatts
15 16 Every Other Weekend Reba McEntire featuring Kenny Chesney
11 8 Get My Drink On Toby Keith
11 11 God Must Be Busy Brooks & Dunn
1 1 Good Time Alan Jackson
7 19 Gunpowder & Lead Miranda Lambert
9 36 Holler Back The Lost Trailers
1 36 Home Blake Shelton
1 1 I Saw God Today George Strait
2 9 I Still Miss You Keith Anderson
10 31 I'll Walk Bucky Covington
1 1 I'm Still a Guy Brad Paisley
10 28 International Harvester Craig Morgan
16 45 It Ain't No Crime Joe Nichols
11 32 It's Good to Be Us Bucky Covington
11 39 Johnny & June Heidi Newfield
1 2 Just a Dream Carrie Underwood
1 2 Just Got Started Lovin' You James Otto
16 19 Kristofferson Tim McGraw
1 3 Last Name Carrie Underwood
6 6 Laughed Until We Cried Jason Aldean
13 23 Learning How to Bend Gary Allan
2 4 Let It Go Tim McGraw
1 1 Letter to Me Brad Paisley
11 18 Lookin' for a Good Time Lady Antebellum
3 5 Love Don't Live Here Lady Antebellum
2 17 Love Is a Beautiful Thing Phil Vassar
9 32 Love Remembers Craig Morgan
1 1 Love Story Taylor Swift
3 1 Picture to Burn Taylor Swift
3 1 Put a Girl in It Brooks & Dunn
4 7 Ready, Set, Don't Go Billy Ray Cyrus
with Miley Cyrus
15 47 Relentless Jason Aldean
1 5 Roll with Me Montgomery Gentry
1 4 She Never Cried in Front of Me Toby Keith
13 17 She's a Hottie Toby Keith
2 2 Shiftwork Kenny Chesney
duet with George Strait
1 5 Should've Said No Taylor Swift
1 3 Small Town Southern Man Alan Jackson
15 48 Something About a Woman Jake Owen
2 5 Stay Sugarland
5 11 Stealing Cinderella Chuck Wicks
13 30 Stronger Woman Jewel
12 12 Suspicions Tim McGraw
20 — Takin' Off This Pain Ashton Shepherd
18 — That Song in My Head Julianne Hough
16 33 Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind Kellie Pickler
7 3 Troubadour George Strait
5 13 Trying to Stop Your Leaving Dierks Bentley
1 1 Waitin' on a Woman Brad Paisley
2 11 Watching Airplanes Gary Allan
10 38 We Weren't Crazy Josh Gracin
3 8 What Do Ya Think About That Montgomery Gentry
3 4 What Kinda Gone Chris Cagle
2 2 Winner at a Losing Game Rascal Flatts
19 19 Workin' for a Livin' Garth Brooks
& Huey Lewis
1 1 You Look Good in My Shirt Keith Urban
1 1 You're Gonna Miss This Trace Adkins

Top new album releases[]

The following albums placed within the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums charts in 2008:

See also: List of number-one country albums of 2008 (U.S.)
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[10] Goin' 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) [11]
  • 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[]

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 (1939–2020), 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[]

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 –
  • 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[]

Bibliography[]

  • Whitburn, Joel, Top Country Songs 1944–2005, 6th Edition. 2005, ISBN 9780898201659

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b 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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Report: Mindy McCready talks about Clemens Affair". [si.com]. 2008-11-17. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  4. ^ "Shania Twain & Husband Split". People Magazine. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  5. ^ Finan, Eileen. "Sara Evans Marries Her Football Hero – Weddings, Sara Evans". People.com. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  6. ^ Finan, Eileen (2008-06-17). "FIRST LOOK: Sara Evans Wedding Photo – Weddings, Music News, Sara Evans". People.com. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  7. ^ "Reba McEntire Signs New Record Deal With the Valory Music Co". CMT.com. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Equity Music Group Suspends Operations". CMT.com. 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  10. ^ "Top Country Albums". October 24, 2008.
  11. ^ [1] Archived August 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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