This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1990.

Events

* January 20 — Billboard magazine begins basing the Hot Country Singles chart entirely on radio airplay through Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (BDS), which uses a computerized system to detect actual radio

spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning * Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis * Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...

s. The number of chart positions is reduced from 100 to 75. The new system has an immediate effect on how long the year's biggest songs stay at No. 1: ** February 3 — " Nobody’s Home" by Clint Black becomes the first three-week No. 1 since

Randy Travis Randy Bruce Traywick (born May 4, 1959), known professionally as Randy Travis, is an American country music and gospel music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. Active from 1978 until being incapacitated by a stroke in 2013, he has recor ...

' "

Forever and Ever, Amen "Forever and Ever, Amen" is a song written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz, and recorded by American country music artist Randy Travis. It was released in March 1987 as the first single from the album '' Always & Forever'' and became Travis's t ...

" in 1987. ** April 7 — Travis' " Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" breaks the four-week barrier, the first since 1978's " Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. ** July 7 — " Love Without End, Amen" by

George Strait George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. Strait is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. In the 1980s, he was credited for ...

is ''Billboards first five-week No. 1 song, matching 1977's "

Here You Come Again ''Here You Come Again'' is the nineteenth solo studio album by Dolly Parton. It was released on October 3, 1977, by RCA Victor. It was Parton's first album to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipping a mil ...

" by Dolly Parton. Incidentally, "Love Without End, Amen" is Strait's first multi-week chart-topper, after his first 18 No. 1s had spent just one week on top. : Just 23 songs would reach the chart's summit in 1990, 13 of them multi-weekers; this was fewer than half the number that reached the top of the chart a year earlier, and the fewest since 1972.

No dates

*The Smithsonian Institution releases '' Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection'', a 100-track, four-volume set including the most important and notable songs in the genre's history, from 1924 to 1987. The set, which includes an 84-page booklet by historian Bill Malone, replaces the Smithsonian's eight-volume, 143-track set – titled '' The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Country Music'' – issued in 1981. : The release of ''Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection'' continues a trend towards chronicling the genre's history via compact disc during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Time-Life Music's '' Country USA'' series continued to issue new albums, while

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

issues its five-volume '' Country Classics'' series during the summer. Rhino Records also releases ten volumes of ''Billboard Top Country Singles'', each depicting the top 10 songs from the years 1959 through 1968.

Top hits of the year

Singles released by American artists

Singles released by Canadian artists

Top new album releases

Other top albums

On television

Regular series

* '' Hee Haw'' (1969–1993, syndicated)

Births

* January 8 –

Frank Ray Francisco Gomez (born January 8, 1987), known professionally as Frank Ray, is an American country music singer. Signed to BBR Music Group, he has released the single "Country'd Look Good on You". Biography Francisco Gomez is a native of Deming, ...

, singer known for his 2022 hit "Country'd Look Good on You". * March 2 —

Luke Combs Luke Albert Combs (; born March 2, 1990) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Born and raised in North Carolina, Combs began performing as a child, most notably performing at Carnegie Hall. After dropping out of college to pursue a ...

, singer-songwriter of the 2010s. * March 30 — Thomas Rhett, singer-songwriter, son of singer-songwriter Rhett Akins. * April 10 —

Maren Morris Maren Larae Morris (born April 10, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter. While rooted in the Country music, country genre, her music also blends elements of Pop music, pop, R&B music, R&B, and Hip-Hop music, hip-hop. Born and raised in Arlingt ...

, musician and singer-songwriter known for her 2016 hit "

My Church "My Church" is the first single by American country music singer Maren Morris. It was released in January 2016 as the lead single from her first studio album, ''Hero'' (2016). Morris co-wrote and co-produced the song with busbee. The song won th ...

". * April 24 —

Carly Pearce Carly Pearce (born Carly Cristyne Slusser; April 24, 1990) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her material contains elements of both traditional and contemporary country-pop music. Pearce began performing professionally in her ...

, singer-songwriter of the 2010s. * May 17 — Kree Harrison, singer and musician, who was the runner-up on the twelfth season of '' American Idol''. * May 27 — Brett Kissel, Canadian country singer of the 2010s. * July 23 — Neil Perry, member of The Band Perry. * July 27 — Cheyenne Kimball, member of Gloriana from 2008–2011. *October 22 —

Dylan Scott Dylan Scott Robinson (born October 22, 1990) is an American country pop singer and songwriter, better known by his stage name Dylan Scott. He is signed to Curb Records. Career Scott's debut single, "Makin' This Boy Go Crazy", was released in J ...

, singer known for his hits " My Girl" and " Hooked".

Deaths

* April 26 – Wesley Rose, 72, president of Acuff-Rose Music publishing. * August 15 — Lew DeWitt, 52, tenor and founding member of the

Statler Brothers The Statler Brothers (sometimes simply referred to as The Statlers) were an American country music, gospel, and vocal group. The quartet was formed in 1955 performing locally, and from 1964 to 1972, they sang as opening act and backup singers fo ...

(complications from

Crohn's disease Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), fever, abdominal distension ...

) * October 31 —

Carl Belew Carl Robert Belew (April 21, 1931 – October 31, 1990) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Belew recorded for Decca, RCA Victor, and MCA in the 1950s through 1970s, charting 11 times on Hot Country Songs. He also wrote singles f ...

, 59, best known for writing the song " Am I That Easy to Forget" (cancer)

Hall of Fame inductees

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

* Tennessee Ernie Ford (1919–1991)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

* Gordie Tapp * Ron Sparling

Major awards

Grammy Awards

*Best Female Country Vocal Performance — " Where've You Been", Kathy Mattea *Best Male Country Vocal Performance — " When I Call Your Name", Vince Gill *Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — ''

Pickin' on Nashville ''Pickin' on Nashville'' is the debut studio album by American country rock/southern rock band The Kentucky Headhunters. It features the singles "Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine", "Oh Lonesome Me", "Dumas Walker", and "Rock 'n' Roll Angel", all ...

'', The Kentucky Headhunters *Best Country Collaboration with Vocals — " Poor Boy Blues", Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler *Best Country Instrumental Performance — "So Soft, Your Goodbye", Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler *Best Country Song — " Where've You Been",

Don Henry Don Henry or Donald Henry can refer to: * Don Henry (environmentalist), Australian environmentalist * Don Henry (musician), American musician * Don Henry, American murder victim in the death of Don Henry and Kevin Ives Around 4:00am on August 2 ...

and Jon Vezner *Best Bluegrass Recording — "

I've Got That Old Feeling ''I've Got That Old Feeling'' is an album by American bluegrass- country singer and musician Alison Krauss, released in 1990. It reached number 61 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. At the 33rd Grammy Awards, the album's title track, "I've ...

", Alison Krauss

Juno Awards

*Country Male Vocalist of the Year —

George Fox George Fox (July 1624 – 13 January 1691) was an English Dissenter, who was a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends. The son of a Leicestershire weaver, he lived in times of social upheaval and ...

*Country Female Vocalist of the Year —

Rita MacNeil Rita MacNeil (May 28, 1944 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian singer from the community of Big Pond on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Her biggest hit, "Flying On Your Own", was a crossover Top 40 hit in 1987 and was covered by Anne Murray t ...

*Country Group or Duo of the Year — Prairie Oyster

Academy of Country Music

*Entertainer of the Year —

Garth Brooks Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962) is an American country music singer and songwriter. His integration of pop and rock elements into the country genre has earned him popularity, particularly in the United States with success on the co ...

*Song of the Year — " The Dance", Tony Arata (Performer: Garth Brooks) *Single of the Year — " Friends in Low Places", Garth Brooks *Album of the Year — '' No Fences'', Garth Brooks *Top Male Vocalist — Garth Brooks *Top Female Vocalist —

Reba McEntire Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955), or simply Reba, is an American country music singer and actress. Dubbed " the Queen of Country", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Since the 1970s, McEntire has placed over 100 single ...

*Top Vocal Duo — The Judds *Top Vocal Group — Shenandoah *Top New Male Vocalist — Alan Jackson *Top New Female Vocalist — Shelby Lynne *Top New Vocal Duo or Group — Pirates of the Mississippi *Video of the Year — "The Dance", Garth Brooks (Director:

John Lloyd Miller John Lloyd Miller is an American filmmaker who has directed, produced and/or written music videos, short films, features, documentaries, commercials and television programming. Career Miller has worked in virtually every aspect of the film an ...

)

ARIA Awards

''(presented in Sydney on March 26, 1990)'' * Best Country Album - '' Warragul'' ( John Williamson)

Canadian Country Music Association

*Bud Country Fans' Choice Award — k.d. lang *Male Artist of the Year —

*Female Artist of the Year — Michelle Wright *Group of the Year — Prairie Oyster *SOCAN Song of the Year — "Pioneers", Barry Brown *Single of the Year — "

Goodbye, So Long, Hello "Goodbye, So Long, Hello" is a song initially recorded by Willie P. Bennett on his 1989 album '' The Lucky Ones''. It was written by Bennett and Prairie Oyster band member Russell deCarle. The song became better known once recorded by Canadian ...

", Prairie Oyster *Album of the Year — '' Absolute Torch and Twang'', k.d. lang *Top Selling Album — ''Rita'',

*Video of the Year — "Pioneers", Family Brown *Vista Rising Star Award — Patricia Conroy *Duo of the Year — Gary Fjellgaard and Linda Kidder

Country Music Association

*Entertainer of the Year —

*Song of the Year — " Where've You Been",

and Jon Vezner (Performer: Kathy Mattea) *Single of the Year — " When I Call Your Name", Vince Gill *Album of the Year — ''

'', The Kentucky Headhunters *Male Vocalist of the Year — Clint Black *Female Vocalist of the Year — Kathy Mattea *Vocal Duo of the Year — The Judds *Vocal Group of the Year — The Kentucky Headhunters *Horizon Award —

*Music Video of the Year — " The Dance", Garth Brooks (Director:

) *Vocal Event of the Year — "

'Til a Tear Becomes a Rose "Til a Tear Becomes a Rose" is a song originally recorded by American country music artist Leon Everette. It was released in 1985 from his album ''Where's the Fire''. His version of the song peaked at number 44 on Hot Country Songs. The song was ...

", Lorrie Morgan and

Keith Whitley Jackie Keith Whitley (July 1, 1954 – May 9, 1989) was an American country music singer and songwriter. During his career, Whitley released only two albums but charted 12 singles on the ''Billboard'' country charts, and 7 more after his death. ...

*Musician of the Year — Johnny Gimble

External links

Country Music Hall of Fame
{{List of years in country music Country Country music by year