This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1991.

Events

* March 16 — The country music world is stunned when seven members of

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 ...

's band and her road manager are killed in a plane crash in California. McEntire – who traveled separately – recorded her album, ''

For My Broken Heart ''For My Broken Heart'' is the seventeenth studio album by American country music singer Reba McEntire, released on October 1, 1991. It was the first studio album recorded after an airplane crash which killed most of the members of her touring b ...

'' in their memory. * August 16 —

Holly Dunn Holly Suzette Dunn (August 22, 1957 – November 14, 2016) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Dunn recorded for MTM Records between 1985 and 1988, Warner Bros. Records between 1988 and 1993, and River North Records between 1995 ...

asks that radio stations withdraw her single "

Maybe I Mean Yes "Maybe I Mean Yes" is a song by American country music singer Holly Dunn. It was a new song from her 1991 compilation '' Milestones: Greatest Hits'', from which it was released as a single in 1991. Dunn wrote and produced the song with her brother ...

" due to listener complaints that its lyrics condone date rape. * August 30 — Country music pioneer,

Dottie West Dorothy Marie Marsh West (October 11, 1932 – September 4, 1991) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and fellow recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most in ...

is seriously injured while en route to a

Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a divis ...

performance in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

. Her fans and contemporaries are deeply saddened when she dies of her injuries

September 4 Events Pre-1600 * 476 – Romulus Augustulus is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself "King of Italy", thus ending the Western Roman Empire. * 626 – Li Shimin, posthumously known as Emperor Taizong of Tang, assumes the throne ove ...

at a Nashville hospital. President

George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...

sends his condolences to the country music world during the

CMA Awards The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the country music industry. The televised annual presentation ceremony f ...

later that year. * September 28 — ''

Ropin' the Wind ''Ropin' the Wind'' is the third studio album by the American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released on September 2, 1991, and was his first studio album to debut at No. 1 the ''Billboard'' 200 chart and the Top Country Albums chart. ...

'' by

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 ...

becomes the first album to debut at No. 1 on ''

Billboard magazine ''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the music ...

s Top Country Albums ''and'' Billboard 200 Albums charts. The album, Brooks' third, vaults the 29-year-old singer into superstardom and goes on to sell 16 million copies worldwide. The album became the second best selling album of all genres in 1991, coming in second to

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...

's debut album. * November 24 — ''

Hot Country Nights ''Hot Country Nights'' is an American television variety show featuring country music and stand-up comedy. It aired on NBC from November 1991 to March 1992. History and content Dick Clark and Gene Weed came up with the show's concept after notici ...

'' begins a one-season run on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

. The series was created to cash in on the exploding popularity of country music, and showcased several acts on each episode; featured on the premiere were

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

Clint Black Clint Patrick Black (born February 4, 1962) is an American country music singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Signed to RCA Nashville in 1989, Black's debut album '' Killin' Time'' produced four straight number one singles on the ...

K.T. Oslin Kay Toinette Oslin (May 15, 1942 – December 21, 2020) was an American country music singer-songwriter. She had several years of major commercial success in the late 1980s after signing a record deal at age 45. Oslin had four number one hits and ...

Kenny Rogers Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted mo ...

and

Pam Tillis Pamela Yvonne Tillis (born July 24, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis and ex-wife of songwriter Bob DiPiero. Tillis recorded unsuccessful p ...

. The series did not catch on in the ratings and is canceled at the end of the season.

No dates

Naomi Judd Naomi Judd (born Diana Ellen Judd; January 11, 1946 – April 30, 2022) was an American singer and actress. In 1980, she and her daughter Wynonna (born Christina Claire) formed the duo known as The Judds, which became a very successful country ...

announces she had been diagnosed with

Hepatitis C Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. During the initial infection people often have mild or no symptoms. Occasionally a fever, dark urine, a ...

, a potentially fatal chronic liver disease, and would be retiring from touring with daughter

Wynonna Wynonna Ellen Judd or simply Wynonna ( ; born Christina Claire Ciminella; May 30, 1964) is an American country music singer. She is one of the most widely recognized and awarded female country singers. In all, she has had 19 No. 1 singles, incl ...

at the end of the year. The resulting "Farewell" tour becomes the year's top-grossing act in country music and ends with a New Year's Eve

pay-per-view Pay-per-view (PPV) is a type of pay television or webcast service that enables a viewer to pay to watch individual events via private telecast. Events can be purchased through a multichannel television platform using their electronic program guid ...

concert. * "SoundScan" is introduced, providing more accurate ''

'' chart ratings that are based on actual sales. Immediate evidence proved country music had a much bigger audience than previously thought. * Eight acts have their first ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' No. 1 songs, including

Mark Chesnutt Mark Nelson Chesnutt (born September 6, 1963) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Between 1990 and 1999, he had his greatest chart success recording for Universal Music Group Nashville's MCA and Decca branches, with a total of ei ...

, Mike Reid,

Alan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for blending traditional honky-tonk and mainstream country pop sounds (for a style widely regarded as "neotraditional country"), as well as penning many o ...

Doug Stone Doug Stone (born Douglas Jackson Brooks; June 19, 1956) is an American country music singer and actor. He debuted in 1990 with the single "I'd Be Better Off (In a Pine Box)", the first release from his 1990 self-titled debut album for Epic Recor ...

Diamond Rio Diamond Rio is an American country music band. The band was founded in 1982 as an attraction for the Opryland USA theme park in Nashville, Tennessee, and was originally known as the Grizzly River Boys, then the Tennessee River Boys. It was foun ...

Trisha Yearwood Patricia Lynn Yearwood (born September 19, 1964) is an American singer, actress, author and television personality. She rose to fame with her 1991 debut single " She's in Love with the Boy," which became a number one hit on the ''Billboard'' c ...

Brooks & Dunn Brooks & Dunn are an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, both of whom are vocalists and songwriters. The duo was founded in 1990 through the suggestion of Tim DuBois. Before their formation, both members were solo ...

and

Lionel Cartwright Lionel Burke Cartwright (born February 10, 1960) is an American country music artist. Between 1988 and 1992, Cartwright charted twelve singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, including a 1 single in 1991's "Leap of Fait ...

. Three of those – Diamond Rio, Yearwood and Brooks & Dunn – turn the trick with their first national release; Reid's first solo release also hit the top of the chart, but he had hit the Top 5 as part of a duet with

Ronnie Milsap Ronnie Lee Milsap (born Ronald Lee Millsaps; January 16, 1943) is an American country music singer and pianist. He was one of country music's most popular and influential performers of the 1970s and 1980s. Nearly completely blind from birth, ...

(1988's " Old Folks") three years earlier.

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 ''Hee Haw'' is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with the fictional rural "Kornfield Kounty" as the backdrop. It aired first-run on CBS from 1969 to 1971, in syndication from 1971 to 1993, and on TNN from 199 ...

'' (1969–1993, syndicated) * ''

'' (1991–1992, NBC)

Specials

Births

*September 9 –

Hunter Hayes Hunter Easton Hayes (born September 9, 1991) is an American multi-genre singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is proficient at more than 30 instruments. Hayes released his Hunter Hayes (album), self-titled debut alb ...

, country-pop singer/multi-instrumentalist of the early 2010s best known for his crossover hit " Wanted" *September 21 -

Ingrid Andress Ingrid Elizabeth Andress (born September 21, 1991) is an American country music singer-songwriter. Her breakthrough single, "More Hearts Than Mine" peaked at number 30 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Andress released her debut studio album '' La ...

, known for her 2019-20 hit "

More Hearts Than Mine "More Hearts Than Mine" is a song by American singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress from her debut studio album, '' Lady Like'' (2020). It was written by Andress alongside Sam Ellis and Derrick Southerland, with production being handled by Andress and ...

". *December 27 –

Shay Mooney Dan + Shay (the plus symbol substituting for an ampersand as an 'and' indicator) is an American country pop music duo composed of vocalists and songwriters Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney. They are signed to Warner Records Nashville and have release ...

, member of Dan + Shay, a rising duo of the 2010s. *September 27 -

Sierra Hull Sierra Dawn Hull (born September 27, 1991) is an American bluegrass singer-songwriter, mandolinist, and guitarist. Hull was signed to Rounder Records at the age of 13 and released her debut vocal album, ''Secrets'', in 2008 at the age of 16. ...

Mandolin virtuoso, IBMA mandolin Player of the year 2016 and 2018. Continuous innovator of mandolin and mandolin family instruments, playing in traditional and non traditional ways

Deaths

*February 24 —

Webb Pierce Michael Webb Pierce (August 8, 1921 – February 24, 1991) was an American honky-tonk vocalist, songwriter and guitarist of the 1950s, one of the most popular of the genre, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the ...

, 69, honky tonk stylist and pioneer (pancreatic cancer). *March 16 —

Chris Austin Christopher Clay Austin (February 24, 1964 – March 16, 1991) was an American country music singer. Austin was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1988 and charted three singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart. His highest-charting s ...

, 27, member of

's road band (plane crash). *September 4 —

, 58, legendary and pioneering female vocalist for over three decades (injuries from a car accident). *October 17 —

Tennessee Ernie Ford Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991), known professionally as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American singer and television host who enjoyed success in the country and western, pop, and gospel musical genres. Noted for ...

, 72, "The Old Pea Picker;" pop-country singer and TV host best known for "

Sixteen Tons "Sixteen Tons" is a song written by Merle Travis about a coal miner, based on life in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Travis first recorded the song at the Radio Recorders Studio B in Hollywood, California, on August 8, 1946. Cliff ...

" (liver failure).

Hall of Fame inductees

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees

Flatt and Scruggs Flatt and Scruggs were an American bluegrass duo. Singer and guitarist Lester Flatt and banjo player Earl Scruggs, both of whom had been members of Bill Monroe's band, the Bluegrass Boys, from 1945 to 1948, formed the duo in 1948. Flatt and Scru ...

Lester Flatt Lester Raymond Flatt (June 19, 1914 – May 11, 1979) was an American bluegrass guitarist and mandolinist, best known for his collaboration with banjo picker Earl Scruggs in the duo Flatt and Scruggs. Flatt's career spanned multiple decades, ...

Earl Scruggs Earl Eugene Scruggs (January 6, 1924 – March 28, 2012) was an American musician noted for popularizing a three-finger banjo picking style, now called "Scruggs style", which is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music. His three-fin ...

* Bill Monroe

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

Boudleaux & Felice Bryant Felice Bryant (born Matilda Genevieve Scaduto; August 7, 1925 – April 22, 2003) and Diadorius Boudleaux Bryant (; February 13, 1920 – June 25, 1987) were an American husband-and-wife country music and pop songwriting team. They were best ...

(Boudleaux Bryant 1920–1987 and Felice (Scaduto) Bryant 1925–2003)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

Rhythm Pals ''Rhythm Pals'' is a Canadian music television series which aired on CBC Television in 1956. Premise This Vancouver-produced series featured The Rhythm Pals, a Country/Western vocal/instrumental group formed in 1946 by Mike Ferbey, Marc Wald, a ...

* A. Hugh Joseph

Major awards

Grammy Awards

*Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "

Down at the Twist and Shout "Down at the Twist and Shout" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It celebrates the Bethesda, Maryland, dance and music venue Twist & Shout. It was released in June 1991 as the third single from t ...

Mary Chapin Carpenter Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...

*Best Male Country Vocal Performance — ''

'',

*Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "

Love Can Build a Bridge "Love Can Build a Bridge" is a song written by Naomi Judd, Paul Overstreet, and John Barlow Jarvis, and recorded by American country music duo the Judds. It was released in 1990 as the second single and title track from their album of the same ...

The Judds The Judds were an American country music duo composed of lead vocalist Wynonna Judd and her mother, Naomi Judd. The duo signed to RCA Nashville in 1983 and released six studio albums between then and 1991. The Judds were one of the most success ...

*Best Country Collaboration with Vocals — "Restless",

Ricky Skaggs Rickie Lee Skaggs (born July 18, 1954), known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, ma ...

Steve Wariner Steven Noel Wariner (born December 25, 1954) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Initially a backing musician for Dottie West, he also worked with Bob Luman and Chet Atkins before beginning a solo career in the late 1 ...

and

Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist b ...

*Best Country Instrumental Performance — '' The New Nashville Cats'',

Mark O'Connor Mark O'Connor (born August 5, 1961) is an American fiddle player and composer whose music combines bluegrass, country, jazz and classical. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he has won six Country Music Association Musician Of The Year awards ...

*Best Country Song — "

John Barlow Jarvis John Barlow Jarvis (born January 2, 1954 in Pasadena, California)Paul Kingsbury, editor"The Encyclopedia of Country Music: The Ultimate Guide to the Music" 2004 is an American songwriter, composer, session pianist and recording artist. Before mov ...

and

Paul Overstreet Paul Lester Overstreet (born March 17, 1955) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He recorded 10 studio albums between 1982 and 2005, and charted 16 singles on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' country charts, including two ...

*Best Bluegrass Album — "Spring Training", Carl Jackson and John Starling

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 —

Cassandra Vasik Cassandra Vasik is a Canadian country music singer-songwriter from Blenheim, Ontario. Signed to Epic Records, she released two albums and 11 singles for the label between 1991 and 1994. In 1992, she won the Rising Star award at the Canadian Count ...

*Country Group or Duo of the Year —

Prairie Oyster Prairie Oyster was a Canadian country music group from Toronto, Ontario. They were named Country Group or Duo of the year six times by both the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) and the Juno Awards. The band also won the Bud Country Fan ...

Academy of Country Music

*Entertainer of the Year —

*Song of the Year — "

Somewhere in My Broken Heart "Somewhere in My Broken Heart" is a song written by American country music artist Billy Dean and Richard Leigh. Randy Travis first recorded the song on his 1989 album '' No Holdin' Back''. Two years later, it was released as the third single from ...

", Billy Dean and Richard Leigh (Performer: Billy Dean) *Single of the Year — "

Don't Rock the Jukebox ''Don't Rock the Jukebox'' is the second studio album by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released on May 14, 1991, and produced five singles on the Hot Country Songs charts; the title track, "Someday", "Dallas", and "Love's Go ...

*Album of the Year — ''

'', Alan Jackson *Top Male Vocalist — Garth Brooks *Top Female Vocalist —

*Top Vocal Duo —

*Top Vocal Group —

*Top New Male Vocalist — Billy Dean *Top New Female Vocalist —

*Top New Vocal Duo or Group — Brooks & Dunn *Video of the Year — "

Is There Life Out There "Is There Life Out There" is a song written by Susan Longacre and Rick Giles, and recorded by American country music singer Reba McEntire. It was released on January 28, 1992 as the second single from her album ''For My Broken Heart''. The song r ...

", Reba McEntire (Director: Jack Cole)

ARIA Awards

''(presented in Sydney on March 25, 1991)'' * Best Country Album - ''

Hand It Down ''Hand It Down'' is the second studio album by Australian country music singer-songwriter James Blundell, released in July 1990 by EMI. It was produced by Garth Porter The album peaked at number 50 on the ARIA albums chart. It provided f ...

'' ( James Blundell)

Canadian Country Music Association

*Bud Country Fans' Choice Award —

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 ...

*Male Artist of the Year —

*Female Artist of the Year —

Michelle Wright Michelle Wright (born July 1, 1961) is a Canadian country music artist. She is one of the country's most widely recognized and awarded female country singers of the 1990s, winning the Canadian Country Music Association's Fans' Choice Award twice ...

*Group of the Year —

*SOCAN Song of the Year — "Lonely You, Lonely Me", Joan Besen *Single of the Year — " New Kind of Love",

*Album of the Year — ''

'', Michelle Wright *Top Selling Album — ''Home I'll Be'',

*Video of the Year — "Springtime in Alberta",

Ian Tyson Ian Dawson Tyson (September 25, 1933 – December 29, 2022) was a Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote several folk songs, including "Four Strong Winds" and " Someday Soon", and performed with partner Sylvia Tyson as the duo Ian & Sylvia. Ear ...

*Vista Rising Star Award — South Mountain *Duo of the Year —

The Johner Brothers The Johner Brothers were a Canadian country music duo from Midale. They won more than 40 awards from the Saskatchewan Country Music Association, including Entertainer of the Decade in 1999. History Brothers Ken Johner and Brad Johner grew up in ...

Country Music Association

*Entertainer of the Year —

*Song of the Year — " When I Call a Your Name",

Tim DuBois James Timothy DuBois (born May 4, 1948 is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Nashville-based songwriter and recording industry executive who has headed both Arista Records (Nashville Division) and Universal South Records. As a songwrit ...

and

(Performer: Vince Gill) *Single of the Year — " Friends in Low Places", Garth Brooks *Album of the Year — ''

No Fences ''No Fences'' is the second studio album by the American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released on August 27, 1990, and reached No. 1 on ''Billboard's'' Top Country Albums chart. The album also reached No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' 200. ...

'', Garth Brooks *Male Vocalist of the Year — Vince Gill *Female Vocalist of the Year —

Tanya Tucker Tanya Denise Tucker (born October 10, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13. Over the succeeding decades, Tucker became one of the few child performers to mature int ...

*Horizon Award —

Travis Tritt James Travis Tritt (born February 9, 1963) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1989, releasing seven studio albums and a greatest hits package for the label between then and 1999. In the 20 ...

*Vocal Duo of the Year —

*Vocal Group of the Year —

The Kentucky Headhunters The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock and Southern rock band originating in the state of Kentucky. The band's members are Doug Phelps (vocals, bass guitar), Greg Martin (vocals, lead guitar), and brothers Richard Young (vocals, rhy ...

*Vocal Event of the Year — "Restless", Vince Gill,

and

*Music Video of the Year — "

The Thunder Rolls "The Thunder Rolls" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released in April 1991 as the fourth and final single from his album ''No Fences''. The song became his sixth number one on the country cha ...

", Garth Brooks (Director: Bud Schaetzle) *Musician of the Year —

References

External links

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

Country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

Country music by year