This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1996.

Events

*June 28 — First annual

Country Stampede Music Festival The Country Stampede Music Festival is an outdoor country music and camping festival held at Heartland Motorsports Park, south of Topeka, Kansas. The festival has been held annually since 1996, historically on the last weekend in June (except in 2 ...

begins * October 6 — Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are married, and quickly become country music's most visible couple. Their friendship grew into romance during their successful "Spontaneous Combustion" tour that year.

Top hits of the year

Singles released by American artists

Singles released by Canadian artists

Top new album releases

Other top albums

Births

* July 23 –

Danielle Bradbery Danielle Simone Bradbery (born July 23, 1996) is an American country pop singer. She won season 4 of NBC's ''The Voice'' in 2013, becoming the youngest artist to win the competition at age 16. Bradbery's record has since been eclipsed by Sawyer F ...

, winner of

season four A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and pola ...

of NBC's '' The Voice''.

Deaths

* February 17 —

Gus Hardin Gus Hardin (born Carolyn Ann Blankenship; April 9, 1945 – February 17, 1996) was a country music singer. Career Hardin was born in 1945 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her rise to country music popularity began in 1983 with her first single for RCA Recor ...

, 50, female singer best known for her Earl Thomas Conley duet " All Tangled Up in Love" (automobile accident) * March 4 — Minnie Pearl, 83, legendary comedian known for her trademark greeting, "How-dee!" and her straw hat with price tag; a regular on '' Hee Haw'' (stroke). * May 3 — Patsy Montana, 87, first female country singer to have a single sell one million copies (" I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart"). * June 16 —

Anthony Armstrong Jones Ronnie Jones (June 2, 1949 – June 16, 1996) was an American country music singer known professionally as Anthony Armstrong Jones, a stage name that he took from the name of the British photographer who married Princess Margaret, Countess of Sn ...

, 47, male singer best known for his Top Ten cover version of "

Take a Letter Maria "Take a Letter Maria" is the debut single written and recorded by American soul singer R. B. Greaves. It was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio on August 19, 1969, using the house studio musicians. These include Donna Jean Thatcher on voca ...

" * August 22 – Oliver "Doolittle" Lynn, 69, husband of Loretta Lynn and key figure in many aspects of her career. * December 10 — Faron Young, 64, Nicknamed "The Hillbilly Heartthrob", and "The Singing Sheriff" he had many hits including " Hello Walls" and "

Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young" was Faron Young's first number-one song and his fifth consecutive top ten hit. It spent three weeks at the top of the ''Billboard'' country music chart in 1955. Background "This was a tune I detested", Young said. ...

" (suicide).

Hall of Fame inductees

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees

* Peter V. Kuykendall * The Country Gentlemen ** Charlie Waller ** John Duffey ** Eddie Adcock ** Tom Gray

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

* Patsy Montana (1908–1996) * Buck Owens (1929–2006) * Ray Price (1926–2013)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

* Myrna Lorrie * Larry Delaney

Major awards

Grammy Awards

*Best Female Country Vocal Performance — " Blue,"

LeAnn Rimes Margaret LeAnn Rimes Cibrian (born August 28, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She originally rose to success as a country music artist at age 13 with 1996's "Blue". She has since crossed over into pop, contemporary Chris ...

*Best Male Country Vocal Performance — " World's Apart", Vince Gill *Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "

My Maria "My Maria" is a song co-written by B. W. Stevenson and Daniel Moore. Lindy Blaskey, music publisher at ABC/Dunhill Records thought Daniel Moore had a possible hit with his verse and chorus, but couldn't get him to finish the song. So Lindy Blask ...

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 ...

*Best Country Collaboration with Vocals — " High Lonesome Sound", Vince Gill (featuring Alison Krauss) *Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Jam Man", Chet Atkins *Best Country Song — "Blue",

Bill Mack William or Bill Mack may refer to: * William Mack (Ontario politician) (1828–1897), Ontario businessman and political figure * William L. Mack (1924–2009), provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada * William Mack (judge) (1904–1979), ...

(Performer: LeAnn Rimes) *Best Country Album — ''

The Road to Ensenada ''The Road to Ensenada'' is the sixth album by Lyle Lovett, released in 1996. At the Grammy Awards of 1997, ''The Road to Ensenada'' won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album. Track listing All songs composed by Lyle Lovett except as noted. ...

'',

Lyle Lovett Lyle Pearce Lovett (born November 1, 1957) Lyle Lovett Pageat Allmusic – Lovett's Genre and Styles. Retrieved February 2, 2007 is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer. Active since 1980, he has recorded 13 albums and relea ...

(Producers: Billy Williams (singer) and

) *Best Bluegrass Album — '' True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe'', Various Artists (Producer: Todd Phillips)

Juno Awards

*Country Male Vocalist of the Year —

Paul Brandt Paul Rennée Belobersycky (born July 21, 1972), known professionally as Paul Brandt, is a Canadian country music artist. Growing up in Calgary, he was a pediatric RN at the time of his big break. In 1996, he made his mark on the country music c ...

*Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Shania Twain *Country Group or Duo of the Year — The Rankin Family

Academy of Country Music

*Entertainer of the Year —

*Song of the Year — " Blue",

*Single of the Year — "Blue,"

*Album of the Year — '' Blue Clear Sky'',

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 ...

*Top Male Vocalist — George Strait *Top Female Vocalist — Patty Loveless *Top Vocal Duo —

*Top Vocal Group — Sawyer Brown *Top New Male Vocalist —

Trace Adkins Trace may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * ''Trace'' (Son Volt album), 1995 * ''Trace'' (Died Pretty album), 1993 * Trace (band), a Dutch progressive rock band * ''The Trace'' (album) Other uses in arts and entertainment * ''Trace'' ...

*Top New Female Vocalist —

*Top New Vocal Duo or Group — Ricochet *Video of the Year — "

I Think About You ''I Think About You'' is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Collin Raye. Released in 1995 on Epic Records, ''I Think About You'' was also Raye's fourth consecutive album to receive a platinum certification by the RIAA. The ...

", Collin Raye (Director: Steven Goldmann)

ARIA Awards

''(presented in Sydney on September 30, 1996)'' * Best Country Album - ''Home Fires'' (

The Dead Ringer Band Dead Ringer Band were an Australian family country music band. They are best known for their ARIA Award-winning album '' Home Fires'' which won the Best Country Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 1996. Background and formation Dead Ringer ...

)

Canadian Country Music Association

*NCN Fans' Choice Award — Shania Twain *Male Artist of the Year —

Charlie Major Charles Bernard Major (born December 31, 1954) is a Canadian country music artist. He has recorded seven studio albums and released more than twenty singles. In 2019 he was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Musical career Bo ...

*Female Artist of the Year — Shania Twain *Group or Duo of the Year — Prairie Oyster *SOCAN Song of the Year — " My Heart Has a History,"

Mark D. Sanders Mark Daniel Sanders (born September 7, 1950) is an American country music songwriter. He has written 15 No. 1 hits, 50 singles, and over 200 cuts, including the famous Lee Ann Womack single "I Hope You Dance", co-written with Tia Sillers. Earl ...

*Single of the Year — "

Better Things to Do "Better Things to Do" is the debut single by Canadian country music artist Terri Clark. It was released in July 1995 and is from her self-titled debut album. The song was written by Clark, Tom Shapiro, and Chris Waters. It was a top 10 hit on both ...

," Terri Clark *Album of the Year — '' Terri Clark'', Terri Clark *Top Selling Album — '' Fresh Horses'',

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 ...

*Video of the Year — "

(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here! "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here!" is a song co-written and recorded by Canadian country music singer Shania Twain. It was released in November 1995 as the fourth single from her second studio album, '' The Woman in Me'' (1995). Wri ...

," Shania Twain *Vista Rising Star Award — Terri Clark *Vocal Collaboration of the Year —

Jim Witter Jim Witter (born November 2, 1964) is a Canadian award-winning country music and Christian music singer/songwriter. Ten of Witter's songs reached the top 10 on Canadian country radio. Biography Jim Witter grew up playing music. In 1982, he perf ...

and

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 Music Association

*Entertainer of the Year —

*Song of the Year — "

Go Rest High on That Mountain "Go Rest High on That Mountain" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in August 1995 as the sixth single from his album ''When Love Finds You''. It is a eulogic ballad. Gill began writing the s ...

," Vince Gill *Single of the Year — "

Check Yes or No "Check Yes or No" is a song written by Danny Wells and Dana Hunt Black, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released in September 1995 as the lead single from his box set ''Strait Out of the Box''. It peaked at num ...

*Album of the Year — '' Blue Clear Sky'', George Strait *Male Vocalist of the Year — George Strait *Female Vocalist of the Year — Patty Loveless *Vocal Duo of the Year —

*Vocal Group of the Year — The Mavericks *Horizon Award — Bryan White *Music Video of the Year — "My Wife Thinks You're Dead",

Junior Brown Jamieson "Junior" Brown (born June 12, 1952) is an American country guitarist and singer. He has released twelve studio albums in his career, and has charted twice on the ''Billboard'' country singles charts. Brown's signature instrument is th ...

(Director: Michael McNamara) *Vocal Event of the Year — "

I Will Always Love You "I Will Always Love You" is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing Parton's decision to pursue a solo career, ...

", Dolly Parton and Vince Gill *Musician of the Year — Mark O'Connor

RPM Big Country Awards

*Canadian Country Artist of the Year — Shania Twain *Best Country Album — '' The Woman in Me'', Shania Twain *Best Country Single — "

Any Man of Mine "Any Man of Mine" is a song co-written and recorded by Canadian country music singer Shania Twain. It was issued to US radio in April 1995 as the second single from her second studio album '' The Woman in Me'' (1995). Twain wrote the song with Rob ...

", Shania Twain *Top Male Vocalist —

*Top Female Vocalist — Shania Twain *Top Group — Prairie Oyster *Outstanding New Artist —

Jason McCoy Jason McCoy (born Jason Dwight Campsall on August 27, 1970) is a Canadian country singer-songwriter. He has won the 2001 Male Vocalist of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards, 3 SOCAN Song of the Year awards, 19 CCMA nominations and ...

*Top Country Composer(s) — Shania Twain

External links

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