1997 in country music
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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1997.


Events

* July 12 — The song, "
It's Your Love "It's Your Love" is a song written by Stephony Smith and originally recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in May 1997 as the first single from his album '' Everywhere''. The song, featuring wife Faith Hill, reached ...
," by
Tim McGraw Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 16 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, four for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those album ...
and
Faith Hill Audrey Faith McGraw (; born September 21, 1967), known professionally as Faith Hill, is an American singer and actress. She is one of the most successful country music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. Hill' ...
becomes the first song in 20 years to spend six weeks atop ''
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 musi ...
'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The last song to do so was 1977's "
Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" is a song recorded by American country music artist Waylon Jennings. It was released in April 1977 as the first single from the album '' Ol' Waylon''. It was written by Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons ...
" by
Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He pioneered the Outlaw Movement in country music. Jennings started playing guitar at the age of eight and performed at age f ...
. 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 Central Park is an urban park in New York City located between the Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. It is the fifth-largest park in the city, covering . It is the most visited urban park in the United States, with an estimated ...
, 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 Donald McLean III (born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his 1971 hit song " American Pie", an eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone" about the loss of innocence of the early ...
make special guest appearances. * November 4 -
Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( , ; née Edwards; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-s ...
releases her third studio album, ''
Come On Over ''Come On Over'' is the third studio album by Canadian country music singer Shania Twain. It was released on November 4, 1997, by Mercury Records. Produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the album became the best-selling country album, the best ...
''. 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 James Charles Rodgers (September 8, 1897 – May 26, 1933) was an American singer-songwriter and musician who rose to popularity in the late 1920s. Widely regarded as "the Father of Country Music", he is best known for his distinctive rhythmi ...
is elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as an early influence). *
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 ...
and LeAnn Rimes both record the song "
How Do I Live "How Do I Live" is a song written by Diane Warren. It was performed by American singer, songwriter and actress LeAnn Rimes and the extended version of the song was later featured on her second studio album, '' You Light Up My Life: Inspirationa ...
" for the movie ''
Con Air ''Con Air'' is a 1997 American action thriller film directed by Simon West and starring Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich. Written by Scott Rosenberg and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the film centers on a prison break aboard a ...
''. 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


Other top albums


Births

*October 9 – Megan Moroney, singer of the 2020s ("Tennessee Orange").


Deaths

*January 8 – Smiley Bates, 59, Canadian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (Cancer). *January 21 —
Colonel Tom Parker Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 January 21, 1997),
, 87, manager of prolific country singers
Eddy Arnold Richard Edward Arnold (May 15, 1918 – May 8, 2008) was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a Nashville sound (country/popular music) innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the ''Billboard'' cou ...
and
Hank Snow Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow (May 9, 1914 – December 20, 1999) was a Canadian-American country music artist. Most popular in the 1950s, he had a career that spanned more than 50 years, he recorded 140 albums and charted more than 85 singles on ...
, comedian
Minnie Pearl Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon (October 25, 1912 – March 4, 1996), known professionally as her stage character Minnie Pearl, was an American comedian who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years (1940–1991) and on the television ...
*June 19 —
Bobby Helms Robert Lee Helms (August 15, 1933 – June 19, 1997) was an American country singer, who is best remembered for his 1957 Christmas hit "Jingle Bell Rock". Additionally, he had two other hit records from that year: " Fraulein" and "My Special Ang ...
, 62, singer who enjoyed his peak popularity in 1957; best known for "
Jingle Bell Rock "Jingle Bell Rock" is an American Christmas song first released by Bobby Helms in 1957. Since its release, it has received frequent airplay in the United States during every Christmas season since then. "Jingle Bell Rock" was composed by Joseph Car ...
." *August 16 –
Donn Reynolds Stanley Beresford "Donn" Reynolds (June 26, 1921 – August 16, 1997) was a Canadian country music singer and yodeler most widely known for his Bavarian style of yodeling. Often referred to as Canada's "king of the yodelers",John Denver, 53, country crossover artist of the 1970s; also a singer and songwriter (plane crash) *December 21 —
Amie Comeaux Amie Noelle Comeaux (; December 4, 1976 – December 21, 1997) was an American country music singer who gained fame in her teens. Her debut album, ''Moving Out'', was released on Polydor Records in 1994, and it produced the single "Who's She to Y ...
, 21, country singer from Louisiana (car accident) *December 31 —
Floyd Cramer Floyd Cramer (October 27, 1933 – December 31, 1997) was an American pianist who became famous for his use of melodic "half step" attacks. He was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His signatu ...
, 64, prolific session pianist (lung cancer)


Hall of Fame inductees


Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees

*
Josh Graves Josh Graves (September 27, 1927 Tellico Plains, Monroe County, Tennessee – September 30, 2006), born Burkett Howard Graves, was an American bluegrass musician. Also known by the nicknames "Buck," and "Uncle Josh," he is credited with introduci ...


Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

*
Harlan Howard Harlan Perry Howard (September 8, 1927 – March 3, 2002) was an American songwriter, principally in country music. In a career spanning six decades, Howard wrote many popular and enduring songs, recorded by a variety of different artists. C ...
(1927–2002) *
Brenda Lee Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944), known professionally as Brenda Lee, is an American singer. Performing rockabilly, pop and country music, she had 47 US chart hits during the 1960s and is ranked fourth in that decade, surpassed onl ...
(born 1944) *
Cindy Walker Cindy Walker (July 20, 1918 – March 23, 2006) was an American songwriter, as well as a country music singer and dancer. She wrote many popular and enduring songs recorded by many artists. She adopted a craftsman-like approach to her songw ...
(1915–2006)


Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

*
Family Brown Family Brown was a Canadian country music band founded in 1967 by Joe Brown (vocals, bass guitar), along with his son Barry (vocals, guitar) and daughters Lawanda and Tracey (vocals), as well as Dave Dennison (guitar) and Ron Sparling ( drums). B ...
*
Sam Sniderman Sam Sniderman, (June 15, 1920 – September 23, 2012) was a Canadians, Canadian businessman best known as the founder of the Canadian record shop chain Sam the Record Man. Sniderman was also a major promoter of Music of Canada, Canadian music in ...


Major awards


Grammy Awards

*Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "
How Do I Live "How Do I Live" is a song written by Diane Warren. It was performed by American singer, songwriter and actress LeAnn Rimes and the extended version of the song was later featured on her second studio album, '' You Light Up My Life: Inspirationa ...
",
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 ...
*Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "
Pretty Little Adriana "Pretty Little Adriana" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in October 1996 as the third single from the album ''High Lonesome Sound''. The song reached number 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Cou ...
",
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 ...
*Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Looking In the Eyes of Love",
Alison Krauss & Union Station Alison Krauss & Union Station is an American bluegrass and country band associated with singer Alison Krauss. It was initially composed of Krauss, Jeff White, Mike Harman and John Pennell. Later additions included Tim Stafford, Ron Block, Ada ...
*Best Country Collaboration with Vocals — "
In Another's Eyes "In Another's Eyes" is a song recorded by American country music artists Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks. It was released in August 1997 as the second single from Yearwood's compilation album '' (Songbook) A Collection of Hits''. The song reached ...
", Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood *Best Country Instrumental Performance — "
Little Liza Jane "Li'l Liza Jane", also known as "Little Liza Jane", "Liza Jane", and "Goodbye Liza Jane", is a song dating back at least to the 1910s. It has become a perennial standard both as a song and an instrumental in traditional jazz, folk music, and blu ...
", Alison Krauss & Union Station *Best Country Song — " Butterfly Kisses",
Bob Carlisle Robert Mason "Bob" Carlisle (born September 29, 1956) is an American Contemporary Christian singer and songwriter. He performed with several bands, most notably Allies and Billy Thermal, before launching a solo career where he received a Grammy ...
and Randy Thomas *Best Country Album — '' Unchained'', Johnny Cash *Best Bluegrass Album — ''
So Long So Wrong ''So Long So Wrong'' is an album by the bluegrass group Alison Krauss & Union Station, released in 1997, and the first to feature guitar and mandolin player Dan Tyminski who would replace Adam Steffey. The album reached number 4 on '' Billboard's ...
'', Alison Krauss & Union Station


Juno Awards

*Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Paul Brandt *Country Female Vocalist of the Year —
Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( , ; née Edwards; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-s ...
*Country Group or Duo of the Year —
Farmer's Daughter A farmer's daughter is a stock character who is a desirable and naive young woman. The Farmer's Daughter or Farmer's Daughter may also refer to: Movies * ''The Farmer's Daughter'' (1928 film), by scriptwriter Frederica Sagor Maas * ''The Far ...


Academy of Country Music

*Entertainer of the Year — Garth Brooks *Song of the Year — "
It's Your Love "It's Your Love" is a song written by Stephony Smith and originally recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in May 1997 as the first single from his album '' Everywhere''. The song, featuring wife Faith Hill, reached ...
," Stephony Smith *Single of the Year — "It's Your Love,"
Tim McGraw Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 16 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, four for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those album ...
and
Faith Hill Audrey Faith McGraw (; born September 21, 1967), known professionally as Faith Hill, is an American singer and actress. She is one of the most successful country music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. Hill' ...
*Album of the Year — '' Carrying Your Love with Me'', George Strait *Top Male Vocalist — George Strait *Top Female Vocalist —
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 ...
*Top Vocal Duo or Group —
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 so ...
*Top New Male Vocalist —
Kenny Chesney Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has recorded more than 20 albums and has produced more than 40 Top 10 singles on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs and Country ...
*Top New Female Vocalist —
Lee Ann Womack Lee Ann Womack Liddell (; born August 19, 1966) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Her 2000 single, " I Hope You Dance" was a major crossover music hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart and the Top 15 ...
*Top New Vocal Duo or Group —
The Kinleys The Kinleys were an American country music duo composed of identical twin sisters Heather and Jennifer Kinley (born November 5, 1970). Between 1997 and 2000, they recorded two albums for Epic Records (1997's '' Just Between You and Me'' and 2000's ...
*Video of the Year — "It's Your Love", Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (Director:
Sherman Halsey Sherman Brooks Halsey (February 22, 1957 – October 29, 2013) was an American music video and television director, producer, and artist manager. Sherman Halsey produced and directed hundreds of television shows and music videos for artists ...
) *Vocal Event of the Year — "It's Your Love", Tim McGraw with Faith Hill


ARIA Awards

''(presented in Sydney on September 22, 1997)'' *
Best Country Album The Grammy Award for Best Country Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the country music genre. Honors ...
- ''The Road Less Travelled'' (
Graeme Connors Graeme Connors (born 29 April 1956) is an Australian country music singer, songwriter, and performer. Connors has released seventeen studio albums and has received fourteen Golden Guitar awards among other prestige Australian country music award ...
)


Canadian Country Music Association

*CMT Maple Leaf Foods Fans' Choice Award —
Terri Clark Terri Lynn Sauson, known professionally as Terri Clark, born August 5, 1968, is a Canadian country music singer who has had success in both Canada and the United States. Signed to Mercury Records in 1995, she released her self-titled debut that ...
*Male Artist of the Year — Paul Brandt *Female Artist of the Year — Terri Clark *Group or Duo of the Year —
Farmer's Daughter A farmer's daughter is a stock character who is a desirable and naive young woman. The Farmer's Daughter or Farmer's Daughter may also refer to: Movies * ''The Farmer's Daughter'' (1928 film), by scriptwriter Frederica Sagor Maas * ''The Far ...
*SOCAN Song of the Year — "
I Do I Do may refer to: * "I do", a phrase used in some marriage vows; used by brides and grooms in response to questions posed by either the officiant or the other marriage partner Film and TV Film * ''I Do'' (1921 film), a silent comedic short f ...
", Paul Brandt *Single of the Year — "
I Do I Do may refer to: * "I do", a phrase used in some marriage vows; used by brides and grooms in response to questions posed by either the officiant or the other marriage partner Film and TV Film * ''I Do'' (1921 film), a silent comedic short f ...
", Paul Brandt *Album of the Year — ''
Just the Same ''Just the Same'' is the second studio album by Canadian country music singer Terri Clark. It was released in late 1996 on Mercury Records. In the U.S., this album produced the singles "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" (a cover of a Warren Zevon song which ...
'', Terri Clark *Top Selling Album — '' The Woman in Me'',
Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( , ; née Edwards; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-s ...
*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 Duane Steele is a Canadian country music artist. He has released five studio albums and one greatest hits album, and has charted multiple singles on the Canadian country singles charts, including the Number One hit " Anita Got Married" in 1996. A ...
and
Lisa Brokop Lisa Brokop (born June 6, 1973) is a Canadian country music singer/songwriter and actress. Active since 1990 in the country music field, she has released a total of seven studio albums and has charted more than twenty singles on the country music ...


Country Music Association

*Entertainer of the Year — Garth Brooks *Song of the Year — " Strawberry Wine",
Matraca Berg Matraca Maria Berg Hanna (; born February 3, 1964, in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She has released five albums: three for RCA Records, one for Rising Tide Records and one for Dualtone Records, and ...
and
Gary Harrison Gary Steven Harrison is an American songwriter. Harrison began his career in the 1970s, and has written over 300 major-label recorded songs, including several number one hits. His songwriting credits include: " Hey Cinderella" (recorded by Suzy ...
*Single of the Year — "Strawberry Wine",
Deana Carter Deana Kay Carter (born January 4, 1966) is an American country music singer-songwriter who broke through in 1996 with the release of her debut album '' Did I Shave My Legs for This?'', which was certified 5× Multi-Platinum in the United States ...
*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 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 ...
*Vocal Duo of the Year —
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 so ...
*Vocal Group of the Year —
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 fou ...
*Horizon Award — LeAnn Rimes *Music Video of the Year — "
455 Rocket "455 Rocket" is a song written by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and recorded by American country music artist Kathy Mattea. It was released in January 1997 as the first single from the album '' Love Travels''. The song reached number 21 on t ...
",
Kathy Mattea Kathleen Alice Mattea (born June 21, 1959) is an American country music and bluegrass singer. Active since 1984 as a recording artist, she has charted more than 30 singles on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, including four that reac ...
(Director:
Steven Goldmann Steven Harvey Goldmann (August 18, 1961 – April 30, 2015) was a Canadian music video and film director. He directed over 200 music videos. Goldmann also directed the movies ''Broken Bridges'' and '' Trailer Park of Terror'', and additionally ...
) *Vocal Event of the Year — "
It's Your Love "It's Your Love" is a song written by Stephony Smith and originally recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in May 1997 as the first single from his album '' Everywhere''. The song, featuring wife Faith Hill, reached ...
",
Tim McGraw Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 16 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, four for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those album ...
(featuring
Faith Hill Audrey Faith McGraw (; born September 21, 1967), known professionally as Faith Hill, is an American singer and actress. She is one of the most successful country music artists of all time, having sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. Hill' ...
) *Musician of the Year —
Brent Mason Brent Mason (born July 13, 1959) is an American, Nashville, Tennessee-based recording studio guitarist and songwriter, performing primarily country music. Guitar World Magazine listed him as one of the "Top Ten Session Guitarists of All Time". ...


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 My or MY may refer to: Arts and entertainment * My (radio station), a Malaysian radio station * Little My, a fictional character in the Moomins universe * ''My'' (album), by Edyta Górniak * ''My'' (EP), by Cho Mi-yeon Business * Market ...
", Paul Brandt *Male Artist of the Year — Paul Brandt *Female Artist of the Year —
Terri Clark Terri Lynn Sauson, known professionally as Terri Clark, born August 5, 1968, is a Canadian country music singer who has had success in both Canada and the United States. Signed to Mercury Records in 1995, she released her self-titled debut that ...
*Group of the Year —
Farmer's Daughter A farmer's daughter is a stock character who is a desirable and naive young woman. The Farmer's Daughter or Farmer's Daughter may also refer to: Movies * ''The Farmer's Daughter'' (1928 film), by scriptwriter Frederica Sagor Maas * ''The Far ...
*Outstanding New Artist —
Chris Cummings Christopher Allen Thomas Cummings (born August 11, 1975) is a Canadian country music artist. In his career, he has released five studio albums, one compilation album, and one extended play. Several of his singles have charted on the Canadian cou ...
*Canadian Country Video — "My Heart Has a History", Paul Brandt *Top Country Composer(s) —
Shania Twain Eilleen Regina "Shania" Twain ( , ; née Edwards; born August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-s ...


Further reading

*Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005.


Other links

* Country Music Association * Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame


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 ...
Country music by year