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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

  • April 22 - George Strait releases his 17th studio album, Carrying Your Love with Me. The album went on to be nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 1998 Grammy Awards.
  • June 27- Pee Wee King celebrates his 60th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary
  • July 12 — The song, "It's Your Love," by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill becomes the first song in 20 years to spend six weeks atop Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The last song to do so was 1977's "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" by Waylon Jennings. 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, 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 make special guest appearances.
  • November 4 - Shania Twain releases her third studio album, Come On Over. 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.
  • December 10 – Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes at the Christmas Time with Eddy Arnold.

No dates

  • Jimmie Rodgers is elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as an early influence).
  • Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes both record the song "How Do I Live" for the movie Con Air. 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

USCANSingleArtistReference
2116[455 Rocket](455-rocket)Kathy Mattea
44All the Good Ones Are GonePam Tillis
22Amen Kind of LoveDaryle Singletary
314Another YouDavid Kersh
23Better Man, Better OffTracy Lawrence
35Big LoveTracy Byrd
11Carrying Your Love with MeGeorge Strait
3016Cold OutsideBig House
13Come Cryin' to MeLonestar
57Count Me InDeana Carter
34Dancin', Shaggin' on the BoulevardAlabama
2112Dark HorseMila Mason
1112Day In, Day OutDavid Kersh
1713Don't Love Make a Diamond ShineTracy Byrd
44Don't Take Her She's All I GotTracy Byrd
32Drink, Swear, Steal & LieMichael Peterson
2022Ease My Troubled MindRicochet
31Everybody KnowsTrisha Yearwood
96Everything I LoveAlan Jackson
12EverywhereTim McGraw
25The FoolLee Ann Womack
21FriendsJohn Michael Montgomery
111From Here to EternityMichael Peterson
44A Girl's Gotta Do (What a Girl's Gotta Do)Mindy McCready
33Go AwayLorrie Morgan
417Good as I Was to YouLorrie Morgan
62Half Way UpClint Black
1814He Left a Lot to Be DesiredRicochet
1822Heartbroke Every DayLonestar
1821Helping Me Get Over YouTravis Tritt featuring Lari White
79Her ManGary Allan
45Holdin'Diamond Rio
33Honky Tonk TruthBrooks & Dunn
45How a Cowgirl Says GoodbyeTracy Lawrence
12How Do I Get ThereDeana Carter
21How Do I LiveTrisha Yearwood
11How Was I to KnowReba McEntire
28How Was I to KnowJohn Michael Montgomery
11How Your Love Makes Me FeelDiamond Rio
811I Can't Do That AnymoreFaith Hill
1714I Have to SurrenderTy Herndon
21I Left Something Turned On at HomeTrace Adkins
65I Miss You a LittleJohn Michael Montgomery
726I Only Get This Way with YouRick Trevino
1918I Will, If You WillJohn Berry
22I'd Rather Ride Around with YouReba McEntire
912If She Don't Love YouThe Buffalo Club
47If You Love SomebodyKevin Sharp
22In Another's EyesTrisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks
21Is That a TearTracy Lawrence
15It's a Little Too LateMark Chesnutt
1914It's All the Same to MeBilly Ray Cyrus
11It's Your LoveTim McGraw (with Faith Hill)
1927King of the MountainGeorge Strait
516Land of the LivingPam Tillis
816Let It RainMark Chesnutt
115Let Me into Your HeartMary Chapin Carpenter
513The Light in Your EyesLeAnn Rimes
26A Little More LoveVince Gill
98Little ThingsTanya Tucker
11Longneck BottleGarth Brooks
43Love Is the Right PlaceBryan White
22Loved Too MuchTy Herndon
14A Man This LonelyBrooks & Dunn
1811Maybe He'll Notice Her NowMindy McCready featuring Lonestar's Richie McDonald
41Maybe We Should Just Sleep on ItTim McGraw
16Me TooToby Keith
11Nobody KnowsKevin Sharp
22On the VergeCollin Raye
11One Night at a TimeGeorge Strait
1812One, Two, I Love YouClay Walker
57Places I've Never BeenMark Wills
722PleaseThe Kinleys
23Pretty Little AdrianaVince Gill
45The Rest of MineTrace Adkins
11Rumor Has ItClay Walker
16Running Out of Reasons to RunRick Trevino
21Sad Lookin' MoonAlabama
57The ShakeNeal McCoy
42She Drew a Broken HeartPatty Loveless
2119She Wants to Be Wanted AgainTy Herndon
2417She's Going Home with MeTravis Tritt
11She's Got It AllKenny Chesney
34She's Sure Taking It WellKevin Sharp
22She's Taken a ShineJohn Berry
1421Shut Up and DriveChely Wright
11Sittin' on GoBryan White
139Six Days on the RoadSawyer Brown
23Something That We DoClint Black
111Still Holding OnClint Black & Martina McBride
3116The SwingJames Bonamy
27Thank God for BelieversMark Chesnutt
1510That's Another SongBryan White
11There GoesAlan Jackson
11(This Ain't) No Thinkin' ThingTrace Adkins
611This Night Won't Last ForeverSawyer Brown
37Today My World Slipped AwayGeorge Strait
1524The Trouble with the TruthPatty Loveless
33Unchained MelodyLeAnn Rimes
413Watch ThisClay Walker
11We Danced AnywayDeana Carter
22We Were in LoveToby Keith
2619What If I DoMindy McCready
1526What If It's YouReba McEntire
22What the Heart WantsCollin Raye
1012Whatever Comes FirstSons of the Desert
24When I Close My EyesKenny Chesney
136When Love Starts Talkin'Wynonna Judd
68Where Corn Don't GrowTravis Tritt
22Who's Cheatin' WhoAlan Jackson
89Why Would I Say GoodbyeBrooks & Dunn
88You and You AloneVince Gill
1437You Don't Seem to Miss MePatty Loveless

Singles released by Canadian artists

USCANSingleArtistReference
10Ain't No JusticeGreg Hanna
3Almost AlwaysChris Cummings
4The Answer Is YesMichelle Wright
3Born Again in DixielandJason McCoy
9The Craziest ThingRick Tippe
19A Dozen Red RosesJoan Kennedy
101Emotional GirlTerri Clark
10Girl Out of the OrdinaryBeverley Mahood
487God Bless the ChildShania Twain
11Heaven Help Her HeartJason McCoy
7I Give You My WordGeorge Fox
391I Meant to Do ThatPaul Brandt
1I'm Feeling Kind of Lucky TonightCharlie Major
20Indian WomanMontgomery Steele
4916Just the SameTerri Clark
3Let It RainShirley Myers
451A Little in LovePaul Brandt
1Little Ol' KissesJulian Austin
12A Little Thing Called LoveBeverley Mahood
15Lonely Gypsy WindFarmer's Daughter
11Love Gets Me Every TimeShania Twain
19Lying Here with YouThomas Wade & Wayward
17The Night the Barn Burned DownGeorge Fox
10Now That I'm On My OwnFarmer's Daughter
4One Way TrackPrairie Oyster
15The Real ThingRick Tippe
12She Won't Be Lonely LongPrairie Oyster
6She's Getting SeriousThomas Wade & Wayward
10She's ToughDuane Steele
20Slow TurningSean Hogan
4Somewhere InsideChris Cummings
381Take It from MePaul Brandt
9Tell the GirlDuane Steele
8This Crazy Heart of MineCharlie Major
19Tonight There's a Blue MoonPrairie Oyster
4What Love Looks LikeMichelle Wright
19What's It Gonna TakeDenise Murray
19Wild RoseSean Hogan
8You SaidFarmer's Daughter

Top new album releases

USCANAlbumArtistRecord label
458*An Intimate Evening with Anne Murray*Anne MurrayCapitol
24*Back to You*Anita CochranWarner Bros.
2331*Be Good at It*Neal McCoyAtlantic
2311*The Best of Billy Ray Cyrus: Cover to Cover*Billy Ray CyrusMercury Nashville
43*The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits*Collin RayeEpic
8*The Best of John Denver Live*John DenverLegacy
726*Big Time*Trace AdkinsCapitol Nashville
24*Blink of an Eye*RicochetColumbia
1*Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace)*Bob CarlisleDMG
11*Carrying Your Love with Me*George StraitMCA Nashville
16*A Celebration of Life/The Last Recordings*John DenverRiver North
4*CMT Canada '97*Various ArtistsBMG
46*The Coast Is Clear*Tracy LawrenceAtlantic
98*Collection*Wynonna JuddCurb/MCA Nashville
11*Come On Over*Shania TwainMercury/PolyGram
1511*Complicated*Tanya TuckerCapitol Nashville
12*A Country Superstar Christmas*Various ArtistsHip-O
1628*Crazy Nights*LonestarBNA
52*Dancin' on the Boulevard*AlabamaRCA Nashville
8*Dream Walkin'*Toby KeithMercury Nashville
11*Everything's Alright*Charlie MajorViK.
11*Everywhere*Tim McGrawCurb
47*Evolution*Martina McBrideRCA Nashville
19*The Gift*Jim BrickmanWindham Hill
10*Greatest Country Love Songs*Various ArtistsMCA
8*Greatest Hits*Diamond RioArista Nashville
5*Greatest Hits*Neal McCoyAtlantic
511*Greatest Hits*John Michael MontgomeryAtlantic
6*Greatest Hits*Pam TillisArista Nashville
17*Greatest Hits... And Then Some*Aaron TippinRCA Nashville
21*The Greatest Hits Collection*Brooks & DunnArista Nashville
5*Here's Your Sign*Bill EngvallWarner Bros.
24*A Holiday Album to Benefit St. Jude*Various ArtistsBNA
10*I Will Stand*Kenny ChesneyBNA
1212*If I Don't Stay the Night*Mindy McCreadyBNA
2232*Just Between You and Me*The KinleysEpic
11*Kickin' Country 4*Various ArtistsSony
59*Labor of Love*Sammy KershawMercury/PolyGram
1*Leahy*LeahyVirgin
9*Lee Ann Womack*Lee Ann WomackDecca Nashville
2523*Let Me In*Chely WrightMCA Nashville
810*Lila*Lila McCannAsylum
931*Long Stretch of Lonesome*Patty LovelessEpic
8*Love & Gravity*BlackHawkArista Nashville
15*Love Travels*Kathy MatteaMercury/PolyGram
1713*Michael Peterson*Michael PetersonReprise
1*New Country 4*Various ArtistsWarner
45*Nothin' but the Taillights*Clint BlackRCA Nashville
15*One of the Fortunate Few*Delbert McClintonRising Tide
517*The Other Side*Wynonna JuddCurb/Universal
501*Outside the Frame*Paul BrandtReprise
17*Playin' for Keeps*Jason McCoyUniversal
715*The Right Place*Bryan WhiteAsylum
25*Roots and Wings*James BonamyEpic
47*Rumor Has It*Clay WalkerGiant
11*Sevens*Garth BrooksCapitol Nashville
9*Shakin' Things Up*Lorrie MorganBNA
8*Six Days on the Road*Sawyer BrownCurb
4*So Long So Wrong*Alison Krauss & Union StationRounder
11*(Songbook) A Collection of Hits*Trisha YearwoodMCA Nashville
2216*Stone Country: Songs of the Rolling Stones*Various ArtistsTommy Boy
4822*Sunday Morning to Saturday Night*Matraca BergRising Tide
19*Takin' the Country Back*John AndersonMercury Nashville
25*Thank God for Believers*Mark ChesnuttDecca Nashville
1*Tremolo*Blue RodeoWarner
11*Unchained Melody: The Early Years*LeAnn RimesCurb
88*Under the Covers*Dwight YoakamReprise
9*What My Heart Already Knows*Julian AustinViK.
11*You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs*LeAnn RimesCurb

Other top albums

USCANAlbumArtistRecord label
26*Across My Heart*Kenny RogersMagnatone
40*Amazing Grace 2 – A Country Salute to Gospel*Various ArtistsSparrow
75*Annabelle's Wish Soundtrack*Various ArtistsRising Tide
45*The Best of Country*Various ArtistsMadacy
29*The Best of Roy Orbison*Roy OrbisonVirgin
33*Big House*Big HouseMCA Nashville
56*Billy Yates*Billy YatesAlmo Sounds
53*Bitter Sweet*Kim RicheyMercury/PolyGram
45*Bluegrass Rules!*Ricky SkaggsRounder
75*Born Country*AlabamaBMG
69*The Buffalo Club*The Buffalo ClubRising Tide
74*Burnin' Daylight*Burnin' DaylightCurb
39*Butterfly Kisses*Jeff CarsonCurb
32*Come On Christmas*Dwight YoakamReprise
75*Country Lovin' Songs from the Heart*Various ArtistsRhino
33*The Country Roads Collection*John DenverRCA
44*Cowboy Up – The Official PRCA Rodeo Album*Various ArtistsEdel America
75*Elvis Greatest Jukebox Hits*Elvis PresleyRCA
53*Every Night's a Saturday Night*Lee Roy ParnellArista Nashville
47*Gospel Super Hits Amazing Grace*Various ArtistsEpic
74*The Girl Next Door*Crystal BernardRiver North
42*Hallelujah, He Is Born*Sawyer BrownCurb
60*Hill Country Christmas*Willie Nelson & Bobbie NelsonFiner Arts
75*Hits*Johnny CashLegacy
60*Hopechest*Stephanie BentleyEpic
51*Hot Country '97*Various ArtistsK-Tel
39*How Big a Boy Are Ya?*Roy D. MercerCapitol Nashville
43*How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 2*Roy D. MercerCapitol Nashville
31*How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 3*Roy D. MercerCapitol Nashville
53*I'd Be with You*Kippi BrannonCurb
50*It's on the House*Emilio NavairaCapitol Nashville
47*Little Texas*Little TexasWarner Bros.
26*Live*Chris LeDouxCapitol Nashville
32*Live at the Cimarron Ballroom*Patsy ClineMCA Nashville
75*Merry Texas Christmas Y'all*Asleep at the WheelHigh Street
31*Peace in the Valley*Various ArtistsArista Nashville
69*Ray Stevens Christmas: Through a Different Window*Ray StevensMCA Nashville
31*The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers – A Tribute*Various ArtistsColumbia
47*Tammy Graham*Tammy GrahamCareer
4436*The Truth*Brady SealsReprise
56*Three Chords and the Truth*Sara EvansRCA Nashville
33*Twice Upon a Time*Joe DiffieEpic
39*We Can't All Be Angels*David Lee MurphyMCA Nashville
38*Whatever Comes First*Sons of the DesertEpic
41*Words*Sherrié AustinArista Nashville

Births

  • June 12 – Ashley Cooke, singer-songwriter of the 2020s ("Your Place").
  • September 26 – Zach Top, neotraditional country singer-songwriter of the 2020s ("Sounds Like the Radio", "I Never Lie")
  • October 9 – Megan Moroney, singer of the 2020s ("Tennessee Orange", "Am I Okay?").
  • December 20 – Chase Matthew, singer-songwriter of the 2020s ("Love You Again", "Darlin'").

Deaths

  • January 8 – Smiley Bates, 59, Canadian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (Cancer).
  • January 21 — Colonel Tom Parker, 87, manager of prolific country singers Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow, comedian Minnie Pearl
  • June 19 — Bobby Helms, 62, singer who enjoyed his peak popularity in 1957; best known for "Jingle Bell Rock."
  • August 16 – Donn Reynolds, 76, singer-songwriter and country yodeler; established 2 yodeling world records.
  • October 12 — John Denver, 53, country crossover artist of the 1970s; also a singer and songwriter (plane crash)
  • December 21 — Amie Comeaux, 21, country singer from Louisiana (car accident)
  • December 31 — Floyd Cramer, 64, prolific session pianist (lung cancer)

Hall of Fame inductees

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Josh Graves

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Harlan Howard (1927–2002)
  • Brenda Lee (born 1944)
  • Cindy Walker (1915–2006)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Family Brown
  • Sam Sniderman

Major awards

Grammy Awards

  • Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "How Do I Live", Trisha Yearwood
  • Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "Pretty Little Adriana", Vince Gill
  • Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Looking In the Eyes of Love", Alison Krauss & Union Station
  • Best Country Collaboration with Vocals — "In Another's Eyes", Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
  • Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Little Liza Jane", Alison Krauss & Union Station
  • Best Country Song — "Butterfly Kisses", Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas
  • Best Country AlbumUnchained, Johnny Cash
  • Best Bluegrass AlbumSo Long So Wrong, Alison Krauss & Union Station

Juno Awards

  • Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Paul Brandt
  • Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Shania Twain
  • Country Group or Duo of the Year — Farmer's Daughter

Academy of Country Music

  • Entertainer of the Year — Garth Brooks
  • Song of the Year — "It's Your Love," Stephony Smith
  • Single of the Year — "It's Your Love," Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
  • Album of the YearCarrying Your Love with Me, George Strait
  • Top Male Vocalist — George Strait
  • Top Female Vocalist — Trisha Yearwood
  • Top Vocal Duo or Group — Brooks & Dunn
  • Top New Male Vocalist — Kenny Chesney
  • Top New Female Vocalist — Lee Ann Womack
  • Top New Vocal Duo or Group — The Kinleys
  • Video of the Year — "It's Your Love", Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (Director: Sherman Halsey)
  • 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 Road Less Travelled (Graeme Connors)

Canadian Country Music Association

  • CMT Maple Leaf Foods Fans' Choice Award — Terri Clark
  • Male Artist of the Year — Paul Brandt
  • Female Artist of the Year — Terri Clark
  • Group or Duo of the Year — Farmer's Daughter
  • SOCAN Song of the Year — "I Do", Paul Brandt
  • Single of the Year — "I Do", Paul Brandt
  • Album of the YearJust the Same, Terri Clark
  • Top Selling AlbumThe Woman in Me, Shania Twain
  • 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 and Lisa Brokop

Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year — Garth Brooks
  • Song of the Year — "Strawberry Wine", Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison
  • Single of the Year — "Strawberry Wine", Deana Carter
  • Album of the YearCarrying Your Love with Me, George Strait
  • Male Vocalist of the Year — George Strait
  • Female Vocalist of the Year — Trisha Yearwood
  • Vocal Duo of the Year — Brooks & Dunn
  • Vocal Group of the Year — Diamond Rio
  • Horizon Award — LeAnn Rimes
  • Music Video of the Year — "455 Rocket", Kathy Mattea (Director: Steven Goldmann)
  • Vocal Event of the Year — "It's Your Love", Tim McGraw (featuring Faith Hill)
  • Musician of the Year — Brent Mason

RPM Big Country Awards

  • Canadian Country Artist of the Year — Paul Brandt
  • Best Country AlbumCalm Before the Storm, Paul Brandt
  • Best Country Single — "My Heart Has a History", Paul Brandt
  • Male Artist of the Year — Paul Brandt
  • Female Artist of the Year — Terri Clark
  • Group of the Year — Farmer's Daughter
  • Outstanding New Artist — Chris Cummings
  • Canadian Country Video — "My Heart Has a History", Paul Brandt
  • Top Country Composer(s) — Shania Twain
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