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1998 in country music

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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1998.

Events

  • January 10 — "Retro Country USA," a weekly two-hour syndicated radio program spotlighting major country hits of the 1980s (along with some from the 1970s and early 1990s), premieres. The show is initially hosted by Tampa radio personality Ken Cooper, and later "Big" Steve Kelly.
  • February 25 — Johnny Cash's album, Unchained, wins a Grammy Award for Best Country Album. The album had been a critical success but was largely ignored by mainstream country radio, a fact Cash and producer Rick Rubin pick up on when they purchase a full-page advertisement in Billboard magazine. The ad, which appeared in March, featured a young Cash displaying his middle finger and sarcastically "thanking" radio for supporting the album.
  • June 30 — The divorce of Vince and Janis Gill (of Sweethearts of the Rodeo) is finalized.
  • December — The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honors Willie Nelson for his lifetime contributions to the arts. Nelson is the first primarily country performer so honored.

Top hits of the year

Singles released by American artists

USCANSingleArtistReference
167Absence of the HeartDeana Carter
46Angel in My EyesJohn Michael Montgomery
23Between the Devil and MeAlan Jackson
117A Broken WingMartina McBride
2614Burnin' the Roadhouse DownSteve Wariner (duet with Garth Brooks)
11Bye ByeJo Dee Messina
1117A ChanceKenny Chesney
1412Come Some Rainy DayWynonna
44CommitmentLeAnn Rimes
32Cover You in KissesJohn Michael Montgomery
59The Day That She Left Tulsa (In a Chevy)Wade Hayes
22Don't Laugh at MeMark Wills
53Dream Walkin'Toby Keith
23Everything's ChangedLonestar
44Forever LoveReba McEntire
1822Getcha SomeToby Keith
24Happy GirlMartina McBride
23He's Got YouBrooks & Dunn
2020High on LovePatty Loveless
94The HoleRandy Travis
22Holes in the Floor of HeavenSteve Wariner
11How Long GoneBrooks & Dunn
1814A House with No CurtainsAlan Jackson
29How Do You Fall in LoveAlabama
1330How Do You Sleep at NightWade Hayes
12Husbands and WivesBrooks & Dunn
73I Can Love You BetterDixie Chicks
12I Can Still Feel YouCollin Raye
23I Do (Cherish You)Mark Wills
11I Just Want to Dance with YouGeorge Strait
188I Might Even Quit Lovin' YouMark Chesnutt
127I Said a PrayerPam Tillis
31I Wanna Fall in LoveLila McCann
928I Wanna Feel That Way AgainTracy Byrd
2031I Wanna Remember ThisLinda Davis
32I'll Go On Loving YouAlan Jackson
11I'm AlrightJo Dee Messina
31I'm from the CountryTracy Byrd
24I'm So Happy I Can't Stop CryingToby Keith with Sting
310If I Never Stop Loving YouDavid Kersh
2215If You Can't Be Good (Be Good at It)Neal McCoy
51If You Ever Have Forever in MindVince Gill
11If You See Him/If You See HerReba McEntire featuring Brooks & Dunn
44Imagine ThatDiamond Rio
110It Must Be LoveTy Herndon
723It Would Be YouGary Allan
95It's Your SongGarth Brooks
129Just Between You and MeThe Kinleys
34Just to Hear You Say That You Love MeFaith Hill (with Tim McGraw)
11Just to See You SmileTim McGraw
11Let Me Let GoFaith Hill
23A Little Past Little RockLee Ann Womack
31Little Red RodeoCollin Raye
1110Lonely Won't Leave Me AloneTrace Adkins
126Loosen Up My StringsClint Black
23Love of My LifeSammy Kershaw
148Love Working on YouJohn Michael Montgomery
514A Man Holdin' On (To a Woman Lettin' Go)Ty Herndon
11Nothin' but the TaillightsClint Black
105Nothin' New Under the MoonLeAnn Rimes
49On the Side of AngelsLeAnn Rimes
21One of These DaysTim McGraw
1412One of Those Nights TonightLorrie Morgan
1622One Small MiracleBryan White
21Out of My BonesRandy Travis
11Perfect LoveTrisha Yearwood
11Round About WayGeorge Strait
1323Say WhenLonestar
21She's Gonna Make ItGarth Brooks
2110She's Got That Look in Her EyesAlabama
11The Shoes You're WearingClint Black
3318Somebody to LoveSuzy Bogguss
35Someone You Used to KnowCollin Raye
1610Stepping StoneLari White
2313Still in Love with YouTravis Tritt
415Texas Size HeartacheJoe Diffie
29That's Why I'm HereKenny Chesney
24Then What?Clay Walker
24There Goes My BabyTrisha Yearwood
13There's Your TroubleDixie Chicks
1723Things ChangeDwight Yoakam
11This KissFaith Hill
1217To Have You Back AgainPatty Loveless
17To Make You Feel My LoveGarth Brooks
85Too Good to Be TrueMichael Peterson
21TrueGeorge Strait
11Two Piña ColadasGarth Brooks
914ValentineMartina McBride with special guest artist Jim Brickman
42We Really Shouldn't Be Doing ThisGeorge Strait
2319What If?Reba McEntire
11What If I SaidAnita Cochran (duet with Steve Wariner)
11Where the Green Grass GrowsTim McGraw
1818Where Your Road LeadsTrisha Yearwood (duet with Garth Brooks)
11Wide Open SpacesDixie Chicks
31You Move MeGarth Brooks
124You Walked InLonestar
1912You'll Never KnowMindy McCready
45You're GoneDiamond Rio
22You've Got to Talk to MeLee Ann Womack

Singles released by Canadian artists

USCANSingleArtistReference
31[26 Cents](26-cents)The Wilkinsons
5Canadian SunrisePrairie Oyster
20Chevy Blue EyesBrent McAthey
7Cried All the Way HomeJamie Warren
3DiamondJulian Austin
17Do the MathGeorge Fox
61Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)Shania Twain
15FallingBruce Guthro
736Famous First WordsGil Grand
61From This Moment OnShania Twain (with Bryan White)
10Get Hot or Go HomeRick Tippe
13Hard Time Loving YouJulian Austin
10Has Anybody Seen My AngelDenise Murray
9Haven't You HeardShirley Myers
11Honey, I'm HomeShania Twain
5919How Do I Let GoLisa Brokop
12I Read LipsThomas Wade & Wayward
6I'm GoneGeorge Fox
15I'm Gonna Make Her MineJason McCoy
10If I Could Just Get to YouDuane Steele
501The Kind of Heart That BreaksChris Cummings
17Let's Kiss and Make UpBeverley Mahood with Ken Munshaw
5517Let's Start Livin'Gil Grand
3A Little Bit of YouJason McCoy
12A Little Bit of Your LoveJoel Feeney
9A Minute and a HalfChris Cummings
7Movin' OnThe Rankins
14Never Givin' UpRick Tippe
22Now That I Found YouTerri Clark
9One Last StepShirley Myers
3Outside the FramePaul Brandt
17Radio 101Beverley Mahood
19The River SongMontgomery Steele
20She Made Me an OfferRick Tippe
4Some Days Are BetterCharlie Major
12There's a Song in There SomewhereThomas Wade & Wayward
20Two Out of Three Ain't BadJulian Austin
18Underneath the MoonMontana Sky
1Walk This RoadBruce Guthro
10The Way Love GoesJamie Warren
12What My Heart Already KnowsJulian Austin
6810What's Come Over YouPaul Brandt
20What's Not to LoveLisa Brokop
19A Whole Lot of LoveMontana Sky
12Woman's WorkTracey Brown
5Yeah!Paul Brandt
10You Can Trust in My LoveCharlie Major
11You're Easy on the EyesTerri Clark
11You're Still the OneShania Twain
7415Your LoveJim Brickman with Michelle Wright

Top new album releases

USCANAlbumArtistRecord label
18*Ain't It the Truth*Daryle SingletaryGiant
21*The Apostle Soundtrack*Various ArtistsDecca Nashville
914*Back with a Heart*Olivia Newton-JohnMCA Nashville
1312*The Best of Tracy Lawrence*Tracy LawrenceAtlantic
2231*Big Hopes*Ty HerndonEpic
6*Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection*Vince GillMCA Nashville
615*Burnin' the Roadhouse Down*Steve WarinerCapitol Nashville
14*Car Wheels on a Gravel Road*Lucinda WilliamsMercury
3*CMT Canada '99*Various ArtistsBMG
2*Country Heat 1998*Various ArtistsAriola
22*A Country Superstar Christmas*Various ArtistsHip-O
16*Did I Shave My Back for This?*Cledus T. JuddRazor & Tie
16*Dorkfish*Bill EngvallWarner Bros.
11*Double Live*Garth BrooksCapitol Nashville
611*Everything's Gonna Be Alright*Deana CarterCapitol Nashville
21*Faith*Faith HillWarner Bros.
22*Famous First Words*Gil GrandMonument
3917*Farmers in a Changing World*The TractorsArista Nashville
24*For the Record*AlabamaRCA Nashville
21*Greatest Hits*Joe DiffieEpic
918*Greatest Hits*Clay WalkerGiant
5*Greatest Hits Volume One*Toby KeithMercury Nashville
11*High Mileage*Alan JacksonArista Nashville
13*Hope Floats Soundtrack*Various ArtistsCapitol Nashville
1320*The Horse Whisperer Soundtrack*Various ArtistsMCA Nashville
19*How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 4*Roy D. MercerCapitol Nashville
104*How I Feel*Terri ClarkMercury Nashville
23*Hungry Again*Dolly PartonDecca Nashville
55*I'm Alright*Jo Dee MessinaCurb
89*I'm from the Country*Tracy ByrdMCA Nashville
13*If I Never Stop Loving You*David KershCurb
47*If You See Her*Brooks & DunnArista Nashville
27*If You See Him*Reba McEntireMCA Nashville
3715*It Don't Get Any Better Than This*George JonesMCA Nashville
21*It Would Be You*Gary AllanDecca Nashville
3*It's Now! It's Live!*The MavericksMCA Nashville
12*The Key*Vince GillMCA Nashville
1526*Leave a Mark*John Michael MontgomeryAtlantic
11*The Limited Series*Garth BrooksCapitol Nashville
1112*A Long Way Home*Dwight YoakamReprise
3*Moments and Memories: The Best of Reba*Reba McEntireMCA Nashville
2*New Country 5*Various ArtistsWarner
15*No More Looking over My Shoulder*Travis TrittWarner Bros.
114*No Place That Far*Sara EvansRCA Nashville
164*Nothing but Love*The WilkinsonsGiant
6*Of Your Son*Bruce GuthroEMI
24*One Road Man*Chris LeDouxCapitol Nashville
13*One Step at a Time*George StraitMCA Nashville
86*The Prince of Egypt (Nashville)*Various ArtistsDreamWorks Nashville
329*Shot Full of Love*Billy Ray CyrusMonument
22*Sittin' on Top of the World*LeAnn RimesCurb
2511*The Sky's the Limit*BlackHawkArista Nashville
20*Some Things I Know*Lee Ann WomackDecca Nashville
9*Step Inside This House*Lyle LovettMCA Nashville
181*Tammy Wynette Remembered*Various ArtistsAsylum
1715*Teatro*Willie NelsonIsland
34*Touched by an Angel: The Album*Various ArtistsEpic
821*Totally Committed*Jeff FoxworthyWarner Bros.
93*Trampoline*The MavericksMCA Nashville
3618*A Tribute to Tradition*Various ArtistsColumbia
12*Ultimate Country Party*Various ArtistsArista Nashville
92*Unbelievable*Diamond RioArista Nashville
25*VH1 Storytellers*Johnny Cash & Willie NelsonColumbia
813*The Walls Came Down*Collin RayeEpic
11*What Is This Country?*Prairie OysterViK.
23*What This Country Needs*Aaron TippinLyric Street
922*When the Wrong One Loves You Right*Wade HayesColumbia
21*When You Get to Be You*Lisa BrokopColumbia
32*Where Your Road Leads*Trisha YearwoodMCA Nashville
9*White Christmas*Martina McBrideRCA Nashville
11*Wide Open Spaces*Dixie ChicksMonument
4719*Wine Into Water*T. Graham BrownIntersound
8*Wish You Were Here*Mark WillsMercury Nashville
7*You and You Alone*Randy TravisDreamWorks Nashville

Other top albums

USCANAlbumArtistRecord label
55*[16 Biggest Hits](16-biggest-hits-merle-haggard-album)*Merle HaggardEpic
50*[16 Biggest Hits](16-biggest-hits-george-jones-album)*George JonesEpic
29*[16 Biggest Hits](16-biggest-hits-willie-nelson-album)*Willie NelsonColumbia
75*[29 Nights](29-nights)*Danni LeighDecca Nashville
73*Beautiful Day in the Cold Cruel World*The Warren BrothersBNA
38*The Best of John Denver*John DenverMadacy
38*Big Backyard Beat Show*BR5-49Arista Nashville
30*Black Dog Soundtrack*Various ArtistsDecca Nashville
69*Break in the Storm*The Great DivideAtlantic
58*The Civil War: The Nashville Sessions*Various ArtistsAtlantic
71*Closing in on the Fire*Waylon JenningsArk 21
50*Country Christmas Classics*Various ArtistsRCA Nashville
63*The Essential Alabama*AlabamaRCA Nashville
73*The Essential Lorrie Morgan*Lorrie MorganBNA
26*Every Time*Pam TillisArista Nashville
52*Fiddle Fire: 25 Years of the CDB*Charlie DanielsBlue Hat
66*Greatest #1 Hits*Randy TravisWarner Bros.
36*Greatest Country Hits*John DenverRCA
47*Greatest Hits*Restless HeartRCA Nashville
73*Hangin' with Rodney*Rodney CarringtonMercury Nashville
37*I Saw the Light*Hal KetchumCurb
69*I Turn the Page*Don WilliamsGiant
70*I'm Just That Way*Mark NeslerAsylum
61*I'm Yours*Linda DavisDreamWorks Nashville
57*Keep on Rockin'*Confederate RailroadAtlantic
34*Long Walk Back*Junior BrownCurb
38*Love Is*Kevin SharpAsylum
66*The Lynns*The LynnsReprise
42*Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt*Suzy BoggussCapitol Nashville
27*A Paul Brandt Christmas: Shall I Play for You?*Paul BrandtReprise
41*Real Man*Billy DeanCapitol Nashville
57*Rhythm and Country*Elvis PresleyRCA
36*Secret Love*Lorrie MorganBNA
27*Spyboy*Emmylou HarrisEminent
50*Stepping Stone*Lari WhiteLyric Street
38*The Strong One*Mila MasonAtlantic
72*Super Hits*John AndersonBNA
53*Super Hits*Lorrie MorganBNA
72*Super Hits*Aaron TippinRCA Nashville
59*Super Hits II*AlabamaRCA Nashville
55*Twistin' in the Wind*Joe ElyMCA Nashville
33*What Livin's All About*Rhett AkinsDecca Nashville
56*Write It in Stone*Keith HarlingMCA Nashville

Deaths

  • January 7 — Owen Bradley, 82, legendary record producer for top artists. (respiratory illness)
  • January 17 — Cliffie Stone, 80, music executive and bassist.
  • January 19 — Carl Perkins, 65, top picker and rockabilly artist. (complications from multiple strokes)
  • January 24 — Justin Tubb, 62, singer-songwriter who fused honky-tonk and rockabilly in the 1950s.
  • February 19 — Grandpa Jones, 84, banjo player, old-time country/gospel singer, comedian and regular on "Hee Haw" (stroke)
  • February 25 — Rockin' Sidney Simien, 59, rhythm and blues, Zydeco, and soul musician best known to country audiences for his 1985 hit, "My Toot Toot." (cancer)
  • April 6 — Tammy Wynette, 55, top country female vocalist of the 1960s and 1970s, best known for hits "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and "Stand By Your Man." (blood clot)
  • April 16 — Rose Maddox, 71, female honky-tonk and rockabilly pioneer who fronted the Maddox Brothers and Rose (kidney failure)
  • May 7 — Eddie Rabbitt, 56, prolific songwriter and pop-country vocalist who once had 35 Top 10 hits in as many releases. (lung cancer)
  • May 22 – Royce Kendall, 62, sang alongside daughter, Jeannie Kendall, of The Kendalls. (stroke)
  • June 2- Helen Carter- 70, member of the Carter family
  • June 10 — Steve Sanders, 45, member of the Oak Ridge Boys from 1987 to 1995; replaced and succeeded by William Lee Golden. (suicide)
  • July 6 — Roy Rogers, 86, actor, singer and "King of the Cowboys." (congestive heart failure)
  • July 12- Jimmy Driftwood, 91, Singer and Musician
  • August 24- Jerry Clower, 71, Comedian and member of the Grand Ole Opry
  • October 2 — Gene Autry, 91, actor and "The Singing Cowboy" (lymphoma).

Hall of Fame inductees

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Carlton Haney
  • Chubby Wise

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • George Morgan (1924–1975)
  • Elvis Presley (1935–1977)
  • E.W. “Bud” Wendell (born 1927)
  • Tammy Wynette (1942–1998)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

  • Ray Griff
  • Bill Anderson

Major awards

Grammy Awards

  • Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "You're Still the One," Shania Twain
  • Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "If You Ever Have Forever in Mind", Vince Gill
  • Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "There's Your Trouble", Dixie Chicks
  • Best Country Collaboration with Vocals — "Same Old Train", Clint Black, Joe Diffie, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt and Dwight Yoakam
  • Best Country Instrumental Performance — "A Soldier's Joy" Vince Gill and Randy Scruggs
  • Best Country Song — "You're Still the One", Shania Twain and Robert John "Mutt" Lange
  • Best Country AlbumWide Open Spaces, Dixie Chicks
  • Best Bluegrass AlbumBluegrass Rules!, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Juno Awards

  • Best Country Male Vocalist — Paul Brandt
  • Best Country Female Vocalist — Shania Twain
  • Best Country Group or Duo — Leahy

Academy of Country Music

  • Entertainer of the Year — Garth Brooks
  • Song of the Year — "Holes in the Floor of Heaven", Steve Wariner and Billy Kirsch
  • Single of the Year — "This Kiss", Faith Hill
  • Album of the YearWide Open Spaces, Dixie Chicks
  • Top Male Vocalist — Tim McGraw
  • Top Female Vocalist — Faith Hill
  • Top Vocal Duo or Group — Dixie Chicks
  • Top New Male Vocalist — Mark Wills
  • Top New Female Vocalist — Jo Dee Messina
  • Top New Vocal Duo or Group — Dixie Chicks
  • Video of the Year — "This Kiss", Faith Hill (Director: Steven Goldmann)
  • Vocal Event of the Year — "Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me", Faith Hill with Tim McGraw

ARIA Awards

(presented in Sydney on October 20, 1998)

  • Best Country Album - My Own Sweet Time (Shanley Del)

Canadian Country Music Association

  • CMT Maple Leaf Foods Fans' Choice Award — Shania Twain
  • Male Artist of the Year — Paul Brandt
  • Female Artist of the Year — Shania Twain
  • Group or Duo of the Year — Leahy
  • SOCAN Song of the Year — "Born Again in Dixieland," Jason McCoy, Naoise Sheridan, Denny Carr
  • Single of the Year — "You're Still the One," Shania Twain
  • Album of the YearCome on Over, Shania Twain
  • Top Selling AlbumCome on Over, Shania Twain
  • Video of the Year — "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)", Shania Twain
  • Wrangler Rising Star Award — Bruce Guthro
  • Vocal Collaboration of the Year — "Your Love", Michelle Wright and Jim Brickman

Country Music Association

  • Entertainer of the Year — Garth Brooks
  • Song of the Year — "Holes in the Floor of Heaven", Steve Wariner and Billy Kirsch
  • Single of the Year — "Holes in the Floor of Heaven", Steve Wariner
  • Album of the YearEverywhere, Tim McGraw
  • 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 — Dixie Chicks
  • Horizon Award — Dixie Chicks
  • Music Video of the Year — "This Kiss", Faith Hill (Director: Steven Goldmann)
  • Vocal Event of the Year — "You Don't Seem to Miss Me," Patty Loveless with George Jones
  • Musician of the Year — Brett Mason

RPM Big Country Awards

  • Canadian Country Artist of the Year — Shania Twain
  • Best Country AlbumCome On Over, Shania Twain
  • Best Country Single — "Little Ol' Kisses", Julian Austin
  • Male Artist of the Year — Paul Brandt
  • Female Artist of the Year — Terri Clark
  • Group of the Year — Leahy
  • Outstanding New Male Artist — Bruce Guthro
  • Outstanding New Female Artist — Beverley Mahood
  • Outstanding New Group or Duo — Montana Sky
  • Canadian Country Video — "Little Ol' Kisses", Julian Austin
  • Top Country Composer(s) — Julian Austin

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Stars who were honored in 1998

Alabama, Mac Davis, and Reba McEntire

References

References

  1. {{Cite encyclopedia. Pruett. David B.. (2015-01-13). Oxford University Press
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