2011 in country music

Events

• January 1 – Shania Twain marries Swiss businessman Frédéric Thiébaud in Puerto Rico, less than two weeks after announcing the two were engaged. Also on the same day, Kellie Pickler and songwriter Kyle Jacobs marry in the Caribbean.
• January 11 – Jewel confirms to People Magazine that she and her husband, Ty Murray, are expecting their first child together. On March 11, Jewel and her unborn baby were unharmed after a collision with a firetruck near her current hometown of Stephenville, Texas. Jewel would give birth to a son, Kase Townes Murray, on July 11.
• February 15 – Glen Campbell announces that he will release his final studio album in 2011 with a farewell concert tour to follow. He also plans an acoustic-style greatest-hits album before officially retiring.
• March 18 – Billy Ray Cyrus confirms on The View that he has dropped his divorce and has begun to reconcile his family.
• March 27 – Shania Twain is inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the Juno Awards. In a backstage interview, Twain confirms she is recording new music and preparing to go back on tour.
• April 19 – CMT and several other news sources confirm that actor Jeff Bridges has signed a recording contract with jazz music label Blue Note Records. He will collaborate with producer T-Bone Burnett and would release his debut album in 2011. Bridges previously won an Oscar for his portrayal of a country music singer-songwriter.
• May 14 – Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are married at Don Strange Ranch in Boerne, Texas, after five years of dating.
• May 23 – John Rich is selected as the winner of the fourth season of the Celebrity Apprentice over actress Marlee Matlin.
• May 25 – Scotty McCreery wins the tenth-season competition of American Idol, becoming the second country music-focused artist (behind Carrie Underwood) to win. Runner-up Lauren Alaina is also rooted in country music. Days later, both sign lucrative contracts with Mercury Nashville Records.
• June 4 – A house fire destroys the home of Trace Adkins and his family; his three youngest daughters and a dog, who were home when the fire started, escape safely.
• June 22 – Glen Campbell announces that he has Alzheimer's disease, having been diagnosed with the illness about six months prior. This news comes four months after Campbell announces his retirement from the music business.
• July 11 – Gloriana, a mixed quartet, announces the departure of Cheyenne Kimball. The group is reduced to a trio at this point.
• July 15- Bill Anderson celebrates his 50th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary
• August 4- Jimmy C. Newman celebrates his 55th Grand Ole Opry anniversary
• August 12 – Carrie Underwood guest Miranda Lambert at the Capital Hoedown in Ottawa, Canada.
• August 13 – Seven people are killed and more than 45 people are injured when an outdoor stage collapses at the Indiana State Fair due to high winds at a concert featuring Sugarland. Neither the duo nor their opening act, Sara Bareilles, were on stage at the time of the collapse.
• August 25- George Jones Celebrates his 55th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary
• October 3 - Hank Williams Jr.'s opening theme for Monday Night Football, "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night", with its famous line, "Are you ready for some football?", is pulled from that night's program on ESPN, after Williams compared President Obama to Adolf Hitler on Fox & Friends. The song had been used in the show's opening broadcasts since 1989. The song would eventually return in 2017, with a remix featuring Florida Georgia Line and Jason Derulo.
• October 10 - Toby Keith releases "Red Solo Cup". The song becomes a major viral and crossover hit, with the music video acquiring more than 600,000 views on YouTube before the release of Keith's album Clancy's Tavern, and reaching #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Hot Country Songs chart, as well as being covered in the Glee episode "Hold On to Sixteen" two months later.
• November 3 – Keith Urban announces that he will undergo throat surgery to remove a polyp in his vocal cords. He subsequently cancels or postpones all public appearances until 2012.

Top hits of the year

The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs or Canada Country charts in 2011:

Top new album releases

The following albums placed within the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums charts in 2011:

Other top albums

Deaths

• January 10 – Margaret Whiting, 86, female country and pop vocalist of the 1940s and early 1950s. (natural causes)
• January 19 – James O'Gwynn, 82, singer of the late 1950s and early 1960s, best known for his hit "My Name Is Mud."
• January 26 – Charlie Louvin, 83, singer/songwriter who teamed with brother Ira as The Louvin Brothers, and became a star in his own right after Ira's death. (pancreatic cancer)
• March 17 – Ferlin Husky, 85, singer/songwriter of the 1950s and 1960s who had hits with "Gone" and "Wings of a Dove." (congestive heart failure)
• March 30 – Harley Allen, 55, songwriter, writer of several country songs such as "The Baby" and "Awful, Beautiful Life." (lung cancer)
• March 31 – Mel McDaniel, 68, Grand Ole Opry member and singer of several major hits in the 1980s including the No. 1 single, "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On," in 1985. (cancer)
• July 29 – Jack Barlow, 87, singer of several hits in the 1960s such as "I Love Country Music" and "Catch the Wind."
• August 7 – Marshall Grant, 83, bassist of Johnny Cash's original backing duo, The Tennessee Two.
• August 10 – Billy Grammer, 85, Grand Ole Opry member best known for his hit "Gotta Travel On." (natural causes)
• September 12 – Don Wayne, 78, songwriter who wrote "Country Bumpkin." (cancer)
• September 13 – Wilma Lee Cooper, 90, Grand Ole Opry member. (natural causes)
• September 27 – Johnnie Wright, 97, singer/songwriter who was part of Johnnie and Jack and husband of Kitty Wells. (natural causes)
• September 27 – Johnny "Country" Mathis, 80, singer/songwriter and member of Jimmy & Johnny, but not confused to the pop crooner. (pneumonia)
• October 12 – Joel "Taz" DiGregorio, 67, keyboardist for The Charlie Daniels Band. (car accident)
• October 31 – Liz Anderson, 81, singer/songwriter wrote Merle Haggard's The Fugitive and is the mother of Lynn. (heart and lung disease)
• December 14 – Billie Jo Spears, 74, singer of several major hits in the 1970s including the No. 1 single, "Blanket on the Ground," in 1975. (cancer)

Hall of Fame Inductees

Bluegrass Hall of Fame Inductees

• Del McCoury
• George Shuffler

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

• Bobby Braddock
• Reba McEntire
• Jean Shepard

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

• Bill Langstroth
• Michelle Wright

Major awards

Academy of Country Music

(presented April 1, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada)

• Entertainer of the Year – Taylor Swift
• Top Male Vocalist – Blake Shelton
• Top Female Vocalist – Miranda Lambert
• Top Vocal Group – Lady Antebellum
• Top Vocal Duo – Thompson Square
• Top New Artist – Scotty McCreery
• Album of the Year – Four the Record, Miranda Lambert
• Single Record of the Year – "Don't You Wanna Stay", Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson
• Song of the Year – "Crazy Girl", Eli Young Band
• Video of the Year – "Red Solo Cup", Toby Keith
• Vocal Event of the Year – "Don't You Wanna Stay", Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson

ACM Honors

• Career Achievement Award – Reba McEntire
• Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – Garth Brooks
• Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – Larry Gatlin
• Jim Reeves International Award – Taylor Swift
• Mae Boren Axton Award – John Dorris
• Poet's Award – Hank Cochran
• Poet's Award – Tom T. Hall
• Tex Ritter Film Award – Country Strong

Americana Music Honors & Awards

• Album of the Year – Band of Joy (Robert Plant)
• Artist of the Year – Buddy Miller
• Duo/Group of the Year – The Avett Brothers
• Song of the Year – "Harlem River Blues" (Justin Townes Earle)
• Emerging Artist of the Year – Mumford & Sons
• Instrumentalist of the Year – Buddy Miller
• Lifetime Achievement: Trailblazer – Bob Harris
• Lifetime Achievement: Songwriting – Lucinda Williams
• Lifetime Achievement: Performance – Gregg Allman
• Lifetime Achievement: Instrumentalist – Jerry Douglas
• Lifetime Achievement: Executive – Rick Hall

American Music Awards

(presented in Los Angeles on November 20, 2011)

• Artist of the Year – Taylor Swift
• Favorite Country Female Artist – Taylor Swift
• Favorite Country Male Artist – Blake Shelton
• Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group – Lady Antebellum
• Favorite Country Album – Speak Now by Taylor Swift

American Country Awards

(presented December 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada)

• Artist of the Year – Jason Aldean
• Female Artist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
• Male Artist of the Year – Brad Paisley
• Group/Duo of the Year – Lady Antebellum
• Touring Artist of the Year – Jason Aldean
• Album of the Year – My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean
• Breakthrough Artist of the Year – Chris Young
• New Artist of the Year – Scotty McCreery
• Single of the Year – "Voices", Chris Young
• Female Single of the Year – "Mama's Song", Carrie Underwood
• Male Single of the Year – "My Kinda Party", Jason Aldean
• Duo/Group Single of the Year – "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not", Thompson Square
• Breakthrough Single of the Year – "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not", Thompson Square
• Single by a Vocal Collaboration – "Don't You Wanna Stay", Jason Aldean feat. Kelly Clarkson
• Music Video of the Year – "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking", Blake Shelton
• Female Music Video of the Year – "Mama's Song", Carrie Underwood
• Male Music Video of the Year – "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking", Blake Shelton
• Duo/Group Music Video of the Year – "Don't You Wanna Stay", Jason Aldean feat. Kelly Clarkson
• Breakthrough Music Video of the Year – "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not", Thompson Square

American Music Awards

(presented November 20 in Los Angeles)

• Favorite Male Country Artist – Blake Shelton
• Favorite Female Country Artist – Taylor Swift
• Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group – Lady Antebellum
• Favorite Country Album – Speak Now, Taylor Swift

ARIA Awards

(presented in Sydney on November 27, 2011)

• Best Country Album – Little Bird (Kasey Chambers)

Canadian Country Music Association

(presented September 12 in Hamilton)

• Fans' Choice Award – Johnny Reid
• Male Artist of the Year – Johnny Reid
• Female Artist of the Year – Terri Clark
• Group or Duo of the Year – Hey Romeo
• Songwriter(s) of the Year – "Trail in Life", written by Dean Brody
• Single of the Year – "Trail in Life", Dean Brody
• Album of the Year – Trail in Life, Dean Brody
• Top Selling Album – Speak Now, Taylor Swift
• Top Selling Canadian Album – A Place Called Love, Johnny Reid
• CMT Video of the Year – "Today I'm Gonna Try and Change the World", Johnny Reid
• Rising Star Award – Chad Brownlee
• Roots Artist or Group of the Year – Jimmy Rankin

Country Music Association

(presented November 9 in Nashville)

• Single of the Year – "If I Die Young", The Band Perry
• Song of the Year – "If I Die Young", Kimberly Perry
• Vocal Group of the Year – Lady Antebellum
• New Artist of the Year – The Band Perry
• Album of the Year – My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean
• Musician of the Year – Mac McAnally
• Vocal Duo of the Year – Sugarland
• Music Video of the Year – "You and Tequila", Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
• Male Vocalist of the Year – Blake Shelton
• Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
• Musical Event of the Year – "Don't You Wanna Stay", Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
• Entertainer of the Year – Taylor Swift

CMT Music Awards

(presented June 8 in Nashville)

• Video of the Year – "Mine", Taylor Swift
• Male Video of the Year – "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking", Blake Shelton
• Female Video of the Year – "The House That Built Me", Miranda Lambert
• Group Video of the Year – "Hello World", Lady Antebellum
• Duo Video of the Year – "Stuck Like Glue", Sugarland
• USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year – "If I Die Young", The Band Perry
• Collaborative Video of the Year – "That Should Be Me", Justin Bieber and Rascal Flatts
• Performance of the Year – "Margaritaville", Jimmy Buffett featuring Zac Brown Band from CMT Crossroads
• Web Video of the Year – "Kiss My Country Ass", Blake Shelton
• Video Director of the Year – Trey Fanjoy
• Nationwide Is On Your Side Award – The Band Perry

CMT Artists of the Year

(presented December 13 in Nashville)

• Jason Aldean
• Kenny Chesney
• Lady Antebellum
• Brad Paisley
• Taylor Swift

Grammy Awards

(presented February 12, 2012)

• Best Country Solo Performance – "Mean", Taylor Swift
• Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "Barton Hollow", The Civil Wars
• Best Country Song – "Mean", Taylor Swift
• Best Country Album – Own the Night, Lady Antebellum
• Best Bluegrass Album – Paper Airplane, Alison Krauss & Union Station

Juno Awards

(presented April 1, 2012 in Ottawa)

• Country Album of the Year – Roots and Wings, Terri Clark

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Star who were honored in 2011

Melissa Etheridge and Shania Twain

References

Other links

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

References

1. (January 2, 2011). "Shania Twain Marries on New Year's Day".
2. (January 4, 2011). "''Idol'' Alum Kellie Pickler Gets Married".
3. (January 11, 2011). "Jewel Confirms She's Pregnant with First Child".
4. "Jewel, Unborn Baby Survive Wreck With Firetruck". [[CMT (American TV channel).
5. "Glen Campbell Plans Final Album, Farewell Tour". [[AOL]]'s The Boot.
6. (March 18, 2011). "Billy Ray Cyrus Drops Divorce, Praises ''Hannah Montana''".
7. "Shania Twain says she's making new music and preparing to return to stage". [[The Canadian Press]].
8. "CMT : News : Jeff Bridges signs to Blue Note Records". [[CMT (American TV channel).
9. Bartolomeo, Joey. (May 15, 2011). "Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton Marry!". [[People (magazine).
10. Ross, Dalton. (May 23, 2011). "'Celebrity Apprentice': And the winner is...". Entertainment Weekly.
11. Eggenberger, Nicole. (June 6, 2011). "American Idol's Lauren Alaina & Scotty McCreery Sign Major-Label Deals!". [[OK Magazine]].
12. Duke, Alan. (June 4, 2011). "'Trace Adkins loses home to fire, but safety plan saves kids, wife says". CNN.
13. "Glen Campbell Diagnosed with Alzheimer's". [[TV Guide]].
14. "Gloriana's Cheyenne Kimball Exits Band". [[Country Weekly]].
15. (August 13, 2011). "Four dead after stage collapse at Ind. State Fair". USA Today.
16. (November 3, 2011). "Keith Urban Plans Throat Surgery". CMT News.
17. "Chart listing for "Am I the Only One"".
18. "Chart listing for "Amen"".
19. "Chart listing for "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not"".
20. "Chart listing for "Back to December"".
21. "Chart Highlights: Dance/Club Play, Country Songs & More".
22. "Chart listing for "Barefoot Blue Jean Night"".
23. "Billboard Country Update for February 28, 2011".
24. "Chart listing for "The Breath You Take"".
25. "Chart listing for "Bullets in the Gun"".
26. "Chart listing for "Camouflage"".
27. "Chart listing for "Colder Weather"".
28. "Chart listing for "Cost of Livin'"".
29. "Chart listing for "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)"".
30. "Chart listing for "Country Must Be Country Wide"".
31. "Chart listing for "Crazy Girl"".
32. "Chart listing for "Dirt Road Anthem"".
33. "Chart listing for "Don't You Wanna Stay"".
34. "Chart listing for "Easy"".
35. "Tim McGraw Album & Song Chart History".
36. "Chart listing for "From a Table Away"".
37. "Chart listing for "Georgia Clay"".
38. "Chart listing for "God Gave Me You"".
39. "Chart listing for "Heart Like Mine"".
40. "Chart listing for "Hello World"".
41. "Chart listing for "Here for a Good Time"".
42. "Chart listing for "Homeboy"".
43. "Chart listing for "Honey Bee"".
44. "Chart listing for "I Can't Love You Back"".
45. "Chart listing for "I Got Nothin'"".
46. "Chart listing for "I Got You"".
47. "Chart listing for "I Love You This Big"".
48. "Chart listing for "I Won't Let Go"".
49. "Chart listing for "I Wouldn't Be a Man"".
50. "Chart listing for "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away"".
51. "Chart Highlights: Pop, Dance/Club Play Songs & More".
52. "Chart listing for "Just Fishin'"".
53. "Chart listing for "Knee Deep"".
54. "Chart listing for "Let Me Down Easy"".
55. "Chart listing for "A Little Bit Stronger"".
56. "Chart listing for "Little Miss"".
57. "Kenny Chesney Album & Song Chart History".
58. "Chart listing for "Long Hot Summer"".
59. "Chart listing for "Love Done Gone"".
60. "Chart listing for "Made in America"".
61. "Chart listing for "Mama's Song"".
62. "Chart listing for "Mean"".
63. "Chart listing for "My Kinda Party"".
64. "Chart listing for "Old Alabama"".
65. "Chart listing for "One More Drinkin' Song"".
66. "Keith Urban Chart History".
67. "Chart listing for "Remind Me"".
68. "Chart listing for "The Shape I'm In"".
69. "Chart listing for "Smoke a Little Smoke"".
70. "Chart listing for "Someone Else Calling You Baby"".
71. "Chart listing for "Somewhere Else"".
72. "Chart Highlights: Pop, Country Songs & More". [[Nielsen Company]].
73. "Chart listing for "Sparks Fly"".
74. "Chart listing for "Take a Back Road"".
75. "Chart listing for "Tattoos on This Town"".
76. "Chart listing for "Teenage Daughters"".
77. "Chart listing for "This"".
78. "Chart Highlights: Pop, Dance/Club Play Songs & More". [[Billboard (magazine).
79. "Chris Young Chart History".
80. "Chart listing for "Turn On the Radio"".
81. "Chart listing for "Voices"".
82. "Chart listing for "What Do You Want"".
83. "Chart listing for "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking"".
84. "Billboard Country National Airplay".
85. "Chart listing for "Without You"".
86. "Chart listing for "You and Tequila"".
87. "Chart listing for "You Lie"".
88. "Chart listing for ''Barefoot Blue Jean Night''".
89. "Chart listing for ''Chief''".
90. "Chart listing for ''Clear as Day''".
91. "Chart listing for ''Concrete''".
92. "Chart listing for ''Every Chance I Get''".
93. "Chart listing for ''Footloose''".
94. "Chart listing for ''Four the Record''".
95. "Chart listing for ''Ghost on the Canvas''".
96. "Chart listing for ''Guitar Slinger''".
97. "Chart listing for ''Hell On Heels''".
98. "Chart listing for ''Here for a Good Time''".
99. "Chart listing for ''The JaneDear Girls''".
100. "Chart listing for ''Jeff Bridges''".
101. "Chart listing for ''Neon''".
102. "Chart listing for ''Proud to Be Here''".
103. "Chart listing for ''Red River Blue''".
104. "Chart listing for ''The Sound Of A Million Dreams''".
105. "Chart listing for ''Steel Magnolia''".
106. "Chart listing for ''Tailgates & Tanlines''".
107. "Chart listing for ''Take a Back Road''".
108. "Chart listing for ''This Is Country Music''".
109. "Chart listing for ''Thompson Square''".
110. "Chart listing for ''1978 December''".
111. "Chart listing for ''Better Day''".
112. "Chart listing for ''Broken Record''".
113. "Chart listing for ''Chippin' Away''".
114. "Chart listing for ''Crazy Girl (EP)''".
115. "Chart listing for ''The Dreaming Fields''".
116. "Chart listing for ''Georgia Clay''".
117. "Chart listing for ''Good Luck & True Love''".
118. "Chart listing for ''Greatest Hits''".
119. "Chart listing for ''I'm American''".
120. "Chart listing for ''It's All Good''".
121. "Chart listing for ''Little Bird''".
122. "Chart listing for ''Nick 13''".
123. "Chart listing for ''Numbers''".
124. "Chart listing for ''Raise My Glass''".
125. "Chart listing for ''Randy Montana''".
126. "Chart listing for ''Randy Travis''".
127. "Chart listing for ''Satisfied at Last''".
128. "Chart listing for ''Songs and Stories''".
129. "Chart listing for ''This Is Indian Land''".
130. "Chart listing for ''Velvet''".
131. "Chart listing for ''Where Country Grows''".
132. (November 30, 2011). "2nd CMT Artist Awards Show Soars".