This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2015.
Overview of the events of 2015 in country music
Events
January 15 – Parodist Cledus T. Judd announces his retirement from the performing aspect of the music business.[ 1]
February 27 – Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher give birth to their son, Isaiah Michael Fisher.
March 4 – Shania Twain announces that her Rock This Country tour will be her last but that she intends to continue releasing albums
April – A new syndicated radio program, American Country Countdown Rewind with Bob Kingsley ACC programs from 1990–2005, is announced by Nash FM (the media brand and network of country music stations owned by Cumulus Media ). The first programs aired the weekend of May 2.[ 2] [ 3]
May 26 – Radio consultant Keith Hill is criticized when stating in an interview that music stations should limit the airplay of female country artists. The story, dubbed Tomato-gate is further ignited when Hill compares female artists to that of "tomatoes in a salad". In response, Sara Evans , Miranda Lambert , Martina McBride , and Jennifer Nettles criticize Hill's comments via social media.[ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
June 15 – Country Weekly Nash Country Weekly , as part of a co-branding with Nash FM 's radio product.[ 7]
June 19 – Almost a year after successfully recovering from cervical cancer, Joey Martin Feek of Joey + Rory is diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer .[ 8]
June 22 – With "Love Me Like You Mean It ", Kelsea Ballerini becomes the first female artist to send her debut single to No. 1 on Country Airplay since Carrie Underwood did in 2006, and the first female artist to do so on an independent label.[ 9]
July 9 – Luke Bryan causes controversy in an interview with "HITS Double Daily" for implying that Outlaw country artists (particularly Waylon Jennings , Merle Haggard , and Willie Nelson ) spent their career "laying in the gutter, strung out on drugs." Bryan would later call Jennings' widow Jessi Colter , as well as Haggard's son, Ben, to apologize.[ 10]
July 18 – "Girl Crush " by Little Big Town makes country music history by breaking the record of weeks spent at number 1 by a group of three or more members, surpassing the current record holders The Browns and their song The Three Bells .[ 11]
July 20 – Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton announce their divorce after four years of marriage.[ 12]
August 3 – Reba McEntire announces the separation from long-time husband and manager Narvel Blackstock. Although they will be ending their marriage, they will continue to support one another professionally.[ 13] [ 14]
September 25 – Kenny Rogers announces his plans to retire following a Christmas album and a 2016 farewell tour
September 27 – Producer Dave Brainard is hospitalized after being found unconscious with a broken jaw from a beating.[ 15]
October – Joey Martin Feek of Joey + Rory ends treatment for stage IV colorectal cancer after treatments fail to control growth of tumors.[ 16]
November 2 – Chris Cagle announces his retirement from the music business.[ 17]
November 4 - Chris Stapleton becomes an overnight sensation after his performance with Justin Timberlake of "Tennessee Whiskey " and "Drink You Away " at the Country Music Association Awards ; the performance is considered the best of the show, and one of the best performances in CMA history. Stapleton wins New Artist , Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for Traveller
November 9 – Joey Martin Feek of Joey and Rory enters Hospice care after terminal cancer diagnosis[ 18]
Top hits of the year
The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs , Country Airplay or Canada Country charts in 2015:
Singles released by American artists
Singles released by Canadian artists
Top new album releases
The following albums placed on the Top Country Albums charts in 2015:
Other top albums
Deaths
January 2 – Little Jimmy Dickens , 94, Grand Ole Opry member best known for "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose ", "Take an Old Cold Tater (and Wait)", and standing at only 4.2 feet tall, as well as for his cameos in videos by artists such as Brad Paisley and Vince Gill. (cardiac arrest) [ 41]
January 12 – A. J. Masters , 64, singer-songwriter (prostate cancer )[ 42]
January 16 – Dixie Hall, 80, bluegrass songwriter and wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Tom T. Hall (brain tumor)
January 17 – Don Harron , 90, Canadian comedian and playwright best known to country audiences as "Charlie Farquharson" on television's Hee Haw [ 43]
March 9 – Wayne Kemp , 74, writer of Johnny Cash 's "One Piece at a Time " among others; also a recording artist for MCA Nashville (various ailments)[ 44]
April 30 – Steven Goldmann , 53, music video director who directed a plethora of videos for many acts in the 90's and 2000's. (cancer)[ 45]
May 18 – Elbert West , 46, singer-songwriter[ 46]
June 11 – Jim Ed Brown , 81, Grand Ole Opry star and member of The Browns (cancer)[ 47]
July 20 – Wayne Carson , 72, writer of Elvis Presley 's "Always on My Mind ," later covered by Willie Nelson [ 48]
July 22 – Daron Norwood , 49, country singer from the 1990s[ 49]
July 29 – Buddy Emmons , 78, steel guitarist[ 50]
July 30 – Lynn Anderson , 67, singer best known for the 1970 crossover hit "Rose Garden ." (heart attack)[ 51]
August 4 – Billy Sherrill , 78, record producer best known for his work with George Jones and Tammy Wynette [ 52]
September 4 – Hal Willis , 82, Canadian singer-songwriter, best known for the song "The Lumberjack "[ 53]
September 25 – Hugh Wright, 63, drummer for Boy Howdy (natural causes)[ 54]
October 6 – Billy Joe Royal , 73, country and rock singer best known for his hits "Down in the Boondocks " and "Tell It Like It Is "[ 55]
October 17 – John Jennings , 62, record producer and guitarist best known for his work with Mary Chapin Carpenter (kidney cancer)[ 56]
November 2 – Tommy Overstreet , 78, country singer from the 1970s[ 57]
November 8 – Charlie Dick, 81, widower of Patsy Cline who helped keep alive her legacy in the decades following her death; became a record promoter and publisher in his own right[ 58]
November 15 – Ron Hynes , 64, Canadian country-folk artist, best known for the songs "Sonny's Dream " and "Cryer's Paradise" (cancer)[ 59]
December 6 – Don Chapel, songwriter of hits by George Jones , Conway Twitty , ex-wife Tammy Wynette , and others[ 60]
December 7 – Don Pfrimmer, 78, songwriter known for co-writing many modern hits including "Meet in the Middle " and "My Front Porch Looking In " (leukemia)[ 61]
Hall of Fame inductees
Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Inductees
Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
Major awards
Academy of Country Music
(presented April 3, 2016 in Las Vegas )
ACM Honors
American Music Awards
(presented November 22 in Los Angeles )
ARIA Awards
(presented in Sydney on November 26, 2015)
Canadian Country Music Association
(presented September 13 in Halifax )
Country Music Association
(presented November 4 in Nashville )
CMT Music Awards
(presented June 10 in Nashville )
CMT Artists of the Year
(presented on December 2, 2015) [ 62]
Grammy Awards
(presented February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles )
Juno Awards
(presented April 3, 2016 in Calgary )
References
^ Stark, Phyllis (15 January 2015). "Cledus T. Judd on His Decision to Bow Out of the Music Business for a 'Higher Purpose' . Billboard . Retrieved 16 January 2015 . ^ "NASH Icon Partners With Bob Kingsley For ACC-Rewind," Media Confidential , April 17, 2015. Accessed 04-23-2015.[1]
^ "NASH To Launch 'American Country Countdown Rewind With Bob Kingsley'," All Access, April 17, 2015. Accessed 04-22-2015.[2]
^ Yahr, Emily. "One industry expert offers his plan to help country radio: Fewer songs by women" . The Washington Post . Retrieved 31 May 2015 . ^ Keel, Beverly. "Sexist 'tomato' barb launches country-radio food fight" . USA Today . Retrieved 31 May 2015 . ^ Vinson, Christina. "Sara Evans Responds to Comments About Women on Country Radio: 'I'm Appalled!' Read More: Sara Evans Responds to Comments About Women on Country Radio" . The Boot . Retrieved 3 June 2015 . ^ "Nash Country Daily" . Nash Country Daily .^ "Joey + Rory's Joey Martin Feek Battling Stage IV Cancer" . Nash Country Weekly the original on November 8, 2015.^ Trust, Gary (June 22, 2015). "Kelsea Ballerini first female to lead with debut single since 2006" (PDF) . Billboard . p. 5. Retrieved 23 June 2015 . ^ Lewis, Randy. "Shooter Jennings Praises Luke Bryan's Apology On Outlaw Country Comments" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 15 August 2015 . ^ "Little Big Town's 'Girl Crush' Makes History on Hot Country Songs" . Billboard .^ "Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert Are Divorcing" . CMT.com . July 20, 2015. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015.^ "Nashville Insiders Shocked By Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock's Separation" . People . Retrieved 15 August 2015 .^ Dukes, Billy. "Reba McEntire, Narvel Blackstock Announce Separation" . Taste of Country . Retrieved 15 August 2015 . ^ "Nashville producer Dave Brainard severely injured in beating" . The Tennessean . 28 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015 .^ Stephens 10/23/2015, Samantha. "Joey Feek of Joey + Rory Ends Cancer Treatment" . CMT News . Archived from the original on October 25, 2015. {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link )^ "Chris Cagle Announces Retirement From Country Music - News - Nash Country Weekly" . Archived from the original on 2015-11-03. Retrieved 2015-11-02 .^ "RORY FEEK" . RORY FEEK .^ a b "Brett Kissel Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved November 24, 2013 .^ a b "Wes Mack Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved February 11, 2015 .^ "Autumn Hill Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 13, 2015 .^ a b "Dean Brody Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved March 11, 2015 .^ a b c "Dallas Smith Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved April 10, 2014 .^ "Jason Blaine Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved February 18, 2015 .^ a b "Gord Bamford Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved December 31, 2014 .^ "Leah Daniels Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved March 11, 2015 .^ "Jason Benoit Chart History (Canada Country)" . Billboard the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2022 .^ a b "Paul Brandt Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 27, 2015 .^ "Jojo Mason Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved September 1, 2015 .^ a b "Steven Lee Olsen Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved January 21, 2015 .^ a b "Jess Moskaluke Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved March 25, 2015 .^ a b "High Valley Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved January 21, 2015 .^ "Alee Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved August 11, 2015 .^ a b "Cold Creek County Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved May 27, 2015 .^ "Kira Isabella Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved March 18, 2015 .^ a b c "Tim Hicks Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved February 13, 2014 .^ "Bobby Wills Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved March 20, 2014 .^ "Tebey Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved June 24, 2015 .^ "Chad Brownlee Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved February 4, 2015 .^ "Emerson Drive Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country" . Billboard Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved March 25, 2015 .^ "Grand Ole Opry performer Little Jimmy Dickens Dies at 94" . January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015 .^ Thanki, Juli (January 13, 2015). "Songwriter A.J. Masters, who co-wrote 'Change My Mind,' dies" . The Tennessean . Retrieved January 23, 2015 . ^ "Don Harron, Canadian entertainment icon, dead at 90" . CBC News . January 17, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015 .^ Betts, Stephen L. (2015-03-10). " . Rollingstone.com . Retrieved 2015-04-29 . ^ Oermann, Robert K. (April 30, 2015). "LifeNotes: Film, Video Director Steven Goldmann Dies" . MusicRow the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015 . ^ Skates, Sarah (May 19, 2015). "Lifenotes: Songwriter Elbert West" . MusicRow . Retrieved May 19, 2015 . ^ "Country singer Jim Ed Brown dies at 81" . The Tennessean . 11 June 2015.^ "Wayne Carson, 'Always On My Mind' Songwriter, Dead at 72" . Billboard . July 20, 2015.^ Vinson, Christina (July 23, 2015). " . The Boot . Retrieved July 23, 2015 . ^ Dauphin, Chuck (July 29, 2015). "Buddy Emmons, Steel Guitar Legend, Dies at 78" . Billboard . Retrieved July 30, 2015 . ^ "Country Legend Lynn Anderson Dead at 67" . Rolling Stone ^ "Legendary producer Billy Sherrill dies" . The Tennessean . 4 August 2015.^ Oermann, Robert K. (September 9, 2015). "LifeNotes: Canadian Country Star Hal Willis Passes" . MusicRow . Retrieved March 13, 2016 . ^ Oermann, Robert K. (October 8, 2015). "LifeNotes: Boy Howdy Co-Founder, Drummer Hugh Wright Passes" . MusicRow . Retrieved October 9, 2015 . ^ "Billy Joe Royal dies" . Billboard . October 6, 2015.^ "LifeNotes: Producer/Guitarist John Jennings Passes" . October 19, 2015.^ Dauphin, Chuck (November 3, 2015). "Tommy Overstreet, 1970s Country Hitmaker, Dies at Age 78" . Billboard . Retrieved November 3, 2015 . ^ "Charlie Dick, Widower of Patsy Cline, Dies at 81" . Billboard .^ Michael MacDonald. "Newfoundland and Labrador folk legend Ron Hynes dead at 64" . The Globe and Mail . Retrieved 2015-11-20 . ^ "Country Songwriter Don Chapel, Ex-Husband of Tammy Wynette, Dies" . Taste of Country . December 9, 2015.^ Morris, Edward (9 December 2015). "Hit Songwriter Don Pfrimmer Dead at 78" . CMT . Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015 . ^ "Blake Shelton, Little Big Town & More to Be Honored at CMT Artists of the Year" . Billboard .
Other links
