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1997 in country music

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

List of years in country music (table)
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Events

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No dates

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  • 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

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Singles released by American artists

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US CAN Single Artist Reference
21 16 455 Rocket Kathy Mattea
4 4 All the Good Ones Are Gone Pam Tillis
2 2 Amen Kind of Love Daryle Singletary
3 14 Another You David Kersh
2 3 Better Man, Better Off Tracy Lawrence
3 5 Big Love Tracy Byrd
1 1 Carrying Your Love with Me George Strait
30 16 Cold Outside Big House
1 3 Come Cryin' to Me Lonestar
5 7 Count Me In Deana Carter
3 4 Dancin', Shaggin' on the Boulevard Alabama
21 12 Dark Horse Mila Mason
11 12 Day In, Day Out David Kersh
17 13 Don't Love Make a Diamond Shine Tracy Byrd
4 4 Don't Take Her She's All I Got Tracy Byrd
3 2 Drink, Swear, Steal & Lie Michael Peterson
20 22 Ease My Troubled Mind Ricochet
3 1 Everybody Knows Trisha Yearwood
9 6 Everything I Love Alan Jackson
1 2 Everywhere Tim McGraw
2 5 The Fool Lee Ann Womack
2 1 Friends John Michael Montgomery
1 11 From Here to Eternity Michael Peterson
4 4 A Girl's Gotta Do (What a Girl's Gotta Do) Mindy McCready
3 3 Go Away Lorrie Morgan
4 17 Good as I Was to You Lorrie Morgan
6 2 Half Way Up Clint Black
18 14 He Left a Lot to Be Desired Ricochet
18 22 Heartbroke Every Day Lonestar
18 21 Helping Me Get Over You Travis Tritt featuring Lari White
7 9 Her Man Gary Allan
4 5 Holdin' Diamond Rio
3 3 Honky Tonk Truth Brooks & Dunn
4 5 How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye Tracy Lawrence
1 2 How Do I Get There Deana Carter
2 1 How Do I Live Trisha Yearwood
1 1 How Was I to Know Reba McEntire
2 8 How Was I to Know John Michael Montgomery
1 1 How Your Love Makes Me Feel Diamond Rio
8 11 I Can't Do That Anymore Faith Hill
17 14 I Have to Surrender Ty Herndon
2 1 I Left Something Turned On at Home Trace Adkins
6 5 I Miss You a Little John Michael Montgomery
7 26 I Only Get This Way with You Rick Trevino
19 18 I Will, If You Will John Berry
2 2 I'd Rather Ride Around with You Reba McEntire
9 12 If She Don't Love You The Buffalo Club
4 7 If You Love Somebody Kevin Sharp
2 2 In Another's Eyes Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks
2 1 Is That a Tear Tracy Lawrence
1 5 It's a Little Too Late Mark Chesnutt
19 14 It's All the Same to Me Billy Ray Cyrus
1 1 It's Your Love Tim McGraw (with Faith Hill)
19 27 King of the Mountain George Strait
5 16 Land of the Living Pam Tillis
8 16 Let It Rain Mark Chesnutt
11 5 Let Me into Your Heart Mary Chapin Carpenter
5 13 The Light in Your Eyes LeAnn Rimes
2 6 A Little More Love Vince Gill
9 8 Little Things Tanya Tucker
1 1 Longneck Bottle Garth Brooks
4 3 Love Is the Right Place Bryan White
2 2 Loved Too Much Ty Herndon
1 4 A Man This Lonely Brooks & Dunn
18 11 Maybe He'll Notice Her Now Mindy McCready featuring Lonestar's Richie McDonald
4 1 Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It Tim McGraw
1 6 Me Too Toby Keith
1 1 Nobody Knows Kevin Sharp
2 2 On the Verge Collin Raye
1 1 One Night at a Time George Strait
18 12 One, Two, I Love You Clay Walker
5 7 Places I've Never Been Mark Wills
7 22 Please The Kinleys
2 3 Pretty Little Adriana Vince Gill
4 5 The Rest of Mine Trace Adkins
1 1 Rumor Has It Clay Walker
1 6 Running Out of Reasons to Run Rick Trevino
2 1 Sad Lookin' Moon Alabama
5 7 The Shake Neal McCoy
4 2 She Drew a Broken Heart Patty Loveless
21 19 She Wants to Be Wanted Again Ty Herndon
24 17 She's Going Home with Me Travis Tritt
1 1 She's Got It All Kenny Chesney
3 4 She's Sure Taking It Well Kevin Sharp
2 2 She's Taken a Shine John Berry
14 21 Shut Up and Drive Chely Wright
1 1 Sittin' on Go Bryan White
13 9 Six Days on the Road Sawyer Brown
2 3 Something That We Do Clint Black
11 1 Still Holding On Clint Black & Martina McBride
31 16 The Swing James Bonamy
2 7 Thank God for Believers Mark Chesnutt
15 10 That's Another Song Bryan White
1 1 There Goes Alan Jackson
1 1 (This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing Trace Adkins
6 11 This Night Won't Last Forever Sawyer Brown
3 7 Today My World Slipped Away George Strait
15 24 The Trouble with the Truth Patty Loveless
3 3 Unchained Melody LeAnn Rimes
4 13 Watch This Clay Walker
1 1 We Danced Anyway Deana Carter
2 2 We Were in Love Toby Keith
26 19 What If I Do Mindy McCready
15 26 What If It's You Reba McEntire
2 2 What the Heart Wants Collin Raye
10 12 Whatever Comes First Sons of the Desert
2 4 When I Close My Eyes Kenny Chesney
13 6 When Love Starts Talkin' Wynonna Judd
6 8 Where Corn Don't Grow Travis Tritt
2 2 Who's Cheatin' Who Alan Jackson
8 9 Why Would I Say Goodbye Brooks & Dunn
8 8 You and You Alone Vince Gill
14 37 You Don't Seem to Miss Me Patty Loveless

Singles released by Canadian artists

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US CAN Single Artist Reference
10 Ain't No Justice Greg Hanna
3 Almost Always Chris Cummings
4 The Answer Is Yes Michelle Wright
3 Born Again in Dixieland Jason McCoy
9 The Craziest Thing Rick Tippe
19 A Dozen Red Roses Joan Kennedy
10 1 Emotional Girl Terri Clark
10 Girl Out of the Ordinary Beverley Mahood
48 7 God Bless the Child Shania Twain
11 Heaven Help Her Heart Jason McCoy
7 I Give You My Word George Fox
39 1 I Meant to Do That Paul Brandt
1 I'm Feeling Kind of Lucky Tonight Charlie Major
20 Indian Woman Montgomery Steele
49 16 Just the Same Terri Clark
3 Let It Rain Shirley Myers
45 1 A Little in Love Paul Brandt
1 Little Ol' Kisses Julian Austin
12 A Little Thing Called Love Beverley Mahood
15 Lonely Gypsy Wind Farmer's Daughter
1 1 Love Gets Me Every Time Shania Twain
19 Lying Here with You Thomas Wade & Wayward
17 The Night the Barn Burned Down George Fox
10 Now That I'm On My Own Farmer's Daughter
4 One Way Track Prairie Oyster
15 The Real Thing Rick Tippe
12 She Won't Be Lonely Long Prairie Oyster
6 She's Getting Serious Thomas Wade & Wayward
10 She's Tough Duane Steele
20 Slow Turning Sean Hogan
4 Somewhere Inside Chris Cummings
38 1 Take It from Me Paul Brandt
9 Tell the Girl Duane Steele
8 This Crazy Heart of Mine Charlie Major
19 Tonight There's a Blue Moon Prairie Oyster
4 What Love Looks Like Michelle Wright
19 What's It Gonna Take Denise Murray
19 Wild Rose Sean Hogan
8 You Said Farmer's Daughter

Top new album releases

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US CAN Album Artist Record Label
45 8 An Intimate Evening with Anne Murray Anne Murray Capitol
24 Back to You Anita Cochran Warner Bros.
23 31 Be Good at It Neal McCoy Atlantic
23 11 The Best of Billy Ray Cyrus: Cover to Cover Billy Ray Cyrus Mercury Nashville
4 3 The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits Collin Raye Epic
8 The Best of John Denver Live John Denver Legacy
7 26 Big Time Trace Adkins Capitol Nashville
24 Blink of an Eye Ricochet Columbia
1 Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace) Bob Carlisle DMG
1 1 Carrying Your Love with Me George Strait MCA Nashville
16 A Celebration of Life/The Last Recordings John Denver River North
4 CMT Canada '97 Various Artists BMG
4 6 The Coast Is Clear Tracy Lawrence Atlantic
9 8 Collection Wynonna Judd Curb/MCA Nashville
1 1 Come On Over Shania Twain Mercury/PolyGram
15 11 Complicated Tanya Tucker Capitol Nashville
12 A Country Superstar Christmas Various Artists Hip-O
16 28 Crazy Nights Lonestar BNA
5 2 Dancin' on the Boulevard Alabama RCA Nashville
8 Dream Walkin' Toby Keith Mercury Nashville
11 Everything's Alright Charlie Major ViK.
1 1 Everywhere Tim McGraw Curb
4 7 Evolution Martina McBride RCA Nashville
19 The Gift Jim Brickman Windham Hill
10 Greatest Country Love Songs Various Artists MCA
8 Greatest Hits Diamond Rio Arista Nashville
5 Greatest Hits Neal McCoy Atlantic
5 11 Greatest Hits John Michael Montgomery Atlantic
6 Greatest Hits Pam Tillis Arista Nashville
17 Greatest Hits… and Then Some Aaron Tippin RCA Nashville
2 1 The Greatest Hits Collection Brooks & Dunn Arista Nashville
5 Here's Your Sign Bill Engvall Warner Bros.
24 A Holiday Album to Benefit St. Jude Various Artists BNA
10 I Will Stand Kenny Chesney BNA
12 12 If I Don't Stay the Night Mindy McCready BNA
22 32 Just Between You and Me The Kinleys Epic
11 Kickin' Country 4 Various Artists Sony
5 9 Labor of Love Sammy Kershaw Mercury/PolyGram
1 Leahy Leahy Virgin
9 Lee Ann Womack Lee Ann Womack Decca Nashville
25 23 Let Me In Chely Wright MCA Nashville
8 10 Lila Lila McCann Asylum
9 31 Long Stretch of Lonesome Patty Loveless Epic
8 Love & Gravity BlackHawk Arista Nashville
15 Love Travels Kathy Mattea Mercury/PolyGram
17 13 Michael Peterson Michael Peterson Reprise
1 New Country 4 Various Artists Warner
4 5 Nothin' but the Taillights Clint Black RCA Nashville
15 One of the Fortunate Few Delbert McClinton Rising Tide
5 17 The Other Side Wynonna Judd Curb/Universal
50 1 Outside the Frame Paul Brandt Reprise
17 Playin' for Keeps Jason McCoy Universal
7 15 The Right Place Bryan White Asylum
25 Roots and Wings James Bonamy Epic
4 7 Rumor Has It Clay Walker Giant
1 1 Sevens Garth Brooks Capitol Nashville
9 Shakin' Things Up Lorrie Morgan BNA
8 Six Days on the Road Sawyer Brown Curb
4 So Long So Wrong Alison Krauss & Union Station Rounder
1 1 (Songbook) A Collection of Hits Trisha Yearwood MCA Nashville
22 16 Stone Country: Songs of the Rolling Stones Various Artists Tommy Boy
48 22 Sunday Morning to Saturday Night Matraca Berg Rising Tide
19 Takin' the Country Back John Anderson Mercury Nashville
25 Thank God for Believers Mark Chesnutt Decca Nashville
1 Tremolo Blue Rodeo Warner
1 1 Unchained Melody: The Early Years LeAnn Rimes Curb
8 8 Under the Covers Dwight Yoakam Reprise
9 What My Heart Already Knows Julian Austin ViK.
1 1 You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs LeAnn Rimes Curb

Other top albums

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US CAN Album Artist Record Label
26 Across My Heart Kenny Rogers Magnatone
40 Amazing Grace 2 – A Country Salute to Gospel Various Artists Sparrow
75 Annabelle's Wish Soundtrack Various Artists Rising Tide
45 The Best of Country Various Artists Madacy
29 The Best of Roy Orbison Roy Orbison Virgin
33 Big House Big House MCA Nashville
56 Billy Yates Billy Yates Almo Sounds
53 Bitter Sweet Kim Richey Mercury/PolyGram
45 Bluegrass Rules! Ricky Skaggs Rounder
75 Born Country Alabama BMG
69 The Buffalo Club The Buffalo Club Rising Tide
74 Burnin' Daylight Burnin' Daylight Curb
39 Butterfly Kisses Jeff Carson Curb
32 Come On Christmas Dwight Yoakam Reprise
75 Country Lovin' Songs from the Heart Various Artists Rhino
33 The Country Roads Collection John Denver RCA
44 Cowboy Up – The Official PRCA Rodeo Album Various Artists Edel America
75 Elvis Greatest Jukebox Hits Elvis Presley RCA
53 Every Night's a Saturday Night Lee Roy Parnell Arista Nashville
47 Gospel Super Hits Amazing Grace Various Artists Epic
74 The Girl Next Door Crystal Bernard River North
42 Hallelujah, He Is Born Sawyer Brown Curb
60 Hill Country Christmas Willie Nelson & Bobbie Nelson Finer Arts
75 Hits Johnny Cash Legacy
60 Hopechest Stephanie Bentley Epic
51 Hot Country '97 Various Artists K-Tel
39 How Big a Boy Are Ya? Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
43 How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 2 Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
31 How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 3 Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
53 I'd Be with You Kippi Brannon Curb
50 It's on the House Emilio Navaira Capitol Nashville
47 Little Texas Little Texas Warner Bros.
26 Live Chris LeDoux Capitol Nashville
32 Live at the Cimarron Ballroom Patsy Cline MCA Nashville
75 Merry Texas Christmas Y'all Asleep at the Wheel High Street
31 Peace in the Valley Various Artists Arista Nashville
69 Ray Stevens Christmas: Through a Different Window Ray Stevens MCA Nashville
31 The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers – A Tribute Various Artists Columbia
47 Tammy Graham Tammy Graham Career
44 36 The Truth Brady Seals Reprise
56 Three Chords and the Truth Sara Evans RCA Nashville
33 Twice Upon a Time Joe Diffie Epic
39 We Can't All Be Angels David Lee Murphy MCA Nashville
38 Whatever Comes First Sons of the Desert Epic
41 Words Sherrié Austin Arista Nashville

Births

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

Deaths

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  • 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

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Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees

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Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

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Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

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Major awards

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Grammy Awards

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Juno Awards

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Academy of Country Music

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ARIA Awards

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(presented in Sydney on September 22, 1997)

Canadian Country Music Association

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Country Music Association

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RPM Big Country Awards

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Further reading

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