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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2018.
- January – The critically acclaimed ABC/CMT series Nashville announces it will stop production after its sixth season which premiered on January 4, 2018. The show's last episode aired on July 26, 2018.
- January 17 – Kenny Chesney announces that he has left Sony Music Nashville after 23 years and has subsequently signed with Warner Bros. Records Nashville.[1]
- February 2 – Montgomery Gentry release their final album together, Here's to You, following the death of Troy Gentry in September 2017.[2]
- April 14 – Weeks after his impromptu performance of the Hank Williams Sr. hit song "Lovesick Blues" at his local Wal-Mart in southern Illinois had made him a viral country phenomenon, 11 year old Mason Ramsey realizes his dream of performing at the Grand Ole Opry. Five years later, a teenaged Ramsey would return to the Opry, performing the song again on the 75th anniversary of the country standard.[1]
- April 15 – The Academy of Country Music awards return to Las Vegas for the first time since the October 2017 Las Vegas shooting, with Reba McEntire returning as host; Carrie Underwood makes her comeback performance after months out of the public eye while recovering from injuries she suffered in a fall at home.[3]
- April 30 – USA Network announces Real Country, a reality competition show designed to find the next big country star and featuring Travis Tritt, Jake Owen and Shania Twain as judges.[4]
- June 8 – Sugarland returns with the release of their first album together since 2010, Bigger.[5]
- June 25 – Fox announces it will air "iHeartCountry Festival", featuring headliners Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, and more in August.[6]
- June 26 – Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and Faith Hill are announced to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019.[7]
- July 25 – Reba McEntire is announced as one of the recipients of the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors.[8]
- August 8 – Carrie Underwood announces her pregnancy with her second child.[9]
- September 20 – Carrie Underwood receives her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[10]
- November 20 – Jimmie Allen reaches number one on Country Airplay with "Best Shot", making him the first African American to send a debut single to the top of that chart.[11]
The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, or Canada Country charts in 2018:
Singles released by American and Australian artists
Singles released by Canadian artists
| Songs | Airplay | Canada | Single | Artist | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | 1 | "8th Day" | Dean Brody | [70] |
| — | — | 15 | "18 Ends" | Petric | [71] |
| — | — | 9 | "All About Her" | Paul Brandt | [72] |
| — | — | 8 | "Anthem" | Brett Kissel | [73] |
| — | — | 12 | "The Bad Guy" | Meghan Patrick | [74] |
| — | — | 16 | "Bittersweet" | Paul Brandt featuring Lindsay Ell |
[72] |
| — | — | 19 | "Blame It on the Neon" | Leaving Thomas | [75] |
| — | — | 9 | "Born and Raised" | Hunter Brothers | [76] |
| — | — | 7 | "Camouflage" | Jess Moskaluke | [77] |
| — | — | 5 | "Country Music Made Me Do It" | Meghan Patrick | [74] |
| 28 | 19 | 1 | "Criminal" | Lindsay Ell | [78] |
| — | — | 3 | "Dear Drunk Me" | Chad Brownlee | [79] |
| — | — | 5 | "Denim on Denim" | Tebey | [80] |
| — | — | 1 | "Dive Bar" | Gord Bamford | [81] |
| — | — | 8 | "Do It with You" | Andrew Hyatt | [82] |
| — | — | 13 | "Downtown Kids" | David James | [83] |
| — | — | 11 | "Feel Like That" | Washboard Union | [84] |
| — | — | 10 | "Forever Rebels" | Tim Hicks | [85] |
| — | — | 18 | "Get Me There" | Shawn Austin | [86] |
| — | — | 6 | "Good Goodbye" | Dean Brody | [70] |
| — | — | 6 | "Good Together" | James Barker Band | [87] |
| — | — | 6 | "Got Your Name on It" | Jade Eagleson | [88] |
| — | — | 8 | "Guitars and Gasoline" | Brett Kissel | [89] |
| — | — | 12 | "Habit" | Andrew Hyatt | [82] |
| — | — | 16 | "Little Girl" | Kira Isabella | [90] |
| — | — | 6 | "Long Live the Night" | The Reklaws | [91] |
| — | — | 4 | "Loud" | Tim Hicks | [85] |
| — | — | 1 | "Make 'Em Like You" | Dallas Smith | [92] |
| — | — | 9 | "Miss Me Yet" | Aaron Goodvin | [93] |
| — | — | 13 | "Money" | Cold Creek County | [94] |
| — | — | 11 | "Neon Love" | Madeline Merlo | [95] |
| — | — | 10 | "Neon Smoke" | Gord Bamford | [81] |
| — | — | 3 | "One Drink Ago" | Dallas Smith & Terri Clark |
[92] |
| — | — | 6 | "The Road" | Emerson Drive | [96] |
| 11 | 7 | — | "She's with Me" (U.S. release) | High Valley | [97] |
| — | — | 1 | "Sleepin' Around" | Dallas Smith | [92] |
| — | — | 16 | "Sun Set on It" | David James | [83] |
| — | — | 9 | "Those Were the Nights" | Hunter Brothers | [76] |
| — | — | 1 | "Walls Come Down" | Meghan Patrick | [74] |
| — | — | 15 | "What We're Made Of" | Washboard Union | [84] |
| — | — | 1 | "Who's Gonna Love You" | Tebey | [80] |
| — | — | 17 | "The Worst Kind" | Tim Hicks & Lindsay Ell |
[85] |
| — | — | 6 | "Worth a Shot" | Aaron Pritchett | [98] |
| — | — | 10 | "Young Forever" | High Valley | [99] |
Notes
- "—" denotes releases that did not chart
- A^ Current singles.
The following albums placed on the Top Country Albums charts in 2018:
| US | Album | Artist | Record Label | Release Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | All of It | Cole Swindell | Warner Bros. Nashville | August 17 | [100] |
| 5 | Amos | Michael Ray | Atlantic Nashville | June 1 | [101] |
| 2 | Bigger | Sugarland | Big Machine | June 8 | [102] |
| 5 | Creeker | Upchurch | Redneck Nation | April 20 | [103] |
| 1 | Cry Pretty | Carrie Underwood | 19/Capitol Nashville | September 14 | [104] |
| 1 | Dan + Shay | Dan + Shay | Warner Bros. Nashville | June 22 | [105] |
| 5 | Dark Horse | Devin Dawson | Warner Bros. Nashville | January 19 | [106] |
| 1 | Experiment | Kane Brown | RCA Nashville | November 9 | [107] |
| 1 | Desperate Man | Eric Church | EMI Nashville | October 5 | [108] |
| 3 | Find a Light | Blackberry Smoke | 3 Legged Records | April 6 | [109] |
| 10 | Florida Georgia Line (EP) | Florida Georgia Line | Republic Nashville | June 1 | [110] |
| 7 | Girl Going Nowhere | Ashley McBryde | Warner Bros. Nashville | March 30 | [111] |
| 1 | Golden Hour | Kacey Musgraves | MCA Nashville | March 30 | [112] |
| 1 | Graffiti U | Keith Urban | Capitol Nashville | April 27 | [113] |
| 1 | Hallelujah Nights | LANCO | Arista Nashville | January 19 | [114] |
| 3 | Here's to You | Montgomery Gentry | Average Joes | February 2 | [115] |
| 6 | Home State | Jordan Davis | MCA Nashville | March 23 | [116] |
| 2 | I Serve a Savior | Josh Turner | MCA Nashville | October 26 | [117] |
| 1 | If I Know Me | Morgan Wallen | Big Loud Mountain | April 27 | [118] |
| 1 | Interstate Gospel | Pistol Annies | RCA Nashville | November 2 | [119] |
| 9 | Johnny Cash: Forever Words | Various Artists | Legacy | April 6 | |
| 8 | Laps Around the Sun | Chris Lane | Big Loud | July 13 | [120] |
| 3 | Last Man Standing | Willie Nelson | Legacy | April 27 | [121] |
| 2 | Lifers | Cody Jinks | Rounder | July 27 | [122] |
| 3 | Live from the Ryman | Jason Isbell | Thirty Tigers | October 19 | [123] |
| 1 | The Mountain | Dierks Bentley | Capitol Nashville | June 8 | [124] |
| 6 | Now That's What I Call Country, Volume 11 | Various Artists | Sony Music/Universal | June 8 | |
| 2 | Port Saint Joe | Brothers Osborne | EMI Nashville | April 20 | [125] |
| 1 | Rearview Town | Jason Aldean | Broken Bow | April 13 | [126] |
| 4 | Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin | Various Artists | UMG Nashville | April 6 | |
| 1 | Seasons Change | Scotty McCreery | Triple Tigers | March 16 | [127] |
| 1 | Songs for the Saints | Kenny Chesney | Warner Music Nashville | July 27 | [128] |
| 6 | Supernatural | Upchurch | Redneck Nation | September 7 | [129] |
| 5 | Telling All My Secrets | Mitchell Tenpenny | Riser House/Columbia Nashville | December 14 | [130] |
| 9 | Things That We Drink To | Morgan Evans | Warner Music Nashville | October 12 | [131] |
| 1 | Ticket to L.A. | Brett Young | Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment | December 7 | [132] |
| 2 | The Tree of Forgiveness | John Prine | Oh Boy Records | April 13 | [133] |
| 9 | Water (EP) | Sister Hazel | Croakin' Poets | February 9 | [134] |
| 8 | Wouldn't It Be Great | Loretta Lynn | Legacy | September 28 | [135] |
Other top albums
| US | Album | Artist | Record Label | Release Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Ameracal | Adam Calhoun | Adam Calhoun | March 16 | [136] |
| 40 | The Anthology Part III, LIVE | Garth Brooks | Pearl Records | November 20 | [137] |
| 29 | The Biggest Hits of Tim McGraw | Tim McGraw | Curb Records | June 15 | [138] |
| 24 | Dirt Rock | The Lacs | Average Joes | May 4 | [139] |
| 41 | Downey to Lubbock | Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore | Yep Roc | June 1 | [140] |
| 16 | Dumplin' | Dolly Parton | RCA Nashville/Dolly Records | November 30 | [141] |
| 38 | Elvis: '68 Comeback Special: 50th Anniversary Edition (soundtrack) | Elvis Presley | RCA Legacy | November 30 | [142] |
| 17 | Elvis Presley: The Searcher (Soundtrack) | Elvis Presley | RCA Legacy | April 6 | [143] |
| 19 | Hard Times and White Lines | Whitey Morgan and the 78's | Whitey Morgan Music | October 26 | [144] |
| 11 | Mercury Lane | Jimmie Allen | Broken Bow/Stoney Creek | October 12 | [145] |
| 35 | Mitchell Tenpenny (EP) | Mitchell Tenpenny | Riser House | February 23 | [146] |
| 35 | No Zip Code | David Lee Murphy | Reviver | April 6 | [147] |
| 41 | One Drop of Truth | The Wood Brothers | Honey Jar | February 2 | [148] |
| 27 | Project X, Volume 1 | Upchurch x Bottleneck | Redneck Nation | January 26 | [149] |
| 21 | River Rat | Upchurch | Redneck Nation | December 21 | [150] |
| 20 | Room to Spare: The Acoustic Sessions | Kip Moore | MCA Nashville | November 16 | [151] |
| 16 | She Remembers Everything | Rosanne Cash | Blue Note Records | November 2 | [152] |
| 42 | Shooter | Shooter Jennings | Low Country Sound | August 10 | [153] |
| 27 | Solid Ground | Wade Bowen | Lil' Buddy Toons | February 9 | [154] |
| 29 | Sometimes Just the Sky | Mary Chapin Carpenter | Lambent Light | March 30 | [155] |
| 17 | Songs of the Plains | Colter Wall | Young Mary's | October 12 | [156] |
| 21 | Sparrow | Ashley Monroe | Warner Bros. Nashville | April 20 | [157] |
| 23 | They Were There: A Hero's Documentary (soundtrack) | Granger Smith | Wheelhouse Records | November 30 | [158] |
| 20 | Things Change | American Aquarium | New West Records | June 1 | [159] |
| 21 | The Throne | Adam Calhoun | Adam Calhoun | November 2 | [160] |
| 16 | 'Til I'm Gone | Frank Foster | Lone Chief | September 21 | [161] |
| 39 | The Tree | Lori McKenna | CN Records | July 20 | [162] |
| 32 | The Voice: The Season 15 Collection | Kirk Jay | December 14 | ||
| 49 | The Voice: The Season 15 Collection | Chevel Shepherd | December 14 | ||
| 14 | Volunteer | Old Crow Medicine Show | Columbia Nashville | April 20 | [163] |
| 46 | Wind (EP) | Sister Hazel | Croakin' Poets | September 7 | [164] |
| 20 | WW III | Wheeler Walker Jr. | Thirty Tigers | November 30 | [165] |
| 34 | You Got 'Em All | Trent Harmon | Big Machine Label Group | May 18 | [166] |
- January 2 – Rick Hall, 85, record producer and owner of FAME Studios[167][168]
- January 23 – Lari White, 52, singer-songwriter and actress best known for the hit "Now I Know" (advanced peritoneal cancer).[169]
- February 12 – Daryle Singletary, 46, neotraditionalist singer-songwriter with hits including "I Let Her Lie", "Amen Kind of Love" and "Too Much Fun".[170] (blood clot)
- February 25 – Bruce Nelson Stratton, 74, American radio personality (throat cancer).[171]
- March 2 – Ronnie Prophet, 80, Canadian country music singer (multiple organ failure).[172]
- March 18 – Hazel Smith, 83, American country music journalist, publicist and songwriter; first to coin the phrase "outlaw" in relation to country music.[173]
- March 27 – Kenny O'Dell, 73, American country singer-songwriter ("Behind Closed Doors", "Lizzie and the Rainman", "Mama He's Crazy"), Grammy winner (1974).[174]
- April 17 – Tom McBride, 81, Irish country star and lead singer of Big Tom and The Mainliners.[175]
- April 18 – Randy Scruggs, 64, multiple Grammy-winning songwriter and guitarist; son of Earl Scruggs.[176]
- June 2 – Wayne Secrest, 68, bassist for Confederate Railroad[177]
- June 5 – Billy ThunderKloud, 70, Native American country music singer.[178] (complications from stroke and pneumonia).
- August 4 – Lorrie Collins, 76, American rockabilly singer, member of The Collins Kids.[179][180]
- October 27 – Freddie Hart, 91, singer-songwriter ("Easy Loving", "My Hang-Up Is You", "Trip to Heaven", "Hang In There Girl") (pneumonia).
- November 1 – Dave Rowland, 74, lead singer of Dave & Sugar (stroke).
- November 15 – Roy Clark, 85, country music singer, musician and host of Hee Haw (complications from pneumonia).
- December 15 – Jerry Chesnut, 87, songwriter ("It's Four in the Morning", "T-R-O-U-B-L-E")[181]
- December 22 – Jimmy Work, 94, American country singer-songwriter ("Making Believe").[182][183]
- December 31 – Ray Sawyer, 81, American country singer Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (short illness).[184][185]
Bluegrass Hall of Fame
- Tom T. Hall and Dixie Hall[186]
- Ricky Skaggs[186]
- Paul Williams[186]
Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
- Ricky Skaggs, bluegrass-influenced-and-styled singer-songwriter-musician and leading figure in the neotraditionalist movement of the 1980s onward (born 1954).[187]
- Dottie West, leading singer of the 1960s and early 1970s, enjoyed pop-styled resurgence in late 1970s and early 1980s (1932–1991).[187]
- Johnny Gimble, Western swing-styled musician and member of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys (1926–2015).[187]
Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
- Terri Clark, singer (born 1968)[188]
- Jackie Rae Greening, broadcaster[188]
Academy of Country Music
(presented in Las Vegas on April 7, 2019)
- Entertainer of the Year – Keith Urban
- Male Vocalist of the Year – Thomas Rhett
- Female Vocalist of the Year – Kacey Musgraves
- Vocal Duo of the Year – Dan + Shay
- Vocal Group of the Year – Old Dominion
- New Male Vocalist of the Year – Luke Combs
- New Female Vocalist of the Year – Ashley McBryde
- New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year – Lanco
- Songwriter of the Year – Shane McAnally
- Album of the Year – Golden Hour (Kacey Musgraves)
- Single of the Year – "Tequila" (Dan + Shay)
- Song of the Year – "Tequila" (Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds Dan Smyers)
- Vocal Event of the Year – "Burning Man" (Dierks Bentley featuring Brothers Osborne
- Video of the Year – "Drunk Girl" (Chris Janson)
- Artist of the Decade – Jason Aldean
ACM Honors[189]
(presented August 22 in Nashville)
- Cliffie Stone Icon Award – Alan Jackson
- Merle Haggard Spirit Award – Dierks Bentley
- Mae Boren Axton Award – Mickey Christensen, Chris Christensen and Eddie Miller
- Poet's Award – Matraca Berg and Norro Wilson
- Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award – Darius Rucker
- Gene Weed Milestone Award – Sam Hunt
- Songwriter of the Year – Rhett Akins
- Producer of the Year – Dave Cobb
- Jim Reeves International Award – Rob Potts
Americana Music Honors & Awards
(presented on September 12, 2018)[190]
- Album of the Year – The Nashville Sound (Jason Isbell)
- Artist of the Year – John Prine
- Duo/Group of the Year – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
- Song of the Year – "If We Were Vampires" (Jason Isbell)
- Emerging Artist of the Year – Tyler Childers
- Instrumentalist of the Year – Molly Tuttle
- Spirit of Americana/Free Speech Award – Rosanne Cash
- Lifetime Achievement: Trailblazer – k.d. lang
- Lifetime Achievement: Performance – Irma Thomas
- Lifetime Achievement: Instrumentalist – Buddy Guy
- Lifetime Achievement: Executive – Judy Dlugacz and Cris Williamson
American Music Awards
(presented in Los Angeles on October 9, 2018)
- Favorite Male Artist – Kane Brown
- Favorite Female Artist – Carrie Underwood
- Favorite Group or Duo – Florida Georgia Line
- Favorite Album – Kane Brown (Kane Brown)
- Favorite Song – "Heaven" (Kane Brown)
ARIA Awards
(presented in Sydney on November 28, 2018)[191]
Billboard Music Awards
(presented in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018)
- Top Country Artist – Chris Stapleton
- Top Male Country Artist – Chris Stapleton
- Top Female Country Artist – Maren Morris
- Top Country Duo/Group – Florida Georgia Line
- Top Country Album – From A Room: Volume 1 (Chris Stapleton)
- Top Country Song – "Body Like a Back Road" (Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
- Top Country Tour – Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day Tour (Luke Bryan)
CMT Awards
(presented on June 7, 2018, in Nashville)[192]
- Video of the Year – "I'll Name the Dogs" (Blake Shelton)
- Male Video of the Year – "I'll Name the Dogs" (Blake Shelton)
- Female Video of the Year – "The Champion" (Carrie Underwood ft. Ludacris)
- Duo Video of the Year – "Tequila" (Dan + Shay)
- Group Video of the Year – "When Someone Stops Loving You" (Little Big Town)
- Breakthrough Video of the Year – "Every Little Thing" (Carly Pearce)
- Collaborative Video of the Year – "What Ifs" (Kane Brown ft. Lauren Alaina)
- CMT Performance of the Year – "Everybody" (Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line) from CMT Crossroads
CMT Artists of the Year
(presented on October 17, 2019, in Nashville)[193]
Country Music Association Awards
(presented on November 15, 2018, in Nashville)[194]
- Entertainer of the Year – Keith Urban
- Male Vocalist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
- Female Vocalist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
- New Artist of the Year – Luke Combs
- Vocal Duo of the Year – Brothers Osborne
- Vocal Group of the Year – Old Dominion
- Musician of the Year – Mac McAnally
- Single of the Year – "Broken Halos" (Chris Stapleton)
- Song of the Year – "Broken Halos" (Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton)
- Album of the Year – Golden Hour (Kacey Musgraves)
- Musical Event of the Year – "Everything's Gonna Be Alright (David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney)
- Music Video of the Year – "Marry Me" (Thomas Rhett)
- International Artist Achievement Award – Little Big Town
- Global Artist Achievement Award – Dean Brody (Canada)
Grammy Awards
(presented in Los Angeles on February 10, 2019)
- Album of the Year – Golden Hour (Kacey Musgraves)
- Best Country Solo Performance – "Butterflies" (Kacey Musgraves)
- Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "Tequila" (Dan + Shay)
- Best Country Song – "Space Cowboy" (Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves)
- Best Country Album – Golden Hour (Kacey Musgraves)
- Best Bluegrass Album – The Travelin' McCourys (The Travelin' McCourys)
- Best Americana Album – By the Way, I Forgive You (Brandi Carlile)
- Best American Roots Performance – "The Joke" (Brandi Carlile)
- Best American Roots Song – "The Joke" (Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth)
- Best Roots Gospel Album – Unexpected (Jason Crabb)
International Bluegrass Music Association Awards
(presented on September 27, 2018)[195]
- Entertainer of the Year – Balsam Range
- Male Vocalist of the Year – Buddy Melton
- Female Vocalist of the Year – Brooke Aldridge
- Vocal Group of the Year – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
- Instrumental Group of the Year – The Travelin' McCourys
- Emerging Artist of the Year – The Po' Ramblin' Boys
- Guitar Player of the Year – Molly Tuttle
- Banjo Player of the Year – Ned Luberecki
- Mandolin Player of the Year – Sierra Hull
- Fiddle Player of the Year – Michael Cleveland
- Bass Player of the Year – Tim Surrett
- Dobro Player of the Year – Justin Moses
- Album of the Year – Rivers & Roads (The Special Consensus)
- Song of the Year – "If I'd Have Wrote That Song" (Larry Cordle, Larry Shell, James Silvers)
- Recorded Event of the Year – "Swept Away" (Missy Raines with Alison Brown, Becky Buller, Sierra Hull and Molly Tuttle)
- Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year – "Squirrel Hunters" (The Special Consensus with John Hartford, Rachel Baiman, Christian Sedelmyer and Alison Brown)
- Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year – "Speakin' To That Mountain" (Becky Buller)
Juno Awards
(presented in London on March 16–17, 2019)
- Country Album of the Year – We Were That Song (Brett Kissel)
- Contemporary Roots Album of the Year – Both Ways (Donovan Woods)
- Traditional Roots Album of the Year – Sweet Old Religion (Pharis and Jason Romero)
- Breakthrough Group of the Year – The Washboard Union
- Recording Engineer of the Year – Shawn Everett (Golden Hour)
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