2004 in country music explained

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2004.

Top hits of the year

The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs or Canada Country charts in 2004:

See also: List of number-one country singles of 2004 (Canada).

width=45	US	width=45	CAN	width=auto	Single	width=auto	Artist
1	—	American Soldier	Toby Keith
1	1	Back When	Tim McGraw
18	25	Break Down Here	Julie Roberts
14	—	Come Home Soon	SHeDAISY
18	—	Cool to Be a Fool	Joe Nichols
1	1	Days Go By	Keith Urban
6	5	Desperately	George Strait
52	4	Die of a Broken Heart	Carolyn Dawn Johnson
7	—	Drinkin' Bone	Tracy Byrd
9	10	Feels Like Today	Rascal Flatts
1	2	Girls Lie Too	Terri Clark
11	—	Good Little Girls	Blue County
3	2	Here for the Party	Gretchen Wilson
8	2	Hey Good Lookin'	Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and George Strait
4	—	Honesty (Write Me a List)	Rodney Atkins
5	—	Hot Mama	Trace Adkins
12	27	How Far	Martina McBride
9	26	I Can't Sleep	Clay Walker
2	1	I Go Back	Kenny Chesney
5	9	I Got a Feelin'	Billy Currington
1	3	I Hate Everything	George Strait
6	—	I Love You This Much	Jimmy Wayne
3	—	I Wanna Do It All	Terri Clark
4	10	I Want to Live	Josh Gracin
10	—	If Nobody Believed in You	Joe Nichols
1	3	If You Ever Stop Loving Me	Montgomery Gentry
1	12	In a Real Love	Phil Vassar
4	—	In My Daughter's Eyes	Martina McBride
18	4	It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing	Shania Twain
4	2	Let's Be Us Again	Lonestar
2	4	Letters from Home	John Michael Montgomery
2	—	Little Moments	Brad Paisley
1	1	Live Like You Were Dying	Tim McGraw
5	10	Loco	David Lee Murphy
13	—	Long Black Train	Josh Turner
1	2	Mayberry	Rascal Flatts
18	—	Me and Emily	Rachel Proctor
1	1	Mr. Mom	Lonestar
17	—	My Last Name	Dierks Bentley
5	1	Nothin' 'bout Love Makes Sense	LeAnn Rimes
1	7	Nothing On but the Radio	Gary Allan
4	10	Paint Me a Birmingham	Tracy Lawrence
7	3	Party for Two	Shania Twain with Billy Currington
12	19	Passenger Seat	SHeDAISY
2	—	Perfect	Sara Evans
1	1	Redneck Woman	Gretchen Wilson
1	—	Remember When	Alan Jackson
13	28	Rough & Ready	Trace Adkins
11	9	Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)	Big & Rich
5	21	She Thinks She Needs Me	Andy Griggs
9	—	She's Not Just a Pretty Face	Shania Twain
13	—	Simple Life	Carolyn Dawn Johnson
1	3	Some Beach	Blake Shelton
1	24	Somebody	Reba McEntire
12	10	Songs About Rain	Gary Allan
16	—	Spend My Time	Clint Black
3	2	Stays in Mexico	Toby Keith
1	3	Suds in the Bucket	Sara Evans
3	4	Sweet Southern Comfort	Buddy Jewell
2	2	That's What It's All About	Brooks & Dunn
6	2	That's What She Gets for Loving Me	Brooks & Dunn
5	4	Too Much of a Good Thing	Alan Jackson
19	—	Tougher Than Nails	Joe Diffie
20	14	Trip Around the Sun	Jimmy Buffett with Martina McBride
1	—	Watch the Wind Blow By	Tim McGraw
1	1	When the Sun Goes Down	Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker
1	10	Whiskey Girl	Toby Keith
3	6	Whiskey Lullaby	Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss
2	2	The Woman with You	Kenny Chesney
18	—	You Are	Jimmy Wayne
3	—	You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl	Brooks & Dunn
1	2	You'll Think of Me	Keith Urban

Top new album releases

The following albums placed within the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums charts in 2004:

See also: List of number-one country albums of 2004 (U.S.).

width=45	US	Album	Artist	Record Label
6	42 Ultimate Hits	Kenny Rogers	Capitol Nashville
1	50 Number Ones	George Strait	MCA Nashville
1	Be Here	Keith Urban	Capitol Nashville
5	Between Here and Gone	Mary Chapin Carpenter	Columbia
3	Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill	Blake Shelton	Warner Bros.
10	Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again Soundtrack	Various Artists	Warner Bros.
9	Definitive All-Time Greatest Hits	John Denver	RCA
9	Dress Rehearsal	Carolyn Dawn Johnson	Arista Nashville
1	Feels Like Today	Rascal Flatts	Lyric Street
1	Greatest Hits	Shania Twain	Mercury Nashville
2	Greatest Hits	Lee Ann Womack	MCA Nashville
4	Greatest Hits 1994–2004	Terri Clark	Mercury Nashville
2	Greatest Hits 2	Toby Keith	DreamWorks Nashville
2	Greatest Hits Collection II	Brooks & Dunn	Arista Nashville
7	Have Your Loved Ones Spayed or Neutered	Jeff Foxworthy	Warner Bros.
1	Here for the Party	Gretchen Wilson	Epic
1	Horse of a Different Color	Big & Rich	Warner Bros.
2	Josh Gracin	Josh Gracin	Lyric Street
9	Julie Roberts	Julie Roberts	Mercury Nashville
2	Let's Be Us Again	Lonestar	BNA
3	Letters from Home	John Michael Montgomery	Warner Bros.
1	License to Chill	Jimmy Buffett	Mailboat
1	Live Like You Were Dying	Tim McGraw	Curb
6	Lonely Runs Both Ways	Alison Krauss & Union Station	Rounder
6	Lucky Ones	Pat Green	Republic
7	My Honky Tonk History	Travis Tritt	Columbia
10	Outlaws and Angels	Willie Nelson	Lost Highway
4	Patient Man	Brad Cotter	Epic
9	Patriotic Country	Various Artists	BMG Heritage
3	Revelation	Joe Nichols	Universal South
10	Shaken Not Stirred	Phil Vassar	Arista Nashville
7	Songs Inspired by the Passion of the Christ	Various Artists	Universal South
5	Soul Gravy	Cross Canadian Ragweed	Universal South
3	Spend My Time	Clint Black	Equity
2	Strong	Tracy Lawrence	DreamWorks Nashville
2	Sweet Right Here	SHeDAISY	Lyric Street
7	This I Gotta See	Andy Griggs	RCA Nashville
3	Twice the Speed of Life	Sugarland	Mercury Nashville
10	The Ultimate Alabama	Alabama	RCA Nashville
2	Van Lear Rose	Loretta Lynn	Interscope
10	The Very Best of Dwight Yoakam	Dwight Yoakam	Rhino
10	The Very Best of Randy Travis	Randy Travis	Rhino
8	A Very Larry Christmas	Larry the Cable Guy	Warner Bros.
1	What I Do	Alan Jackson	Arista Nashville
1	When the Sun Goes Down	Kenny Chesney	BNA
8	Where I Belong	Rachel Proctor	BNA
2	You Do Your Thing	Montgomery Gentry	Columbia

Other top albums

width=45	US	Album	Artist	Record Label
29	25 Number Ones	Conway Twitty	MCA Nashville
20	50 Years of Hits	George Jones	Bandit
28		Various Artists	Sparrow
17	Big & Rich's Super Galactic Fan Pak	Big & Rich	Warner Bros.
15	Bipolar and Proud	Cledus T. Judd	Koch
32	Blue County	Blue County	Curb
46	Christmas with You	Clint Black	Equity
12	Darryl Worley	Darryl Worley	DreamWorks Nashville
27	A Decade of Laughs	Bill Engvall	Warner Bros.
48	The Definitive Collection	Don Williams	MCA Nashville
37	Elvis at Sun	Elvis Presley	RCA
30	Elvis: Ultimate Gospel	Elvis Presley	RCA
11	Greatest Hits	Rodney Carrington	Capitol Nashville
23	Have a Fun Christmas	Various Artists	Time Life
45	Heroes	The Isaacs	Gaither
50	Hurt by the Best	Raymond Harris	Cane
12	It Always Will Be	Willie Nelson	Lost Highway
42	Katrina Elam	Katrina Elam	Universal South
34	Keith Urban in the Ranch	The Ranch	Capitol Nashville
22	Live and Well	Dolly Parton	Blue Eye
27	Live at Billy Bob's Texas	Willie Nelson	Smith
49	Lone Starry Night	John Arthur Martinez	Dualtone
31	Loose, Loud, & Crazy	Kevin Fowler	Equity
27	My Mother's Hymn Book	Johnny Cash	Lost Highway
23	The Notorious Cherry Bombs	The Notorious Cherry Bombs	Universal South
35	One Good Friend	George Canyon	Universal South
23	Passing Through	Randy Travis	Word/Curb
12	The Revolution Starts Now	Steve Earle	E-Squared
23	Savin' the Honky Tonk	Mark Chesnutt	Vivaton!
25	Shimmy Down the Chimney: A Country Christmas	Various Artists	Capitol Nashville
49	Show Me How	Lorrie Morgan	Image
46	This Is Americana	Various Artists	Americana Music Association
42	Tougher Than Nails	Joe Diffie	Broken Bow
47	A Traditional Christmas	Joe Nichols	Universal South
22	Trent Willmon	Trent Willmon	Columbia
46	Tryin' to Get There	David Lee Murphy	Koch
16	Ultimate Waylon Jennings	Waylon Jennings	RCA Nashville
39	Unforgettable	Merle Haggard	Capitol Nashville
31	Wayward Angel	Kasey Chambers	Warner Bros.
13	What a Wonderful World	LeAnn Rimes	Asylum-Curb
12	What If?	Emerson Drive	DreamWorks Nashville
35	Wheels of Fortune	The Flatlanders	New West

Deaths

• June 10 – Ray Charles, 73, multi-talented artist who combined elements of pop, rhythm and blues, soul and jazz with country music.
• August 9 – Sam Hogin, 52 or 53, co-writer of "A Broken Wing" and other 1990s country singles^[1]
• September 19 – Skeeter Davis, 72, best known for "The End of the World."
• September 23 – Roy Drusky, 74, Grand Ole Opry star and smooth countrypolitan stylist of the 1960s.
• October 11 – Max D. Barnes, 68, songwriter and record producer whose peak came in the 1980s and early 1990s.
• October 24 – Angela Herzberg, 36, wife of Gary Allan. (suicide)
• December 27 – Hank Garland, 74, country and jazz guitar pioneer.

Hall of Fame inductees

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees

• John Ray "Curly" Seckler
• Bill Vernon

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

• Jim Foglesong (born 1922)
• Kris Kristofferson (born 1936)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

• The Good Brothers
• "Weird" Harold Kendall

Major awards

Grammy Awards

(presented February 13, 2005 in Los Angeles)

• Best Female Country Vocal Performance – "Redneck Woman", Gretchen Wilson
• Best Male Country Vocal Performance – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim McGraw.
• Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal – "Top of the World (live recording)", Dixie Chicks
• Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – "Portland, Oregon", Loretta Lynn and Jack White
• Best Country Instrumental Performance – "Earl's Breakdown", Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements and Jerry Douglas
• Best Country Song – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman
• Best Country Album – Van Lear Rose, Loretta Lynn
• Best Bluegrass Album – Brand New Strings, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Juno Awards

(presented April 3, 2005 in Winnipeg)

• Country Recording of the Year – One Good Friend, George Canyon

CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards

(presented April 21 in Nashville)

• Video of the Year – "American Soldier", Toby Keith
• Male Video of the Year – "There Goes My Life", Kenny Chesney
• Female Video of the Year – "Forever and for Always", Shania Twain
• Group/Duo Video of the Year – "I Melt", Rascal Flatts
• Breakthrough Video of the Year – "What Was I Thinkin'", Dierks Bentley
• Collaborative Video of the Year – "Beer for My Horses", Toby Keith and Willie Nelson
• Hottest Video of the Year – "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems", Kenny Chesney
• Cameo of the Year – "Celebrity", Jason Alexander, James Belushi, Little Jimmy Dickens, Trista Rehn, William Shatner, Brad Paisley
• Video Director of the Year – "Beer for My Horses", Toby Keith and Willie Nelson (Director: Michael Salomon)
• Johnny Cash Visionary Award – Reba McEntire

Americana Music Honors & Awards

• Album of the Year – Van Lear Rose (Loretta Lynn)
• Artist of the Year – Loretta Lynn
• Song of the Year – "Fate's Right Hand" (Rodney Crowell)
• Emerging Artist of the Year – Mindy Smith
• Instrumentalist of the Year – Will Kimbrough
• Spirit of Americana/Free Speech Award – Steve Earle
• Lifetime Achievement: Songwriting – Cowboy Jack Clement
• Lifetime Achievement: Performance – Chris Hillman
• Lifetime Achievement: Executive – Jack Emerson

Academy of Country Music

(presented May 17, 2005 in Las Vegas)

• Entertainer of the Year – Kenny Chesney
• Song of the Year – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman
• Single of the Year – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim McGraw
• Album of the Year – Be Here, Keith Urban
• Top Male Vocalist – Keith Urban
• Top Female Vocalist – Gretchen Wilson
• Top Vocal Duo – Brooks & Dunn
• Top Vocal Group – Rascal Flatts
• Top New Artist – Gretchen Wilson
• Video of the Year – "Whiskey Lullaby", Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss (Director: Rick Schroder)
• Vocal Event of the Year – "Whiskey Lullaby", Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
• ACM/Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year – Neal McCoy

ARIA Awards

(presented in Sydney on October 17, 2004)

• Best Country Album – Wayward Angel (Kasey Chambers)

Canadian Country Music Association

(presented September 13 in Edmonton)

• Kraft Cheez Whiz Fans' Choice Award – Terri Clark
• Male Artist of the Year – Jason McCoy
• Female Artist of the Year – Terri Clark
• Group or Duo of the Year – Doc Walker
• SOCAN Song of the Year – "Die of a Broken Heart", Carolyn Dawn Johnson
• Single of the Year – "Simple Life", Carolyn Dawn Johnson
• Album of the Year – Dress Rehearsal, Carolyn Dawn Johnson
• Top Selling Album – Greatest Hits Volume II, Alan Jackson
• CMT Video of the Year – "Simple Life", Carolyn Dawn Johnson
• Chevy Trucks Rising Star Award – George Canyon
• Roots Artist or Group of the Year – Corb Lund

Country Music Association

(presented November 9 in Nashville)

• Entertainer of the Year – Kenny Chesney
• Song of the Year – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman
• Single of the Year – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim McGraw
• Album of the Year – When the Sun Goes Down, Kenny Chesney
• Male Vocalist of the Year – Keith Urban
• Female Vocalist of the Year – Martina McBride
• Vocal Duo of the Year – Brooks & Dunn
• Vocal Group of the Year – Rascal Flatts
• Horizon Award – Gretchen Wilson
• Video of the Year – "Whiskey Lullaby", Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss (Director: Rick Schroder)
• Vocal Event of the Year – "Whiskey Lullaby", Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
• Musician of the Year – Dann Huff

Further reading

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

See also

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

External links

• Country Music Hall of Fame

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sam Hogin, Co-Writer of "A Broken Wing," Dies . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305153505/http://www.cmt.com/news/1490050/sam-hogin-co-writer-of-a-broken-wing-dies/ . dead . March 5, 2016 . CMT.com . 2015-04-30.