2013 in country music explained

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2013.

Events

• January – A brief feud erupts between Blake Shelton and country legend Ray Price when Shelton criticized veteran country performers who don't agree with the direction in which the genre is going, claiming "(n)obody wants to listen to their grandpa's music." Price was offended and publicly expressed his disapproval in a Facebook post, prompting Shelton to issue an apology on Twitter. Several days later, Price accepted the apology. "I agree that he should be given a chance to restore his credibility with the millions of fans who were deeply offended by those hurtful words," Price wrote as part of his Facebook post responding to Shelton's apology.^[1]
• January 21 – The first Nash FM-branded station – a media brand and network owned by Cumulus Media – is WNSH (Nash 94.7) in Newark, New Jersey (serving the New York City metropolitan area).^[2] The Nash FM brand focuses on current hits (along with scattered recurrents from the past 2–3 years); a year later, a Nash Icon brand will be added, mixing in current hits with songs from the 1980s onward. The first song played on the station is "How Country Feels" by Randy Houser. It becomes the first country music radio station in NYC and NJ since 1996.
• February 17 – Mindy McCready, whose personal and legal problems overshadowed her promising future as a rising female vocalist of the late 1990s, is found dead of an apparent suicide at her home in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Her death came a month after the death of her boyfriend, songwriter David Wilson.^{[3] [4]}
• March 2 – The Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones, a radio show hosted by Austin, Texas, radio personality Bobby Estell (aka Bobby Bones), debuts in syndication.
• April 24 – The Chatham County, Georgia Grand Jury indicted Billy Currington on felony criminal charges of "abuse of an elder person by inflicting mental anguish" and "making terroristic threats". Both criminal charges stem from an April 15 incident involving Charles Harvey Ferrelle, with the indictment alleging that Currington made terrorist threats and drove too close to Ferrelle's boat in a manner that he nearly knocked the elderly man into the water. Currington – released after posting $27,000 bond – faces a prison term of 1 to 5 years if convicted.^[5]
• July 7 – Randy Travis is hospitalized in critical condition with viral cardiomyopathy.^[6] Four days later, he suffers a stroke and undergoes surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.^[7]
• August 10 – With 22 weeks at No. 1, "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line sets a new record for most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, breaking a three-way tie of 21 weeks at No. 1 jointly held by Eddy Arnold ("I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)," 1947), Hank Snow ("I'm Movin' On," 1950) and Webb Pierce ("In the Jailhouse Now," 1955). "Cruise" benefited from changes in Billboard's methodology, made in 2012, from a country airplay-only chart to one that reflects all-genre airplay, music downloads and streaming, similarly to the Hot 100. The song had earlier spent five weeks at No. 1 in late December into January, began falling but never dropping out of the top 40, before rebounding in April following the release of a remix with Nelly and eventually reclaiming the chart's No. 1 position.
• August 18 – Jody Rosen of New York coins the term "bro-country" to describe the genre's then-ongoing trend of hip-hop influenced country songs with a theme of partying.^[8]
• August 23 – In an interview with AARP, Linda Ronstadt reveals she has Parkinson's disease and can no longer sing.^[9]
• October 16 – Record producer Tony Brown, best known for producing George Strait, is arrested for domestic assault against his wife.^[10]
• December 15 – Numerous media outlets, from Rolling Stone to the USA Today, prematurely reported that Ray Price had died from pancreatic cancer. The information came from Price's son, Cliff, who posted via Facebook his father's apparent passing, but it was later retracted, according to The Tennessean (which also published a news story on Price's death that was later removed).^[11] Price died the next day, with family spokesman Bill Mack confirming the death.^[12]

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 2013:

See also: List of number-one country singles of 2013 (U.S.) and List of number-one country singles of 2013 (Canada).

Singles released by American artists

width=45	Songs	width=45	Airplay	width=45	Canada	width=auto	Single	width=auto	Artist	width=auto	References
24	15	12	All Kinds of Kinds	Miranda Lambert
9	3	12	All Over the Road	Easton Corbin
29	17	—	American Beautiful	The Henningsens
7	1	4	Anywhere with You	Jake Owen
4	3	5	Aw Naw	Chris Young
9	2	3	Beat This Summer	Brad Paisley
26	19	—	Beer with Jesus	Thomas Rhett
10	3	7	Begin Again	Taylor Swift
1	1	1	Better Dig Two	The Band Perry
20	—	—	Born to Fly	Danielle Bradbery	^[13]
2	1	1	Boys 'Round Here	Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies and Friends
20	59	—	Buzzkill	Luke Bryan
20	16	—	Can't Shake You	Gloriana
2	1	12	Carolina	Parmalee
25	20	43	Changed	Rascal Flatts
28	13	42	Could It Be	Charlie Worsham
2	1	1	Crash My Party	Luke Bryan
24	14	—	Crying on a Suitcase	Casey James
16	—	—	Danny's Song	The Swon Brothers	^[14]
19	15	28	Days of Gold	Jake Owen
5	1	3	Don't Ya	Brett Eldredge
8	1	1	Done	The Band Perry
2	1	1	Downtown	Lady Antebellum
28	17	30	Drinks After Work	Toby Keith
3	1	2	Drunk Last Night	Eli Young Band
21	17	49	Easy	Sheryl Crow
1	1	1	Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)	Gary Allan
18	15	33	Everybody's Got Somebody But Me	Hunter Hayes featuring Jason Mraz
5	1	1	Get Your Shine On	Florida Georgia Line
7	2	30	Give It All We Got Tonight	George Strait
5	1	1	Goodbye in Her Eyes	Zac Brown Band
22	11	11	Goodbye Town	Lady Antebellum
5	1	18	Hey Girl	Billy Currington
8	2	6	Hey Pretty Girl	Kip Moore
4	1	2	Highway Don't Care	Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift
29	18	40	Hope on the Rocks	Toby Keith
6	1	1	How Country Feels	Randy Houser
16	4	4	I Can Take It from There	Chris Young
6	1	3	I Drive Your Truck	Lee Brice
2	2	1	I Want Crazy	Hunter Hayes
7	1	14	If I Didn't Have You	Thompson Square
2	1	4	It Goes Like This	Thomas Rhett
13	2	3	Jump Right In	Zac Brown Band
26	16	—	Let There Be Cowgirls	Chris Cagle
13	6	5	Like Jesus Does	Eric Church
6	1	1	Little Bit of Everything	Keith Urban
2	2	1	Mama's Broken Heart	Miranda Lambert
14	10	26	Merry Go 'Round	Kacey Musgraves
2	1	1	Mine Would Be You	Blake Shelton
16	—	—	The Moment I Knew	Taylor Swift	^[15]
21	7	33	More Than Miles	Brantley Gilbert
2	1	1	Night Train	Jason Aldean
3	1	1	One of Those Nights	Tim McGraw
5	1	2	The Only Way I Know	Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church
6	25	37	The Outsiders	Eric Church
25	15	—	Outta My Head	Craig Campbell
11	6	8	Parking Lot Party	Lee Brice
29	18	34	Pieces	Gary Allan
7	3	6	Pirate Flag	Kenny Chesney
10	2	6	Point at You	Justin Moore
14	4	10	Radio	Darius Rucker
2	7	17	Red	Taylor Swift
2	3	7	Redneck Crazy	Tyler Farr
3	1	1	Round Here	Florida Georgia Line
3	1	1	Runnin' Outta Moonlight	Randy Houser
7	2	2	See You Again	Carrie Underwood
29	16	37	She Cranks My Tractor	Dustin Lynch
7	1	5	Somebody's Heartbreak	Hunter Hayes
10	2	2	Southern Comfort Zone	Brad Paisley
4	2	1	Southern Girl	Tim McGraw
4	1	1	Sunny and 75	Joe Nichols
1	1	1	Sure Be Cool If You Did	Blake Shelton
1	2	2	That's My Kind of Night	Luke Bryan
7	1	8	Til My Last Day	Justin Moore
16	5	—	Tip It On Back	Dierks Bentley
6	2	4	Tornado	Little Big Town
4	2	3	Two Black Cadillacs	Carrie Underwood
1	1	1	Wagon Wheel	Darius Rucker
1	1	2	We Were Us	Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert
25	14	14	When I See This Bar	Kenny Chesney

Singles released by Canadian artists

width=45	Songs	width=45	Airplay	width=45	Canada	width=auto	Single	width=auto	Artist	width=auto	References
—	—	12	Anything At All	Autumn Hill
—	—	19	Beer Necessities	Jake Mathews	^[16]
—	—	18	Blame It on Your Truck	Kira Isabella	^[17]
—	—	1	Bounty	Dean Brody
—	—	8	Buzz Buzz Buzzing	Tim Hicks	^[18]
—	—	19	Can't Keep Waiting	Autumn Hill
—	—	10	Crash	Chad Brownlee	^[19]
—	—	9	Dirt	Dean Brody	^[20]
—	—	9	Duet	Wes Mack	^[21]
—	—	11	Farm Girl Strong	Gord Bamford	^[22]
—	—	9	Get By	Tim Hicks
—	—	20	Half Broke Horses	Jaida Dreyer	^[23]
—	—	9	Hell Raisin' Good Time	Tim Hicks
—	—	16	Hope and Gasoline	Beverley Mahood	^[24]
—	—	10	Let It Roll	Emerson Drive with Doc Walker
—	—	10	Living on the Outside	Small Town Pistols	^[25]
—	56	13	Love You for a Long Time	High Valley	^[26] ^[27]
—	—	19	Must Be a Woman	Gord Bamford
—	—	17	Never Done It Like This	Steven Lee Olsen	^[28]
—	—	11	Never Gonna Let You	MacKenzie Porter	^[29]
—	—	6	Nothing but Summer	Dallas Smith
—	—	12	Put It Into Drive	Doc Walker	^[30]
—	—	13	Rock It Country Girl	Jason Blaine	^[31]
—	—	17	She Always Gets What She Wants	Emerson Drive	^[32]
—	—	14	Slow Dance	George Canyon	^[33]
—	—	9	Somebody Will	Bobby Wills	^[34]
—	—	11	Somewhere in the Country	Tebey	^[35]
—	—	13	Songs About You	Kira Isabella
—	—	3	Started with a Song	Brett Kissel
—	—	18	Suntan City	Aaron Pritchett	^[36]
—	—	10	Take the Week Off	Deric Ruttan
—	—	8	Till It's Gone	Tebey
—	—	12	Underneath the Apple Trees	Dean Brody
—	—	7	What Kinda Love	Dallas Smith
—	—	1	When Your Lips Are So Close	Gord Bamford
—	—	13	Where the Party At?	Chad Brownlee
—	—	11	Where the Train Don't Stop	Deric Ruttan	^[37]
—	—	12	With You	Emerson Drive

Notes

• "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Top new album releases

The following albums placed within the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums charts in 2013:

See also: List of number-one country albums of 2013 (U.S.).

See also: List of UK Country Albums Chart number ones of 2013.

width=45	US	Album	Artist	Record Label	Release Date	Reference
2	A.M.	Chris Young	RCA Nashville	September 17
2	Alabama & Friends	Various Artists	Show Dog-Universal Music	August 27
2	Annie Up	Pistol Annies	RCA Nashville	May 7
4	Bakersfield	Vince Gill and Paul Franklin	MCA Nashville	July 30
1	Based on a True Story…	Blake Shelton	Warner Bros. Nashville	March 26
1		Garth Brooks	Pearl	November 28
3	The Bluegrass Album	Alan Jackson	ACR/EMI Records Nashville	September 24
2	Bring You Back	Brett Eldredge	Atlantic Nashville	August 6
10	Brothers of the 4×4	Hank 3	Megaforce/Hank 3	October 1
3	Caught in the Act: Live	Eric Church	EMI Nashville	April 9
1	Crash My Party	Luke Bryan	Capitol Nashville	August 13
3	Crickets	Joe Nichols	Red Bow	October 8
5	Danielle Bradbery	Danielle Bradbery	Big Machine	November 25
4	Days of Gold	Jake Owen	RCA Nashville	December 3
3	Drinks After Work	Toby Keith	Show Dog-Universal Music	October 29
1		The Robertsons	UMG Nashville	October 29
7	Fall Into Me	Katie Armiger	Cold River	January 15	^[38]
10	Feels Like Carolina	Parmalee	Stoney Creek	December 10
3	Feels Like Home	Sheryl Crow	Warner Bros. Nashville	September 10
1	Frame by Frame	Cassadee Pope	Republic Nashville	October 8
1	Fuse	Keith Urban	Capitol Nashville	September 10
1	Golden	Lady Antebellum	Capitol Nashville	May 7
5	The Grohl Sessions, Vol. 1 (EP)	Zac Brown Band	Southern Ground	December 10
3	How Country Feels	Randy Houser	Stoney Creek	January 22
8	In Time	The Mavericks	Valory Music Group	February 26
2	It Goes Like This	Thomas Rhett	Valory Music Group	October 29
4	Just Feels Good	Thompson Square	Stoney Creek	March 26
3	Keep It Redneck	The Lacs	Backroad	August 20
1	Life on a Rock	Kenny Chesney	Blue Chair/Columbia	April 30
10	Like a Rose	Ashley Monroe	Warner Bros. Nashville	March 5	^[39]
1	Love Is Everything	George Strait	MCA Nashville	May 14
6	Love Will...	Trace Adkins	Show Dog-Universal Music	May 14
8	Mud Digger 4	Various Artists	Average Joes	July 2
5		Various Artists	Big Machine	May 7
7		Various Artists	Big Machine	December 10
10	Now That's What I Call a Country Party	Various Artists	Universal	May 7
4	Now That's What I Call Country Volume 6	Various Artists	Universal	June 11
1	Off the Beaten Path	Justin Moore	Valory Music Group	September 17
4	Old Yellow Moon	Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell	Nonesuch	February 26
1	Pioneer	The Band Perry	Republic Nashville	April 2
2	Precious Memories Volume II	Alan Jackson	EMI Nashville	March 26
4	Ready Set Roll (EP)	Chase Rice	Dack Janiels	October 15
2	Redneck Crazy	Tyler Farr	Columbia Nashville	September 30
1	Same Trailer Different Park	Kacey Musgraves	Mercury Nashville	March 19
1	See You Tonight	Scotty McCreery	19/Interscope/Mercury Nashville	October 15
1	Set You Free	Gary Allan	MCA Nashville	January 22
9	Spitfire	LeAnn Rimes	Curb	June 4
1	Spring Break…Here to Party	Luke Bryan	Capitol Nashville	March 5
7	StandOff	Casey Donahew Band	Almost Country	April 16
4	Tate Stevens	Tate Stevens	RCA Nashville/Syco	April 23
2	To All the Girls...	Willie Nelson	Legacy	October 15
3	Trouble	Randy Rogers Band	MCA Nashville	April 30
1	True Believers	Darius Rucker	Capitol Nashville	May 21
1	Two Lanes of Freedom	Tim McGraw	Big Machine	February 5
6	The Voice: The Complete Season 4 Collection	Danielle Bradbery	Republic Nashville	June 19
5	We Are Tonight	Billy Currington	Mercury Nashville	September 17
1	Wheelhouse	Brad Paisley	Arista Nashville	April 9
4	The Woman I Am	Kellie Pickler	Black River Entertainment	November 11
9	You Can't Make Old Friends	Kenny Rogers	Warner Bros. Nashville	October 8

Other top albums

width=45	US	Album	Artist	Record Label	Release Date	Reference
33	4 Album Collection	Luke Bryan	Capitol Nashville	November 19
23	12 Stories	Brandy Clark	Slate Creek Records	October 22
38	40th Anniversary: 1973–2013	The Oak Ridge Boys	Gaither Music Group	July 30
34	Amazing Grace	George Jones	Bandit	September 10
24	Beggin' for More	Kyle Park	Kyle Park Music	March 19
24	Best from the Farewell Concert	The Statler Brothers	Gaither Music Group	April 23
40	Brothers of the Highway	Dailey & Vincent	Rounder	May 7
31	The Calm After...	Travis Tritt	Post Oak	July 9
29	Cheater's Game	Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison	Spunk	February 12
47	Chris Janson (EP)	Chris Janson	Bigger Picture Music Group	September 3
46	The Classic Christmas Album	Alabama	Legacy	October 8
48	The Classic Christmas Album	Johnny Cash	Legacy	October 8
27	The Classic Christmas Album	Martina McBride	Legacy	October 8
38	Cluck Ol' Hen	Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby	Skaggs Family	August 20
36	Country: Charlie Daniels	Charlie Daniels	Sony Music	February 26
49	Country: Keith Whitley	Keith Whitley	Sony Music	March 5
36	Cut to Impress	Maggie Rose	RPM Entertainment	March 26
25	Dark & Dirty Mile	Jason Boland & the Stragglers	Proud Souls	May 14
15	Dirt Road Driveway	Granger Smith	Pioneer	April 16
32	Divided & United	Various Artists	ATO	November 5
33	Door Without a Screen	Sundy Best	E1 Entertainment	August 27
28	Feeling Mortal	Kris Kristofferson	KK	January 29
30	Finally Home	Blue Sky Riders	101 Distribution	January 29
36	Good Wine and Bad Decisions	Julie Roberts	Sun	October 29
36	Greatest Hits Vol. 1: Tribute to Garth Brooks	Country Hits Makers	Country Hits Makers	May 3
26	Headlights, Taillights and Radios	Tracy Lawrence	Lawrence Music Group	August 20
39	High Cotton: A Tribute to Alabama	Various Artists	Lightning Rod	September 17
48	High Life	Charlie Robison	Jetwell	October 1
31	High Top Mountain	Sturgill Simpson	High Top Mountain	June 11
18	The Highway	Holly Williams	Georgiana	February 5
43	Honky Tonk Woman	Georgia Holt	Georgia Holt	April 30
32	I Can't Stop Loving You: The Songs of Don Gibson	Mandy Barnett	Cracker Barrel	November 11
48	Icon	Chris Cagle	Capitol Nashville	March 19
19		Randy Travis	Warner Bros. Nashville	October 1
27	Inspired: Songs of Faith & Family	Joey + Rory	Gaither Music Group	July 16
12	The Journey (Livin' Hits)	Craig Morgan	Black River	September 3
49	Justified: Music from the Original Television Series	Various Artists	Madison Gate	January 8
41	Keep It Country	Jason Cassidy	A-Blake	July 16
45	Kicker Town	Rusty Truck	Crosseyed Music	August 6
12	The King's Gift	Trace Adkins	Caliburn	October 29
16	Let's Face the Music and Dance	Willie Nelson	Legacy	April 16
33	Life as We Know It	Lonestar	4 Star	June 4
32	LIFE Unheard	Johnny Cash	Sony Music	August 13
44	A Little Unprofessional	Ron White	Image	June 4
39	The Living Room Sessions	B. J. Thomas	Wrinkled	April 2
25	LoCash Cowboys	LoCash Cowboys	Average Joes	June 18
22	Long Night Moon	Reckless Kelly	No Big Deal	September 3
12	The Low Highway	Steve Earle	New West	April 16
44	Made to Last	Joey + Rory	Farmhouse Recordings	October 8
36	Memories and Moments	Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott	Full Light	September 17
13	Merry Christmas… Love, Elvis	Elvis Presley	Sony Music	August 27
38	Move Like That (EP)	Due West	Sovereign 3	August 27
34	Mud Dynasty	Lenny Cooper	Average Joes	May 7
22	The Muse	The Wood Brothers	Southern Ground	October 1
12		Various Artists	ATO	April 2
12	My Favourite Picture of You	Guy Clark	Dualtone	July 23
23	Never Give In	Will Hoge	Cumberland	October 15
27	Never Regret	Craig Campbell	Bigger Picture Music Group	May 7
17	New Hometown	Connor Christian & Southern Gothic	Rocket Science	February 12
11	Official 2013 Academy of Country Music Awards 'ZinePak	Various Artists	ZinePak LLC/Walmart	March 26
20	Original Good Ol' Boy	JJ Lawhorn	Average Joes	July 16
19	The Other Life	Shooter Jennings	Entertainment One Music	March 12
40	Pain Management	Bubba Sparxxx	Average Joes	October 15
28	Point at You & Four Moore Hits (EP)	Justin Moore	Valory Music Group	April 2
45		Neal McCoy	Slate Creek	September 24
48	Red River Drifter	Michael Martin Murphey	Red River	July 9
24	Right On Time	Gretchen Wilson	Redneck	April 2
34	Rose Queen	William Clark Green	Bill Grease	April 30
21	Rough (EP)	Chuck Wicks	Liz Rose Music	April 9
12	Rubberband	Charlie Worsham	Warner Bros. Nashville	August 20
43	Runaway Freeway Blues	The Black Lillies	North Knox	March 26
22	See You There	Glen Campbell	Surfdog	August 13
39	Slower Than Christmas	Mountain Man	IMI	November 11
35	Some Old, Some New, Maybe a Cover or Two	Cody Canada	Underground Sound	November 19
11	Southern Soul	Frank Foster	Frank Foster	September 3
42	The Stand-In	Caitlin Rose	ATO	March 5
18	Tim McGraw & Friends	Tim McGraw	Curb	January 22
40	Under the Covers	Gretchen Wilson	Redneck	June 4
18	The Voice: The Complete Season 4 Collection	The Swon Brothers	Republic Nashville	June 19
30	When I Said I Do	Clint Black	Cracker Barrel	August 5
41	You Should Dream	The Texas Tenors	Select-O-Hits	December 10

Deaths

• January 1 – Patti Page, 85, traditional pop singer who was one of the most successful music artists of the 1950s and best known for her classic country-pop hit, "Tennessee Waltz."^[40]
• January 30 – Patty Andrews, 94, last surviving member of vocal pop group The Andrews Sisters who had three top ten country hits in the 1940s.^[41]
• February 17 – Mindy McCready, 37, country vocalist from the mid-to-late 1990s, best known for "Guys Do It All the Time" (suicide)^[42]
• March 6 – Stompin' Tom Connors, 77, Canadian country singer from the 1970s, best known for "The Hockey Song" (natural causes)^[43]
• March 6 – Claude King, 90, singer/songwriter known for his million selling 1962 hit "Wolverton Mountain" (natural causes)^[44]
• March 14 – Jack Greene, 83, American country musician nicknamed the "Jolly Green Giant" and well known for his 1966 hit "There Goes My Everything" also for his 1969 hit "Statue of a Fool" (complications from Alzheimer's disease)
• April 16 – Rita MacNeil, 68, Canadian country singer from the 1980s and 1990s (complications from surgery)^[45]
• April 26 – George Jones, 81, country music icon from the 1950s onward, best known for hits such as "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and dozens of others. (acute hypoxia, from complications of fever and irregular blood pressure)^[46]
• May 24 – Lorene Mann, 76, singer-songwriter best known for her duets with Justin Tubb and Archie Campbell^[47]
• June 5 – Don Bowman, 75, original host of radio's American Country Countdown and writer of Waylon Jennings-Willie Nelson duet "Just to Satisfy You."
• June 19 – Slim Whitman, 90, country artist best known for his high-octave falsetto and yodeling abilities, and songs such as "Indian Love Call" and "Rose Marie" (heart failure)^[48]
• June 19 – Chet Flippo, 69, journalist for Rolling Stone and Billboard, editorial director at Country Music Television^[49]
• July 8 – Johnny MacRae, 84, songwriter best known for "I'd Love to Lay You Down" (heart disease)^[50]
• July 29 – Betty Sue Lynn, 64, daughter of Country legend Loretta Lynn and her husband Oliver Lynn, dies of emphysema just outside her mother's ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Betty Sue is the second of Lynn's children to die before her.
• August 8 – Jack Clement, 82, songwriter and record producer known for his work with Johnny Cash
• August 10 – Jody Payne, 77, Willie Nelson's longtime guitarist^[51]
• August 13 – Tompall Glaser, 79, one-third of Tompall & the Glaser Brothers; also known for the solo single "Put Another Log on the Fire"^[52]
• September 17 – Marvin Rainwater, 88, was an American country and rockabilly singer and songwriter who had several hits during the late 1950s, including "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird"
• September 28 – B. B. Watson, 60, best known for his 1991 hit "Light at the End of the Tunnel"
• October 10 – Cal Smith, 81, best known for his 1974 hit "Country Bumpkin"^[53]
• October 20 – Leon Ashley, 77, best known for his 1967 hit "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)"^[54]
• October 29 – Sherman Halsey, 56, music video director best known for his work with Tim McGraw^[55]
• November 13 – Bob Beckham, 86, singer and music publisher^[56]
• November 21 – Nelson Larkin, 70, songwriter and producer^[57]
• December 16 – Ray Price, 87, country singer best known for his hits "For the Good Times", "Crazy Arms", "City Lights" and dozens more (pancreatic cancer)^[58]

Hall of Fame Inductees

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame

• Tony Rice
• Paul Warren

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

• Bobby Bare (born 1935)
• "Cowboy" Jack Clement (1931–2013)
• Kenny Rogers (1938–2020)

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

• Ed Harris
• Rita MacNeil

Major awards

American Country Awards

(presented December 10 in Las Vegas)

• Artist of the Year – Luke Bryan
• Male Artist of the Year – Luke Bryan
• Female Artist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
• Group/Duo of the Year – Lady Antebellum
• Touring Artist of the Year – Luke Bryan
• Album of the Year – Based on a True Story..., Blake Shelton
• Breakthrough Artist of the Year – Scotty McCreery
• New Artist of the Year – Florida Georgia Line
• Single of the Year – "Cruise", Florida Georgia Line
• Male Single of the Year – "Sure Be Cool If You Did", Blake Shelton
• Female Single of the Year – "Mama's Broken Heart", Miranda Lambert
• Duo/Group Single of the Year – "Downtown", Lady Antebellum
• Breakthrough Single of the Year – "I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice
• New Artist Single of the Year – "Cruise", Florida Georgia Line
• Single by a Vocal Collaboration – "Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
• Music Video of the Year – "Sure Be Cool If You Did", Blake Shelton
• Male Music Video of the Year – "Sure Be Cool If You Did", Blake Shelton
• Female Music Video of the Year – "Blown Away", Carrie Underwood
• Duo/Group Music Video of the Year – "Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
• New Artist Music Video of the Year – "Cruise", Florida Georgia Line
• Song of the Year – "Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban

Academy of Country Music

(presented April 6, 2014 in Las Vegas)

• Entertainer of the Year – George Strait
• Top Male Vocalist – Jason Aldean
• Top Female Vocalist – Miranda Lambert
• Top Vocal Group – The Band Perry
• Top Vocal Duo – Florida Georgia Line
• Top New Artist – Justin Moore
• Album of the Year – Same Trailer Different Park, Kacey Musgraves
• Single Record of the Year – "Mama's Broken Heart", Miranda Lambert
• Song of the Year – "I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice
• Video of the Year – "Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
• Vocal Event of the Year – "We Were Us", Keith Urban feat. Miranda Lambert

ACM Honors

• Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – The Judds
• Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – Keith Whitley
• Crystal Milestone Award – Jason Aldean
• Gene Weed Special Achievement Award – Blake Shelton
• Jim Reeves International Award – Lady Antebellum
• Mae Boren Axton Award – Tommy Wiggins
• Poet's Award – Guy Clark
• Poet's Award – Hank Williams
• Songwriter of the Year – Dallas Davidson

Americana Music Honors & Awards

• Album of the Year – Old Yellow Moon (Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell)
• Artist of the Year – Dwight Yoakam
• Duo/Group of the Year – Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell
• Song of the Year – "Birmingham" (Shovels & Rope)
• Emerging Artist of the Year – Shovels & Rope
• Instrumentalist of the Year – Larry Campbell
• Spirit of Americana/Free Speech Award – Stephen Stills
• Lifetime Achievement: Trailblazer – Old Crow Medicine Show
• Lifetime Achievement: Songwriting – Robert Hunter
• Lifetime Achievement: Performance – Dr John
• Lifetime Achievement: Instrumentalist – Duane Eddy
• Lifetime Achievement: Executive – Chris Strachwitz

American Music Awards

(presented in Los Angeles on November 24, 2013)

• Artist of the Year – Taylor Swift
• Favorite Country Female Artist – Taylor Swift
• Favorite Country Male Artist – Luke Bryan
• Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group – Lady Antebellum
• Favorite Country Album – Red by Taylor Swift

ARIA Awards

(presented in Sydney on December 1, 2013)

• Best Country Album – Wreck & Ruin (Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson)

Canadian Country Music Association

(presented September 8 in Edmonton)

• Fans' Choice Award – Terri Clark
• Male Artist of the Year – Dean Brody
• Female Artist of the Year – Kira Isabella
• Group or Duo of the Year – The Stellas
• Songwriter(s) of the Year – "Leaning on a Lonesome Song", written by Gord Bamford, Buddy Owens and Ray Stephenson
• Single of the Year – "Leaning on a Lonesome Song", Gord Bamford
• Album of the Year – Is It Friday Yet?, Gord Bamford
• Top Selling Album – Red, Taylor Swift
• Top Selling Canadian Album – Fire It Up, Johnny Reid
• CMT Video of the Year – "Leaning on a Lonesome Song", Gord Bamford
• Rising Star Award – Bobby Wills
• Roots Artist or Group of the Year – Corb Lund
• Interactive Artist of the Year – High Valley

Country Music Association

(presented November 6 in Nashville)

• Single of the Year – "Cruise", Florida Georgia Line
• Song of the Year – "I Drive Your Truck", Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary
• Vocal Group of the Year – Little Big Town
• New Artist of the Year – Kacey Musgraves
• Album of the Year – Based on a True Story..., Blake Shelton
• Musician of the Year – Mac McAnally
• Vocal Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line
• Music Video of the Year – "Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
• Male Vocalist of the Year – Blake Shelton
• Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
• Musical Event of the Year – "Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
• Entertainer of the Year – George Strait
• Pinnacle Award – Taylor Swift

CMT Music Awards

(presented June 5 in Nashville)

• Video of the Year – "Blown Away", Carrie Underwood
• Male Video of the Year – "Sure Be Cool If You Did", Blake Shelton
• Female Video of the Year – "Mama's Broken Heart", Miranda Lambert
• Group Video of the Year – "Downtown", Lady Antebellum
• Duo Video of the Year – "Cruise", Florida Georgia Line
• Breakthrough Video of the Year – "Cruise", Florida Georgia Line
• Collaborative Video of the Year – "The Only Way I Know", Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church
• Performance of the Year – "Over You", Miranda Lambert from CMT Artists of the Year
• Nationwide Insurance On Your Side Award – Hunter Hayes

CMT Artists of the Year
(presented December 3 in Nashville)^[59]

• Jason Aldean
• Luke Bryan
• Florida Georgia Line
• Hunter Hayes
• Tim McGraw

Grammy Awards

(presented January 26, 2014 in Los Angeles)

• Best Country Solo Performance – "Wagon Wheel" (Darius Rucker)
• Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "From This Valley" (The Civil Wars)
• Best Country Song – "Merry Go 'Round" (Kacey Musgraves)
• Best Country Album – Same Trailer Different Park (Kacey Musgraves)
• Best Bluegrass Album – The Streets of Baltimore (Del McCoury Band)
• Best Americana Album – Old Yellow Moon (Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell)
• Best American Roots Song – "Love Has Come for You" (Edie Brickell, Steve Martin)
• Best Song Written for Visual Media – "Safe & Sound" (Taylor Swift, T Bone Burnett, John Paul White & Joy Williams)

Juno Awards

(presented March 30, 2014 in Winnipeg)

• Country Album of the Year – Crop Circles, Dean Brody

See also

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

Notes and References

1. WENN, "Ray Price accepts Blake Shelton's apology over country music comments," MSN Entertainment, January 29, 2013. http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=787855&affid=100055 Accessed 01-29-2013.
2. News: Cumulus Planning A National Country Brand . January 21, 2013 . RadioInsight . RadioBB Networks . March 15, 2014 .
3. Parker, Lindsey, "Report: Mindy McCready Dead Of Apparent Suicide," Our Country, Yahoo!, February 17, 2013. Retrieved 02-17-2013 http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/our-country/report-mindy-mccready-dead-apparent-suicide-030042125.html
4. Gray, Melissa, "Embattled country star Mindy McCready dead at 37," CNN.com, February 17, 2013. Retrieved 02-17-2013 http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/17/showbiz/mindy-mccready-death
5. News: Howerton. Jason. Billy Currington indicted for terroristic threats in Georgia. The Tennessean. April 24, 2013.
6. News: Randy Travis gets heart implant, still critical – CNN.com . CNN . July 9, 2013.
7. News: Randy Travis 'critical' after stroke, surgery – CNN.com . CNN . July 11, 2013.
8. How country music went crazy: A comprehensive timeline of the genre's identity crisis. Smith. Grady. 1 October 2013. Entertainment Weekly. 24 April 2014.
9. News: Linda Ronstadt has Parkinson's Disease. USA Today. August 23, 2013. Brian. Mansfield. August 23, 2013.
10. Web site: Producer Tony Brown Arrested on Domestic Assault Charges . Tasteofcountry.com . 2013-10-16 . 2015-04-29.
11. http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/reports-of-country-legend-ray-prices-death-have-been-premature.html/ Wilonsky, Robert, "Reports of country legend Ray Price’s death have been premature," Dallas Morning News, December 15, 2013. Accessed 12-16-2013
12. Cooper, Peter, "Ray Price, famed for his country shuffle, dies at 87," USA Today, December 16, 2013. Accessed 12-16-2013 https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/12/15/country-singer-ray-price-dies-obituary/2963323/
13. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Danielle Bradbery|chart=Country Songs}} Danielle Bradbery Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
14. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=The Swon Brothers|chart=Country Songs}} The Swon Brothers Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
15. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Taylor Swift|chart=Country Songs}} Taylor Swift Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
16. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Jake Mathews|chart=Canada Country}} Jake Mathews Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
17. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Kira Isabella|chart=Canada Country}} Kira Isabella Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
18. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Tim Hicks|chart=Canada Country}} Tim Hicks Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
19. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Chad Brownlee|chart=Canada Country}} Chad Brownlee Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
20. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Dean Brody|chart=Canada Country}} Dean Brody Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
21. Wes Mack Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 1, 2013.
22. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Gord Bamford|chart=Canada Country}} Gord Bamford Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
23. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Jaida Dreyer|chart=Canada Country}} Jaida Dreyer Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
24. Beverley Mahood Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 1, 2013.
25. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Small Town Pistols|chart=Canada Country}} Small Town Pistols Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
26. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=High Valley|chart=Country Airplay}} High Valley Album & Song Chart History – Country Airplay]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
27. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=High Valley|chart=Canada Country}} High Valley Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
28. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Steven Lee Olsen|chart=Canada Country}} Steven Lee Olsen Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
29. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=MacKenzie Porter|chart=Canada Country}} MacKenzie Porter Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
30. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Doc Walker|chart=Canada Country}} Doc Walker Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
31. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Jason Blaine|chart=Canada Country}} Jason Blaine Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
32. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Emerson Drive|chart=Canada Country}} Emerson Drive Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
33. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=George Canyon|chart=Canada Country}} George Canyon Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
34. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Bobby Wills|chart=Canada Country}} Bobby Wills Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
35. Tebey Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 1, 2013.
36. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Aaron Pritchett|chart=Canada Country}} Aaron Pritchett Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
37. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Deric Ruttan|chart=Canada Country}} Deric Ruttan Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 24, 2013.
38. Chart listing for Fall Into Me. Billboard. January 24, 2013.
39. News: Betts. Stephen L.. Luke Bryan, 'Spring Break...Here to Party' Debuts at No. 1. March 13, 2013. The Boot. March 13, 2013.
40. News: Gates. Anita. Patti Page, Honey-Voiced '50s Pop Sensation, Dies at 85. The New York Times. 2 January 2013. January 2, 2013.
41. Web site: R.I.P. Patty Andrews. Deadline Hollywood. 30 January 2013.
42. News: Embattled country star Mindy McCready dead at 37. CNN. February 17, 2013. February 18, 2013.
43. News: Stompin' Tom Connors dies at 77. . March 7, 2013.
44. Wolverton Mountain singer Claude King dies. Billboard.
45. News: Rita MacNeil dies at 68 after surgery; son says she had been planning summer concerts. . April 17, 2013.
46. Mansfield, Brian, "George Jones, country superstar, dies," USA Today, April 26, 2013. Accessed April 26, 2013. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/04/26/george-jones-country-superstar-has-died-at-81/2115323/
47. Web site: Hit songwriter Lorene Mann passes. Oermann. Robert K.. 28 May 2013. MusicRow. 29 October 2013.
48. Web site: Country singer Slim Whitman dies at age 90 . https://archive.today/20130621060046/http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/breaking/article/317040/17/Country-singer-Slim-Whitman-90-dies-overnight . dead . 2013-06-21 . Firstcoastnews.com . 2013-06-19 . 2015-04-29 .
49. Danton . Eric R . Chet Flippo Dead; Former Rolling Stone Editor, CMT Editorial Director Was 69 . Rolling Stone . 2013-06-19 . 2015-04-29.
50. Web site: Songwriter Johnny MacRae Dead at 84 . Tasteofcountry.com . 2015-04-29.
51. Web site: Jody Payne, Longtime Willie Nelson Guitarist, Dead at 77 . Tasteofcountry.com . 2015-04-29.
52. News: Tompall Glaser, outlaw country artist, dies at 79 . USA Today . Peter . Cooper . August 13, 2013.
53. Web site: Country Singer Cal Smith Dies . OzarksFirst.com . 2013-10-09 . 2015-04-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131014154816/http://www.ozarksfirst.com/story/country-singer-cal-smith-dies/d/story/3ux38oYSdEy5bYAmzhquEA . 2013-10-14 .
54. Web site: Leon Walton Obituary – Hendersonvlle, TN | Shreveport Times . Legacy.com . 2015-04-29.
55. Web site: Influential Music Video Director Sherman Halsey Dies . Tasteofcountry.com . 2015-04-29.
56. Web site: Bob Beckham Dead: Singer, Mentor to Dolly Parton Passes Away . Tasteofcountry.com . 2015-04-29.
57. Web site: Producer and Songwriter Nelson Larkin Dead at 70 . Tasteofcountry.com . 2015-04-29.
58. News: Ray Price dead: Country music legend was 87 . Fox News . December 16, 2013.
59. Web site: 2013 CMT Artists of the Year Honorees .