2008 in country music

All you want to know about 2008 in country music

See also: 2007 in country music, 2008 in music, other events of 2008, 2009 in country music and the List of years in Country Music

Contents

Events

Top hits of the year

Number one hits

United States

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 Spec. Note
February 2 Letter to Me Brad Paisley 4
March 1 Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy) Rodney Atkins 2
  • Peaked at #5 in Canada.
March 15 All-American Girl Carrie Underwood 2
March 29 Small Town Southern Man Alan Jackson 2
  • Jackson's first No. 1 since "Remember When" in February 2004.
  • Peaked at #3 in Canada.
April 12 You're Gonna Miss This Trace Adkins 3
May 3 I Saw God Today George Strait 2
  • This is Strait's 56th #1 hit (counting all trade charts), setting a new record for the most #1 hits by a country artist. The previous record holder was Conway Twitty, with 55.
May 17 Just Got Started Lovin' You James Otto 2 [A]
  • Peaked at #2 in Canada.
May 31 I'm Still a Guy Brad Paisley 3
June 21 Last Name Carrie Underwood 1
  • Peaked at #3 in Canada.
June 28 Better as a Memory Kenny Chesney 2
  • Peaked at #2 in Canada.
July 12 Back When I Knew It All Montgomery Gentry 1
  • Peaked at #8 in Canada.
July 19 Home Blake Shelton 2
August 2 Good Time Alan Jackson 2
August 16 All I Want to Do Sugarland 1
  • Peaked at #3 in Canada.
August 23 Should've Said No Taylor Swift 2
  • Peaked at #5 in Canada.
September 6 You Look Good in My Shirt Keith Urban 1
  • Urban's first No. 1 since "Better Life" in October 2005.
  • Re-recording of a song previously found on 2002's Golden Road.
September 13 Do You Believe Me Now Jimmy Wayne 2 [A][2]
  • First Number One for the Valory Music Group, an imprint of Big Machine Records.
  • Fell to #2 on the chart dated September 20.
  • Peaked at #3 in Canada.
September 20 Waitin' on a Woman Brad Paisley 1
  • Re-recording of a song that was originally released on Paisley's 2005 album Time Well Wasted.
  • With this, his eighth #1 hit, Paisley set a record for the most consecutive Number One hits by an artist since the inception of Nielsen SoundScan in 1990.
October 4 Don't Think I Don't Think About It Darius Rucker 2 [A]
  • This is the first solo single for Rucker, lead singer of the rock band Hootie and the Blowfish.
  • This is the first solo #1 country hit by an African American since Charley Pride's "Night Games" in September 1983.
  • Peaked at #3 in Canada.
October 18 Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven Kenny Chesney 1
  • Chesney's first release on his personal Blue Chair label (in association with BNA).
  • Current No. 1 song.

Canada

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 Spec. Note
January 4 Letter to Me Brad Paisley 5 [2]
  • The song fell to #2 on the chart dated January 11.
January 11 Our Song Taylor Swift 1 [2]
  • Stayed at No. 1 for 3 weeks in late 2007.
  • The song fell to #2 on the chart dated January 4.
February 15 In My Next Life Terri Clark 1
  • Peaked at #36 in U.S.
February 22 All-American Girl Carrie Underwood 5
March 28 You're Gonna Miss This Trace Adkins 3
April 18 I Saw God Today George Strait 1
April 25 Picture to Burn Taylor Swift 1
  • Peaked at #3 in U.S.
May 2 I'm Still a Guy Brad Paisley 6
June 13 Good Time Alan Jackson 7 [2]
  • The song fell to #2 on the chart dated July 25.
July 25 Put a Girl in It Brooks & Dunn 1
  • Peaked at #3 in U.S.
August 8 You Look Good in My Shirt Keith Urban 4
September 5 Waitin' on a Woman Brad Paisley 3
September 26 Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven Kenny Chesney 3
  • Current No. 1 song.
Notes
  • A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.

Other major hits

Single released by American artists

US CAN Single Artist Notes
14 46 All I Ever Wanted Chuck Wicks B
4 4 All Summer Long Kid Rock
11 13 Already Gone Sugarland B
15 45 Another Try Josh Turner with
Trisha Yearwood
15 26 Bob That Head Rascal Flatts
19 48 Chicken Fried Zac Brown Band B
  • Previously a #52-peaking single in 2006 for The Lost Trailers, whose version was withdrawn from radio rotation.
18 16 Come On Over Jessica Simpson
  • Simpson's first release to country radio.
10 28 Country Man Luke Bryan B
25 33 Don't You Know You're Beautiful Kellie Pickler B
5 2 Everybody Keith Urban
2 5 Every Day Rascal Flatts
15 16 Every Other Weekend Reba McEntire
  • The radio edit of this song featured Skip Ewing as a duet partner, while the album version featured Kenny Chesney. Neither duet partner was credited on the charts for most of the song's chart run.
11 8 Get My Drink On Toby Keith
11 11 God Must Be Busy Brooks & Dunn
7 19 Gunpowder & Lead Miranda Lambert
18 27 Here Rascal Flatts B
9 36 Holler Back The Lost Trailers
21 I Can Sleep When I'm Dead Jason Michael Carroll
2 9 I Still Miss You Keith Anderson
16 I'll Walk Bucky Covington B
21 In Color Jamey Johnson B
  • Johnson's first chart single since "The Dollar" in late 2005-early 2006.
  • Co-written by James Otto.
10 28 International Harvester Craig Morgan
16 38 It Ain't No Crime Joe Nichols
11 32 It's Good to Be Us Bucky Covington
11 40 Johnny & June Heidi Newfield
  • This is the first solo single for Newfield, who was lead singer for the group Trick Pony until 2007.
4 2 Just a Dream Carrie Underwood B
16 19 Kristofferson Tim McGraw
6 6 Laughed Until We Cried Jason Aldean
13 23 Learning How to Bend Gary Allan
8 6 Let It Go Tim McGraw B
28 30 Life in a Northern Town Sugarland with
Little Big Town
and Jake Owen
  • This song, a cover of British band The Dream Academy's 1985 debut single, charted in the Top 30 based on unsolicited airplay of a live recording from Sugarland's 2007 tour.
19 29 Lookin' for a Good Time Lady Antebellum B
3 5 Love Don't Live Here Lady Antebellum
2 17 Love Is a Beautiful Thing Phil Vassar
  • This song was previously released in late 1999 by Canadian singer Paul Brandt under the title "It's a Beautiful Thing".
19 Love Remembers Craig Morgan B
9 11 Love Story Taylor Swift B
24 Maybe She'll Get Lonely Jack Ingram
31 24 Muddy Water Trace Adkins B
4 7 Ready, Set, Don't Go Billy Ray Cyrus with
Miley Cyrus
  • Billy Ray's first Top 5 since "Busy Man" in late 1998-early 1999.
  • Miley's first Top 5 on any Billboard chart, and her first release to country radio.
15 47 Relentless Jason Aldean B
12 12 Roll with Me Montgomery Gentry B
25 Rollin' with the Flow Mark Chesnutt
3 4 She Never Cried in Front of Me Toby Keith B
13 17 She's a Hottie Toby Keith
2 2 Shiftwork Kenny Chesney with
George Strait
  • This song was credited only to Chesney from its release until the chart week of February 9, when Strait's name was added.
15 48 Something About a Woman Jake Owen
16 21 Start a Band Brad Paisley with
Keith Urban		 B
2 5 Stay Sugarland A
5 11 Stealing Cinderella Chuck Wicks
13 30 Stronger Woman Jewel
  • Jewel's first release to country radio.
12 12 Suspicions Tim McGraw
20 Takin' Off This Pain Ashton Shepherd
18 That Song in My Head Julianne Hough
  • Originally a professional ballroom dancer, Hough had previously been a two-time winner of the show Dancing with the Stars. This is her first release to country radio as a singer.
16 33 Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind Kellie Pickler
25 This Is Me You're Talking To Trisha Yearwood
7 3 Troubadour George Strait
5 13 Trying to Stop Your Leaving Dierks Bentley
2 11 Watching Airplanes Gary Allan A
10 38 We Weren't Crazy Josh Gracin
3 8 What Do Ya Think About That Montgomery Gentry
3 4 What Kinda Gone Chris Cagle
2 2 Winner at a Losing Game Rascal Flatts
19 19 Workin' for a Livin' Garth Brooks with
Huey Lewis

Single released by Canadian artists

Peak Single Artist Notes
5 Beautiful Life Doc Walker
19 Best of Me Jessie Farrell
21 Breakin' on the Love Thing Alex J. Robinson
20 Break It Lisa Brokop
8 Don't Waste Your Pretty Willie Mack
11 Drive Me Home Shane Yellowbird
9 Everyday Woman Emerson Drive
10 First Time in a Long Time Deric Ruttan
5 Flirtin' With Me Jason Blaine
14 Flower Child The Higgins
13 Fly Girl Tara Oram B
19 Golden Years Willie Mack
14 Good Day to Get Gone Jason Blaine B
13 Let's Get Rowdy Aaron Pritchett
17 Lovin' You Is Killin' Me Deric Ruttan B
8 Moments That Matter Aaron Lines
11 My First Car Jason Blaine
13 Old Fashioned Girl Jaydee Bixby
7 Out of the Blue Johnny Reid
8 Postcard from Pasadena Gord Bamford B
13 Real Thing The Higgins B
9 Risk Paul Brandt
6 Stayed 'Til Two Gord Bamford
25 Sweet City Woman Jo Hikk B
13 Thank You Johnny Reid
10 That Train Doc Walker
8 That's All Doc Walker B
10 That's Worth Fighting For Paul Brandt
10 Virtual Life Paul Brandt B
5 What Do I Have to Do Crystal Shawanda
  • The following songs were also/only released in U.S.
CAN US Single Artist Notes
4 33 Crazy Days Adam Gregory
5 21 You Can Let Go Crystal Shawanda B
22 You Still Own Me Emerson Drive
  • Cover of Johnny Reid's single from 2004, which was a Top 20 country hit in Canada.
  • A Reached #1 on U.S. Mediabase 24/7 country singles charts.
  • B Current singles.

Top new album releases

US CAN Album Artist Record Label Release Date
1 1 35 Biggest Hits Toby Keith Show Dog May 6
4 2 All I Intended to Be Emmylou Harris Nonesuch June 10
Anne Murray's Christmas Album Anne Murray Manhattan/EMI September 30 (US)
October 7 (CAN)
8 1 Anne Murray Duets: Friends and Legends Anne Murray Manhattan/EMI January 15 (US)
3 17 Around the Bend Randy Travis Warner Bros. Nashville July 15
3 26 Back When I Knew It All Montgomery Gentry Columbia Nashville June 10
2 11 Backwoods Barbie Dolly Parton Dolly February 26
1 Beautiful Eyes Taylor Swift Big Machine July 15
3 Beautiful Life Doc Walker Open Road April 29
17 Beer for My Horses (soundtrack) Various Artists Show Dog August 12
22 Bulletproof Reckless Kelly Yep Roc June 24
15 50 Burn Your Playhouse Down George Jones Bandit August 19
Chasing the Sun Tara Oram Open Road October 7
Classic Christmas George Strait MCA Nashville October 7
3 32 C'mon! Keith Anderson Columbia Nashville August 5
2 Country Hits 2008 Various Artists UMG Canada April 1
15 34 Country Sings Disney Various Artists Walt Disney July 8
1 Cowboys and Cadillacs Jaydee Bixby Her Royal Majesty's Records July 8
16 2 Dawn of a New Day Crystal Shawanda RCA Nashville June 24 (CAN)
August 19 (US)
4 40 Do You Believe Me Now Jimmy Wayne Valory Music Group August 26
1 1 Do You Know Jessica Simpson Columbia Nashville September 9
25 First Time in a Long Time Deric Ruttan On Ramp/EMI Canada April 1
1 1 Good Time Alan Jackson Arista Nashville March 4
16 Greatest Hits Craig Morgan Broken Bow September 30
2 4 Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008 Dierks Bentley Capitol Nashville May 6
1 5 Greatest Hits: Limited Edition Tim McGraw Curb April 29
Greatest Hits 3 Tim McGraw Curb October 7
Greatest Hits… and Then Some The Wilkinsons Angeline October 7
5 Holler Back The Lost Trailers BNA August 26
18 55 How Great Thou Art:
Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry		 Various Artists RCA Nashville February 5
11 The Imus Ranch Record Various Artists New West September 16
19 I Turn to You Richie McDonald Lucid June 3
5 Jet Black & Jealous Eli Young Band Universal South September 16
1 4 Julianne Hough Julianne Hough Mercury Nashville May 20
6 1 Joy to the World Faith Hill Warner Bros. Nashville September 30
1 4 Kellie Pickler Kellie Pickler BNA September 30
1 28 Lady Antebellum Lady Antebellum Capitol Nashville April 15
1 16 Learn to Live Darius Rucker Capitol Nashville September 16
1 1 Love on the Inside Sugarland Mercury Nashville July 22
5 Make My Move Jason Blaine Koch Canada May 20
8 21 Moment of Forever Willie Nelson Lost Highway January 29
3 More Country Heat 2008 Various Artists Sony BMG Canada May 20
1 31 My Life's Been a Country Song Chris Cagle Capitol Nashville February 19
19 14 Martina McBride: Live In Concert Martina McBride RCA Nashville April 29
1 Now That's What I Call Country Various Artists UMG/Sony BMG/Capitol August 26
1 2 Perfectly Clear Jewel Valory Music Group June 3
8 Phil Stacey Phil Stacey Lyric Street April 29
3 Prayer of a Common Man Phil Vassar Universal South April 22
3 Randy Rogers Band Randy Rogers Band Mercury Nashville September 23
25 Real Thing The Higgins Open Road June 24
13 17 Sleepless Nights Patty Loveless Saguaro Road September 9
16 Sounds So Good Ashton Shepherd MCA Nashville March 4
7 Starting Now Chuck Wicks RCA Nashville January 22
2 25 Sunset Man James Otto Raybaw/Warner Bros. April 8
7 52 Tennessee Pusher Old Crow Medicine Show Nettwerk September 23
3 Thankful Aaron Pritchett 604 September 9
6 That Lonesome Song Jamey Johnson Mercury Nashville August 5
1 1 Troubadour George Strait MCA Nashville April 1
11 Vintage Country:
The Golden Age of Country Music		 Various Artists Sony BMG March 25
4 40 We Weren't Crazy Josh Gracin Lyric Street April 1
2 66 What Am I Waiting For Heidi Newfield Curb August 5
8 Why Wait Kristy Lee Cook Arista Nashville September 16

Other top albums

US CAN Album Artist Record Label Release Date
20 Hits Volume 2 Merle Haggard Curb October 7
28 Angels & Outlaws Aaron Watson Thirty Tigers April 1
70 Angels Fly Away Eric Durrance Wind-up September 16
42 Beautiful Tragedy Lisa Brokop Ellbea August 19
47 The Best of The Johnny Cash TV Show Johnny Cash Sony BMG January 8
54 The Best of SHeDAISY SHeDAISY Lyric Street February 5
Big & Rich's Super Galactic Fan Pak 2 Big & Rich Warner Bros. Nashville October 7
Billy: The Early Years (soundtrack) Various Artists Arista Nashville/Essential October 7
27 Blake Shelton: Collector's Edition Blake Shelton Warner Bros. Nashville February 26
50 Blood, Sweat, and Steel The Road Hammers Montage June 24
33 Broken In Trent Willmon Compadre February 26
59 Carter's Chord Carter's Chord Show Dog June 17
48 Cherryholmes III: Don't Believe The Cherryholmes Skaggs Family September 30
26 Classic Chris LeDoux Chris LeDoux Capitol Nashville April 29
64 Coal Kathy Mattea Narada April 1
72 Collector's Edition Tim McGraw Curb May 6
30 Comal County Blue Jason Boland & the Stragglers Thirty Tigers August 26
62 Come Darkness, Come Light Mary Chapin Carpenter Zoe September 30
26 Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume One Bill Gaither Gaither August 19
32 Country Bluegrass Homecoming Volume Two Bill Gaither Gaither August 19
57 Country's Got Hits Various Artists Time Life February 5
57 Dailey & Vincent Dailey & Vincent Rounder June 3
65 The Definitive Collection Terri Clark Mercury Nashville February 5
53 Every Night Brandon Rhyder Reserve August 19
Father Time Hal Ketchum Curb September 9
69 Glide Jerry Douglas Koch August 19
59 God Bless the USA: 17 Inspirational Songs Various Artists Word April 29
70 The Good Life Justin Townes Earle Bloodshot March 25
The Good Life Andy Griggs Montage May 27
35 Good Thing Going Rhonda Vincent Rounder January 8
57 The Gospel Music of Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Gaither/EMI February 26
56 Gravity's Our Enemy Cadillac Sky Skaggs Family August 19
67 Hank Jr.: Collector's Edition Hank Williams, Jr. Curb May 6
37 Heart of Stone Chris Knight Drifter's Church September 2
39 Here It Is Roger Creager Thirty Tigers August 26
29 Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass:
Tribute to 1946 and 1947		 Ricky Skaggs Skaggs Family March 25
44 I Will Always Love You: 17 Inspirational Songs Various Artists Word January 15
29 If We Ever Make It Home Wade Bowen Sustain September 30
62 Infamous Stringdusters Infamous Stringdusters Sugar Hill June 10
32 Jeff Bates Jeff Bates Black River April 8
Jypsi Jypsi Arista Nashville May 27
43 Keep On Walkin' The Grascals Rounder July 15
67 Last of the Good Guys One Flew South Decca May 27
Love Revival Reba McEntire Hallmark January 2
53 A Love Song Collection Kenny Rogers Capitol Nashville January 15
63 Love Songs Billy Ray Cyrus Mercury Nashville January 29
35 42 Love Songs Trisha Yearwood MCA Nashville January 15
27 Meet Glen Campbell Glen Campbell Capitol Nashville August 19
51 Moneyland Del McCoury Band McCoury July 8
41 More Greatest Fits Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville June 10
67 Mountain Tracks: Volume 5 Yonder Mountain String Band Frog Pad April 15
43 Naïve Micky & the Motorcars Smith July 29
54 Never Say Never Alex J. Robinson Dale Speaking March 25
69 No Rules Rebecca Lynn Howard Saguaro Road June 17
46 One Hell of a Ride Willie Nelson Lost Highway April 1
27 Patriotic Country 3 Various Artists Razor & Tie June 24
68 Pickin', Praisin' & Singin' Pine Mountain Railroad Rural Rhythm August 26
68 Playlist: The Very Best of Alabama Alabama Sony BMG April 29
61 Playlist: The Very Best of Dolly Parton Dolly Parton Sony BMG April 29
52 Playlist: The Very Best of John Denver John Denver Sony BMG April 29
47 Playlist: The Very Best of Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Sony BMG April 29
75 Playlist: The Very Best of Lonestar Lonestar Sony BMG June 17
64 Playlist: The Very Best of Roy Orbison Roy Orbison Sony BMG April 29
54 Playlist: The Very Best of Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings Sony BMG April 29
63 Playlist: The Very Best of Willie Nelson Willie Nelson Sony BMG April 29
35 Rollin' with the Flow Mark Chesnutt Lofton Creek June 24
38 Sex and Gasoline Rodney Crowell Yep Roc September 2
57 The Steeldrivers The Steeldrivers Rounder February 26
69 Stronger Carlene Carter Eleven Thirty March 4
66 Super Hits Kenny Chesney BNA March 18
Thankful Jennifer Hanson Universal South June 3
70 Ultimate Grammy Collection:
Contemporary Country		 Various Artists Shout January 8
45 Vagrants & Kings Cory Morrow Sustain May 20
51 The Very Best of Neal McCoy Neal McCoy Rhino June 3
32 Wheels Dan Tyminski Rounder June 17
48 XOK NQ Arbuckle Six Shooter June 17

Announced

Album Artist Record Label Release Date
50 Greatest Hits Reba McEntire MCA Nashville October 28
Adam Gregory Adam Gregory Midas/Big Machine TBA
Anything Goes Randy Houser Universal South November 18
Call Me Crazy Lee Ann Womack MCA Nashville October 21
Damn Right, Rebel Proud Hank Williams III Bruc October 21
Familiar Stranger Mark Wills Tenacity Records October 28
Fearless Taylor Swift Big Machine November 11
The Foundation Zac Brown Band Live Nation Artists TBA
The Future Is Now Lonestar Lonestar/CO5 TBA
Greatest Hits Volume 1 Rascal Flatts Lyric Street October 28
I'm About to Come Alive David Nail MCA Nashville TBA
The Life of a Song Joey & Rory Vanguard/Sugar Hill October 28
Little Bit of Everything Billy Currington Mercury Nashville October 14
Lucky Old Sun Kenny Chesney Blue Chair/BNA October 14
One on One Randy Owen Broken Bow November 4
Picture of Me Lee Brice Asylum-Curb November 18
A Place to Land (re-issue) Little Big Town Capitol Nashville October 14
Play Brad Paisley Arista Nashville November 4
Right Road Now Whitney Duncan Warner Bros. Nashville TBA
Sounds of the Season:
The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection		 Julianne Hough Mercury Nashville October 12
Startin' Fires Blake Shelton Warner Bros. Nashville November 18
10 Trace Adkins Capitol Nashville November 25
That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy Toby Keith Show Dog October 28
That's Why Craig Morgan BNA October 21
Time Flies John Michael Montgomery Stringtown October 14
Unmistakable Jo Dee Messina Curb November 11
Untold Truths Kevin Costner & Modern West Universal South November 11
Voices Chris Young RCA Nashville TBA
What I'm For Pat Green BNA November 18

Deaths

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Major Awards

Grammy awards

(Presented on February 10 in Los Angeles)

CMT Music Awards

(Presented April 14 in Nashville)

Academy of Country Music

(Presented May 18 in Las Vegas)

Canadian Country Music Association

(Presented September 8 in Winnipeg)

  • Fans' Choice Award — Doc Walker
  • Male Artist of the Year — Johnny Reid
  • Female Artist of the Year — Jessie Farrell
  • Group or Duo of the Year — Doc Walker
  • Songwriter(s) of the Year — "Beautiful Life", written by Murray Pulver, Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw
  • Single of the Year — "Beautiful Life", performed by Doc Walker
  • Album of the Year — Beautiful Life, Doc Walker
  • Top Selling Album — The Ultimate Hits, Garth Brooks
  • Top Selling Canadian Album — Kicking Stones, Johnny Reid
  • CMT Video of the Year — "Beautiful Life", Doc Walker
  • Rising Star Award — Jessie Farrell
  • Roots Artist or Group of the Year — Corb Lund

Country Music Association

Further reading

  • Kingsbury, Paul, "The Grand Ole Opry: History of Country Music. 70 Years of the Songs, the Stars and the Stories," Villard Books, Random House; Opryland USA, 1995
  • Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947-1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
  • Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
  • Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944-2005 - 6th Edition." 2005.

References

  1. ^ a b Thompson, Teri; Nanthaniel Vinton and Christian Red (2008-04-28). "Sources: Roger Clemens had 10-year fling with country star Mindy McCready", NY Daily News. Retrieved on 2008-04-28. 
  2. ^ "Shania Twain & Husband Split", People Magazine (2008-05-15). Retrieved on 2008-05-15. 
  3. ^ [1] "Hank Williams band member Don Helms dies at 81," Associated Press, August 12, 2008. Accessed 8-14-2008.

Other links

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_in_country_music"

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