2006 in country music

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See also: 2005 in country music, 2006 in music, other events of 2006, 2007 in country music and the List of years in Country Music

Contents

[edit] Events

  • January 14 – With the song, "She Let Herself Go," George Strait scores his 40th No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, all of them solo. It ties a 20-year-old record for most No. 1's on the country chart, held by Conway Twitty (35 solo, five duet with Loretta Lynn).
  • January 21 – Kix Brooks, one half of the country superstar duo Brooks & Dunn, takes over as host of "American Country Countdown," succeeding longtime host Bob Kingsley.
  • April — Hank Williams Jr. is arrested in Memphis, Tennessee for assault after attempting to choke a teenage waitress at a hotel there.
  • May — People reports on the engagement of Keith Urban and actress Nicole Kidman. The two are married on June 25. Also during the month, Little Big Town members Jimi Westbrook and Karen Fairchild are wed; their marriage was announced in July.
  • May 3 - Lynn Anderson arrested in New Mexico after causing a traffic accident at a local intersection due to drunk driving. She was later released the next day on a bond. Anderson was later taken to court that year where all her previous charges were dropped, as long as she didn't commit anymore offenses.
  • May 21 – Grand Ole Opry mainstay Billy Walker is killed in a car accident near Fort Deposit, Alabama, when the van he was riding in overturned along Interstate 65. Also killed in the wreck are Walker's wife, Bettie; and two member of his band. His 21-year-old grandson, Joshua Brooks, is critically injured. Walker was returning home from a show near Gulf Shores, Alabama. [1]
  • May 23 – The Tennessean of Nashville reports plans by Academy of Country Music to move its awards show to April, after consistently being drubbed in the ratings by powerhouse American Idol. The ACMs, which aired May 24 on CBS, was aired opposite Fox's American Idol for the fourth year in a row. [2]
  • July 4 - Johnny Cash releases American V which instantly hits #1.
  • August 17 — Los Angeles' lone country music station, KZLA-FM, switches its format to urban pop. [3]
  • August 19 — Keith Urban's "Once in a Lifetime" becomes the highest-ever debuting song on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart during the Broadcast Data Systems-era, ranking at No. 17 in its first week. "Lifetime" breaks the 10-month-old BDS-era standard set by "Good Ride Cowboy" by Garth Brooks.
  • September 12 — Sara Evans and professional partner Tony Dovolani begin competing on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, to rousing reviews. Evans' gig will last four weeks.
  • September 18 – Willie Nelson and several of his band members are charged with misdemeanor drug possession in Louisiana. State police had pulled Nelson's tour bus over for a routine commercial inspection and, after smelling a suspicious odor inside, searched the bus and found marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms. [4]
  • September 30 — George Strait finally breaks Conway Twitty's record by scoring his record 41st No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with "Give It Away."
  • September 30 — The documentary Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing is released. The film chronicles the lives of the Dixie Chicks band members and the fallout that resulted after lead singer Natalie Maines made critical remarks about U.S. President George W. Bush during a 2003 concert in London, England.
  • October 13 — One day after abruptly leaving Dancing with the Stars, news breaks that Sara Evans was seeking a divorce from her husband, Craig Schelske. Allegations Evans levied against Schelske included his affair with the family's ex-nanny, that he watched and downloaded pornography in the house, and his removal of $275,000 from the couple's joint bank account on the day the divorce decree was filed. [5]
  • October 19 — Keith Urban checks himself into a rehabilitation center for alcohol abuse. [6]
  • October 20 — Flicka, an adaptation of the 1941 children's novel, hits the movie theaters. Tim McGraw is in the leading adult male role as Wyoming rancher Rob McGlaughlin.
  • November 6 — The Country Music Association awards airs for the first time on ABC. The awards show had been on CBS since 1972. Keith Urban, who won the Male Vocalist of the Year, is absent due to his rehab stint, and co-host Ronnie Dunn read Urban's acceptance letter. Hall of Fame inductee Kris Kristofferson presented the inductions for 2006 inductees George Strait, Harold Bradley and Sonny James, each of whom gave brief acceptance speeches; Strait also performed his No. 1 hit "Give It Away." Controversy reigned when Faith Hill appeared to react angrily after Carrie Underwood won the Female Vocalist of the Year award. [7]
  • December 3 — The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honors Dolly Parton for her lifetime contributions to the arts.

[edit] No dates

  • No less than nine acts enjoyed their first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart during 2006, the most since 1991. Those artists were Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner, Bon Jovi along with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, Jack Ingram, Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, The Wreckers, Heartland and Sugarland. Four of those - Bon Jovi, Nettles, The Wreckers and Heartland - turn the trick with their first charted country single. (Although she previously had two Top 5 hits and a Top 10 hit as a member of Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles made her first entry into the Billboard country singles chart under her own name as part of a collaboration with Bon Jovi, which, in turn, also made their first Billboard country singles chart entry. Sugarland would eventually score their first career No. 1 hit at the end of the year.)
During that same 12-month time span, chart veteran George Strait extended his No. 1 string to a Billboard-best 41, beating Conway Twitty's record by 40 No. 1's, while Dolly Parton had her 25th No. 1 (as part of a duet with Brad Paisley) and Kenny Chesney extended his string to 10.

[edit] Top hits of the year

[edit] Number one hits

(As certified by Billboard magazine)

Date Song Name Artist Wks. No. 1 Spec.
Note
January 14 She Let Herself Go George Strait 1
  • This was Strait's Billboard record-tying 40th No. 1 song on the Hot Country Songs chart, matching only Conway Twitty's record set in 1986.
January 21 Jesus, Take the Wheel Carrie Underwood 6 A
March 4 When I Get Where I'm Going Brad Paisley with Dolly Parton 1 B - Dolly Parton
  • At age 60 years, one month and 14 days, Parton became the oldest female to have a song top the Billboard magazine Hot Country Songs chart. She is the third-oldest artist overall to have a #1 country hit.
  • In addition, Parton now has the longest span between first and most recent No. 1 songs (at 35 years, 1 month), breaking a 20-year-old record held by Johnny Cash (1956-1985). Dolly's first chart-topper was "Joshua" in February 1971.
March 11 Your Man Josh Turner 1 A
March 18 Living in Fast Forward Kenny Chesney 3
April 8 What Hurts the Most Rascal Flatts 4
May 6 Who Says You Can't Go Home Bon Jovi with Jennifer Nettles 2 C - Bon Jovi
C - Jennifer Nettles
  • This song marks the first time that a non-country act has hit No. 1 with their first country single since 1977, when Tom Jones did it with "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow."
May 20 Wherever You Are Jack Ingram 1 C
May 27 Why Jason Aldean 1 C
  • This song marks the first time since 1991 that no fewer than three artists in a row have gotten their first No. 1 country singles. While Aldean had previously had a Top 10 with "Hicktown" and Jennifer Nettles twice had No. 2 hits as part of Sugarland, Bon Jovi and Jack Ingram had never entered the country music Top 40 before.
June 3 Settle for a Slowdown Dierks Bentley 2
June 17 Summertime Kenny Chesney 5
July 22 The World Brad Paisley 3
August 12 If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows) Rodney Atkins 4 1, A
September 9 Leave the Pieces The Wreckers 2 C
  • With this song, The Wreckers became the first duo to reach Number One with a debut single since Brooks & Dunn's 1991 debut single "Brand New Man".
September 23 Brand New Girlfriend Steve Holy 1 B
  • Having reached #1 in its 36th chart week, the song set a new record for the slowest climb to No. 1 by any country song since the inception of BDS in 1990. This record was broken one year later.
  • Holy's first Number One since "Good Morning Beautiful" in late 2001-early 2002.
September 30 Give It Away George Strait 2
  • This was Strait's 41st No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, breaking Conway Twitty's 20-year old record of 40 No. 1's.
October 14 Would You Go with Me Josh Turner 2 B
October 28 I Loved Her First Heartland 1 C
  • First Number One hit for the Lofton Creek Records label, and Heartland's only Top 40 chart single to date.
November 4 Every Mile a Memory Dierks Bentley 1
November 11 Before He Cheats Carrie Underwood 5
December 16 My Wish Rascal Flatts 1
December 23 Want To Sugarland 2 A
  • 1 - No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard magazine.
  • A - First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B - Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist to date.
  • C - Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist to date.

[edit] Other major hits

Peak Single Artist Notes
18 8th of November Big & Rich
8 Believe Brooks & Dunn
9 Boondocks Little Big Town
  • Little Big Town's first Top 40 since "Don't Waste My Time" in 2002.
4 Bring It On Home Little Big Town
4 Building Bridges Brooks & Dunn feat.
Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill
25 California Girls Gretchen Wilson
9 Cheatin' Sara Evans
15 Crash Here Tonight Toby Keith
14 The Dollar Jamey Johnson
2 Don't Forget to Remember Me Carrie Underwood
17 Down in Mississippi (Up to No Good) Sugarland
  • This was Sugarland's last single to feature original member Kristen Hall.
19 Drunker Than Me Trent Tomlinson
7 Every Time I Hear Your Name Keith Anderson
19 Favorite State of Mind Josh Gracin
13 Feels Just Like It Should Pat Green
16 Findin' a Good Man Danielle Peck
3 Get Drunk and Be Somebody Toby Keith
17 A Good Man Emerson Drive
2 Honky Tonk Badonkadonk Trace Adkins
14 How 'Bout You Eric Church
17 I Can't Unlove You Kenny Rogers
25 I Don't Know What She Said Blaine Larsen
12 I Got You Craig Morgan
22 I'm Taking the Wheel SHeDAISY
7 Just Might (Make Me Believe) Sugarland
15 Kerosene Miranda Lambert
2 Last Day of My Life Phil Vassar
4 Life Ain't Always Beautiful Gary Allan
5 Like We Never Loved at All Tim McGraw with Faith Hill
15 Like Red on a Rose Alan Jackson
2 A Little Too Late Toby Keith
23 Love Will Always Win Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood
12 Love You Jack Ingram
5 The Lucky One Faith Hill
6 Me and My Gang Rascal Flatts
10 Mountains Lonestar
3 My Little Girl Tim McGraw
  • This was the first single of his career that McGraw co-wrote.
6 My Old Friend Tim McGraw
25 New Strings Miranda Lambert
4 Nobody but Me Blake Shelton
16 Nobody Gonna Tell Me What to Do Van Zant
35 Not Ready to Make Nice Dixie Chicks
6 Once in a Lifetime Keith Urban
  • With its #17 debut on the country charts, this song set a record for the highest debut on the country charts. This record stood until September 2007.
23 Politically Uncorrect Gretchen Wilson with Merle Haggard
  • Haggard's first country Top 40 hit since "If You Want to Be My Woman" in late 1989-early 1990.
11 The Seashores of Old Mexico George Strait
  • Cover of a Merle Haggard song.
5 She Don't Tell Me To Montgomery Gentry
9 Size Matters (Someday) Joe Nichols
7 Some People Change Montgomery Gentry
2 Something's Gotta Give LeAnn Rimes
7 Sunshine and Summertime Faith Hill
20 Swing Trace Adkins
2 Tonight I Wanna Cry Keith Urban
19 Two Pink Lines Eric Church
4 When the Stars Go Blue Tim McGraw
13 Why, Why, Why Billy Currington
20 The Woman in My Life Phil Vassar
16 Yee Haw Jake Owen
3 You Save Me Kenny Chesney

[edit] Top new album releases

US Album Artist Record Label
6 21 Number Ones Kenny Rogers Capitol Nashville
1 American V: A Hundred Highways Johnny Cash American Recordings
18 Black Cadillac Rosanne Cash Capitol Nashville
4 Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One for the Road Various Artists Jack
2 Brand New Girlfriend Steve Holy Curb
8 Brad Paisley Christmas Brad Paisley Arista Nashville
4 Broken Bridges Soundtrack Various Artists Show Dog Nashville
2 Cannonball Pat Green BNA
3 Chris Young Chris Young RCA Nashville
10 A Classic Christmas Wynonna Judd Curb
20 Country Is My Rock Trent Tomlinson Lyric Street
1 Dangerous Man Trace Adkins Capitol Nashville
23 Danielle Peck Danielle Peck Big Machine
20 The Dollar Jamey Johnson BNA
12 Electric Rodeo Shooter Jennings Universal South
14 Elvis Christmas Elvis Presley RCA
2 Enjoy the Ride Sugarland Mercury Nashville
6 Fortuneteller's Melody SHeDAISY Lyric Street
2 Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 Phil Vassar Arista Nashville
12 Greatest Hits, Volume 2 Diamond Rio Arista Nashville
3 I Loved Her First Heartland Lofton Creek
1 If You're Going Through Hell Rodney Atkins Curb
1 It Just Comes Natural George Strait MCA Nashville
8 Just a Matter of Time Randy Rogers Band Mercury Nashville
25 Kicking out the Footlights... Again George Jones and Merle Haggard Bandit
4 Last Man Standing: The Duets Jerry Lee Lewis Artists First
12 Leave the Light On Jeff Bates RCA Nashville
1 Like Red on a Rose Alan Jackson Arista Nashville
13 Little Bit of Life Craig Morgan Broken Bow
19 A Little More Livin' Trent Willmon Columbia Nashville
10 The Little Willies The Little Willies Milking Bull
1 Live: Live Those Songs Again Kenny Chesney BNA
1 Long Trip Alone Dierks Bentley Capitol Nashville
1 Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing Keith Urban Capitol Nashville
1 Me and My Gang Rascal Flatts Lyric Street
4 Men & Mascara Julie Roberts Mercury Nashville
10 Mountains Lonestar BNA
7 Pay the Devil Van Morrison Lost Highway
22 Personal File Johnny Cash Legacy/Columbia Nashville
1 Precious Memories Alan Jackson Arista Nashville
1 Reflected: Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Tim McGraw Curb
23 Rockin' You Tonight Blaine Larsen BNA
25 She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool:
A Tribute to Barbara Mandrell		 Various Artists BNA
7 Sinners Like Me Eric Church Capitol Nashville
1 Small Town Girl Kellie Pickler BNA
5 Some People Change Montgomery Gentry Columbia Nashville
19 Songbird Willie Nelson Lost Highway
1 Songs of Inspiration Alabama RCA Nashville
4 Stand Still, Look Pretty The Wreckers Maverick/Warner Bros. Nashville
8 Startin' with Me Jake Owen RCA Nashville
17 Straight to Hell Hank Williams III Curb
1 Take the Weather with You Jimmy Buffett Mailboat
1 Taking the Long Way Dixie Chicks Columbia Nashville
1 Taylor Swift Taylor Swift Big Machine
3 That's How They Do It in Dixie: The Essential Collection Hank Williams, Jr. Curb
4 These Days Vince Gill MCA Nashville
12 Three Wooden Crosses Various Artists Word
4 Totally Country Vol. 5 Various Artists Sony BMG
24 Wanna Be Your Joe Billy Ray Cyrus New Door
5 Water & Bridges Kenny Rogers Capitol Nashville
2 White Trash with Money Toby Keith Show Dog Nashville
2 You Can't Fix Stupid Ron White Jack
24 You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker Willie Nelson Lost Highway
1 Your Man Josh Turner MCA Nashville

[edit] Other top albums

US Album Artist Record Label
72 16 Biggest Hits Clint Black Legacy/RCA Nashville
26 16 Biggest Hits Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Legacy/Columbia Nashville
68 16 Biggest Hits Charlie Daniels Legacy/Columbia Nashville
61 16 Biggest Hits John Denver Legacy/RCA Nashville
55 21 Number One Hits: The Ultimate Collection Buck Owens Rhino
43 All American Bluegrass Girl Rhonda Vincent Rounder
27 Back to Tulsa - Live and Loud at Cain's Ballroom Cross Canadian Ragweed Universal South
29 Believe: Songs of Faith from Today's Top Country & Christian Artists Various Artists Arista Nashville
27 Big Iron World Old Crow Medicine Show Nettwerk
34 Billboard #1s: Classic Country Various Artists Rhino
55 Billy Gilman Billy Gilman Image Entertainment
31 Black & Blue Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
38 A Blue Collar Christmas: Redneck Style Various Artists Madacy
67 The Bourbon Legend Jason Boland & the Stragglers Sustain
62 Box Set Ray Stevens Curb
62 Christmas Collection Alabama RCA Nashville
68 Christmas Collection Vince Gill Madacy
57 Christmas Collection Kenny Rogers Madacy
52 Classic Clower Power Jerry Clower MCA Nashville
34 Corn Fed Shannon Brown Warner Bros.
30 Countrified Emerson Drive Midas
52 Country Christmas Johnny Cash Laserlight
75 Country Hits Various Artists St. Clair
44 Country Legends: I Walk the Line Johnny Cash BCI
36 Different Things Tracy Byrd Blind Mule
68 DJ's Choice: NOW That's What Mom Calls Country Music Various Artists Turn Up the Music
62 Elvis #1 Singles Elvis Presley RCA Nashville
62 The Essential Roy Orbison Roy Orbison Legacy/Monument
27 Flicka Soundtrack Various Artists StyleSonic
52 Forever Country Various Artists Madacy
58 Forever Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Sun
58 God's Country: George Jones and Friends George Jones Category 5
70 Golden Legends: Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Madacy
57 Golden Legends: Kenny Rogers Kenny Rogers Madacy
59 Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard Merle Haggard Capitol Nashville
Heard It in a Love Song Mark Chesnutt Vivaton!
35 Here and Now Darryl Worley 903 Music
60 Hitstory Elvis Presley RCA Nashville
56 Honky Tonk Boots Sammy Kershaw Category 5
46 How to Grow a Woman from the Ground Chris Thile Sugar Hill
73 Instrumentals Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Skaggs Family
26 JC: Johnny Cash Johnny Cash Sun
45 John Corbett John Corbett Funbone
63 Labor Pains Michael Lee Austin Alive
32 Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector Soundtrack Various Artists Jack
28 The Legend of Johnny Cash Vol. II Johnny Cash Island
65 Live at Billy Bob's Texas Stoney Larue Smith
55 Live at Irving Plaza 4.18.06 Shooter Jennings Universal South
33 Live: Wherever You Are Jack Ingram Big Machine
28 Livin' Lovin' Rockin' Rollin': The 25th Anniversary Collection Alabama Legacy/Sony BMG
70 Long List of Heartaches The Grascals Rounder
46 The Lost Trailers The Lost Trailers BNA
63 Mountain Tracks: Volume 4 Yonder Mountain String Band Frog Pad
46 My Life Ronnie Milsap RCA Nashville
55 Nashville Solomon Burke Shout! Factory
34 Now & Then Aaron Tippin Nippit/Rust
61 Out of the Ashes Jessi Colter Shout! Factory
57 The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson Various Artists American Roots
31 Povertyneck Hillbillies Povertyneck Hillbillies Rust
35 A Prairie Home Companion Soundtrack Various Artists New Line
58 Pretty Little Stranger Joan Osborne Vanguard
61 The Promised Land Del McCoury Band McCoury Music
41 Reasons Why: The Very Best Nickel Creek Sugar Hill
56 Reckless Kelly Was Here Reckless Kelly Sugar Hill
49 Redneck Christmas Various Artists Time Life
60 Redneck Country Various Artists Time Life
29 Rockie Lynne Rockie Lynne Universal South
60 San Angelo Aaron Watson Big Label
66 Strummin' with the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen Various Artists CMH
36 This Old Road Kris Kristofferson New West
47 Today's Country Christmas Various Artists Sony BMG
33 The Ultimate Collection Chris LeDoux Capitol Nashville
64 Underneath the Same Moon John Rich BNA
60 Weather the Storm Carolina Rain Equity Music Group
74 Workbench Songs Guy Clark Dualtone
57 Yonder Mountain String Band Yonder Mountain String Band Vanguard

[edit] Deaths

[edit] Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

[edit] Major Awards

[edit] Grammy awards

(Presented February 11, 2007 in Los Angeles) [8]

[edit] Academy of Country Music

(Presented May 15, 2007 in Las Vegas) [9]

[edit] Country Music Association

(presented November 6 in Nashville, Tennessee)

[edit] 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.

[edit] References

[edit] Other links

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_in_country_music"
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