Morgan Wallen has been removed from hundreds of radio stations after a video emerged of him using a racial slur. The video shows the country music star saying goodbye to some friends and calling one of them the N-word. Cumulus Media, the second-biggest radio chain in the U.S., removed his content from their stations' playlists following the news. The radio chain operates 400 radio stations in the country and more are expected to follow their lead. Effective immediately we request that all of Morgan Wallen's music be removed from our playlists without exception, Directive Sent To All Cumulus Media Radio Stations. Wallenâs latest record Dangerous: The Double Album has been at number one on the Billboard chart for three weeks. Itâs the first country record to do so since Taylor Swift's Red in 2012. Wallen has since issued an apology for his use of the racial slur.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. â Country star Morgan Wallen has been suspended indefinitely from his label after a video surfaced of him shouting a racial slur, and some radio stations have already removed his music from their playlists.
Big Loud Records said in a statement posted to social media on Wednesday that Wallen's contract has been suspended indefinitely. Republic Records, which he is co-signed to, said it agreed with Big Loud's decision and said âsuch behavior will not be tolerated.â
The video, which was first published by TMZ on Tuesday night, showed Wallen outside a home in Nashville, Tennessee, yelling profanities and a racial slur.
Wallen said in a statement to TMZ that he is embarrassed and sorry.
"I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back. There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better," his statement said.
Country star Morgan Wallen arrives at the CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn., on June 5, 2019. Wallen has apologized after a video surfaced showed him shouting a racial slur. The video, which was first published by TMZ on Tuesday night, showed him outside a home in Nashville yelling profanities.
âIn light of Morgan Wallenâs recent actions involving the use of a racial slur, we have made the decision to remove his music and content from our stations effective immediately,â according to a statement from iHeartMedia, which has hundreds of radio stations across the country.
As of Wednesday morning, streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music also don't have his songs in their most popular country music playlists, where normally Wallen had multiple songs from his new album.
Cumulus Media, the second-biggest radio chain in the U.S., removed his content from its stations' playlists. The radio chain operates 400 radio stations in the nation.
Wallen's new record "Dangerous: The Double Album" has hit three weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart. He has had hits with songs like "Whiskey Glasses" and "Up Down" with Florida Georgia Line.
His success has come despite a number of mistakes and stumbles for which he has also apologized. Wallen was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct in May 2020 after getting kicked out of a downtown Nashville bar.
In October, "Saturday Night Live" dropped him from a scheduled performance on their show after he violated COVID-19 protocols when videos appeared on social media of him partying with fans in Alabama. He was later invited back on the show in December, where he appeared in a skit making fun of himself.
Other country stars criticized his actions publicly.
"It actually IS representative of our town because this isn't his first 'scuffle' and he just demolished a huge streaming record last month regardless," tweeted country star Maren Morris. "We all know it wasn't his first time using that word. We keep them rich and protected at all costs with no recourse."
Country music history from the year you were born
Country music history from the year you were born
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Over the past century, the country music genre has become one of the most popular and recognizable within the American music industry. It first originated in the early 1900s, particularly among working-class Southern Americans. Elements of fiddle songs, ballads, banjo, jazz, and blues became entangled together, leading to its official recognition as a genre (often referred to as âhillbilly musicâ) by the 1920s.
From there, country music grew roots in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, where the Grand Ole Opry radio and television show launched the careers of icons like Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. It was also the place where the genre had its âBig Bangâ moment, when talent scout Ralph Peer began to scout Southern talent and came away with legendary acts that would continue to shape the genre and put Nashville on the map as Music City.
Country has also seen a recent reckoning thanks to the response to Lil Nas Xâs hit song âOld Town Road.â When Billboard chose to remove the single from its country charts, claiming it wasnât âcountryâ enough, a debate was sparked over how the genre has historically discouraged Black country artistsâ ability to incorporate other genres in a way that speaks to younger listeners. Crossing over with other genres certainly seems to work, as Kacey Musgravesâ pop-infused âGolden Hourâ was the rare country album to win the 2019 Grammy for Album of the Year.
Stacker compiled a list of noteworthy genre moments and milestones over the past 100Â years. We scoured news articles, retrospectives, and other historical resources to find one significant recording, milestone, or event for each year from 1921 to 2021.
Read on to learn more about the evolution of country music, from the early 20th century to the present.
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1921: Webb Pierce is born
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Webb Pierce became one of the most popular honky-tonk artists of the 1950s. He also reached the significant milestone of racking up 13 Billboard #1 singles, which was rare for country artists at the time.
1922: Eck Robertson makes one of the first commercial country recordings
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The recordings included duets like âTurkey in the Straw,â as well as solo songs like âSallie Gooden.â When Eck Robertson died, his tombstone was engraved, âWorldâs Champion Fiddler.â
1923: Ralph Peer makes the first âhillbillyâ record
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Ralph Peer is credited for coordinating the first hit country record, Fiddlinâ John Carsonâs âThe Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane.â The music producer soon recruited other early âhillbilly musicâ stars, including the Stoneman Family and the Hill Billies.
1924: âThe Prisonerâs Songâ becomes the first country record to sell 1 million copies
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The song was performed by Vernon Dalhart, and the record also featured the single âThe Wreck of the Old 97.â It was later covered by many prominent country musicians, from Johnny Cash to Bill Monroe.
1925: The Grand Ole Opry begins
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Established as a radio show in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry has showcased country musicians to the American public for almost a century (it now airs on Circle TV). Itâs also responsible for helping kickstart the careers of genre legends like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams.
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1926: DeFord Bailey becomes a regular on the Grand Ole Opry
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The African American harmonica player appeared on the radio show from 1926 to 1941. However, due to the industry cultivation of country as a predominantly âwhiteâ genreâthe legacy of which remains to this dayâhe was not inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame until 2005.
1927: Country music has its âBig Bangâ
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Country had its âBig Bangâ moment when New York talent scout Ralph Peer came to Bristol, Tennessee, and set up a makeshift studio in order to find Southern talent for Victor Records. There, he found A.P. Carter and Jimmie Rodgers, two musicians who influenced country music for decades to come.
1928: The Carters meet Lesley Riddle
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Lesley Riddle was an African American Nashville blues musician who formed a long collaborative relationship with the Carters. Although he unfortunately never had a mainstream music career of his own, the artist helped shape Maybelle Carterâs guitar techniques and gathered old regional songs for recording companies.
1929: Gene Autry records his first records
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The man who would later become one of the quintessential singing cowboys of the era also had quite the recording career. According to his official website, Gene Autry made 640 recordings, one of which was the first record to ever be certified gold.
1930: Ken Maynard becomes the first singing cowboy in the film âSons of the Saddleâ
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Ken Maynard's character in the 1930 sound film âSons of the Saddleâ embodied the âsinging cowboyâ trope in a major way for the first time. This archetypal figure often protected those in need through acts of chivalry and expressed his emotions through wholesome songs.
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1931: Ed Crain records âBandit Cole Youngerâ
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Sometimes referred to as âThe Texas Cowboy,â Ed Crain is best remembered for this story-heavy song. It details the complicated emotions that a young Confederate soldier feels about his role in the Civil War.
1932: Patsy Cline is born
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Born Virginia Patterson Hensley, she became one of the most influential country artists ever, as well as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. She was also one of the earliest country artists to cross over into a prosperous pop career.
1933: Willie Nelson is born
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The singer-songwriter would become enormously important to the country music genre and a prominent creator of the "outlaw" country genre that focused on poverty and the perspective of prisoners and rebels on the lam from lawmen. He's pictured here, second from left, before he grew his signature braided pigtails.
1934: Gene Autry stars in his first movie, âIn Old Santa Feâ
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In less than two years, the young actor appeared in 10 Hollywood B movies. He is largely credited with bringing folk music further into the mainstream by popularizing the âsinging cowboyâ figure. Autry went on to host âThe Gene Autry Showâ from 1950 to 1955.
1935: Bob Wills makes his first recordings
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The influential singer-songwriter eventually went by the moniker âKing of Western Swingâ and is largely considered to be one of the founders of the Western swing style. By the time that he made his first recordings, Willis had formed a new band that became known as Bob Willis and his Texas Playboys.
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1936: âMid-Day Merry-Go-Roundâ begins
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WNOX in Knoxville, Tennessee, began broadcasting an afternoon radio show that featured hillbilly artists, helping to popularize country music. One early artist to perform was Roy Acuff, who also became a major player at the Grand Ole Opry.
1937: The âRenfro Valley Barn Danceâ begins
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The Midwestern radio and stage show showcased a number of country music stars, from Red Foley to the Coon Creek Girls. In 2013, PBS made a documentary about the Renfro Valley Dance, called âIn the Valley Where Time Stands Still.â
1938: âWabash Cannonballâ becomes the top country record
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The Roy Acuff-recorded song was also known by the title âThe Great Rock Island Route.â It describes the splendor of the Wabash Cannonball Express train route, exemplifying the genreâs appreciation for the Western and Southern United States.
1939: Billboard begins publishing its âHillbilly Hitsâ chart
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The chart was published until 1942 and is known as one of the first formal country music charts. The magazine later began publishing âMost Played Juke Box Folk Records,â which became the blueprint for its contemporary Hot Country Songs chart.
1940: Minnie Pearl joins the Grand Ole Opry
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The Nashville entertainer, whose real name is Sarah Ophelia Colley, constantly appeared on the show for over 50 years. By 1975, she became the first female comedian to join the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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1941: âWalking the Floor Over Youâ launches honky tonk music into the mainstream
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The name âhonky tonkâ is a nod to Nashvilleâs Lower Broadway bars, where patrons often gathered to share beer and enjoy live country music. The subgenre typically expresses great emotion, thanks to instruments like fiddles and electric guitars.
1942: Fred Rose and Roy Acuff found the first Nashville music publisher
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Acuff-Rose later signed country star Hank Williams, helping him set up an official recording contract. Their first major hit was Patti Pageâs 1950 single âTennessee Waltz.â
1943: The Carter Family disbands
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One of the first groups to become mainstream country stars, the band originally consisted of husband and wife A.P. and Sara Carter, as well as Saraâs sister-in-law Maybelle Carter. Sara and Maybelle briefly made music as a folk duo in the 1960s.
1944: Billboard acknowledges âfolkâ music
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The popular music publication first released a country music chart early in 1944, with one of several versions of the song âPistol Packinâ Mamaâ leading the pack. At the time, the chart was known as âfolk,â a genre that encompassed country and blues music.
1945: âBluegrassâ becomes a genre
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The genreâs growing success can largely be credited to Bill Monroeâs Blue Grass Boys, which took off in popularity after members Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt joined. Together, they formed the quintessential bluegrass quintet: a guitarist, a banjo player, a bass player, a fiddle player, and a mandolin player.
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1946: Nashvilleâs first independent label, Bullet Records, is launched
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Well-known country musicians like Minnie Pearl, Chet Atkins, and B.B. King released records through Jim Bulleitâs label. Francis Craigâs âNear You,â which was made through Bullet Records, was also the first major song to be recorded in the Tennessee city.
1947: Hank Williams earns his first national hit
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Hank Williams is still regarded as one of the most influential 20th-century American musicians, despite having such a brief career. He had his first major hit after releasing the single âMove It on Over,â which blended country and rock ânâ roll stylings.
1948: Eddy Arnold releases 5 of the yearâs new #1 songs
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These songs included âAnytime,â âBouquet of Roses,â âJust a Little Lovinâ (Will Go a Long, Long Way),â âMy Daddy is Only a Picture,â âTexarkana Baby,â and âWhat a Fool I Was.â âBouquet of Rosesâ topped the charts for 19 weeks.
1949: Hank Williams has his first #1 single with âLovesick Bluesâ
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The song earned the star his first #1 single, and he performed it to acclaim on the Louisiana Hayride Radio Show. It was originally written by Cliff Friend and Irving Mills for the 1922 musical âOh, Ernest.â
1950: Hank Snowâs âIâm Movinâ Onâ sits at #1 for 21 weeks
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The blues song details a young manâs breakup with his high-society girlfriend and how he processes it over the course of a train ride. The song remained at the top of the Billboard country charts for 21 weeks, a record at the time.
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1951: Carl Smith makes his chart debut
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Carl Smith first had a major chart hit when his single âLetâs Live a Littleâ appeared on Billboardâs Hot Country Songs chart. This 1951 success led him to become one of the most recognizable country artists of the 1950s, with 31 top 10 hits during the decade.
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1952: Kitty Wellsâ âIt Wasnât God Who Made Honky Tonk Angelsâ becomes a hit
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Singer Kitty Wells paved the way for other female country artists when she released the popular song âIt Wasnât God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,â a response to Hank Thompsonâs song âThe Wild Side of Life,â in which a man blames his lost love on a womanâs decision to go out and party at night. Written by songwriter J.D. Miller, Wellsâ song pushed back against the misogynist implications of Thompsonâs hit, shocking much of the male-dominated industry and selling over 1 million copies.
1953: Hank Williams dies at 29
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The iconic musician died from heart failure in the back of his Cadillac on the way to a performance on New Yearâs Day. His shocking death has hung over American pop culture in the years since, even though the artistâs career lasted only five years.
1954: Elvis makes his recording debut
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At the time, the 19-year-old singer was largely unknown. He shot to fame thanks to his performances on Sun Records, notably singing a cover of the blues classic, âThatâs All Right.â
1955: Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley tour together
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The two Sun Records performers hit the road, often opening for even bigger country artists of the day. Their sound marked the beginning of rockabilly, a folksy forefather of the rock ânâ roll genre.
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1956: Carl Perkinsâ âBlue Suede Shoesâ becomes a hit
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âBlue Suede Shoesâ is considered one of the earliest rockabilly records since it includes elements of both rock ânâ roll and country music. The Beatles later went on to record three Perkins songs, covering âEverybodyâs Trying to Be My Baby,â âHoney Donât,â and âMatchbox.â
1957: Jerry Lee Lewis records âGreat Balls of Fireâ
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After getting his start at Sun Records, Lewis became a bona fide star upon the release of his smash hit single, âGreat Balls of Fire.â It topped the R&B music charts, kickstarting the wild career of a man who became known as ârock ânâ rollâs first great wild man.â
1958: The Country Music Association is formed
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The CMA was created to defend and preserve country music during the advent of rockabilly and rock ânâ roll music. It began awarding artists during its first Country Music Week in 1967.
1959: The first Best Country and Western Performance Grammy Award is presented
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The award was given to The Kingston Trio for their song âTom Dooley.â This was one of the only major country music awards out there until the Academy of Country Music began awarding musicians in the late 1960s.
1960: Patsy Cline joins the Grand Ole Opry
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The highly influential singer successfully requested to join the cast and became a regular in January 1960. She famously demanded to be paid before performing at the Opryâas her personal policy stipulated, âNo dough, no show.â
1961: The Country Music Hall of Fame is established
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Country musicâs highest honor was established in 1961, created by the Country Music Association. Itâs based in Nashville, and its first class included Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, and Fred Rose.
1962: Ray Charles records âModern Sounds in Country and Western Musicâ
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Ray Charlesâ album blended country, soul, and pop to great acclaim, and both the album and its lead single, âI Canât Stop Loving You,â were soon certified gold. The African American musicianâs dedication to breaking down barriers between genres was particularly significant given that the album was released amid the American civil rights movement.
1963: Patsy Cline dies
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Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, Randy Hughes, and Hawkshaw Hawkins were killed in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee. Cline, who was 30 years old, previously almost died in a head-on car crash in 1961.
1964: Willie Nelson first appears on the Grand Ole Opry
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The appearance took place within two weeks of Willie Nelsonâs first-ever recording session at Nashvilleâs RCA Studio B. After his first show, Nelson became a regular performer and often played up to 26 shows every year before he moved to Texas.
1965: Loretta Lynn records âYou Ainât Woman Enough (To Take My Man)â
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The LP eventually became Lynnâs first #1 album on the Billboard country charts. Lynn later revealed that she was inspired to write the title track after a young fan told her she was worried that another woman was trying to steal her husband.
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1966: Dolly Parton releases her first record
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Dolly Parton is one of the most recognizable names in country music today, but she was first introduced to music listeners in 1966. Thatâs when her earliest songs, âDumb Blondeâ and âHappy Birthday, Baby,â were released.
1967: Merle Haggard records âSing Me Back Homeâ
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The musician first came up with the idea for the song from a conversation he had with a fellow inmate in prison. Notably, Merle Haggard saw Johnny Cash perform at San Quentin while he was serving time, before he himself became a major music star.
1968: Johnny Cash makes a live album at Folsom Prison
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Johnny Cash reportedly became fascinated by prison life after seeing the 1951 noir film âInside the Walls of Folsom Prisonâ during his time in the Air Force. The resulting LP, âAt Folsom Prison,â became a massive success and spurred Cash to testify before the Senate on behalf of prison reform in 1972.
1969: The âJohnny Cash Showâ debuts on ABC
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The Man in Blackâs country hits reached millions of American households when the âJohnny Cash Showâ became a regular part of ABCâs television lineup. The show, which ran from 1969 to 1971, featured performances from Cash, his wife, June Carter Cash, and many other country and pop stars of the day.
1970: Dolly Parton records her first Top 10 single
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Dolly Parton hit it big for the first time with âMule Skin Blues,â a song originally sung by Jimmie Rodgers. The song has also been performed by artists like the Osborne Brothers and The Cramps.
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1971: Southern Rock begins in Nashville
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The bands Barefoot Jerry and Area Code 615 influenced later Southern Rock bands after they began performing in the city. The subgenre combines blues, country, and rock 'n' roll, and the term was first coined in an article by journalist Mo Slotin.
1972: Loretta Lynn becomes the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards
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Loretta Lynn won the award following the release of her album âHere I Am,â and the #1 hit singles âCoal Minerâs Daughterâ and âDonât Come Home AâDrinkinâ.â She remained the only woman to be named Entertainer of the Year until Dolly Parton received the honor in 1978.
1973: Willie Nelson hosts his first Fourth of July picnic
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Since 1973, country legend Willie Nelson has performed an annual Independence Day concert in his native state of Texas. The annual event was inspired by his 1972 participation in the âDripping Springs Reunion,â an event bringing together progressive young hippies and more conservative, older Texans.
1974: Dolly Partonâs âI Will Always Love Youâ is released
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The song, a goodbye letter to her former singing partner Porter Wagoner, is Partonâs biggest hit ever, topping the charts in both 1974 and 1982. Later, the 1992 cover by Whitney Houston became the best-selling single ever released by a female artist.
1975: Willie Nelson releases âRed Headed Strangerâ
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Willie Nelsonâs classic album, which recounts its angry main characterâs journey to self-forgiveness and growth, firmly established the musician as an influential country artist. âRed Headed Strangerâ stayed on the Billboard charts for 120 weeks, transcending the often modest crossover expectations of the genre and innovating in long-form storytelling.
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1976: âWanted! The Outlawsâ is released
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The compilation features country superstars like Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, Waylon Jennings, and Tompall Glaser. It also has the honor of being the first certified platinum country music LP in history.
1977: Elvis Presley dies
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The iconic King of Rock ânâ Roll died at age 42 in his Tennessee mansion from what many now argue was a combination of heart failure and prescription drug abuse. Around 20,000 people visited Graceland to mourn.
1978: Barbara Mandrell has her first #1 hit with âSleeping Single in a Double Bedâ
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The song, which was part of her album âMoods,â was the singerâs 26th to reach the Billboard charts but the first to reach #1. The next year, the single won the American Music Award for Favorite Country Single.
1979: Kenny Rogers cements his reputation as a crossover country star with âCoward of the Countyâ
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The song, which reached the top of Billboardâs country chart, cemented Rogersâ place as a successful crossover artist, as he also made music in genres like pop, rock, and folk. The songâs controversial subject matter is a young manâs quest for revenge on the boys who gang-raped his girlfriend.
1980: âUrban Cowboyâ is released
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The John Travolta film brought country and western dance clubs and music into the mainstream, catapulting the genre into a pop phenomenon. Although the movie faced some backlash, it revolutionized country, with singles like Mickey Gilleyâs âStand by Meâ and Johnny Leeâs âLooking for Loveâ making the Hot 100.
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1981: Rosanne Cash releases her song âSeven Year Acheâ
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The single was the first of the singerâs eventual 11 #1Â country hits. Cash later said that the song, which is the title track of her third studio album, was inspired by the âstreet lifeâ subject matter of Rickie Lee Jonesâ self-titled 1979 album.
1982: Amy Kurland opens The Bluebird Cafe
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The Nashville location has since become a hotspot for rising country music talent. It became a nationally recognized venue after appearing on the popular ABC musical drama âNashville.â
1983: Two major country TV networks launch
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The Nashville Network and Country Music Television began creating genre-specific content during the same year. However, only CMT has survives today in its original incarnation, with the Nashville Network undergoing a host of brand and format changes starting in 2000.
1984: The Judds release their debut album, âWhy Not Meâ
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The mother-daughter duo of Naomi and Wynonna Judd eventually won five Grammy Awards and eight Country Music Association awards. They became one of the most popular country acts of the 1980s, and âWhy Not Meâ launched them to stardom after topping the charts for three weeks in 1985.
1985: The New York Timesâ Robert Palmer claims that country music is dying
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Robert Palmer claimed that country music was losing its audience, particularly young people, who were more drawn to genres like rock 'n'roll. âThe fabled Nashville sound, which defined country music for decades ... may soon sound as dated as the ukulele,â he wrote.
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1986: Columbia Records drops Johnny Cash
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After 28 years with the company, Cash only found out that he had been dropped by reading the newspaper. He later found success with Rick Rubinâs American Recordings label, especially with the 1994 release of his album âAmerican Recordings.â
1987: Reba McEntire is named the CMAâs âFemale Vocalist of the Yearâ for the fourth year in a row
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Reba McEntire became the first woman to ever receive the honor for four consecutive years. That same year, her compilation album âGreatest Hitsâ became her first to become certified triple platinum.
1988: Garth Brooks is discovered at the Bluebird Cafe
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During a show, Brooks was noticed by Capitol Records executive Lynn Shults, launching his mainstream success. Later that night, she offered him a record deal. He has since played the music bar again and appeared as part of Bluebirdâs 2018 Alive at the Bluebird concert series.
1989: Garth Brooks releases âIf Tomorrow Never Comesâ
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The singleâs popularity started Brooks on his journey toward becoming the highest-selling country musician of all time. The musicianâs sophomore single won Single of the Year at that yearâs American Country Music Awards and was his first #1 hit.
1990: Uncle Tupelo releases âNo Depressionâ
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The album is known for launching alt-country in the 1990s. In fact, it was regarded as so influential that a magazine about the genre named itself after the album.
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1991: Trisha Yearwood releases her debut single, âSheâs in Love with the Boyâ
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When the song reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart, it became the first debut single to achieve that milestone since Connie Smithâs 1964 single âOnce a Day.â Soon after, her self-titled album became one of the rare platinum country debuts.
1992: Line dancing surges in popularity
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Much of this resurgence can be owed to two hit singles of the time: Brooks & Dunnâs âBoot Scootinâ Boogieâ and Billy Ray Cyrusâ âAchy Breaky Heart.â The former inspired people to dance thanks to its âfour wallâ line dance format.
1993: Toby Keith makes his debut
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Toby Keith began his career with the debut single âShouldâve Been a Cowboy,â which soon topped the Billboard Country Songs chart. It ultimately became the top-played country song of the decade.
1994: Johnny Cash has his comeback
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The album âAmerican Recordings,â made with hip-hop producer Rick Rubin, is often credited with revitalizing Cashâs career. It received critical acclaim, and Cash later won the 1995 Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
1995: Vince Gill releases âGo Rest High on That Mountainâ
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Vince Gill wrote the song to eulogize his late older brother Bob, as well as musician Keith Whitley. The song was named CMAâs Song of the Year, cementing its place as a classic country ballad.
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1996: The first Country Stampede Music Festival takes place
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The festival was held every year at Tuttle Creek State Park until is moved to Topeka, Kansas, in 2019, where it is still one of the largest music festivals in the Midwest. In 2020 organizers renamed the festival âCountry Stampede at the Heartland.â
1997: Shania Twain releases âCome on Overâ
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Shania Twainâs third studio album smashed music records, selling over 20 million copies and becoming the best-selling recording by any female artist. Although it was ostensibly a country album, âCome on Overâ also blended the mainstream pop styles of singers of the day such as Celine Dion and Gloria Estefan.
1998: The Chicks make their major-label debut
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The band formerly known as The Dixie Chicks, who now go by The Chicks, entered the mainstream music scene with their forth studio album, âWide Open Spaces.â It won âBest Country Albumâ at the Grammy Awards and was the first Chicks album to feature Natalie Maines as the bandâs lead vocalist.
1999: The Americana Music Association is formed
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The trade organization was created to celebrate contemporary Americana artists, such as Wilco and Rosanne Cash, who were often sidelined by the mainstream music industry. It put on an annual Americanafest, a concert event and conference in Nashville.
2000: âO Brother, Where Art Thou?â is released
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The soundtrack for the Coen brothersâ movie âO Brother, Where Art Thou?â became one of the best-selling country albums of the early 2000s. The T Bone Burnett-produced soundtrack went on to win the Grammy for Album of the Year, making bluegrass stylings popular once again.
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2001: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opens
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The current iteration of the Nashville-based museum relocated to the cityâs downtown area in 2001 and has been hailed as the âSmithsonian of country music.â To this day, it is also one of the largest music research centers in the world.
2002: Shania Twain makes her comeback
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After breaking records with her 1997 album âCome on Over,â Twain returned after a five-year hiatus with her fourth album, âUp!â It reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart upon its release, selling over 874,000 copies in its first week alone.
2003: The Chicks are canceled
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The controversy began when Natalie Maines introduced the bandâs single âTravelinâ Soldierâ by saying, âJust so you know ... weâre ashamed that the president of the United States is from Texas.â The moment is remembered as one of the first times a celebrity was âcanceledâ in part because of internet reactions. The group was shunned for years but returned after a 14-year hiatus with the 2020 album âGaslighter.â
2004: âThe Grand Ole Opryâ star Skeeter Davis dies
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Apart from her appearances at the Opry, Skeeter Davis was one of the first famous solo country vocalists. New York Times music critic Robert Palmer praised her as an âextraordinary country/pop singer.â She had several crossover hits, particularly the 1962 song âThe End of the World.â
2005: âWalk the Lineâ is released
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The musical biopic starring Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix dramatizes the love story and collaborative relationship between country legends June and Johnny Cash. The film received five Oscar nominations, and Witherspoon won the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of June.
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2006: Taylor Swift releases her first album
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Although the world-famous artist has since crossed over into other genres, her self-titled debut (released when Swift was just 16) launched her as a major new face on the country music scene. Her first single, âTim McGraw,â references the famous genre musician.
2007: Country music sweeps the Grammy Awards
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During this edition of the awards show, The Chicks won three major awards often reserved for other genres: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year (for âTaking the Long Wayâ). Additionally, Carrie Underwood received the Grammy for Best New Artist.
2008: Reba leaves her label
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After 25 years, Reba McEntire left her label MCA Nashville. She ultimately left to sign and make music with the Valory Music Co., a sister company of Big Machine Records.
2009: Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards
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When Taylor Swift won Best Female Video for âYou Belong With Me,â rapper Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech, saying, âBeyoncÊ has one of the best videos of all time!â BeyoncÊ later called Swift back onstage to finish her speech, but the moment has been named as one of the most shocking in recent music history.
2010: CMT hosts its first CMT Artists of the Year event
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The 2010 ceremony honored Taylor Swift, the Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean, and Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum). The 2020 event was renamed âCMT Celebrates Our Heroes: An Artists of the Year Special,â in order to celebrate health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
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2011: Lady Aâs âNeed You Nowâ wins five Grammy Awards
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The album won the Best Country Album, while the single of the same name won four Grammys. The song was eventually certified nine times platinum by the RIAA and made the band internationally popular. It was the highest-selling country single from April 2011 to December 2013.
2012: Billboard changes its Hot Country Songs chart criteria
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The chart now reflects both airplay and music downloads, much like the magazineâs Hot 100 chart does. However, the changes drew controversy, as they allowed Taylor Swiftâs crossover single âWe Are Never Ever Getting Back Togetherâ to rebound to #1.
2013: Jody Rosen coins the term âbro-countryâ
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The New York Magazine writer described âbro-countryâ as âmusic by and of the tatted, gym-toned, party-hearty young American white dude.â Rosen was specifically referring to the Florida Georgia Line single âCruise,â which he said may mark a turning point from the popularity of older country stars to more party-oriented country music.
2014: Ty Herndon and Billy Gilman come out as gay
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The pair were among the first country musicians to do so after Chely Wright came out as a lesbian and became virtually the only out country star in 2010. Notably, the two both came out on the same day.
2015: Kelsea Balleriniâs âLove Me Like You Mean Itâ reaches #1
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The song made Kelsea Ballerini the first female country artist to achieve a #1 debut single on the Country Airplay chart since Carrie Underwood did so in 2006 with her song âInside Your Heaven.â The achievement was also notable given that Ballerini worked with indie label Black River, rather than one of the majors.
2016: âForever Countryâ is released
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The mashup song included performances from 30 well-known country artists including Kacey Musgraves, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson, and Reba McEntire. It was created to honor the Country Music Association Awardsâ 50-year anniversary.
2017: Luke Bryan makes history with his album âCrash My Partyâ
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When Bryanâs song âFastâ topped Billboardâs Country Airplay chart, he became the only artist to get six #1 songs from one album in the chartâs 27-year history. Other singles from his album âKill the Lightsâ to reach #1 include âHome Alone Tonight,â âHuntinâ, Fishinâ, and Lovinâ Everyday,â âMove,â âKick the Dust Up,â and âStrip It Down.â
2018: Lil Nas X releases âOld Town Roadâ
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The newcomerâs song, which went viral thanks to his savvy on TikTok, initially charted on Billboardâs Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip Songs charts. Billboardâs decision to remove âOld Town Roadâ from the country chart due to it apparently not embracing âenough elements of todayâs country musicâ sparked discussions about how the genre has historically limited Black country artistsâ creative freedoms while not doing the same to white musicians incorporating elements of rap and pop. Billy Ray Cyrus, who voiced his support for Lil Nas Xâs place in country, later appealed on a remix of the hit song.
2019: Kacey Musgraves wins Album of the Year at the Grammys
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Kacey Musgravesâ album âGolden Hourâ won four awards at the ceremony, but itâs still rare for country artists to go home with the top prize. This was the first time that a country album had won that particular Grammy since Taylor Swiftâs âFearlessâ won in 2010.
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2020: Charley Pride dies due to COVID-19 in a year marked by the pandemic
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Charley Pride charted the course for Black musicians in country music, a genre that historically and contemporarily is overwhelmingly white. He was the first Black performer inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and one of only three Black members of the Grand Ole Opry. His death due to complications of COVID-19 raised questions about the country music world's response to the pandemic, considering the Country Music Association Awardsâwhere Pride accepted a lifetime achievement award the month before his deathâwas one of the only awards shows held in-person, and several country music stars held concerts despite posing safety risks.
