2004 in country music

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

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

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

Deaths

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

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees

 * John Ray "Curly" Seckler
 * Bill Vernon

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

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

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

 * The Good Brothers
 * "Weird" Harold Kendall

Grammy Awards
(presented February 13, 2005 in Los Angeles)
 * Best Female Country Vocal Performance – "Redneck Woman", Gretchen Wilson
 * Best Male Country Vocal Performance – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim McGraw.
 * Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal – "Top of the World (live recording)", Dixie Chicks
 * Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – "Portland, Oregon", Loretta Lynn and Jack White
 * Best Country Instrumental Performance – "Earl's Breakdown", Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements and Jerry Douglas
 * Best Country Song – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman
 * Best Country Album – Van Lear Rose, Loretta Lynn
 * Best Bluegrass Album – Brand New Strings, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Juno Awards
(presented April 3, 2005 in Winnipeg)
 * Country Recording of the Year – One Good Friend, George Canyon

CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards
(presented April 21 in Nashville)
 * Video of the Year – "American Soldier", Toby Keith
 * Male Video of the Year – "There Goes My Life", Kenny Chesney
 * Female Video of the Year – "Forever and for Always", Shania Twain
 * Group/Duo Video of the Year – "I Melt", Rascal Flatts
 * Breakthrough Video of the Year – "What Was I Thinkin'", Dierks Bentley
 * Collaborative Video of the Year – "Beer for My Horses", Toby Keith and Willie Nelson
 * Hottest Video of the Year – "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems", Kenny Chesney
 * Cameo of the Year – "Celebrity", Jason Alexander, James Belushi, Little Jimmy Dickens, Trista Rehn, William Shatner, Brad Paisley
 * Video Director of the Year – "Beer for My Horses", Toby Keith and Willie Nelson (Director: Michael Salomon)
 * Johnny Cash Visionary Award – Reba McEntire

Americana Music Honors & Awards

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

Academy of Country Music
(presented May 17, 2005 in Las Vegas)
 * Entertainer of the Year – Kenny Chesney
 * Song of the Year – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman
 * Single of the Year – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim McGraw
 * Album of the Year – Be Here, Keith Urban
 * Top Male Vocalist – Keith Urban
 * Top Female Vocalist – Gretchen Wilson
 * Top Vocal Duo – Brooks & Dunn
 * Top Vocal Group – Rascal Flatts
 * Top New Artist – Gretchen Wilson
 * Video of the Year – "Whiskey Lullaby", Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss (Director: Rick Schroder)
 * Vocal Event of the Year – "Whiskey Lullaby", Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
 * ACM/Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year – Neal McCoy

ARIA Awards
(presented in Sydney on October 17, 2004)
 * Best Country Album – Wayward Angel (Kasey Chambers)

Canadian Country Music Association
(presented September 13 in Edmonton)
 * Kraft Cheez Whiz Fans' Choice Award – Terri Clark
 * Male Artist of the Year – Jason McCoy
 * Female Artist of the Year – Terri Clark
 * Group or Duo of the Year – Doc Walker
 * SOCAN Song of the Year – "Die of a Broken Heart", Carolyn Dawn Johnson
 * Single of the Year – "Simple Life", Carolyn Dawn Johnson
 * Album of the Year – Dress Rehearsal, Carolyn Dawn Johnson
 * Top Selling Album – Greatest Hits Volume II, Alan Jackson
 * CMT Video of the Year – "Simple Life", Carolyn Dawn Johnson
 * Chevy Trucks Rising Star Award – George Canyon
 * Roots Artist or Group of the Year – Corb Lund

Country Music Association
(presented November 9 in Nashville)
 * Entertainer of the Year – Kenny Chesney
 * Song of the Year – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman
 * Single of the Year – "Live Like You Were Dying", Tim McGraw
 * Album of the Year – When the Sun Goes Down, Kenny Chesney
 * Male Vocalist of the Year – Keith Urban
 * Female Vocalist of the Year – Martina McBride
 * Vocal Duo of the Year – Brooks & Dunn
 * Vocal Group of the Year – Rascal Flatts
 * Horizon Award – Gretchen Wilson
 * Video of the Year – "Whiskey Lullaby", Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss (Director: Rick Schroder)
 * Vocal Event of the Year – "Whiskey Lullaby", Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
 * Musician of the Year – Dann Huff