2013 in country music

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.
 * 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). 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.
 * 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.
 * July 7 – Randy Travis is hospitalized in critical condition with viral cardiomyopathy. Four days later, he suffers a stroke and undergoes surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
 * 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.
 * August 23 – In an interview with AARP, Linda Ronstadt reveals she has Parkinson's disease and can no longer sing.
 * October 16 – Record producer Tony Brown, best known for producing George Strait, is arrested for domestic assault against his wife.
 * 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). Price died the next day, with family spokesman Bill Mack confirming the death.

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:

Singles released by Canadian artists

 * 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:

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."
 * 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.
 * February 17 – Mindy McCready, 37, country vocalist from the mid-to-late 1990s, best known for "Guys Do It All the Time" (suicide)
 * March 6 – Stompin' Tom Connors, 77, Canadian country singer from the 1970s, best known for "The Hockey Song" (natural causes)
 * March 6 – Claude King, 90, singer/songwriter known for his million selling 1962 hit "Wolverton Mountain" (natural causes)
 * 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)
 * 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)
 * May 24 – Lorene Mann, 76, singer-songwriter best known for her duets with Justin Tubb and Archie Campbell
 * 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)
 * June 19 – Chet Flippo, 69, journalist for Rolling Stone and Billboard, editorial director at Country Music Television
 * July 8 – Johnny MacRae, 84, songwriter best known for "I'd Love to Lay You Down" (heart disease)
 * 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
 * August 13 – Tompall Glaser, 79, one-third of Tompall & the Glaser Brothers; also known for the solo single "Put Another Log on the Fire"
 * 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"
 * October 20 – Leon Ashley, 77, best known for his 1967 hit "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)"
 * October 29 – Sherman Halsey, 56, music video director best known for his work with Tim McGraw
 * November 13 – Bob Beckham, 86, singer and music publisher
 * November 21 – Nelson Larkin, 70, songwriter and producer
 * 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)

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

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)
 * 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