This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 2003. [edit] Events - March 10 — During a concert in London, England, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines said that the band was "ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas" (referring to Maines' hometown of Lubbock and President Bush hailing from the same state). The comment sparked intense controversy and outrage among Americans, including a large share of country music fans.
- Those who took offense to Maines' comments based their feelings on a number of grounds, including that the country was then on the verge of declaring war on Iraq (which happened less than two weeks later) and that Maines made the comments on foreign soil. Chicks' supporters, meanwhile, cited their right to free speech. Radio stations – perhaps riding the wave of fan sentiment – refuse to play their music on the air, including their then-current hit, "Travelin' Soldier" (which ironically was about a soldier who is about to go to war); some even sponsor anti-Dixie Chicks promotional events, such as disposing and destroying Chicks' compact discs and other merchandise. Maines, meanwhile, defended her stance during a televised interview with Diane Sawyer.
- Maines and her bandmates – Emily Robison and Martie Maguire – appeared nude (with private parts strategically covered) on the May 2 cover of Entertainment Weekly. Their bodies were covered with words such as "Saddam's Angels" and "Traitor."[1]
[edit] No dates - Throughout the year, country music was beset by the deaths of notable figures, including Johnny Cash, whose vastly influential musicianship transcended genres. His wife of 35 years (and longtime singing partner), June Carter Cash, had died four months earlier. Both had appeared in a CMT-aired interview, discussing their lives and careers; it was taped earlier in the year.
- Other notables that died during the year: Johnny Paycheck, Felice Bryant, Floyd Tillman, Wilma Burgess, Don Gibson, Dave Dudley and Gary Stewart.
[edit] Top hits of the year [edit] Number one hits (As certified by Billboard) - Notes
- 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
- 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
- A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
- B^ Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
- C^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
[edit] Other major hits [edit] Top new album releases [edit] Other top albums [edit] Deaths - February 19 — Johnny Paycheck, legendary singer and songwriter, best known for "Take This Job and Shove It." (died from a lengthy battle with asthma and emphysema
- April 22 — Felice Bryant, 77, songwriter and husband of collaborator Boudleaux Bryant.
- May 15 — June Carter Cash, 73, member of the Carter Family and wife of Johnny Cash (complications from heart surgery).
- August 22 — Floyd Tillman, 88, 1930s and 1940s singer instrumental in creating the genre's western swing and honky-tonk styles.
- August 26 — Wilma Burgess, 64, country vocalist of the 1960s best known for "Misty Blue."
- September 12 — Johnny Cash, 71, vastly influential singer/songwriter/guitarist whose music transcended musical boundaries; best known for hits like "Ring of Fire," "I Walk the Line," "Hurt," and "A Boy Named Sue" (diabetic complications).
- November 17 — Don Gibson, 75, influential songwriter (best known for "I Can't Stop Loving You") and singer who helped introduce the Nashville Sound (natural causes).
- December 16 — Gary Stewart, 58, rough, outlaw-styled country singer known for his drinking songs ("She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)") (suicide).
- December 22 — Dave Dudley, 75, best known for his 1960s-era truck driving songs, such as "Six Days on the Road" (heart attack).
[edit] Hall of Fame inductees [edit] Country Music Hall of Fame inductees [edit] Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees [edit] Major awards [edit] Grammy Awards - Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "Keep on the Sunny Side," June Carter Cash
- Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "Next Big Thing," Vince Gill
- Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "A Simple Life," Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
- Best Country Collaboration with Vocals — "How's the World Treating You," Alison Krauss and James Taylor
- Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Cluck Old Hen," Alison Krauss & Union Station
- Best Country Song — "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Jim "Moose" Brown and Don Rollins
- Best Country Album — Livin', Lovin', Losin' – Songs of the Louvin Brothers, Various Artists (Producer: Carl Jackson)
- Best Bluegrass Album — Live, Alison Krauss & Union Station
[edit] Juno Awards [edit] CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards - Video of the Year — "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," Toby Keith
- Male Video of the Year — "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," Toby Keith
- Female Video of the Year — "Concrete Angel," Martina McBride
- Group/Duo Video of the Year — "These Days," Rascal Flatts
- Breakthrough Video of the Year — "Brokenheartsville," Joe Nichols
- Hottest Male Video of the Year — "She's My Kind of Rain," Tim McGraw
- Hottest Female Video of the Year — "When the Lights Go Down," Faith Hill
- Cocky Video of the Year — "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," Toby Keith
- Concept Video of the Year — "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!," Shania Twain
- Fashion Plate Video of the Year — "She's My Kind of Rain," Tim McGraw
- Video Director of the Year — "Concrete Angel," Martina McBride (Director: Deaton Flanigen)
- Special Achievement Award — Johnny Cash
[edit] Academy of Country Music [edit] Canadian Country Music Association [edit] Country Music Association [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 |
