2003 in country music

none This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 2003. 2003 2003 country music 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."'Dixie sluts' fight on with naked defiance June - Ashley Gearing charts with "Can You Hear Me When I Talk to You?" at the age of twelve years and one month, breaks a record set by Brenda Lee in 1957 as the youngest female artist to have a single on the country charts.https://books.google.com/books?id=8A0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22ashley+gearing%22+%22can+you+hear+me+when+i+talk+to+you%22&pg=RA1-PA72 Chart beat Fred Bronson Billboard 72 June 21, 2003 June 11 – Country Music magazine announces that it will cease publication, effective with the August/September 2003 issue. The final issue's cover artist was Martina McBride, as part of a salute to women in country music. The magazine's sister publication, Country Weekly, which had largely taken over the market for country music-related journalism, picks up part of the slack left by the closure of Country Music, both of which were published by American Media Inc.CMT News: "Country Music Magazine Closes," June 11, 2003. Accessed 02-05-2012. July – The Rascal Flatts video, "I Melt", comes under fire by conservative groups because it contains brief scenes of nudity, in particular sex scenes featuring band member Joe Don Rooney and model Christina Auria. Groups called for the video to be banned from airplay on CMT and Great American Country. Eventually, Rascal Flatts released an edited version of the video, which aired during daytime hours on the two country music-oriented networks.Rascal Flatts – Saucy Country Video Creates a Storm of Controversy August 22 Goldie Hill celebrates her 50 Grand Ole Opry anniversary September 22 - The Trace Adkins video, "Hot Mama", gained notoriety for its risqué content involving a brief strip tease sequence despite that the song itself being a hit at the time.album r669604 yes Comin' On Strong Album Review Ruhlmann William March 17, 2025 Allmusic The song became controversial over 2 decades later due to an incident caused by DHS secretary Kristi Noem.https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3302850/noem-first-speech-dhs-unconventional-start-tune-hot-mama/ DHS Secretary Kristi Noem makes unusual entrance to 'Hot Mama' January 28, 2025 March 17, 2025 December – The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honors Loretta Lynn for her lifetime contributions to the arts. 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. Top hits of the year The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs charts in 2003: List of number-one country hits of 2003 (U.S.) USSingleArtistReference119 Somethin'Mark Wills1099.9% Sure (I've Never Been Here Before)Brian McComas6Almost HomeCraig Morgan18At the End of the DayKellie Coffey1The BabyBlake Shelton16Backseat of a Greyhound BusSara Evans16Beautiful GoodbyeJennifer Hanson1Beer for My HorsesToby Keithduet with Willie Nelson2Big StarKenny Chesney1BrokenheartsvilleJoe Nichols3CelebrityBrad Paisley5Chicks Dig ItChris Cagle10ChromeTrace Adkins5Concrete AngelMartina McBride2Cowboys Like UsGeorge Strait3Fall into MeEmerson Drive9A Few QuestionsClay Walker4Forever and for AlwaysShania Twain1Have You Forgotten?Darryl Worley4Hell YeahMontgomery Gentry3Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song)Buddy Jewell1I BelieveDiamond Rio16I Can't Be Your FriendRushlow2I Just Wanna Be MadTerri Clark1I Love This BarToby Keith2I MeltRascal Flatts15I WishJo Dee Messina7I Wish You'd StayBrad Paisley14I'm Gonna Take That MountainReba McEntire1It's Five O'Clock SomewhereAlan Jacksonand Jimmy Buffett6A Lot of Things DifferentKenny Chesney8The Love SongJeff Bates3Love You Out LoudRascal Flatts18Lovin' All NightPatty Loveless1Man to ManGary Allan1My Front Porch Looking InLonestar17Next Big ThingVince Gill2No Shoes, No Shirt, No ProblemsKenny Chesney19On a MissionTrick Pony3Raining on SundayKeith Urban1Real Good ManTim McGraw1Red Dirt RoadBrooks & Dunn13Rock You BabyToby Keith17She Only Smokes When She DrinksJoe Nichols2She's My Kind of RainTim McGraw5SpeedMontgomery Gentry3Stay GoneJimmy Wayne18Streets of HeavenSherrié Austin11Tell Me Something Bad About TulsaGeorge Strait2That'd Be AlrightAlan Jackson9Then They DoTrace Adkins1There Goes My LifeKenny Chesney17There's More to Me Than YouJessica Andrews14There's No LimitDeana Carter17This Is GodPhil Vassar3This One's for the GirlsMartina McBride1Three Wooden CrossesRandy Travis1Tough Little BoysGary Allan1Travelin' SoldierDixie Chicks13The Truth About MenTracy Byrd12Unusually UnusualLonestar12Up!Shania Twain8Walk a Little StraighterBilly Currington8Walking in MemphisLonestar3Wave on WavePat Green4What a Beautiful DayChris Cagle14What the World NeedsWynonna Judd1What Was I Thinkin'Dierks Bentley1Who Wouldn't Wanna Be MeKeith Urban16WrinklesDiamond Rio4You Can't Hide BeautifulAaron Lines Top new album releases The following albums placed within the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums charts in 2003: List of number-one country albums of 2003 (U.S.) US Album Artist Record label Release date Reference 5 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection Toby Keith Mercury NashvilleApr 15https://shop.udiscovermusic.com/collections/toby-keith/products/20th-century-masters-the-millennium-collection-best-of-toby-keith-cd#:~:text=Description,turned%20him%20into%20a%20superstar 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of Toby Keith CD 6 20th Century Masters: The Best of Brenda Lee - The Christmas Collection Brenda Lee MCA Nashville 4 All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan Kenny Chesney BNA 6 The American Farewell Tour Alabama RCA Nashville 5 And the Crowd Goes Wild Mark Wills Mercury Nashville 10 Best of Jeff Foxworthy: Double Wide, Single Minded Jeff Foxworthy Warner Bros. 1 Buddy Jewell Buddy Jewell Columbia 1 Chris Cagle Chris Cagle Capitol Nashville 3 Comin' On Strong Trace Adkins Capitol Nashville 4 Dierks Bentley Dierks Bentley Capitol Nashville 2 The Dreamer Blake Shelton Warner Bros. 3 A Few Questions Clay Walker RCA Nashville 2 For the Last Time: Live from the Astrodome George Strait MCA Nashville 1 From There to Here: Greatest Hits Lonestar BNA 1 Greatest Hits Jo Dee Messina Curb 3 Greatest Hits LeAnn Rimes Asylum-Curb 1 Greatest Hits Collection, Vol. 1 Trace Adkins Capitol Nashville 2 Greatest Hits Volume II Alan Jackson Arista Nashville 1 Greatest Hits Volume II (And Some Other Stuff) Alan Jackson Arista Nashville 1 Have You Forgotten? Darryl Worley DreamWorks Nashville 1 Honkytonkville George Strait MCA Nashville 6 I'm Just a Girl Deana Carter Arista Nashville 4 In the Mood: The Love Songs Alabama RCA Nashville 7 Jimmy Wayne Jimmy Wayne DreamWorks Nashville 6 Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton Various Artists Sugar Hill 4 Live and Kickin' Willie Nelson Lost Highway 9 Living Out Loud Aaron Lines RCA Nashville 3 Long Black Train Josh Turner MCA Nashville 1 Martina Martina McBride RCA Nashville 1 Mud on the Tires Brad Paisley Arista Nashville 7 My Baby Don't Tolerate Lyle Lovett Lost Highway 4 Next Big Thing Vince Gill MCA Nashville 4 Now Jessica Andrews DreamWorks Nashville 7 On Your Way Home Patty Loveless Epic 5 Pain to Kill Terri Clark Mercury Nashville 8 Population Me Dwight Yoakam Audium 1 Red Dirt Road Brooks & Dunn Arista Nashville 8 Remembering Patsy Cline Various Artists MCA Nashville 3 Restless Sara Evans RCA Nashville 4 Room to Breathe Reba McEntire MCA Nashville 2 See If I Care Gary Allan MCA Nashville 1 Shock'n Y'all Toby Keith DreamWorks Nashville 6 Stumble into Grace Emmylou Harris Nonesuch 3 Top of the World Tour: Live Dixie Chicks Open Wide 2 Totally Country Vol. 3 Various Artists Warner Bros. 5 The Truth About Men Tracy Byrd RCA Nashville 2 Wave on Wave Pat Green Republic 1 What the World Needs Now Is Love Wynonna Judd Asylum-Curb 9 Worship & Faith Randy Travis Word/Curb Other top albums US Album Artist Record label 12 All the Best Glen Campbell Capitol Nashville 17 Bering Strait Bering Strait Universal South 33 Bill Gaither Presents:A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming Volume One Various Artists Gaither 34 Bill Gaither Presents:A Gospel Bluegrass Homecoming Volume Two Various Artists Gaither 17 Billy Currington Billy Currington Mercury Nashville 15 Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie Soundtrack Various Artists Warner Bros. 48 Bluegrass Today Various Artists Time Life 21 Brian McComas Brian McComas Lyric Street 21 The Christmas Guest: Songs and Stories of Christmas Andy Griffith Sparrow 20 Classic Country: Christmas Various Artists Time Life 45 Classic Country: The '80s Various Artists Time Life 11 CMT Most Wanted Volume 1 Various Artists Capitol Nashville 40 Country Music Marty Stuart Columbia 32 Crazy: The Demo Sessions Willie Nelson Sugar Hill 44 Delbert McClinton Live Delbert McClinton New West 11 Drunk in Public Ron White Hip-O 30 Dusty Drake Dusty Drake Warner Bros. 30 Elvis: Christmas Peace Elvis Presley RCA 41 Elvis: Close Up Elvis Presley RCA 24 The Essential Willie Nelson Willie Nelson Legacy 29 Fate's Right Hand Rodney Crowell Epic 24 Farm Fresh Onions Robert Earl Keen Koch 23 For God and Country Dolly Parton Blue Eye 40 Full Exposure Cory Morrow Write On 28 Further Down the Old Plank Road The Chieftains RCA 44 Genuine The Derailers Lucky Dog 19 The Gospel Collection George Jones Bandit 40 Haggard Like Never Before Merle Haggard Capitol Nashville 46 Heart Full of Country Various Artists Capitol Nashville 37 Here's Your Sign Reloaded Bill Engvall Warner Bros. 50 Honesty Rodney Atkins Curb 24 Horsepower Chris LeDoux Capitol Nashville 16 I Love It Craig Morgan Broken Bow 39 I Want My Money Back Sammy Kershaw Audium 24 I'm One of You Hank Williams, Jr. Asylum-Curb 19 I've Always Been Crazy: A Tribute to Waylon Jennings Various Artists RCA Nashville 37 It'll Come to You... The Songs of John Hiatt Various Artists Vanguard 47 It's Just the Night Del McCoury Band McCoury 20 Jennifer Hanson Jennifer Hanson Capitol Nashville 43 Just an American Boy Steve Earle E-Squared 32 Live at the Charleston Music Hall Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Skaggs Family 44 Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers Various Artists Universal South 47 Lonesome, On'ry and Mean:A Tribute to Waylon Jennings Various Artists Razor & Tie 32 The Mavericks The Mavericks Sanctuary 15 Music Through Heartsongs:Songs Based on the Poems of Mattie J.T. Stepanek Billy Gilman Epic 25 Nashville Star: The Finalists Various Artists Columbia 14 Nut Sack Rodney Carrington Capitol Nashville 30 One Step Ahead Rhonda Vincent Rounder 18 The Other Side Billy Ray Cyrus Word/Curb 37 Pure Country Classics: The #1 Hits Various Artists UTV 14 Rainbow Man Jeff Bates RCA Nashville 31 Roy D. Mercer Hits the Road Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville 16 Rules of Travel Rosanne Cash Capitol Nashville 49 Show Allison Moorer Universal South 19 A Six Pack of Judd Cledus T. Judd Koch 37 The Songs of Hank Williams, Jr. Various Artists Warner Bros. 31 Steal Another Day Steve Wariner Selectone 22 Streets of Heaven Sherrié Austin Broken Bow 24 Three Pickers Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson& Ricky Skaggs Rounder 27 The Time-Life Treasury of Bluegrass Various Artists Time Life 39 Ultimate Clint Black Clint Black RCA Nashville 20 Ultimate Dolly Parton Dolly Parton RCA Nashville 33 Unearthed Johnny Cash Lost Highway 11 The Very Best of John Michael Montgomery John Michael Montgomery Warner Bros. 24 A Very Special Acoustic Christmas Various Artists Lost Highway 33 Wildwood Flower June Carter Cash Dualtone 48 You, Me and the Windshield Marcel Mercury Nashville Births April 15 – Sam Barber, up-and-coming country music singer and songwriter of the 2020s ("Straight and Narrow"). September 29 – Callista Clark, country music singer and songwriter of the 2020s ("It's 'Cause I Am"). Deaths February 19 – Johnny Paycheck, 64, legendary singer and songwriter, best known for "Take This Job and Shove It." (complications from asthma and emphysema) March 17 – Bill Carlisle, 94, singer-songwriter and comedian, lead singer of the Carlisles and stalwart of the Grand Ole Opry. April 22 – Felice Bryant, 77, songwriter and wife of collaborator Boudleaux Bryant. May 15 – June Carter Cash, 73, member of the Carter Family and wife of Johnny Cash (complications from heart surgery). June 30 – Sam Phillips, 80, founder of Sun Records and major player in emergence of rock and roll and its cross-genre popularity. July - Jayne White, 40 of duo JJ White.ayne 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). Hall of Fame inductees Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees J. D. Crowe Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Floyd Cramer (1933–1997) Carl Smith (1927–2010) Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Sylvia Tyson J. Edward Preston Fred King Charlie Russell Art Wallman Major awards 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 Juno Awards Country Recording of the Year – Up!, Shania Twain 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 Americana Music Honors & Awards Album of the Year – American IV: The Man Comes Around (Johnny Cash) Artist of the Year – Johnny Cash Song of the Year – "Hurt" (Trent Reznor) Instrumentalist of the Year – Jerry Douglas Spirit of Americana/Free Speech Award – Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement: Songwriting – John Prine Lifetime Achievement: Performance – Levon Helm Lifetime Achievement: Executive – Sam Phillips Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year – Toby Keith Song of the Year – "Three Wooden Crosses", Doug Johnson, Kim Williams Single of the Year – "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere", Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett Album of the Year – Shock'n Y'all, Toby Keith Top Male Vocalist – Toby Keith Top Female Vocalist – Martina McBride Top Vocal Duo – Brooks & Dunn Top Vocal Group – Rascal Flatts Top New Artist – Dierks Bentley Video of the Year – "Beer for My Horses", Toby Keith and Willie Nelson (Director: Michael Salomon) Vocal Event of the Year – "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett ARIA Awards (presented in Sydney on October 21, 2003) Best Country Album – Golden Road (Keith Urban) Canadian Country Music Association Kraft Cheez Whiz Fans' Choice Award – Terri Clark Male Artist of the Year – Aaron Lines Female Artist of the Year – Shania Twain Group or Duo of the Year – Emerson Drive SOCAN Song of the Year – "Rocket Girl", Jason McCoy, Denny Carr Single of the Year – "I Just Wanna Be Mad", Terri Clark Album of the Year – Up!, Shania Twain Top Selling Album – Up!, Shania Twain CMT Video of the Year – "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!", Shania Twain Chevy Trucks Rising Star Award – Aaron Lines Roots Artist or Group of the Year – Sean Hogan Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year – Alan Jackson Song of the Year – "Three Wooden Crosses", Doug Johnson, Kim Williams Single of the Year – "Hurt", Johnny Cash Album of the Year – American IV: The Man Comes Around, Johnny Cash Male Vocalist of the Year – Alan Jackson Female Vocalist of the Year – Martina McBride Vocal Duo of the Year – Brooks & Dunn Vocal Group of the Year – Rascal Flatts Horizon Award – Joe Nichols Video of the Year – "Hurt", Johnny Cash (Director: Mark Romanek) Vocal Event of the Year – "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere", Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett Musician of the Year – Randy Scruggs Hollywood Walk of Fame Stars who were honored in 2003 Earl Scruggs Kennedy Center Honors Country stars who were honored in 2003 Loretta Lynn Further reading Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944–2005 – 6th Edition." 2005. References Other links Country Music Association Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame External links Country Music Hall of Fame Country Category:Country music by year