2003 in 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". The comment sparked intense controversy and outrage among Americans, including a large share of country music fans.
• 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.
• July – The Rascal Flatts video, "I Melt," comes under fire by conservative groups because it contains brief scenes of nudity, in particular lovemaking scenes featuringband 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.
• 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, 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.

  Top hits of the year

Top new album releases

Other top albums

Deaths

• February 19 – Johnny Paycheck, 64, legendary singer and songwriter, best known for "Take This Job and Shove It."
• 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.
• June 30 – Sam Phillips, 80, founder of Sun Records and major player in emergence of rock and roll and its cross-genre popularity.
• 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".
• November 17 – Don Gibson, 75, influential songwriter and singer who helped introduce the Nashville Sound.
• December 16 – Gary Stewart, 58, rough, outlaw-styled country singer known for his drinking songs .
• December 22 – Dave Dudley, 75, best known for his 1960s-era truck driving songs, such as "Six Days on the Road".

  Hall of Fame inductees

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductees

• J. D. Crowe

  Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

• Floyd Cramer
• Carl Smith

  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
• 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 ", Toby Keith
• Male Video of the Year – "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue ", 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 ", 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
• Special Achievement Award – Johnny Cash

  Americana Music Honors & Awards

• Album of the Year – '
• Artist of the Year – Johnny Cash
• Song of the Year – "Hurt"
• 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
• Vocal Event of the Year – "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett

  ARIA Awards

• Best Country Album' – Golden Road''

  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 – ', 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
• Vocal Event of the Year – "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere", Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
• Musician of the Year''' – Randy Scruggs

  Other links

• Country Music Association
• Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame