2018 in country music

Events

• January – The critically acclaimed ABC/CMT series Nashville announces it will stop production after its sixth season which premiered on January 4, 2018. The show's last episode aired on July 26, 2018.
• January 17 – Kenny Chesney announces that he has left Sony Music Nashville after 23 years and has subsequently signed with Warner Bros. Records Nashville.
• February 2 – Montgomery Gentry release their final album together, Here's to You, following the death of Troy Gentry in September 2017.
• April 15 – The Academy of Country Music awards return to Las Vegas for the first time since the October 2017 Las Vegas shooting, with Reba McEntire returning as host; Carrie Underwood makes her comeback performance after months out of the public eye while recovering from injuries she suffered in a fall at home.
• April 30 – USA Network announces Real Country, a reality competition show designed to find the next big country star and featuring Travis Tritt, Jake Owen and Shania Twain as judges.
• June 8 – Sugarland returns with the release of their first album together since 2010, Bigger.
• June 25 – Fox announces it will air "iHeartCountry Festival", featuring headliners Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, and more in August.
• June 26 – Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and Faith Hill are announced to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019.
• July 25 – Reba McEntire is announced as one of the recipients of the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors.
• August 8 – Carrie Underwood announces her pregnancy with her second child.
• September 20 – Carrie Underwood receives her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• November 20 – Jimmie Allen reaches number one on Country Airplay with "Best Shot", making him the first African American to send a debut single to the top of that chart.

  Top hits of the year

Singles released by American and Australian artists

Singles released by Canadian artists

Top new album releases

Other top albums

Deaths

• January 2 – Rick Hall, 85, record producer and owner of FAME Studios
• January 23 – Lari White, 52, singer-songwriter and actress best known for the hit "Now I Know".
• February 12 – Daryle Singletary, 46, neotraditionalist singer-songwriter with hits including "I Let Her Lie", "Amen Kind of Love" and "Too Much Fun".
• February 25 – Bruce Nelson Stratton, 74, American radio personality.
• March 2 – Ronnie Prophet, 80, Canadian country music singer.
• March 18 – Hazel Smith, 83, American country music journalist, publicist and songwriter; first to coin the phrase "outlaw" in relation to country music.
• March 27 – Kenny O'Dell, 73, American country singer-songwriter, Grammy winner.
• April 17 – Tom McBride, 81, Irish country star and lead singer of Big Tom and The Mainliners.
• April 18 – Randy Scruggs, 64, multiple Grammy-winning songwriter and guitarist; son of Earl Scruggs.
• June 2 – Wayne Secrest, 68, bassist for Confederate Railroad
• June 5 – Billy ThunderKloud, 70, Native American country music singer..
• October 27 – Freddie Hart, 91, singer-songwriter .
• November 1 – Dave Rowland, 74, lead singer of Dave & Sugar.
• November 15 – Roy Clark, 85, country music singer, musician and host of Hee Haw.
• December 15 – Jerry Chesnut, 87, songwriter
• December 22 – Jimmy Work, 94, American country singer-songwriter.
• December 31 – Ray Sawyer, 81, American country singer Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show.

  Hall of Fame inductees

Bluegrass Hall of Fame

• Tom T. Hall and Dixie Hall
• Ricky Skaggs
• Paul Williams

  Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

• Ricky Skaggs, bluegrass-influenced-and-styled singer-songwriter-musician and leading figure in the neotraditionalist movement of the 1980s onward.
• Dottie West, leading singer of the 1960s and early 1970s, enjoyed pop-styled resurgence in late 1970s and early 1980s.
• Johnny Gimble, Western swing-styled musician and member of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys.

  Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

• Terri Clark, singer
• Jackie Rae Greening, broadcaster

  Major awards

Academy of Country Music

• Entertainer of the Year – Keith Urban
• Male Vocalist of the Year – Thomas Rhett
• Female Vocalist of the Year – Kacey Musgraves
• Vocal Duo of the Year – Dan + Shay
• Vocal Group of the Year – Old Dominion
• New Male Vocalist of the Year – Luke Combs
• New Female Vocalist of the Year – Ashley McBryde
• New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year – Lanco
• Songwriter of the Year – Shane McAnally
• Album of the Year – Golden Hour
• Single of the Year – "Tequila"
• Song of the Year – "Tequila"
• Vocal Event of the Year – "Burning Man"
• Artist of the Decade – Jason Aldean

• Cliffie Stone Icon Award – Alan Jackson
• Merle Haggard Spirit Award – Dierks Bentley
• Mae Boren Axton Award – Mickey Christensen, Chris Christensen and Eddie Miller
• Poet's Award – Matraca Berg and Norro Wilson
• Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award – Darius Rucker
• Gene Weed Milestone Award – Sam Hunt
• Songwriter of the Year – Rhett Akins
• Producer of the Year – Dave Cobb
• Jim Reeves International Award''' – Rob Potts

  Americana Music Honors & Awards

• Album of the Year – The Nashville Sound
• Artist of the Year – John Prine
• Duo/Group of the Year – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
• Song of the Year – "If We Were Vampires"
• Emerging Artist of the Year – Tyler Childers
• Instrumentalist of the Year – Molly Tuttle
• Spirit of Americana/Free Speech Award – Rosanne Cash
• Lifetime Achievement: Trailblazer – k.d. lang
• Lifetime Achievement: Performance – Irma Thomas
• Lifetime Achievement: Instrumentalist – Buddy Guy
• Lifetime Achievement: Executive – Judy Dlugacz and Cris Williamson

  American Music Awards

• Favorite Male Artist – Kane Brown
• Favorite Female Artist – Carrie Underwood
• Favorite Group or Duo – Florida Georgia Line
• Favorite Album – Kane Brown
• Favorite Song''' – "Heaven"

  ARIA Awards

• Best Country Album – Campfire
• ARIA Hall of Fame''' – Kasey Chambers

  Billboard Music Awards

• Top Country Artist – Chris Stapleton
• Top Male Country Artist – Chris Stapleton
• Top Female Country Artist – Maren Morris
• Top Country Duo/Group – Florida Georgia Line
• Top Country Album – '
• Top Country Song – "Body Like a Back Road"
• Top Country Tour – Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day Tour

  CMT Awards

• Video of the Year – "I'll Name the Dogs"
• Male Video of the Year – "I'll Name the Dogs"
• Female Video of the Year – "The Champion"
• Duo Video of the Year – "Tequila"
• Group Video of the Year – "When Someone Stops Loving You"
• Breakthrough Video of the Year – "Every Little Thing"
• Collaborative Video of the Year – "What Ifs"
• CMT Performance of the Year – "Everybody" from CMT Crossroads

• Kelsea Ballerini
• Karen Fairchild
• Miranda Lambert
• Maren Morris
• Kimberley Schlapman
• Hillary Scott
• Carrie Underwood
• Artist of a Lifetime: Shania Twain

  Country Music Association Awards

• Entertainer of the Year – Keith Urban
• Male Vocalist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
• Female Vocalist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
• New Artist of the Year – Luke Combs
• Vocal Duo of the Year – Brothers Osborne
• Vocal Group of the Year – Old Dominion
• Musician of the Year – Mac McAnally
• Single of the Year – "Broken Halos"
• Song of the Year – "Broken Halos"
• Album of the Year – Golden Hour
• Musical Event of the Year – "Everything's Gonna Be Alright
• Music Video of the Year – "Marry Me"
• International Artist Achievement Award – Little Big Town
• Global Artist Achievement Award''' – Dean Brody

  Grammy Awards

• Album of the Year – Golden Hour
• Best Country Solo Performance – "Butterflies"
• Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "Tequila"
• Best Country Song – "Space Cowboy"
• Best Country Album – Golden Hour
• Best Bluegrass Album – The Travelin' McCourys
• Best Americana Album – By the Way, I Forgive You
• Best American Roots Performance – "The Joke"
• Best American Roots Song – "The Joke"
• Best Roots Gospel Album' – Unexpected''

  International Bluegrass Music Association Awards

• Entertainer of the Year – Balsam Range
• Male Vocalist of the Year – Buddy Melton
• Female Vocalist of the Year – Brooke Aldridge
• Vocal Group of the Year – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
• Instrumental Group of the Year – The Travelin' McCourys
• Emerging Artist of the Year – The Po' Ramblin' Boys
• Guitar Player of the Year – Molly Tuttle
• Banjo Player of the Year – Ned Luberecki
• Mandolin Player of the Year – Sierra Hull
• Fiddle Player of the Year – Michael Cleveland
• Bass Player of the Year – Tim Surrett
• Dobro Player of the Year – Justin Moses
• Album of the Year – Rivers & Roads
• Song of the Year – "If I'd Have Wrote That Song"
• Recorded Event of the Year – "Swept Away"
• Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year – "Squirrel Hunters"
• Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year''' – "Speakin' To That Mountain"

  Juno Awards

• Country Album of the Year – We Were That Song
• Contemporary Roots Album of the Year – Both Ways
• Traditional Roots Album of the Year – Sweet Old Religion
• Breakthrough Group of the Year – The Washboard Union
• Recording Engineer of the Year''' – Shawn Everett