2013 Country Music Milestones

As we approach the end of 2013, it’s a good time to look back at all of the amazing things that happened in country music.  The triumphs and the tragedies.  The hits and misses.  The weddings, engagements, and babies.  Plus all of those chart facts that we feature each week in Country Countdown USA.  The First #1s.  The top-selling albums.  And the top tours.  Take a look:

George Strait 60^th #1, CMA Entertainer, Cowboy Rides Away Tour.

First #1s: Brett Eldredge, Parmalee, Tyler Farr, Randy Houser, Thomas Rhett

Babies: Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, Lee Brice, Dierks Bentley, Clay Walker

Engaged: Brantley Gilbert & Jana Kramer (ended 9 months later), Hayden Panattiere, The Band Perry’s Kimberly Perry

Married: Kelly Clarkson, FGL’s Brian Kelley, Rodney Atkins, Gloriana’s Tom Gossin, Lee Brice

Deaths: George Jones, Ray Price, Mindy McCready

Reality Winners: Trace Adkins wins Celebrity Apprentice, Kellie Pickler wins Dancing With The Stars.  Keith Urban had his first year as judge on American Idol.

Top Tours: Taylor Swift’s “Red Tour,” Kenny Chesney’s “No Shoes Nation Tour,” Luke Bryan’s Dirt Road Diaries Tour, Jason Aldean’s Night Train Tour, Brad Paisley’s Beat This Summer Tour.

Top Selling Albums: Luke Bryan’s “Crash My Party,” Blake Shelton’s “Based On a True Story,” Lady Antebellum’s “Golden,” The Band Perry’s “Pioneer,” Kenny Chesney’s “Life On a Rock,” Darius Rucker’s “True Believers,” George Strait’s “Love Is Everything,” and  Keith Urban’s “Fuse.”

Garth Brooks: Returns with a new boxed set, “Blame It All On My Roots,” and an announcement that he’ll tour in 2014.

Taylor Swift: Had the year’s top-selling country tour, opened her Educational Center at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and won the CMA Pinnacle Award.

Luke Bryan had the year’s top-selling country album, won the ACM Entertainer of the Year Award, and headlined his Dirt Road Diaries Tour.

Blake Shelton and Toby Keith hosted fundraisers for the Oklahoma tornadoes.

Which story do you think is the #1 Country Music Story of 2013?  Vote in our Poll on the sidebar of our home page.

Category: NEWS