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This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1997.

List of years in country music (Table)
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Contents

Events

"It's Your Love" sparks a renewed wave of songs that spend at least five weeks at No. 1, thanks in part to newer chart tracking methods and programming changes at country radio stations. However, as of 2007, no No. 1 song has approached the mega-week No. 1 status (i.e., spending at least 10 weeks at No. 1), a feat that was common through the early 1960s.

No dates

  • Jimmie Rodgers is elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as an early influence).
  • Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes both record the song "How Do I Live" for the movie Con Air. Producers from the film ask Rimes to record it first but feel her version isn't what they are looking for due to the performance itself and her young age. Yearwood then records the song and releases at the same time Rimes releases her song. Rimes version is shunned from the country charts but reaches No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Yearwood's version, meanwhile, peaks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and also makes the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,as well as reaching No.1 in Canada and No.1 on the US R&R Chart.

Top hits of the year

Number one hits

United States

(as certified by Billboard)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 CAN peak Spec. Note
January 11 Nobody Knows Kevin Sharp 4 [C]
February 8 It's a Little Too Late Mark Chesnutt 2 5
February 22 A Man This Lonely Brooks & Dunn 1 4
March 1 Running Out of Reasons to Run Rick Trevino 1 16 [C]
March 8 Me Too Toby Keith 1 6
March 15 We Danced Anyway Deana Carter 2
March 29 How Was I to Know Reba McEntire 1
  • Later in 1997, John Michael Montgomery reached #2 with an un-related song also titled "How Was I to Know".
April 5 (This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing Trace Adkins 1 [A]
April 12 Rumor Has It Clay Walker 2 [B]
April 26 One Night at a Time George Strait 5
May 31 Sittin' on Go Bryan White 1 [B]
June 7 It's Your Love Tim McGraw with Faith Hill 6 [1]
July 19 Carrying Your Love With Me George Strait 4
August 16 Come Cryin' to Me Lonestar 2 3
August 30 She's Got It All Kenny Chesney 3 [A]
September 20 There Goes Alan Jackson 1
September 27 How Your Love Makes Me Feel Diamond Rio 3
October 18 How Do I Get There Deana Carter 1 2 [B]
October 25 Everywhere Tim McGraw 2 2
November 8 Love Gets Me Every Time Shania Twain 5
  • Debuted on the country charts at #29, setting a record
    for the highest country chart debut ever made by a female artist.
December 13 From Here to Eternity Michael Peterson 1 11 [C]
December 20 Longneck Bottle Garth Brooks 3
  • Also reached No. 1 on its fifth chart week.
  • Co-written by Steve Wariner.
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
  • 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.

Canada

(as certified by RPM)

Date Single Name Artist Wks. No.1 U.S. Peak Spec. Note
January 13 I Meant to Do That Paul Brandt 1 39
January 20 Nobody Knows Kevin Sharp 1 [C]
January 27 Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It Tim McGraw 1 4
February 3 Friends John Michael Montgomery 1 2
February 10 Is That a Tear Tracy Lawrence 1 2 [B]
February 17 Everybody Knows Trisha Yearwood 1 3
February 24 We Danced Anyway Deana Carter 6 [1], [2], [B]
  • Fell to #2 on the week of March 17.
March 17 Emotional Girl Terri Clark 1 10
April 14 How Was I to Know Reba McEntire 1
April 21 (This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing Trace Adkins 2 [A]
May 5 Rumor Has It Clay Walker 1 [B]
May 12 One Night at a Time George Strait 3
June 2 Sad Lookin' Moon Alabama 1 2
June 9 Take It from Me Paul Brandt 1 38
June 16 Sittin' on Go Bryan White 1 [B]
June 23 It's Your Love Tim McGraw with Faith Hill 4
July 21 Little Ol' Kisses Julian Austin 1 — [C]
July 28 Carrying Your Love with Me George Strait 2
August 11 I Left Something Turned On at Home Trace Adkins 1 2
August 18 Still Holding On Clint Black with Martina McBride 2 11
September 1 How Do I Live Trisha Yearwood 2 2
  • Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes concurrently released versions of this same song. While Rimes' version was a #43 on the country charts, it was more successful on the pop and Adult Contemporary formats. Yearwood's charted in several countries and won the 1998 Grammy.
  • Featured in the movie Con Air.
September 15 She's Got It All Kenny Chesney 1 [A]
September 22 There Goes Alan Jackson 1
September 29 How Your Love Makes Me Feel Diamond Rio 2
October 13 Love Gets Me Every Time Shania Twain 6
November 24 A Little in Love Paul Brandt 1 45
December 1 I'm Feeling Kinda Lucky Tonight Charlie Major 1 — [B]
December 8 Longneck Bottle Garth Brooks 4 [2]
  • Fell to #2 on the week of January 19, 1998.
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by RPM.
  • 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
  • A^ First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.

Other major hits

Singles released by American artists

US CAN Single Artist Notes
21 16 455 Rocket Kathy Mattea
4 4 All the Good Ones Are Gone Pam Tillis
2 2 Amen Kind of Love Daryle Singletary
3 14 Another You David Kersh
  • Written by Brad Paisley, who had not yet begun his recording career.
2 3 Better Man, Better Off Tracy Lawrence
3 5 Big Love Tracy Byrd
30 16 Cold Outside Big House
  • Big House's only Top 40 country single.
5 7 Count Me In Deana Carter
3 4 Dancin', Shaggin' on the Boulevard Alabama
21 12 Dark Horse Mila Mason
11 12 Day In, Day Out David Kersh
17 13 Don't Love Make a Diamond Shine Tracy Byrd
4 4 Don't Take Her She's All I Got Tracy Byrd
3 2 Drink, Swear, Steal, & Lie Michael Peterson
20 22 Ease My Troubled Mind Ricochet
9 6 Everything I Love Alan Jackson
2 5 The Fool Lee Ann Womack
4 4 A Girl's Gotta Do (What a Girl's Gotta Do) Mindy McCready
3 3 Go Away Lorrie Morgan
4 17 Good as I Was to You Lorrie Morgan
6 4 Half Way Up Clint Black
18 14 He Left a Lot to Be Desired Ricochet
18 22 Heartbroke Every Day Lonestar
  • This was the only single of Lonestar's career to feature former member John Rich on lead vocals.
18 21 Helping Me Get Over You Travis Tritt with Lari White
7 9 Her Man Gary Allan
4 5 Holdin' Diamond Rio
3 3 Honky Tonk Truth Brooks & Dunn
4 5 How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye Tracy Lawrence
2 8 How Was I to Know John Michael Montgomery
8 11 I Can't Do That Anymore Faith Hill
  • Written by Alan Jackson.
17 14 I Have to Surrender Ty Herndon
6 5 I Miss You a Little John Michael Montgomery
7 26 I Only Get This Way with You Rick Trevino
19 18 I Will, If You Will John Berry
2 2 I'd Rather Ride Around with You Reba McEntire
9 12 If She Don't Love You The Buffalo Club
4 7 If You Love Somebody Kevin Sharp
2 2 In Another's Eyes Trisha Yearwood with Garth Brooks
19 14 It's All the Same to Me Billy Ray Cyrus
  • Cyrus' first Top 40 country hit since "Storm in the Heartland" in mid-1994.
19 27 King of the Mountain George Strait
5 16 Land of the Living Pam Tillis
8 16 Let It Rain Mark Chesnutt
11 5 Let Me into Your Heart Mary Chapin Carpenter
5 13 The Light in Your Eyes LeAnn Rimes
2 6 A Little More Love Vince Gill
9 8 Little Things Tanya Tucker
4 3 Love Is the Right Place Bryan White
2 2 Loved Too Much Ty Herndon
18 11 Maybe He'll Notice Her Now Mindy McCready with Richie McDonald
  • This song was McDonald's first chart credit outside the band Lonestar, of which he was lead singer at the time.
2 2 On the Verge Collin Raye
18 12 One, Two, I Love You Clay Walker
5 7 Places I've Never Been Mark Wills
7 22 Please The Kinleys
2 3 Pretty Little Adrianna Vince Gill
4 5 The Rest of Mine Trace Adkins
5 7 The Shake Neal McCoy
4 2 She Drew a Broken Heart Patty Loveless
21 19 She Wants to Be Wanted Again Ty Herndon
24 17 She's Going Home with Me Travis Tritt
3 4 She's Sure Taking It Well Kevin Sharp
2 2 She's Taken a Shine John Berry
14 21 Shut Up and Drive Chely Wright
13 9 Six Days on the Road Sawyer Brown
2 4 Something That We Do Clint Black
31 16 The Swing James Bonamy
2 7 Thank God for Believers Mark Chesnutt
15 10 That's Another Song Bryan White
6 11 This Night Won't Last Forever Sawyer Brown
3 7 Today My World Slipped Away George Strait
15 24 The Trouble with the Truth Patty Loveless
3 3 Unchained Melody LeAnn Rimes
4 13 Watch This Clay Walker
2 2 We Were in Love Toby Keith
26 19 What If I Do Mindy McCready
15 37 What If It's You Reba McEntire
2 2 What the Heart Wants Collin Raye
10 12 Whatever Comes First Sons of the Desert
2 4 When I Close My Eyes Kenny Chesney
13 6 When Love Starts Talkin' Wynonna
6 8 Where Corn Don't Grow Travis Tritt
2 3 Who's Cheatin' Who Alan Jackson
8 9 Why Would I Say Goodbye Brooks & Dunn
8 8 You and You Alone Vince Gill
14 37 You Don't Seem to Miss Me Patty Loveless with George Jones
  • Jones's first Top 40 country hit since "High-Tech Redneck" in 1993.

Singles released by Canadian artists

US CAN Single Artist
10 Ain't No Justice Greg Hanna
3 Almost Always Chris Cummings
4 The Answer Is Yes Michelle Wright
3 Born Again in Dixieland Jason McCoy
9 The Craziest Thing Rick Tippe
19 A Dozen Red Roses Joan Kennedy
10 Girl Out of the Ordinary Beverley Mahood
48 7 God Bless the Child Shania Twain
11 Heaven Help Her Heart Jason McCoy
7 I Give You My Word George Fox
20 Indian Woman Montgomery Steele
49 16 Just the Same Terri Clark
3 Let It Rain Shirley Myers
12 A Little Thing Called Love Beverley Mahood
15 Lonely Gypsy Wind Farmer's Daughter
19 Lying Here with You Thomas Wade
17 The Night the Barn Burned Down George Fox
10 Now That I'm On My Own Farmer's Daughter
4 One Way Track Prairie Oyster
15 The Real Thing Rick Tippe
12 She Won't Be Lonely Long Prairie Oyster
6 She's Getting Serious Thomas Wade
10 She's Tough Duane Steele
20 Slow Turning Sean Hogan
4 Somewhere Inside Chris Cummings
9 Tell the Girl Duane Steele
8 This Crazy Heart of Mine Charlie Major
19 Tonight There's a Blue Moon Prairie Oyster
4 What Love Looks Like Michelle Wright
19 What's It Gonna Take Denise Murray
19 Wild Rose Sean Hogan
9 You Said Farmer's Daughter
74 15 Your Love Jim Brickman with Michelle Wright

Top new album releases

See also: List of number-one country albums of 1997 (U.S.)
See also: List of number-one country albums of 1997 (Canada)
US CAN Album Artist Record Label
45 11 An Intimate Evening with Anne Murray Anne Murray Capitol
24 Back to You Anita Cochran Warner Bros.
23 31 Be Good at It Neal McCoy Atlantic
23 11 The Best of Billy Ray Cyrus: Cover to Cover Billy Ray Cyrus Mercury Nashville
4 3 The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits Collin Raye Epic
8 The Best of John Denver Live John Denver Legacy
7 26 Big Time Trace Adkins Capitol Nashville
24 Blink of an Eye Ricochet Columbia
1 1 Carrying Your Love with Me George Strait MCA Nashville
16 A Celebration of Life/The Last Recordings John Denver River North
4 CMT Canada '97 Various Artists BMG
4 6 The Coast Is Clear Tracy Lawrence Atlantic
9 8 Collection Wynonna Curb/MCA Nashville
1 1 Come On Over Shania Twain Mercury/PolyGram
15 11 Complicated Tanya Tucker Capitol Nashville
12 A Country Superstar Christmas Various Artists Hip-O
16 28 Crazy Nights Lonestar BNA
5 2 Dancin' on the Boulevard Alabama RCA Nashville
8 Dream Walkin' Toby Keith Mercury Nashville
11 Everything's Alright Charlie Major ViK.
1 1 Everywhere Tim McGraw Curb
4 7 Evolution Martina McBride RCA Nashville
19 The Gift Jim Brickman Windham Hill
10 Greatest Country Love Songs Various Artists MCA
8 Greatest Hits Diamond Rio Arista Nashville
5 Greatest Hits Neal McCoy Atlantic
5 11 Greatest Hits John Michael Montgomery Atlantic
6 Greatest Hits Pam Tillis Arista Nashville
17 Greatest Hits… and Then Some Aaron Tippin RCA Nashville
2 1 The Greatest Hits Collection Brooks & Dunn Arista Nashville
5 Here's Your Sign Bill Engvall Warner Bros.
24 A Holiday Album to Benefit St. Jude Various Artists BNA
10 I Will Stand Kenny Chesney BNA
12 12 If I Don't Stay the Night Mindy McCready BNA
22 32 Just Between You and Me The Kinleys Epic
11 Kickin' Country 4 Various Artists Sony
5 9 Labor of Love Sammy Kershaw Mercury/PolyGram
1 Leahy Leahy Virgin
9 Lee Ann Womack Lee Ann Womack Decca Nashville
25 23 Let Me In Chely Wright MCA Nashville
8 10 Lila Lila McCann Asylum
9 31 Long Stretch of Lonesome Patty Loveless Epic
8 Love & Gravity BlackHawk Arista Nashville
15 Love Travels Kathy Mattea Mercury/PolyGram
17 13 Michael Peterson Michael Peterson Reprise
1 New Country 4 Various Artists Warner
4 5 Nothin' but the Taillights Clint Black RCA Nashville
15 One of the Fortunate Few Delbert McClinton Rising Tide
5 17 The Other Side Wynonna Curb/Universal
50 1 Outside the Frame Paul Brandt Reprise
17 Playin' for Keeps Jason McCoy Universal
7 15 The Right Place Bryan White Asylum
25 Roots and Wings James Bonamy Epic
4 7 Rumor Has It Clay Walker Giant
1 1 Sevens Garth Brooks Capitol Nashville
9 Shakin' Things Up Lorrie Morgan BNA
8 Six Days on the Road Sawyer Brown Curb
4 So Long So Wrong Alison Krauss & Union Station Rounder
1 1 (Songbook) A Collection of Hits Trisha Yearwood MCA Nashville
22 16 Stone Country: Songs of the Rolling Stones Various Artists Tommy Boy
48 22 Sunday Morning to Saturday Night Matraca Berg Rising Tide
19 Takin' the Country Back John Anderson Mercury Nashville
25 Thank God for Believers Mark Chesnutt Decca Nashville
1 Tremolo Blue Rodeo Warner
1 1 Unchained Melody: The Early Years LeAnn Rimes Curb
8 8 Under the Covers Dwight Yoakam Reprise
9 What My Heart Already Knows Julian Austin ViK.
1 1 You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs LeAnn Rimes Curb

Other top albums

US CAN Album Artist Record Label
26 Across My Heart Kenny Rogers Magnatone
40 Amazing Grace 2 – A Country Salute to Gospel Various Artists Sparrow
75 Annabelle's Wish Soundtrack Various Artists Rising Tide
45 The Best of Country Various Artists Madacy
29 The Best of Roy Orbison Roy Orbison Virgin
33 Big House Big House MCA Nashville
56 Billy Yates Billy Yates Almo Sounds
53 Bitter Sweet Kim Richey Mercury/PolyGram
45 Bluegrass Rules! Ricky Skaggs Rounder
75 Born Country Alabama BMG
69 The Buffalo Club The Buffalo Club Rising Tide
74 Burnin' Daylight Burnin' Daylight Curb
39 Butterfly Kisses Jeff Carson Curb
32 Come On Christmas Dwight Yoakam Reprise
75 Country Lovin' Songs from the Heart Various Artists Rhino
33 The Country Roads Collection John Denver RCA
44 Cowboy Up – The Official PRCA Rodeo Album Various Artists Edel America
75 Elvis Greatest Jukebox Hits Elvis Presley RCA
53 Every Night's a Saturday Night Lee Roy Parnell Arista Nashville
47 Gospel Super Hits Amazing Grace Various Artists Epic
74 The Girl Next Door Crystal Bernard River North
42 Hallelujah, He Is Born Sawyer Brown Curb
60 Hill Country Christmas Willie Nelson & Bobbie Nelson Finer Arts
75 Hits Johnny Cash Legacy
60 Hopechest Stephanie Bentley Epic
51 Hot Country '97 Various Artists K-Tel
39 How Big a Boy Are Ya? Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
43 How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 2 Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
31 How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 3 Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
53 I'd Be with You Kippi Brannon Curb
50 It's on the House Emilio Capitol Nashville
47 Little Texas Little Texas Warner Bros.
26 Live Chris LeDoux Capitol Nashville
32 Live at the Cimarron Ballroom Patsy Cline MCA Nashville
75 Merry Texas Christmas Y'all Asleep at the Wheel High Street
61 One Ride in Vegas Deryl Dodd Columbia
31 Peace in the Valley Various Artists Arista Nashville
69 Ray Stevens Christmas Ray Stevens MCA Nashville
31 The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers – A Tribute Various Artists Columbia
47 Tammy Graham Tammy Graham Career
44 36 The Truth Brady Seals Reprise
56 Three Chords and the Truth Sara Evans RCA Nashville
33 Twice Upon a Time Joe Diffie Epic
39 We Can't All Be Angels David Lee Murphy MCA Nashville
38 Whatever Comes First Sons of the Desert Epic
41 Words Sherrié Austin Arista Nashville

Deaths

Hall of Fame inductees

Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

Major awards

Grammy Awards

Juno Awards

Academy of Country Music

Canadian Country Music Association

Country Music Association

RPM Big Country Awards

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.

Other links

External links








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