I could fill pages with all the news that happened in 2005. Instead, I'll link to some of the bigger stories below.
Mindy McCready's many problems 1) Gets Arrested for DUI, 2) Gets beaten up by her boyfriend, 3) Fails to show at her court date, 4) Tries to Commit Suicide, 5) Goes on Oprah to tell her story, 6) Goes on Larry King to tell her story.
CMA Announces that it will move the CMA Awards to New York City for 2005 only.
FHM Spread featuring Kerry Harvick, Jennifer Hanson, Lauren Lucas, Catherine Britt, Shelly Fairchild, Jessi Alexander, Jamie O'Neal and Tift Merritt.
George Strait's 50 Number Ones album actually contains 51, with new single, "I Hate Everything" hitting the top.
Reba McEntirelaunches new line of clothes with Dillards.
Neal McCoy launches his own record label, 903 Music
John Michael Montgomery has posted a letter to fans on his website explaining that he has been diagnosed with Acoustic Neuroma, a slow-growing, benign tumor inside the cranium that puts pressure on the auditory nerve canal leading from the brain. This effects his right ear and balance. After Montgomery's recent televised performance of the National Anthem at the Golden Corral 500 race at Atlanta's Motor Speedway, fans questioned his sobriety and the singer posted an explanation and apology on his website.
Marty Stuart forms Superlatone with Universal South
Sugarland’s debut single “Baby Girl” has spent 46 weeks on the Top Country Singles chart, making it the longest running single in the history of the monitored chart. Sugarland also
logged the highest-charting single by a new group in 14 years.
Carrie Underwood wins American Idol
XM Satellite Radio broadcasted the Fan Club parties of Tracy Bryd & Andy Griggs, Terri Clark, Dierks Bentley, Phil Vassar and others during the CMA Music Festival, as well as Chely Wright's "Reading, Writing and Rhythm Benefit."
Toby Keith opens his "I Love This Bar & Grill" in Las Vegas on June 29th.
Tim McGraw is the first country artist to sell out the Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl. Nearly 14,000, of the 18,000 tickets, for the Oct. 8 concert sold in less than a half hour.
Faith Hill's Fireflies brought in first week sales of nearly 329,000 units, debuting at No. 1 on both the Top 200 and Country Album Charts. It even set a country album debut sales high for the year-to-date. This makes Hill the only female artist to ever simultaneously debut at No. 1 on both charts with three consecutive album releases.
Kix Brooks will replace Bob Kingsley as host of the ABC Radio Network program American Country Countdown beginning in 2006.
Wynonna Judd & Cowboy Troy will host next Season's Nashville Star. Phil Vassar and Anastasia Brown will return as judges with a rotating special celebrity guest judge each week.
Nashville's GuitarTown project places giant customezed fiberglass statues of Gibson guitars throughout Nashville. The guitars will later be sold and the money donated to four worthy charitable organizations: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The DISTRICT, and the United Way of Nashville.
Billboard Year End Charts:
Top New Country Artist
- Sugarland
- Keith Anderson
- Jason Aldean
- Miranda Lambert
- Blaine Larsen
- Bobby Pinson
- Shooter Jennings
- Cowboy Troy
- Hot Apple Pie
- Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband
Top Country Music Tours
Once more Kenny Chesney had the highest ranked country tour, coming in fourth in all genres, and bringing in over one million fans, selling out 68 of the 71 shows he performed. Toby Keith came in second with nearly 700,000 fans, selling out 18 of his 58 shows. Rascal Flatts were in third with over 750,000 fans, selling out 57 of their 83 shows. Brooks and Dunn were fourth with just over 400,000 fans, selling out one of their 48 shows, and in fifth place is George Strait, who played to nearly 250,000 fans, selling out 9 of his 18 shows.
Top 30 Country Artists
- Toby Keith
- Rascal Flatts
- Kenny Chesney
- Gretchen Wilson
- Keith Urban
- Tim McGraw
- Shania Twain
- George Strait
- Sugarland
- Brad Paisley
- Brooks & Dunn
- Dierks Bentley
- Montgomery Gentry
- Faith Hill
- LeAnn Rimes
- Craig Morgan
- Big & Rich
- Josh Gracin
- Alan Jackson
- Trace Adkins
- Blake Shelton
- Lonestar
- Martina McBride
- Jo Dee Messina
- Sara Evans
- Lee Ann Womack
- Gary Allan
- Joe Nichols
- Jamie O'Neal
- Reba McEntire
