2010 in country music
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 2010.
{{Year nav topic5|2010|country music}}
{{YYYY music|2010}}
Events
- January 31 – Taylor Swift becomes the youngest person to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for her sophomore country album Fearless (2008). Fearless additionally wins the award for Best Country Album, while Swift's "White Horse" is awarded Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song.
- February 1 – Loretta Lynn marks 50 years since she signed her first recording contract.
- February 6 – Wynonna Judd announces that she will reunite with her mother, Naomi Judd, to tour and record a studio album for the final time as The Judds by the end of 2010.[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judds-reuniting-for-one-more-tour/ Judds Reuniting for One More Tour] — CBS News
- February 13 – Two men in a small pickup truck die from injuries they sustained after colliding with one of Trace Adkins's tour buses. The truck was believed to have crossed the "no passing" line in the center of the road which resulted in the crash. Several members of Adkins' band were aboard the bus, but did not suffer any major injuries. Adkins himself was not on board the bus at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2010/02/13/trace-adkins-tour-bus-fatal-crash|title=Trace Adkins' Tour Bus Involved in Fatal Crash|date=February 13, 2010|work=TMZ|access-date=February 20, 2010}}
- April 14 – Disney Music Group announces the closure of Lyric Street Records. The label's flagship act, Rascal Flatts, along with Bucky Covington, Kevin Fowler, and Tyler Dickerson follow them within the label's parent company. Three other artists on the roster – Sarah Buxton, Love and Theft and The Parks – are released from the label.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100514093818/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1637143/covington-fowler-dickerson-follow-rascal-flatts-to-disney-music-group.jhtml Covington, Fowler, Dickerson Follow Rascal Flatts to Disney Music Group]
- April 18 – Carrie Underwood becomes the first woman in history to win the Entertainer of the Year award at the Academy of Country Music Awards twice.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100423000727/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iseaNi5A7u-ileQWIEuI9KdFY40gD9F5SSB80 Carrie Underwood wins ACM Entertainer of the Year] Underwood previously won the award at the 2009 ceremony.
- May 3 – Chely Wright becomes the first major country artist to come out as homosexual.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100505234223/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1638272/chely-wright-acknowledges-her-homosexuality.jhtml Chely Wright Acknowledges Her Homosexuality], CMT News, May 3, 2010. Accessed March 5, 2010
- May 4 – Flooding on the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee, causes damage to the Grand Ole Opry House and Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, with several feet of water.{{cite news |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/nashville-flooding-hits-grand-ole-opry-/1 |title=Nashville flooding hits Grand Ole Opry |access-date=August 5, 2010 |publisher=USA Today Online | date=May 3, 2010}} Grand Ole Opry performances are moved to the Ryman Auditorium, War Memorial Auditorium and the Two Rivers Baptist Church; all of which were unaffected by the floods. The common areas of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel were destroyed, and parts of the hotel are under 10 feet of water.[http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100504/NEWS01/5040335/Nashville+landmarks+underwater "Nashville landmarks underwater"], The Tennessean, online edition, May 4, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- May 11 – Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert become engaged after five years of dating.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/958286/miranda-lambert-blake-shelton-get-engaged |title=Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton Get Engaged |magazine=Billboard |date=May 11, 2010 |access-date=May 11, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100511064230/http://www.billboard.com/%23/new-releases?next=50| archive-date= May 11, 2010 | url-status=live}}
- May 26 – Country music legend Willie Nelson cuts his "trademark, waist-length braids."{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/ourcountry/32905/willie-nelson-cuts-off-his-braids/ |title=Willie Nelson Cuts Off His Braids |publisher=yahoo |date=May 26, 2010 |access-date=May 26, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100530065042/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/ourcountry/32905/willie-nelson-cuts-off-his-braids/| archive-date= May 30, 2010 | url-status=live}}
- May 29 – The Lost Trailers announce that they will disband in September after the final date of their 2010 concert tour.{{cite web|url=http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2010/05/28/lost-trailers-reach-end-of-the-road/ |title=The Lost Trailers Reach End of the Road |date=May 28, 2010 |access-date=May 28, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100601051616/http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2010/05/28/lost-trailers-reach-end-of-the-road/| archive-date= June 1, 2010 | url-status=live}}
- June 23 – Kellie Pickler and songwriter Kyle Jacobs become engaged after two and a half years of dating.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kyle-jacobs-and-kellie-picker-are-engaged/ |title=Kyle Jacobs and Kellie Picker are Engaged |work=CBS News |date=June 23, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2010 | first=Jessica | last=Derschowitz| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100729170608/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20008621-10391698.html| archive-date= July 29, 2010 | url-status=live}}
- July 10 – Carrie Underwood and Ottawa Senators player Mike Fisher marry in a private ceremony in Georgia.{{cite web|last=Finan |first=Eileen |title=Carrie Underwood Gets Married in Southern Style |url=https://people.com/celebrity/carrie-underwood-gets-married-in-southern-style/ |work=People |access-date=August 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813193241/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20401049%2C00.html |archive-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=live }}
- October 26 – Billy Ray Cyrus and wife Tish file for divorce in Nashville. According to People magazine, the couple filed for divorce documents on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, citing irreconcilable differences{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/ourcountry/69855/miley-cyruss-parents-file-for-divorce/|title=Miley Cyrus' Parents File for Divorce|author=Wendy Geller|publisher=Yahoo! News|access-date=October 27, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101031164415/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/ourcountry/69855/miley-cyruss-parents-file-for-divorce/| archive-date= October 31, 2010 | url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2010/10/27/miley-cyrus-parents-billy-ray-tish-divorce-irreconcilable-differences/|title=Billy Ray Cyrus Divorce – He Pulled the Trigger|work=TMZ.com|access-date=October 27, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101029030116/http://www.tmz.com/2010/10/27/miley-cyrus-parents-billy-ray-tish-divorce-irreconcilable-differences/| archive-date= October 29, 2010 | url-status=live}} Less than a year later, on March 18, 2011, Cyrus announces on The View that he has dropped the divorce.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472466/billy-ray-cyrus-drops-divorce-praises-hannah-montana|title=Billy Ray Cyrus Drops Divorce, Praises Hannah Montana|magazine=Billboard|date=March 18, 2011|access-date=March 19, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110321095733/http://www.billboard.com/| archive-date= March 21, 2011 | url-status=live}}
- October 30 – Randy Travis and wife Elizabeth file for divorce. According to the Associated Press, Randy filed a petition for dissolution of marriage in Albuquerque, N.M. on Thursday, October 28, citing that a "state of incompatibility exists between the parties".{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2013298495_apuspeoplerandytravissplit.html? |title=Randy Travis and wife-manager, Elizabeth, divorce |author=Chris Talbott |newspaper=The Seattle Times |agency=Associated Press |date=October 30, 2010 |access-date=October 30, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101101025056/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2013298495_apuspeoplerandytravissplit.html| archive-date= November 1, 2010 | url-status=live}}
- November 11 – The Nashville Scene publishes a report from representatives of British progressive rock band The Alan Parsons Project, alleging that the chorus of Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" – which during 2010 became a major crossover smash hit in the U.S. and worldwide – has the same melody as the chorus of Parsons' "Eye In The Sky", a 1982 hit single that peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web |url=http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/archives/2010/11/11/alan-parsons-camp-alleges-lady-antebellum-rip-off |title=Alan Parsons' Camp Alleges Lady Antebellum Rip-Off |author=D Patrick Rodgers |publisher=Nashville Scene |date=November 11, 2010 |access-date=November 19, 2010 |archive-date=November 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107191303/http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/archives/2010/11/11/alan-parsons-camp-alleges-lady-antebellum-rip-off |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/ourcountry/75288/lady-antebellums-need-you-nowa-ripoff |title=Lady Antebellum's 'Need You Now'--A Ripoff? |author=Wendy Geller |work=Yahoo!-Our Country blog |date=November 18, 2010 |access-date=November 19, 2010}}
- December 5 – The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honors Merle Haggard for his lifetime contributions to the arts.
- December – The song "Love Like Crazy" by Lee Brice, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in September, is named the No. 1 country song of 2010,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts?tag=chdrawer#/charts-year-end?year=2010 |title=Year End Charts – Year-end Singles – Hot Country Songs |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 12, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101209194639/http://www.billboard.com/charts?tag=chdrawer| archive-date= December 9, 2010 | url-status=live}} and in doing so becomes the first non-No. 1 song in the chart's 66-year history to earn such an honor. Earlier in the year, "Love Like Crazy" broke the chart's longevity record, spending 55 weeks on the chart and surpassing (by one week) a 62-year-old record, established by Eddy Arnold's "Bouquet of Roses."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/956488/lee-brice-breaks-country-songs-longevity-record|title=Lee Brice Breaks Country Songs Longevity Record|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=September 7, 2010|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 7, 2010}}
Top hits of the year
The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs or Canada Country charts in 2010:
{{see also|List of number-one country hits of 2010 (U.S.)|List of number-one country singles of 2010 (Canada)}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
!width=45|US !width=45|CAN !width=auto|Single !width=auto|Artist !width=auto|Reference |
| align=center|3
|align=center|2 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|3 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|15 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Lady Antebellum |
| align=center|2
|align=center|1 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Brad Paisley |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson |
| align=center|6
|align=center|30 |
| align=center|17
|align=center|44 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Kenny Chesney |
| align=center|1
|align=center|8 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Reba |
| align=center|2
|align=center|3 |
| align=center|6
|align=center|11 |
| align=center|14
|align=center|49 |
| align=center|15
|align=center|6 |Toby Keith |
| align=center|5
|align=center|25 |
| align=center|10
|align=center|7 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|4 |Free |Zac Brown Band |
| align=center|18
|align=center|50 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |
| align=center|17
|align=center|11 |Alan Jackson |
| align=center|10
|align=center|20 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|3 |Zac Brown Band |
| align=center|1
|align=center|8 |Blake Shelton |
| align=center|20
|align=center|— |
| align=center|3
|align=center|3 |Darius Rucker |
| align=center|1
|align=center|2 |
| align=center|17
|align=center|42 |Justin Moore |
| align=center|14
|align=center|— |
| align=center|3
|align=center|4 |
| align=center|7
|align=center|6 |Reba |
| align=center|2
|align=center|12 |
| align=center|2
|align=center|1 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|8 |The Band Perry |
| align=center|16
|align=center|17 |Alan Jackson |
| align=center|4
|align=center|29 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|2 |
| align=center|6
|align=center|38 |
| align=center|3
|align=center|11 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|2 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|3 |
| align=center|2
|align=center|7 |Mine |Taylor Swift |
| align=center|12
|align=center|31 |Miranda Lambert |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Lady Antebellum |
| align=center|13
|align=center|12 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|3 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Easton Corbin |
| align=center|4
|align=center|13 |
| align=center|6
|align=center|13 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |
| align=center|16
|align=center|11 |Tim McGraw |
| align=center|2
|align=center|3 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|2 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Billy Currington |
| align=center|15
|align=center|44 |Trace Adkins |
| align=center|13
|align=center|44 |
| align=center|3
|align=center|1 |Keith Urban |
| align=center|18
|align=center|— |Gary Allan |
| align=center|19
|align=center|35 |Toby Keith |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Jason Aldean |
| align=center|20
|align=center|— |
| align=center|14
|align=center|13 |George Strait |
| align=center|1
|align=center|2 |Carrie Underwood |
| align=center|7
|align=center|22 |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Brad Paisley |
| align=center|15
|align=center|50 |Josh Thompson |
| align=center|2
|align=center|2 |Miranda Lambert |
| align=center|1
|align=center|1 |Josh Turner |
| align=center|1
|align=center|2 |Rascal Flatts |
| align=center|18
|align=center|31 |
| align=center|11
|align=center|18 |
Top new album releases
The following albums placed within the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums charts in 2010:
{{see also|List of number-one country albums of 2010 (U.S.)}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| width=45|US
! Album ! Artist ! Record label ! Release date ! Reference |
|---|
| align=center| 7
| Arista Nashville | November 23 |
| align=center| 5
| Mercury Nashville | April 13 |
| align=center| 6
| Zoë | April 27 |
| align=center| 9
| Vanguard/Sugar Hill | September 14 |
| align=center| 1
| All About Tonight (EP) | Reprise Nashville | August 10 |
| align=center| 3
| Starstruck/Valory | November 9 |
| align=center| 2
| Lost Highway | February 23 |
| align=center| 2
| Republic Nashville | October 12 |
| align=center| 1
| Show Dog-Universal Music | October 5 |
| align=center| 2
| MCA Nashville | August 24 |
| align=center| 1
| Capitol Nashville | October 12 |
| align=center| 8
| Average Joes | April 20 |
| align=center| 4
| Rounder | April 20 |
| align="center"| 2
| Various Artists | RCA Nashville | October 26 |
| align="center"| 5
| Country Strong: More Music from the Motion Picture | Various Artists | Screen Gems | December 21 | |
| align=center| 1
| Show Dog-Universal Music | August 17 |
| align=center| 6
| Various Artists | New West | January 19 |
| align=center| 4
| Mercury Nashville | March 2 |
| align=center|2
| Mercury Nashville | September 21 |
| align=center| 2
| Arista Nashville | March 30 |
| align=center| 2
| Capitol Nashville | November 16 |
| align=center| 2
| MCA Nashville | March 9 |
| align=center| 2
| Jaron and the Long Road to Love | Jaronwood Music/Universal | June 22 |
| align=center| 1
| Mercury Nashville | September 14 |
| align="center"| 2
| Average Joes | March 16 |
| align=center| 9
| Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions (EP) | Atlantic | June 22 |
| align=center| 2
| Haywire | MCA Nashville | February 9 |
| align=center| 1
| Blue Chair/BNA Records | September 28 |
| align=center| 2
| Hillbilly Bone (EP) | Reprise Nashville | March 2 |
| align=center| 4
| Arista Nashville | November 2 |
| align=center| 6
| I Got Your Country Right Here | Redneck Records | March 30 |
| align=center| 1
| Mercury Nashville | October 19 |
| align=center| 3
| iTunes Session (EP) | Capitol Nashville | August 17 |
| align=center| 1
| Judge Jerrod & the Hung Jury | Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville | July 13 |
| align=center| 2
| Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses | Lost Highway | August 31 |
| align=center| 4
| Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton | Reprise Nashville | November 9 |
| align=center| 6
| Wynonna | Cracker Barrel | May 24 |
| align=center| 9
| Curb | June 8 |
| align=center| 4
| Capitol Nashville | October 12 |
| align=center| 3
| RCA Nashville/19 | March 2 |
| align=center| 1
| Broken Bow | November 2 |
| align=center| 1
| Capitol Nashville | January 26 |
| align=center| 1
| Big Machine | November 16 |
| align=center| 3
| Now That's What I Call Country Volume 3 | Various Artists | Capitol | September 14 |
| align=center| 7
| Now That's What I Call the USA: The Patriotic Country Collection | Various Artists | Sony | June 15 |
| align=center| 6
| Curb | November 30 |
| align=center| 2
| Atlantic | May 4 |
| align=center|1
| Capitol Nashville | August 24 |
| align=center| 4
| Curb | May 25 |
| align=center| 10
| Warner Bros. Nashville | September 14 |
| align=center| 5
| Curb | June 8 |
| align=center| 1
| Big Machine | October 25 |
| align=center| 3
| Jewel | Valory Music Group | June 8 |
| align=center| 8
| Show Dog-Universal Music | September 21 |
| align=center| 2
| Capitol Nashville | June 8 |
| align=center| 9
| Columbia Nashville | February 23 |
| align=center| 1
| Atlantic | September 21 |
=Other top albums=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| width=45|US
! Album ! Artist ! Record Label ! Release Date ! Reference |
|---|
| align="center"| 32
| Republic Nashville | April 6 |
| align="center"| 34
| Capitol Nashville | February 9 | |
| align="center"| 43
| Best Of... So Far | Kevin Fowler | December 7 | |
| align="center"| 49
| Brand New Me | APEX/Write On | August 31 | |
| align="center"| 41
| Breathe Deep | Spring House | February 23 | |
| align="center"| 28
| Christian Kane (EP) | Bigger Picture | March 9 | |
| align="center"| 14
| Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn | Various Artists | Columbia Nashville | November 9 | |
| align="center"| 19
| Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers | Cracker Barrel | February 2 | |
| align="center"| 12
| The Definitive Greatest Hits: 'Til the Last Shot's Fired | Capitol Nashville | October 12 | |
| align="center"| 40
| Sony | October 26 | |
| align="center"| 35
| Everything Comes and Goes (EP) | Warner Bros. Nashville | July 13 | |
| align="center"| 44
| 50th Anniversary Collection | MCA Nashville | April 6 | |
| align="center"| 41
| 14 Love Songs for the 14th | Lyric Street | February 9 | |
| align="center"| 46
| Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions | Sugar Hill | August 24 |
| align="center"| 24
| Good Ol' Nashville | Various Artists | Cracker Barrel | February 23 | |
| align="center"| 16
| The Gospel Music of The Statler Brothers: Volume 1 | Gaither | May 18 | |
| align="center"| 17
| The Gospel Music of The Statler Brothers: Volume 2 | Gaither | May 18 | |
| align="center"| 24
| Columbia Nashville | January 19 | |
| align="center"| 41
| Head Above Water | Reserve | February 16 | |
| align="center"| 27
| High in the Rockies: A Live Album | Jason Boland & the Stragglers | Thirty Tigers | April 20 | |
| align="center"| 25
| The House Rules | Bigger Picture | December 7 | |
| align="center"| 18
| Vanguard | April 20 | |
| align="center"| 43
| Icon: Don Williams | MCA Nashville | August 31 | |
| align="center"| 45
| Icon: Johnny Cash | Mercury Nashville | August 31 | |
| align="center"| 38
| Icon: Patsy Cline | MCA Nashville | August 31 | |
| align="center"| 69
| MCA Nashville | August 31 | |
| align="center"| 32
| Vanguard | May 4 | |
| align="center"| 41
| Live at Billy Bob's Texas | Smith | April 27 | |
| align="center"| 36
| Love Songs | MCA Nashville | January 26 | |
| align="center"| 19
| BamaJam/Stroudavarious | May 11 | |
| align="center"| 47
| Michael Waddell's Bone Collector: The Brotherhood Album | Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson | Reprise | September 28 | |
| align="center"| 50
| Mosaic | Skaggs Family | August 24 |
| align="center"| 46
| Mud Digger | Various Artists | Average Joes | August 3 | |
| align="center"| 32
| Not That Far Away (EP) | Capitol Nashville | August 17 | |
| align="center"| 42
| Outlaw | Saguaro Road | June 22 | |
| align="center"| 20
| Party Heard Around the World | Lonestar | Saguaro Road | April 27 | |
| align="center"| 47
| Patchwork River | Emergent | May 11 | |
| align="center"| 27
| Playlist: The Very Best of Dixie Chicks | Columbia | June 1 | |
| align="center"| 41
| Right Road Now | Warner Bros. Nashville | April 20 | |
| align="center"| 25
| The Road & the Rodeo | 31 Tigers | October 12 | |
| align="center"| 11
| Rodney Atkins | Cracker Barrel | September 7 | |
| align="center"| 12
| Lyric Street | February 23 | |
| align="center"| 27
| Universal Republic | October 12 | |
| align="center"| 28
| She's Like Texas | Pretty Damn Tough | February 16 | |
| align="center"| 22
| Yep Roc | February 9 | |
| align="center"| 47
| Big Machine | February 23 | |
| align="center"| 12
| Sweet Home Alabama: The Country Music Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd | Various Artists | Hip-O Records | July 20 | |
| align="center"| 16
| Tailgate | Show Dog-Universal Music | July 6 | |
| align="center"| 21
| Taken | Upper Management | September 21 | |
| align=center| 40
| Top 10 | Warner Bros. Nashville | September 28 | |
| align="center"| 21
| Unmistakable: Love (EP) | Curb | April 27 | |
| align="center"| 43
| Wear the Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash | Esteban | Celestiel | November 16 | |
| align="center"| 43
| Welder | 31 Tigers | May 11 | |
| align="center"| 43
| Winter Wonderland | Rounder/Cracker Barrel | September 20 | |
| align="center"| 31
| Warner Bros. Nashville | March 16 | |
Deaths
- January 16 – Carl Smith, 82, honky tonk-styled star of the 1950s through 1970s.
- January 27 – Shirley Collie Nelson, 78, rockabilly artist, second wife of Willie Nelson.
- May 26 – Judy Lynn, 74, Nashville Sound artist of the 1960s and former beauty pageant queen.
- June 13 – Jimmy Dean, 81, popular country music singer, actor and entrepreneur, best known for his 1961 hit "Big Bad John" and his eponymously named sausage company.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/13/entertainment/main6579196.shtml|title=Jimmy Dean Dies at Virginia Home|date=June 13, 2010|work=CBS News|access-date=June 14, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100615022142/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/13/entertainment/main6579196.shtml| archive-date= June 15, 2010 | url-status=dead}}
- July 15 – Hank Cochran, 74, songwriter behind hits such as "I Fall to Pieces" and "The Chair" among others.
- July 17 – Fred Carter, Jr., 76, session guitarist and father of country artist Deana Carter.
- July 22 – Margaret Ann Rich, 76, songwriter, wife of the late singer-songwriter Charlie Rich
- July 26 – Ben Keith, 73, session pedal steel guitarist, record producer
- July 31 – George Richey, 74, songwriter and record producer; widower of Tammy Wynette. (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- August 23 – Bill Phillips, 74, singer and songwriter best known for his 1966 country hit, "Put It Off Until Tomorrow", written by Dolly Parton.
- October 24 – Linda Hargrove, 61, singer and songwriter, wrote "Just Get Up and Close the Door" by Johnny Rodriguez.
Hall of Fame inductees
=Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Inductees=
=Country Music Hall of Fame inductees=
- Jimmy Dean (August 10, 1928 - June 13, 2010)
- Ferlin Husky (December 3, 1925 - March 17, 2011)
- Billy Sherrill (November 5, 1936 - August 4, 2015)
- Don Williams (May 27, 1939 - September 8, 2017)
=Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees=
Major awards
=Academy of Country Music=
(presented April 3, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Entertainer of the Year – Taylor Swift
- Top Male Vocalist – Brad Paisley
- Top Female Vocalist – Miranda Lambert
- Top Vocal Group – Lady Antebellum
- Top Vocal Duo – Sugarland
- Top New Solo Artist – Eric Church
- Top New Duo/Group – The Band Perry
- Top New Artist – The Band Perry
- Album of the Year – Need You Now, Lady Antebellum
- Single Record of the Year – "The House That Built Me", Miranda Lambert
- Song of the Year – "The House That Built Me", Miranda Lambert
- Video of the Year – "The House That Built Me", Miranda Lambert
- Vocal Event of the Year – "As She's Walking Away", Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson
= Americana Music Honors & Awards =
- Album of the Year – The List (Rosanne Cash)
- Artist of the Year – Ryan Bingham
- Duo/Group of the Year – The Avett Brothers
- Song of the Year – "The Weary Kind" (Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett)
- Emerging Artist of the Year – Hayes Carll
- Instrumentalist of the Year – Buddy Miller
- Spirit of Americana/Free Speech Award – Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Lifetime Achievement: Songwriting – John Mellencamp
- Lifetime Achievement: Performance – Wanda Jackson
- Lifetime Achievement: Instrumentalist – Greg Leisz
- Lifetime Achievement: Executive – Luke Lewis
- Lifetime Achievement: Producer/Engineer – Brian Ahern
=American Country Awards=
(presented December 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada{{cite web |url=http://www.theboot.com/2010/12/06/american-country-awards-winners/ |title=American Country Awards Winners – The Boot |publisher=The Boot |date=December 6, 2010 |access-date=December 6, 2010}})
- Artist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
- Female Artist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
- Male Artist of the Year – Brad Paisley
- Group/Duo of the Year – Lady Antebellum
- Touring Package of the Year – "Play On Tour", Carrie Underwood
- Album of the Year – Play On, Carrie Underwood
- Breakthrough Artist of the Year – Easton Corbin
- Single of the Year – "Need You Now", Lady Antebellum
- Female Single of the Year – "Cowboy Casanova", Carrie Underwood
- Male Single of the Year – "Why Don't We Just Dance", Josh Turner
- Duo/Group Single of the Year – "Need You Now", Lady Antebellum
- Breakthrough Single of the Year – "A Little More Country Than That", Easton Corbin
- Music Video of the Year – "Hillbilly Bone", Blake Shelton feat. Trace Adkins
- Female Music Video of the Year – "Cowboy Casanova", Carrie Underwood
- Male Music Video of the Year – "Hillbilly Bone", Blake Shelton feat. Trace Adkins
- Duo/Group Music Video of the Year – "Need You Now", Lady Antebellum
- Breakthrough Music Video of the Year – "A Little More Country Than That", Easton Corbin
= ARIA Awards =
(presented in Sydney on November 7, 2010)
=Canadian Country Music Association=
(presented September 12 in Edmonton)
- Fans' Choice Award – Johnny Reid
- Male Artist of the Year – Gord Bamford
- Female Artist of the Year – Victoria Banks
- Group or Duo of the Year – Doc Walker
- Songwriter(s) of the Year – "Dance With Me", written by Johnny Reid, Victoria Banks, and Tia Sillers
- Single of the Year – "Dance With Me", Johnny Reid
- Album of the Year – Day Job, Gord Bamford
- Top Selling Album – Fearless, Taylor Swift
- Top Selling Canadian Album – Dance with Me, Johnny Reid
- CMT Video of the Year – "Day Job", Gord Bamford
- Rising Star Award – One More Girl
- Roots Artist or Group of the Year – Corb Lund
=Country Music Association=
(presented November 10 in Nashville)
- Single of the Year – "Need You Now", Lady Antebellum
- Song of the Year – "The House That Built Me", Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin
- Vocal Group of the Year – Lady Antebellum
- New Artist of the Year – Zac Brown Band
- Album of the Year – Revolution, Miranda Lambert
- Musician of the Year – Mac McAnally
- Vocal Duo of the Year – Sugarland
- Music Video of the Year – "The House That Built Me", Miranda Lambert
- Male Vocalist of the Year – Blake Shelton
- Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
- Musical Event of the Year – "Hillbilly Bone", Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins
- Entertainer of the Year – Brad Paisley
=CMT Music Awards=
(presented June 9 in Nashville)
- Video of the Year – "Cowboy Casanova", Carrie Underwood
- Male Video of the Year – "'Til Summer Comes Around", Keith Urban
- Female Video of the Year – "White Liar", Miranda Lambert
- Group Video of the Year – "Need You Now", Lady Antebellum
- Duo Video of the Year – "Indian Summer", Brooks & Dunn
- USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year – "Do I", Luke Bryan
- Collaborative Video of the Year – "Hillbilly Bone", Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins
- Performance of the Year – "Temporary Home", Carrie Underwood, from CMT Invitation Only
- Video Director of the Year – Shaun Silva
- Nationwide Is On Your Side Award – Chris Young
CMT Artists of the Year
(presented December 1 in Nashville){{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/950005/taylor-swift-carrie-underwood-toasted-as-cmt-artists-of-the-year|title = Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood Toasted as 'CMT Artists of the Year'|magazine = Billboard|date = December 2010}}
=Grammy Awards=
(presented February 13, 2011)
- Best Female Country Vocal Performance – "The House That Built Me", Miranda Lambert
- Best Male Country Vocal Performance – "'Til Summer Comes Around", Keith Urban
- Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals – "Need You Now", Lady Antebellum
- Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – "As She's Walking Away", Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson
- Best Country Instrumental Performance – "Hummingbyrd", Marty Stuart
- Best Country Song – "Need You Now", Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott
- Best Country Album – Need You Now, Lady Antebellum
- Best Bluegrass Album – Mountain Soul II, Patty Loveless
=Juno Awards=
(presented March 27, 2011 in Toronto)
- Country Album of the Year – A Place Called Love, Johnny Reid
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Other links
{{List of years in country music}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2010 In Country Music}}