# 2016 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2016.

## Events

* January 7 – Rachel Reinert announces that she is leaving the band Gloriana.
* January 26 – Thomas Rhett's "Die a Happy Man" spends a sixth week at No. 1 on Country Airplay, becoming the first artist to spend six or more weeks atop that chart since Taylor Swift did so with "Our Song" in late 2007.
* February 11 – Charles Kelley and wife Cassie McConnell welcome first child, son Ward Charles Kelley.
* March 1 – Don Williams announces his retirement after six decades in the music business. He died in September 2017 at age 78.
* March 4 – Loretta Lynn releases her album Full Circle. This album is the first album from Lynn in over a decade since 2004's Van Lear Rose.
* March 7 – Dolly Parton announces plans for her first major North American tour in 25 years.
* April 1 – Carrie Underwood quest Kellie Pickler, Kelleigh Bannen, Lauren Alaina and Jana Kramer at the 4th ACM Party for a Cause Festival in Las Vegas Festival Grounds.
* May 12 – ABC cancels musical drama Nashville after four seasons. One month later, the series is picked up by CMT.
* June 1 – The Dixie Chicks begin their DCX MMXVI World Tour, the first time the band has toured North America in ten years.
* July 11 – The body of Craig Morgan's 19-year-old son, Jerry Greer, is recovered from Kentucky Lake.
* September 16 – A total of 30 artists gather to record "Forever Country", a single released in honor of the 50th annual Country Music Association awards. The song immediately debuted on country radio and reached the Hot Country Airplay's top 40 in its first week on the chart; on the all-encompassing Hot Country Songs chart, the song debuted at No. 1 the week of October 8, the third song to do so since its inception in 2012.
* December 17 – Benny Birchfield, the widower of country music singer Jean Shepard, is injured following an attack at his home, where two others died. One of the victims was Icie Hawkins, granddaughter of Shepard and Hawkshaw Hawkins.

## Top hits of the year

The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay or Canada Country charts in 2016:

### Singles released by American artists

| Songs | Airplay | Canada | Single | Artist |
| 19 | — | — | "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" | Kane Brown |
| 6 | 1 | 2 | "American Country Love Song" | Jake Owen |
| 11 | — | — | "At Last" | Sundance Head |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | "Backroad Song" | Granger Smith |
| 5 | 1 | 2 | "Beautiful Drug" | Zac Brown Band |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | "Break on Me" | Keith Urban |
| 2 | 2 | 3 | "Break Up in a Small Town" | Sam Hunt |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | "Burning House" | Cam |
| 4 | — | — | "Burning House" | Emily Ann Roberts |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | "Came Here to Forget" | Blake Shelton |
| 17 | 14 | 6 | "Castaway" | Zac Brown Band |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | "Church Bells" | Carrie Underwood |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | "Confession" | Florida Georgia Line |
| 18 | 12 | 30 | "Country Nation" | Brad Paisley |
| 4 | — | — | "Darlin' Don't Go" | Sundance Head |
| 7 | 1 | 8 | "Dibs" | Kelsea Ballerini |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | "Die a Happy Man" | Thomas Rhett |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | "Different for Girls" | Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | "Drunk on Your Love" | Brett Eldredge |
| 10 | 1 | 8 | "Fix" | Chris Lane |
| 1 | 32 | 34 | "Forever Country" | Artists of Then, Now & Forever |
| 3 | 1 | 10 | "From the Ground Up" | Dan + Shay |
| 13 | — | — | "Go Ahead and Break My Heart" | Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | "Head Over Boots" | Jon Pardi |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | "Heartbeat" | Carrie Underwood |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | "H.O.L.Y." | Florida Georgia Line |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | "Home Alone Tonight" | Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | "Humble and Kind" | Tim McGraw |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | "Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day" | Luke Bryan |
| 5 | 6 | 22 | "I Got the Boy" | Jana Kramer |
| 4 | 1 | 7 | "I Know Somebody" | LoCash |
| 8 | 1 | 2 | "I Like the Sound of That" | Rascal Flatts |
| 5 | 2 | 4 | "I Love This Life" | LoCash |
| 8 | 2 | 13 | "I Met a Girl" | William Michael Morgan |
| 18 | — | — | "I'm Sorry" | Adam Wakefield |
| 19 | — | — | "Islands in the Stream" | Emily Ann Roberts featuring Blake Shelton |
| 22 | 15 | 48 | "It All Started with a Beer" | Frankie Ballard |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | "It Don't Hurt Like It Used To" | Billy Currington |
| 18 | — | — | "Jolene" | Pentatonix featuring Dolly Parton |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | "Lights Come On" | Jason Aldean |
| 16 | 4 | 22 | "Little Bit of You" | Chase Bryant |
| 5 | 1 | 2 | "A Little More Summertime" | Jason Aldean |
| 20 | 12 | 37 | "Livin' the Dream" | Drake White |
| 14 | — | — | "Lonesome Broken and Blue" | Adam Wakefield |
| 19 | 14 | — | "Lovin' Lately" | Big & Rich featuring Tim McGraw |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | "Make You Miss Me" | Sam Hunt |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | "May We All" | Florida Georgia Line featuring Tim McGraw |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | "Middle of a Memory" | Cole Swindell |
| 8 | 1 | 8 | "Mind Reader" | Dustin Lynch |
| 15 | 15 | 7 | "Mr. Misunderstood" | Eric Church |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | "Move" | Luke Bryan |
| 5 | 9 | 3 | "My Church" | Maren Morris |
| 17 | 14 | 32 | "Night's on Fire" | David Nail |
| 13 | 10 | 11 | "Nobody to Blame" | Chris Stapleton |
| 14 | 6 | 5 | "Noise" | Kenny Chesney |
| 1 | 1 | 4 | "Peter Pan" | Kelsea Ballerini |
| 28 | 17 | 44 | "Real Men Love Jesus" | Michael Ray |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | "Record Year" | Eric Church |
| 9 | 2 | 16 | "Rock On" | Tucker Beathard |
| 25 | 13 | 31 | "Running for You" | Kip Moore |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | "Setting the World on Fire" | Kenny Chesney featuring Pink |
| 8 | 7 | 2 | "She's Got a Way with Words" | Blake Shelton |
| 3 | 2 | 7 | "Sleep Without You" | Brett Young |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | "Snapback" | Old Dominion |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | "Somewhere on a Beach" | Dierks Bentley |
| 4 | 1 | 3 | "Song for Another Time" | Old Dominion |
| 4 | 2 | 26 | "Stay a Little Longer" | Brothers Osborne |
| 23 | 18 | 49 | "Stone Cold Sober" | Brantley Gilbert |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | "T-Shirt" | Thomas Rhett |
| 13 | 10 | 38 | "That Don't Sound Like You" | Lee Brice |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | "Think of You" | Chris Young duet with Cassadee Pope |
| 15 | 35 | — | "Used to Love You Sober" | Kane Brown |
| 19 | 30 | 39 | "Vacation" | Thomas Rhett |
| 2 | 11 | 4 | "Vice" | Miranda Lambert |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | "Wanna Be That Song" | Brett Eldredge |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | "Wasted Time" | Keith Urban |
| 7 | 1 | 3 | "We Went" | Randy Houser |
| 17 | 56 | — | "Whisper" | Chase Rice |
| 23 | 16 | 11 | "Without a Fight" | Brad Paisley featuring Demi Lovato |
| 12 | 1 | 1 | "You Look Like I Need a Drink" | Justin Moore |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | "You Should Be Here" | Cole Swindell |

### Singles released by Canadian artists

| Songs | Airplay | Canada | Single | Artist |
| — | — | 1 | "Autograph" | Dallas Smith |
| — | — | 10 | "Be You" | High Valley |
| — | — | 18 | "Beer Weather" | Cold Creek County |
| — | — | 17 | "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" | Meghan Patrick |
| — | — | 6 | "Bush Party" | Dean Brody |
| — | 44 | 14 | "By the Way" | Lindsay Ell |
| — | — | 3 | "Come on Down" | High Valley |
| — | — | 8 | "Cool with That" | Brett Kissel |
| — | — | 8 | "Daughters of the Sun" | George Canyon |
| — | — | 6 | "Dirt Road in 'Em" | Aaron Pritchett |
| — | — | 9 | "Down by the River" | Bobby Wills |
| — | — | 15 | "Elevator" | Jess Moskaluke |
| — | — | 8 | "Every Week's Got a Friday" | High Valley |
| — | — | 16 | "Found" | Dan Davidson |
| — | — | 12 | "Good Kinda Love" | Jojo Mason |
| — | — | 7 | "Heard You in a Song" | Gord Bamford |
| — | — | 8 | "Hearts on Fire" | Chad Brownlee |
| — | — | 16 | "I Didn't Fall in Love with Your Hair" | Brett Kissel featuring Carolyn Dawn Johnson |
| — | — | 8 | "I Got This" | George Canyon |
| — | — | 8 | "I Hate You for It" | Chad Brownlee |
| — | — | 19 | "Jealous of the Sun" | Tebey |
| — | — | 6 | "Kids with Cars" | Dallas Smith |
| — | — | 3 | "Lawn Chair Lazy" | James Barker Band |
| — | — | 4 | "Love Would Be Enough" | Dean Brody |
| — | — | 10 | "Maybe It's the Moonshine" | The Washboard Union |
| — | — | 19 | "Mixtape" | Autumn Hill |
| — | — | 7 | "Monterey" | Dean Brody |
| — | — | 5 | "One Little Kiss" | Dallas Smith |
| — | — | 6 | "Pick Me Up" | Brett Kissel |
| — | — | 9 | "Red Dress" | Jojo Mason |
| — | — | 5 | "Shot of Glory" | The Washboard Union |
| — | — | 11 | "Spotlight" | Jason Blaine |
| — | — | 7 | "Stompin' Ground" | Tim Hicks |
| — | — | 7 | "Take Me Home" | Jess Moskaluke |
| — | — | 13 | "War Paint" | Madeline Merlo |
| — | — | 10 | "Whatcha Wanna Do About It" | Madeline Merlo |
| — | — | 9 | "Won't You Be Mine" | Bobby Wills |

#### Notes

* "—" denotes releases that did not chart

## Top new album releases

The following albums placed on the Top Country Albums charts in 2016:
| US | Album | Artist | Record Label | Release Date |
| 10 | The Album Collection | Joey + Rory | Vanguard/Sugar Hill | April 1 |
| 3 | All Night Party | Casey Donahew | Almost Country | August 19 |
| 1 | American Love | Jake Owen | RCA Nashville | July 29 |
| 10 | Behind This Guitar | Mo Pitney | Curb | October 7 |
| 8 | Big Day in a Small Town | Brandy Clark | Warner Bros. Nashville | June 10 |
| 1 | Black | Dierks Bentley | Capitol Nashville | May 27 |
| 7 | Boots on the Ground | Frank Foster | Lone Chief | January 15 |
| 5 | Bury Me in Boots | The Cadillac Three | Big Machine | August 5 |
| 1 | California Sunrise | Jon Pardi | Capitol Nashville | June 17 |
| 9 | Call Me Old-Fashioned | Bradley Walker | Gaither Music Group | September 23 |
| 3 | Chapter 1 (EP) | Kane Brown | RCA Nashville | March 18 |
| 1 | Christmas Together | Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood | Pearl/Gwendolyn | November 11 |
| 3 | Christmas Together / Gunslinger | Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood | Pearl/Gwendolyn | November 18 |
| 5 | CMA Awards 50 Zinepak | Various Artists | CMA/Zinepak | October 21 |
| 1 | Cosmic Hallelujah | Kenny Chesney | Blue Chair/Columbia | October 28 |
| 4 | The Critics Give It 5 Stars | Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots | Black River | March 18 |
| 4 | Detour | Cyndi Lauper | Sire | May 6 |
| 1 | Dig Your Roots | Florida Georgia Line | BMLG | August 26 |
| 5 | Down Home Sessions III (EP) | Cole Swindell | Warner Bros. Nashville | October 28 |
| 4 | Down to My Last Bad Habit | Vince Gill | MCA Nashville | February 12 |
| 2 | The Driver | Charles Kelley | Capitol Nashville | February 5 |
| 5 | Dylan Scott | Dylan Scott | Curb | August 12 |
| 9 | El Río | Frankie Ballard | Warner Bros. Nashville | June 10 |
| 6 | Elvis: Way Down in the Jungle Room | Elvis Presley | RCA Legacy | August 5 |
| 1 | Farm Tour... Here's to the Farmer (EP) | Luke Bryan | Capitol Nashville | September 23 |
| 3 | Fighter | David Nail | MCA Nashville | July 15 |
| 3 | Fired Up | Randy Houser | Stoney Creek | March 11 |
| 2 | For Better, or Worse | John Prine | Oh Boy | September 30 |
| 5 | For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price | Willie Nelson | Legacy | September 16 |
| 4 | Full Circle | Loretta Lynn | Legacy | March 4 |
| 9 | Girl Problems | Chris Lane | Big Loud | August 5 |
| 2 | Glow | Brett Eldredge | Atlantic Nashville | October 28 |
| 2 | Gotta Be Me | Cody Johnson | CoJo | August 5 |
| 7 | The Greatest Gift of All | Rascal Flatts | Big Machine | October 21 |
| 4 | Gunslinger | Garth Brooks | Pearl | November 25 |
| 2 | Full Of (Even More) Cheer | Home Free | Columbia | November 11 |
| 1 | Hero | Maren Morris | Columbia Nashville | June 3 |
| 1 | Hymns That Are Important to Us | Joey + Rory | Gaither Music Group | February 14 |
| 1 | If I'm Honest | Blake Shelton | Warner Bros. Nashville | May 20 |
| 4 | I'm Not the Devil | Cody Jinks | Thirty Tigers | August 12 |
| 4 | It Must Be Christmas | Chris Young | RCA Nashville | October 14 |
| 2 | It's About Time | Hank Williams, Jr. | Nash Icon | January 15 |
| 1 | Kane Brown | Kane Brown | RCA Nashville | December 2 |
| 1 | Kinda Don't Care | Justin Moore | Valory | August 12 |
| 4 | Lighter in the Dark | Sister Hazel | Croakin' Poets | February 19 |
| 1 | Like an Arrow | Blackberry Smoke | Rounder | October 14 |
| 2 | Love Remains | Hillary Scott & the Scott Family | EMI Nashville | July 29 |
| 10 | Midwest Farmer's Daughter | Margo Price | Third Man | March 25 |
| 4 | Mr. Misunderstood: On the Rocks, Live and (Mostly) Unplugged (EP) | Eric Church | EMI Nashville | November 4 |
| 4 | Mud | Whiskey Myers | Wiggy Thump | September 9 |
| 10 | Music Is Medicine | Marie Osmond | Oliveme | April 15 |
| 7 | My Kind of Christmas | Reba McEntire | Cracker Barrel/Nash Icon/Starstruck | September 6 |
| 5 | Nothing Shines Like Neon | Randy Rogers Band | Tommy Jackson | January 15 |
| 5 | Now That's What I Call Country #1's | Various Artists | Sony/Universal | November 4 |
| 3 | Now That's What I Call Country Volume 9 | Various Artists | Universal | June 10 |
| 2 | Obsessed | Dan + Shay | Warner Bros. Nashville | June 3 |
| 3 | Pawn Shop | Brothers Osborne | EMI Nashville | January 15 |
| 2 | Playing with Fire | Jennifer Nettles | Big Machine | May 13 |
| 1 | Pure & Simple | Dolly Parton | Dolly/RCA Nashville | August 19 |
| 2 | Reckless | Martina McBride | Nash Icon | April 29 |
| 9 | Redneck Shit | Wheeler Walker, Jr. | Pepper Hill | February 12 |
| 3 | Remington | Granger Smith | Wheelhouse | March 4 |
| 1 | Ripcord | Keith Urban | Capitol Nashville | May 6 |
| 1 | A Sailor's Guide to Earth | Sturgill Simpson | Atlantic | April 15 |
| 1 | Sinner | Aaron Lewis | Dot | September 16 |
| 5 | Southern Family | Various Artists | Elektra Nashville | March 18 |
| 4 | Spark | Drake White | Dot | August 19 |
| 3 | Strait Out of the Box: Part 2 | George Strait | MCA Nashville | November 18 |
| 6 | Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars | Dwight Yoakam | Sugar Hill | September 23 |
| 3 | Tattooed Heart | Ronnie Dunn | Nash Icon | November 11 |
| 1 | They Don't Know | Jason Aldean | Broken Bow | September 9 |
| 8 | The Things That We Are Made Of | Mary Chapin Carpenter | Lambent Light | May 6 |
| 6 | 'Tis the Season | Jimmy Buffett | Mailboat | October 28 |
| 7 | Trio: The Ultimate Collection | Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris | Warner Bros. Nashville | September 9 |
| 1 | The Ultimate Collection | Garth Brooks | Pearl | November 11 |
| 1 | The Weight of These Wings | Miranda Lambert | RCA Nashville | November 18 |
| 5 | Vinyl | William Michael Morgan | Warner Bros. Nashville | September 30 |
| 1 | We're All Somebody from Somewhere | Steven Tyler | Dot | July 15 |
| 2 | You Should Be Here | Cole Swindell | Warner Bros. Nashville | May 6 |

### Other top albums

| US | Album | Artist | Record Label | Release Date |
| 49 | And Then There's This... | The Grascals | Mountain Home | January 8 |
| 16 | All American Mutt | Jamie Kent | Road Dog | October 21 |
| 35 | All I've Been Through | Charlie Farley | BackRoad | April 8 |
| 14 | All Night Live, Volume 1 | The Mavericks | Valory Music Co. | October 14 |
| 42 | Bad Mutha Fucka | Upchurch | RHEC | December 9 |
| 19 | The Bird & the Rifle | Lori McKenna | Thirty Tigers | July 29 |
| 30 | Boots No. 1: The Official Revival Bootleg | Gillian Welch | Acony | November 25 |
| 12 | Breathless | Sam Riggs | Deep Creek | February 19 |
| 31 | Brett Young | Brett Young | Republic Nashville | February 12 |
| 46 | Bringing Country Back | Zane Williams | Be Music & Entertainment | October 21 |
| 30 | Cayamo: Sessions at Sea | Buddy Miller | New West | January 29 |
| 41 | Celebrate Christmas | The Oak Ridge Boys | Gaither Music Group | October 21 |
| 43 | A Chrisley Christmas | Todd Chrisley | Holy Graffiti | November 4 |
| 11 | Circlin' Back, Celebrating 50 Years, Live at the Ryman Auditorium, TN | Nitty Gritty Dirt Band | NGDB/Warner Bros. Nashville | September 30 |
| 13 | Colvin & Earle | Colvin & Earle | Fantasy | June 10 |
| 21 | Coming to a Honky Tonk Near You | Kevin Fowler | Kevin Fowler | October 21 |
| 50 | A Country Boy Can Survive (Box Set) | Hank Williams, Jr. | Curb | October 21 |
| 41 | Couchville Sessions | Darrell Scott | Full Light | May 13 |
| 42 | Dance with Me (EP) | The Springs | CFC | June 10 |
| 37 | Dear Life | High Valley | Atlantic Nashville | November 18 |
| 22 | Deep Tracks | Faith Hill | Warner Bros. Nashville | November 18 |
| 42 | Del and Woody | Del McCoury Band | McCoury | April 15 |
| 39 | Deux (EP) | Megan and Liz | Hidden Cow | March 11 |
| 11 | Dirt on Us | Drew Baldridge | Cold River | June 10 |
| 35 | Down in a Hole | Kiefer Sutherland | Warner Bros. Nashville | August 19 |
| 43 | Drifted | Lenny Cooper | Backroad | October 28 |
| 23 | Exodus of Venus | Elizabeth Cook | Agent Love Records | June 17 |
| 25 | Extended Play (EP) | LANco | Arista Nashville | April 15 |
| 14 | Fight Like Hell (EP) | Tucker Beathard | Dot | October 7 |
| 14 | The Fighters | LoCash | Reviver Music | June 17 |
| 44 | Forever a Cowboy (EP) | Ned LeDoux | Powder River | December 2 |
| 13 | Good Country Music | Frank Foster | Lone Chief | October 28 |
| 30 | Heart of America | Upchurch | Johnny Cashville | January 15 |
| 42 | House on Fire | Ty Herndon | BFD | November 11 |
| 38 | Humble Folks | Flatland Cavalry | Flatland Cavalry | April 1 |
| 13 | I Am the Rain | Chely Wright | MRI Entertainment/Sony | September 9 |
| 22 | I Call BS on That (EP) | Buddy Brown | Buddy Brown Music | October 7 |
| 27 | I'm Leavin' | Elvis Presley | RCA/Legacy | April 15 |
| 49 | It's So Good Live | Sundy Best | eOne Entertainment | April 22 |
| 25 | Kid Sister | The Time Jumpers | Rounder | September 9 |
| 44 | Ladies & Gentlemen | Infamous Stringdusters | Compass | February 5 |
| 47 | Letting Go...Slow | Lorrie Morgan | Shanachie | February 12 |
| 28 | The Life & Songs of Emmylou Harris: An All-Star Concert Celebration | Various Artists | Rounder | November 11 |
| 16 | Live: American Outlaws | The Highwaymen | Legacy | May 20 |
| 29 | Live Dinner Reunion | Robert Earl Keen | Dualtone | November 18 |
| 42 | Long Way | Corey Kent White | Backwoods | May 27 |
| 49 | Lucky to Be Alive | Confederate Railroad | D&B Masterworks | July 15 |
| 44 | A Man and His Guitar: Live from the Franklin Theatre | Travis Tritt | Post Oak | November 18 |
| 50 | McGraw: The Ultimate Collection | Tim McGraw | Curb | October 21 |
| 38 | Midland (EP) | Midland | Big Machine | October 28 |
| 24 | Midnight Motel | Jack Ingram | Rounder | August 26 |
| 12 | The Music of Nashville: Season 4, Volume 2 | Various Artists | Big Machine | May 13 |
| 50 | My Gospel | Paul Cauthen | Lightning Rod | October 14 |
| 48 | Never Enders | Lonestar | Shanachie | April 29 |
| 23 | New City Blues | Aubrie Sellers | Carnival | January 29 |
| 29 | New Lane Road | Josh Kelley | Sugar Hill | April 22 |
| 42 | Post Monroe (EP) | Post Monroe | KCH | May 13 |
| 34 | Precious Memories: Collection | Alan Jackson | EMI Nashville | November 25 |
| 46 | Rain Crow | Tony Joe White | Yep Roc | May 27 |
| 39 | Red, White & Blue (Live) | Van Zant | Loud & Proud | July 1 |
| 41 | Rx | Ryan Beaver | St. Beaver | May 6 |
| 17 | Shine on a Rainy Day | Brent Cobb | Elektra Nashville | October 7 |
| 45 | Simple (EP) | Travis Marvin | Independent | July 22 |
| 43 | Silent Night: A Country Christmas | Various Artists | Sony Music Nashville | August 23 |
| 38 | Steve Moakler (EP) | Steve Moakler | Creative Nation | March 11 |
| 11 | Strait for the Holidays | George Strait | MCA Nashville | October 28 |
| 14 | Summer (EP) | Cassadee Pope | Republic Nashville | June 3 |
| 12 | Sunset Motel | Reckless Kelly | Thirty Tigers | September 23 |
| 25 | Tailgate Country | Soul Circus Cowboys | Kismet | February 26 |
| 18 | Then Sings My Soul: Songs for My Mother | Wade Bowen | Bowen Sounds | March 18 |
| 49 | Thin Line | Billy Ray Cyrus | Blue Cadillac | September 9 |
| 19 | Timeless (EP) | The Swon Brothers | TSB | January 29 |
| 13 | To Celebrate Christmas | Jennifer Nettles | Big Machine | October 28 |
| 31 | To Joey, with Love (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Various Artists | Reunion | November 11 |
| 44 | Tougher | Lainey Wilson | Lone Chief | April 8 |
| 22 | Tradition Lives | Mark Chesnutt | Row Entertainment | July 8 |
| 28 | The Truth (EP) | Royal Bliss | Royal Bliss | June 3 |
| 12 | Turning Point | Chuck Wicks | Blaster | February 26 |
| 40 | The Ultimate Collection | Roy Orbison | Legacy | October 28 |
| 12 | Underground (EP) | Kip Moore | MCA Nashville | October 28 |
| 24 | Up At Night | Cimorelli | Cimorelli | May 18 |
| 22 | The Very Best of the Highwaymen | The Highwaymen | Legacy | May 20 |
| 11 | A Very Kacey Christmas | Kacey Musgraves | Mercury Nashville | October 28 |
| 28 | The Voice: The Complete Season 10 Collection | Adam Wakefield | Republic | May 24 |
| 36 | The Voice: The Complete Season 11 Collection | Sundance Head | Republic | December 9 |
| 21 | Watch This | Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers | Lil' Buddy Toons | June 3 |
| 48 | Wayfaring Strangers: Cosmic American Music | Various Artists | Numero | March 18 |
| 13 | We the People | Big Smo | Elektra Nashville | July 22 |
| 47 | Which Way Is Up | Jackson Taylor & the Sinners | Sin House | June 3 |
| 26 | White Christmas Blue | Loretta Lynn | Legacy | October 7 |
| 16 | A Whole Lot More to Me | Craig Morgan | Black River | June 3 |
| 28 | William Michael Morgan EP | William Michael Morgan | Warner Bros. Nashville | March 18 |
| 48 | Wrong Side of the River | Rob Baird | Hard Luck | May 13 |
| 14 | Wynonna & the Big Noise | Wynonna | Curb | February 12 |
| 14 | Yours, EP | Russell Dickerson | Dent | January 18 |
| 25 | Zach Seabaugh (EP) | Zach Seabaugh | Open Roads Highway | June 1 |
| 37 | 17 (EP) | Dylan Schneider | Dylan Schneider | October 9 |

## Deaths

* January 8 – Red Simpson, 81, singer-songwriter best known for the 1971 hit "I'm a Truck." (heart attack)
* January 18 – Glenn Frey, 67, founding member of the Eagles (numerous complications)
* February 22 – Sonny James, 87, singer and Country Music Hall of Fame member (natural causes).
* March 4 – Joey Martin Feek, 40, one-half of husband-and-wife duo Joey + Rory (cervical cancer)
* March 9 – Ray Griff, 75, Canadian singer-songwriter (aspiration pneumonia)
* March 18 – Ned Miller, 90, singer of the 1960s, best known for "From a Jack to a King."
* April 6 – Merle Haggard, 79, singer-songwriter with many hits between the 1960s and 1980s, known as a pioneer of the Bakersfield sound (pneumonia).
* May 16 – Emilio Navaira, 53, Tejano and country music singer, best known for the 1995 hit "It's Not the End of the World" (heart attack).
* May 17 – Guy Clark, 74, singer-songwriter best known for hits recorded by Rodney Crowell, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and others (cancer).
* June 23 – Ralph Stanley, 89, legendary bluegrass pioneer who was a member of The Stanley Brothers and the Grand Ole Opry (skin cancer)
* July 16 – Bonnie Brown, 77, member of The Browns (lung cancer)
* August 5 – Richard Fagan, 69, songwriter best known for co-writing two of John Michael Montgomery's number one hits: "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" and "Be My Baby Tonight" (liver cancer).
* September 1 – Kacey Jones, 66, singer-songwriter and humorist, writer of the Mickey Gilley hit "I'm the One Mama Warned You About", cancer.
* September 21 – John D. Loudermilk, 82, singer and songwriter.
* September 25 – Jean Shepard, 82, pioneering female country artist and the only woman to be a member of the Opry for sixty years (Parkinson's disease).
* October 30 – Curly Putman, 85, songwriter, known for writing or co-writing classics such as "Green, Green Grass of Home", "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today".
* November 14 – Holly Dunn, 59, singer-songwriter and former Opry member best known for this hits "Daddy's Hands", "Are You Ever Gonna Love Me" and "You Really Had Me Going" (ovarian cancer).
* December 2 – Mark Gray, 64, singer-songwriter and member of Exile from 1979 and 1982.
* December 18 – Gordie Tapp, 94, comedian and longtime cast member of the television series Hee Haw.

## Hall of Fame inductees
### Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Inductees

* Ken Irwin
* Marian Leighton-Levy
* Bill Nowlin
* Clarence White

### Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

* Fred Foster, music executive and founder of Monument Records (born 1931).
* Charlie Daniels, singer-songwriter and musician (born 1936).
* Randy Travis, singer-songwriter and leading figure in the neotraditionalist movement of the 1980s (born 1959).

### Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

* Murray McLauchlan
* Paul Mascioli

## Major awards
### Academy of Country Music

(presented April 2, 2017 in Las Vegas)
* Entertainer of the Year – Jason Aldean
* Top Male Vocalist – Thomas Rhett
* Top Female Vocalist – Miranda Lambert
* Top Vocal Group – Little Big Town
* Top Vocal Duo – Brothers Osborne
* New Male Vocalist – Jon Pardi
* New Female Vocalist – Maren Morris
* New Vocal Duo or Group – Brothers Osborne
* Album of the Year – The Weight of These Wings, Miranda Lambert
* Single Record of the Year – "H.O.L.Y.", Florida Georgia Line
* Song of the Year – "Die a Happy Man", Thomas Rhett
* Video of the Year – "Forever Country", Artists of Then, Now & Forever
* Vocal Event of the Year – "May We All", Florida Georgia Line feat. Tim McGraw
ACM Honors (presented August 30, 2016)
* Career Achievement Award – Glen Campbell
* Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – Crystal Gayle, The Statler Brothers and Tanya Tucker
* Jim Reeves International Award – Jeff Walker
* Merle Haggard Spirit Award – Miranda Lambert
* Poet's Award – Jimmy Webb and Eddie Rabbitt
* Crystal Milestone Award – Little Big Town
* Mae Boren Axton Award – Keith Urban
* Gary Harber Lifting Lives Award – Carrie Underwood
* Songwriter of the Year – Ross Copperman

### Americana Music Honors & Awards

* Album of the Year – Something More Than Free (Jason Isbell)
* Artist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
* Duo/Group of the Year – Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell
* Song of the Year – "24 frames" (Jason Isbell)
* Emerging Artist of the Year – Margo Price
* Instrumentalist of the Year – Sara Watkins
* Spirit of Americana/Free Speech Award – Billy Bragg
* Lifetime Achievement: Trailblazer – Shawn Colvin
* Lifetime Achievement: Songwriting – William Bell
* Lifetime Achievement: Performance – Bob Weir

### American Country Countdown Awards

(presented May 1 in Los Angeles)
* Artist of the Year – Luke Bryan
* Male Vocalist of the Year – Luke Bryan
* Female Vocalist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
* Group/Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line
* Song of the Year – "Die a Happy Man", Thomas Rhett
* Album of the Year – Traveller, Chris Stapleton
* Digital Song of the Year – "Girl Crush", Little Big Town
* Digital Album of the Year – Montevallo, Sam Hunt
* Breakthrough Male of the Year – Sam Hunt
* Breakthrough Female of the Year – Kelsea Ballerini
* Breakthrough Group/Duo of the Year – Old Dominion
* Touring Artist of the Year – Garth Brooks
* Nash Icon – Brooks & Dunn

### American Music Awards

(presented in November 20 in Los Angeles)
* Favorite Country Male Artist – Blake Shelton
* Favorite Country Female Artist – Carrie Underwood
* Favorite Country Album – Storyteller, Carrie Underwood
* Favorite Country Song – "Humble and Kind", Tim McGraw

### ARIA Awards

(presented in Sydney on November 23, 2016)
* Best Country Album – Silos (Sara Storer)

### Canadian Country Music Association

(presented September 11 in London, Ontario)
* Fans' Choice Awards – Brett Kissel
* Album of the Year – Tin Roof, Gord Bamford
* Female Artist of the Year – Jess Moskaluke
* Male Artist of the Year – Brett Kissel
* Group or Duo of the Year – High Valley
* Single of the Year – "Bring Down the House", Dean Brody
* CMT Video of the Year – "Bring Down the House", Dean Brody
* Songwriter of the Year – Dean Brody ("Bring Down the House")
* Roots Artist of the Year – The Washboard Union
* Interactive Artist of the Year – Brett Kissel
* Rising Star – The Washboard Union

### Country Music Association

(presented November 2 in Nashville)
* Entertainer of the Year – Garth Brooks
* Single of the Year – "Die a Happy Man", Thomas Rhett
* Male Vocalist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
* Female Vocalist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
* New Artist of the Year – Maren Morris
* Musical Event of the Year – "Different for Girls", Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King
* Album of the Year – Mr. Misunderstood, Eric Church
* Music Video of the Year – "Fire Away", Chris Stapleton
* Song of the Year – "Humble and Kind", Lori McKenna
* Vocal Duo of the Year – Brothers Osborne
* Vocal Group of the Year – Little Big Town
* Musician of the Year – Dann Huff
* Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award – Dolly Parton
* Pinnacle Award – Kenny Chesney

### CMT Music Awards

(presented on June 8 in Nashville)
* Video of the Year – "Humble and Kind", Tim McGraw
* Male Video of the Year – "Die a Happy Man", Thomas Rhett
* Female Video of the Year – "Smoke Break", Carrie Underwood
* Group/Duo Video of the Year – "Girl Crush", Little Big Town
* Breakthrough Video of the Year – "Fire Away", Chris Stapleton
* CMT Performance of the Year – "Smoke Break", Carrie Underwood from Instant Jam
* CMT Social Superstar – Blake Shelton
CMT Artists of the Year (presented on October 20, 2016, in Nashville)
* Kelsea Ballerini
* Luke Bryan
* Florida Georgia Line
* Thomas Rhett
* Chris Stapleton
* Carrie Underwood

### Grammy Awards

(presented February 12, 2017 in Los Angeles)
* Best Country Solo Performance – My Church (Maren Morris)
* Best Country Duo/Group Performance – Jolene (Pentatonix ft. Dolly Parton)
* Best Country Song – Humble and Kind (Lori McKenna)
* Best Country Album – A Sailor's Guide to Earth (Sturgill Simpson)
* Best Bluegrass Album – Coming Home (Mark O'Connor Band)
* Best Americana Album – This Is Where I Live (William Bell)
* Best American Roots Performance – House of Mercy (Sarah Jarosz)
* Best American Roots Song – Kid Sister (Vince Gill)
* Best Roots Gospel Album – Hymns That Are Important to Us (Joey + Rory)

### Juno Awards

(presented April 2, 2017 in Ottawa)
* Country Album of the Year – Kiss Me Quiet (Jess Moskaluke)