# 2015 in country music

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in 2015.

## Events

* January 15 – Parodist Cledus T. Judd announces his retirement from the performing aspect of the music business.
* February 27 – Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher give birth to their son, Isaiah Michael Fisher.
* March 4 – Shania Twain announces that her Rock This Country tour will be her last but that she intends to continue releasing albums
* April – A new syndicated radio program, American Country Countdown Rewind with Bob Kingsley, consisting of Kingsley-hosted ACC programs from 1990–2005, is announced by Nash FM (the media brand and network of country music stations owned by Cumulus Media). The first programs aired the weekend of May 2.
* May 26 – Radio consultant Keith Hill is criticized when stating in an interview that music stations should limit the airplay of female country artists. The story, dubbed Tomato-gate is further ignited when Hill compares female artists to that of "tomatoes in a salad". In response, Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, and Jennifer Nettles criticize Hill's comments via social media.
* June 15 – Country Weekly is rebranded as Nash Country Weekly, as part of a co-branding with Nash FM's radio product.
* June 19 – Almost a year after successfully recovering from cervical cancer, Joey Martin Feek of Joey + Rory is diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer.
* June 22 – With "Love Me Like You Mean It", Kelsea Ballerini becomes the first female artist to send her debut single to No. 1 on Country Airplay since Carrie Underwood did in 2006, and the first female artist to do so on an independent label.
* July 9 – Luke Bryan causes controversy in an interview with "HITS Double Daily" for implying that Outlaw country artists (particularly Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson) spent their career "laying in the gutter, strung out on drugs." Bryan would later call Jennings' widow Jessi Colter, as well as Haggard's son, Ben, to apologize.
* July 18 – "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town makes country music history by breaking the record of weeks spent at number 1 by a group of three or more members, surpassing the current record holders The Browns and their song The Three Bells.
* July 20 – Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton announce their divorce after four years of marriage.
* August 3 – Reba McEntire announces the separation from long-time husband and manager Narvel Blackstock. Although they will be ending their marriage, they will continue to support one another professionally.
* September 25 – Kenny Rogers announces his plans to retire following a Christmas album and a 2016 farewell tour
* September 27 – Producer Dave Brainard is hospitalized after being found unconscious with a broken jaw from a beating.
* October – Joey Martin Feek of Joey + Rory ends treatment for stage IV colorectal cancer after treatments fail to control growth of tumors.
* November 2 – Chris Cagle announces his retirement from the music business.
* November 4 - Chris Stapleton becomes an overnight sensation after his performance with Justin Timberlake of "Tennessee Whiskey" and "Drink You Away" at the Country Music Association Awards; the performance is considered the best of the show, and one of the best performances in CMA history. Stapleton wins New Artist, Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for Traveller.
* November 9 – Joey Martin Feek of Joey and Rory enters Hospice care after terminal cancer diagnosis

## 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 2015:

### Singles released by American artists

| Songs | Airplay | Canada | Single | Artist |
| 3 | 1 | 10 | Ain't Worth the Whiskey | Cole Swindell |
| 16 | 10 | 33 | Already Callin' You Mine | Parmalee |
| 6 | 3 | 1 | Anything Goes | Florida Georgia Line |
| 11 | 3 | 5 | Baby Be My Love Song | Easton Corbin |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Break Up with Him | Old Dominion |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | Buy Me a Boat | Chris Janson |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Crash and Burn | Thomas Rhett |
| 15 | 9 | 6 | Crushin' It | Brad Paisley |
| 11 | 3 | 10 | Diamond Rings and Old Barstools | Tim McGraw with Catherine Dunn |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | Don't It | Billy Currington |
| 3 | 2 | 11 | Drinking Class | Lee Brice |
| 9 | 9 | 18 | Fly | Maddie & Tae |
| 24 | 16 | 17 | Freestyle | Lady Antebellum |
| 21 | 20 | 32 | Games | Luke Bryan |
| 1 | 3 | 11 | Girl Crush | Little Big Town |
| 7 | 16 | 42 | God Made Girls | RaeLynn |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | Gonna | Blake Shelton |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | Gonna Know We Were Here | Jason Aldean |
| 10 | 2 | 16 | Gonna Wanna Tonight | Chase Rice |
| 7 | 1 | 9 | A Guy Walks Into a Bar | Tyler Farr |
| 7 | 1 | 8 | Hell of a Night | Dustin Lynch |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Homegrown | Zac Brown Band |
| 6 | 2 | 11 | Homegrown Honey | Darius Rucker |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | House Party | Sam Hunt |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | I See You | Luke Bryan |
| 16 | — | — | I'd Just Love to Lay You Down | Barrett Baber |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | I'm Comin' Over | Chris Young |
| 24 | 20 | 40 | I'm to Blame | Kip Moore |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 | Keith Urban |
| 5 | 1 | 2 | Just Gettin' Started | Jason Aldean |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Kick the Dust Up | Luke Bryan |
| 10 | 1 | 13 | Kiss You in the Morning | Michael Ray |
| 25 | 17 | — | Kiss You Tonight | David Nail |
| 9 | 2 | 8 | Let Me See Ya Girl | Cole Swindell |
| 9 | 3 | 6 | Like a Cowboy | Randy Houser |
| 6 | 11 | 32 | Like a Wrecking Ball | Eric Church |
| 5 | 16 | 22 | Little Red Wagon | Miranda Lambert |
| 6 | 2 | 7 | Little Toy Guns | Carrie Underwood |
| 4 | 2 | 5 | Lonely Eyes | Chris Young |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Lonely Tonight | Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe |
| 23 | 16 | 34 | Long Stretch of Love | Lady Antebellum |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | Lose My Mind | Brett Eldredge |
| 19 | 33 | — | Love Is Your Name | Steven Tyler |
| 5 | 1 | 3 | Love Me Like You Mean It | Kelsea Ballerini |
| 6 | 1 | 20 | Love You Like That | Canaan Smith |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | Loving You Easy | Zac Brown Band |
| 2 | 1 | 11 | Make Me Wanna | Thomas Rhett |
| 4 | 1 | 3 | Mean to Me | Brett Eldredge |
| 1 | — | — | My Baby's Got a Smile on Her Face | Craig Wayne Boyd |
| 5 | 1 | 4 | Nothin' Like You | Dan + Shay |
| 5 | 1 | 16 | One Hell of an Amen | Brantley Gilbert |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | Perfect Storm | Brad Paisley |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | Raise 'Em Up | Keith Urban featuring Eric Church |
| 17 | 17 | 23 | Real Life | Jake Owen |
| 27 | 20 | — | Riot | Rascal Flatts |
| 17 | 11 | — | Run Away with You | Big & Rich |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Sangria | Blake Shelton |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | Save It for a Rainy Day | Kenny Chesney |
| 5 | 1 | 4 | Say You Do | Dierks Bentley |
| 15 | 14 | 28 | She Don't Love You | Eric Paslay |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Sippin' on Fire | Florida Georgia Line |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | Smoke | A Thousand Horses |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | Smoke Break | Carrie Underwood |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Something in the Water | Carrie Underwood |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Strip It Down | Luke Bryan |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | Sun Daze | Florida Georgia Line |
| 16 | 9 | 19 | Take It On Back | Chase Bryant |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | Take Your Time | Sam Hunt |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Talladega | Eric Church |
| 1 | 59 | — | Tennessee Whiskey | Chris Stapleton |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | Til It's Gone | Kenny Chesney |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | Tonight Looks Good on You | Jason Aldean |
| 11 | 5 | 6 | Top of the World | Tim McGraw |
| 17 | — | — | Traveller | Chris Stapleton |
| 19 | 14 | 30 | What We Ain't Got | Jake Owen |
| 9 | 1 | 3 | Wild Child | Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter |
| 8 | 1 | 3 | Young & Crazy | Frankie Ballard |

### Singles released by Canadian artists

| Songs | Airplay | Canada | Single | Artist |
| — | — | 1 | Airwaves | Brett Kissel |
| — | — | 6 | Before You Drive Me Crazy | Wes Mack |
| — | — | 4 | Blame | Autumn Hill |
| — | — | 7 | Bring Down the House | Dean Brody |
| — | — | 5 | Cheap Seats | Dallas Smith |
| — | — | 6 | Country Side | Jason Blaine |
| — | — | 3 | Don't Let Her Be Gone | Gord Bamford |
| — | — | 20 | Go Back | Leah Daniels |
| — | — | 7 | Gone Long Gone | Jason Benoit |
| — | — | 17 | Groovin' with You | Gord Bamford |
| — | — | 7 | I'm an Open Road | Paul Brandt featuring Jess Moskaluke |
| — | — | 10 | It's All Good | Jojo Mason |
| — | — | 14 | Just Like Love | Steven Lee Olsen |
| — | — | 7 | Kiss Me Quiet | Jess Moskaluke |
| — | — | 5 | Lifted | Dallas Smith |
| — | — | 5 | Make You Mine | High Valley |
| — | — | 20 | Moonshine | Alee |
| — | — | 17 | Night We Won't Forget | Jess Moskaluke |
| — | — | 17 | Nothing | Paul Brandt |
| — | — | 7 | Our Town | Cold Creek County |
| — | 57 | 3 | Raised by a Good Time | Steven Lee Olsen |
| — | — | 19 | Shake It If Ya Got It | Kira Isabella |
| — | — | 10 | She Don't Drink Whiskey Anymore | Tim Hicks |
| — | — | 6 | She's with Me | High Valley |
| — | — | 8 | So Do I | Tim Hicks |
| — | — | 5 | Something You Just Don't Forget | Brett Kissel |
| — | — | 15 | Till the Wheels Come Off | Cold Creek County |
| — | — | 13 | Undressed | Bobby Wills |
| — | — | 5 | Upside Down | Dean Brody |
| — | — | 1 | Wastin' Gas | Dallas Smith |
| — | — | 12 | The Way You Let Me Down | Wes Mack |
| — | — | 16 | When the Buzz Wears Off | Tebey |
| — | — | 11 | When the Lights Go Down | Chad Brownlee |
| — | — | 9 | Who We Are | Emerson Drive |
| — | — | 11 | Young, Alive and In Love | Tim Hicks |

## Top new album releases

The following albums placed on the Top Country Albums charts in 2015:
| US | Album | Artist | Record Label | Release Date |
| 6 | 4X4 (EP) | Granger Smith | Pioneer Music | May 5 |
| 8 | 35 Biggest Hits | Tim McGraw | Curb | June 16 |
| 2 | 35 MPH Town | Toby Keith | Show Dog-Universal | October 9 |
| 1 | About to Get Real | Easton Corbin | Mercury Nashville | June 30 |
| 1 | Angels and Alcohol | Alan Jackson | ACR/EMI Nashville | July 17 |
| 7 | Between the Pines | Sam Hunt | MCA Nashville | October 27 |
| 2 | The Blade | Ashley Monroe | Warner Bros. Nashville | July 24 |
| 4 | Bronco | Canaan Smith | Mercury Nashville | June 23 |
| 4 | Buy Me a Boat | Chris Janson | Warner Bros. Nashville | October 30 |
| 1 | Cass County | Don Henley | Capitol | September 25 |
| 7 | Closer (EP) | Kane Brown | Kane Brown | June 2 |
| 1 | Cold Beer Conversation | George Strait | MCA Nashville | September 25 |
| 4 | Country Evolution | Home Free | Columbia Nashville | September 18 |
| 3 | Damn Country Music | Tim McGraw | Big Machine | November 6 |
| 1 | Django & Jimmie | Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard | Legacy | June 2 |
| 2 | Elvis Forever | Elvis Presley | USPS/RCA | August 12 |
| 10 | Elvis: Ultimate Christmas | Elvis Presley | RCA | November 6 |
| 4 | The First Time | Kelsea Ballerini | Black River | May 19 |
| 9 | Front Row Seat | Josh Abbott Band | Pretty Damn Tough | November 6 |
| 10 | Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions | Robert Earl Keen | Dualtone | February 10 |
| 9 | HippieLovePunk | Cody Canada and the Departed | Underground Sound | January 13 |
| 10 | Hits & Hymns | Jimmy Fortune | Gaither Music Group | October 23 |
| 4 | Hold My Beer Vol. 1 | Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers | Lil' Buddy Toons | April 20 |
| 1 | Holding All the Roses | Blackberry Smoke | Rounder | February 10 |
| 5 | Home | Pat Green | Greenhorse | August 14 |
| 1 | I'm Comin' Over | Chris Young | RCA Nashville | November 13 |
| 1 | Illinois | Brett Eldredge | Atlantic | September 11 |
| 1 | Jekyll + Hyde | Zac Brown Band | Southern Ground/Big Machine | April 28 |
| 1 | Kill the Lights | Luke Bryan | Capitol Nashville | August 7 |
| 1 | Love Somebody | Reba McEntire | Nash Icon | April 14 |
| 7 | Me (EP) | RaeLynn | Valory Music Group | January 13 |
| 3 | Meat and Candy | Old Dominion | RCA Nashville | November 6 |
| 4 | Michael Ray | Michael Ray | Warner Bros. Nashville | August 7 |
| 5 | Mono | The Mavericks | Valory Music Group | February 17 |
| 2 | Mr. Misunderstood | Eric Church | EMI Nashville | November 3 |
| 3 | The Music of Nashville: Season 3, Volume 2 | Various Artists | Big Machine | May 12 |
| 3 | Nashville: On the Record, Volume 2 | Various Artists | Big Machine | March 24 |
| 3 | NOW That's What I Call ACM Awards 50 Years | Various Artists | Universal | March 31 |
| 8 | NOW That's What I Call Country Christmas | Various Artists | Universal | October 23 |
| 1 | NOW That's What I Call Country Volume 8 | Various Artists | Universal | June 9 |
| 3 | Outlaw in Me | The Lacs | Backroad | May 26 |
| 1 | Pageant Material | Kacey Musgraves | Mercury Nashville | June 23 |
| 4 | Precious Memories Collection | Alan Jackson | Arista Nashville | November 6 |
| 2 | Reloaded: 20 #1 Hits | Blake Shelton | Warner Bros. Nashville | October 23 |
| 2 | Second Hand Heart | Dwight Yoakam | Warner Bros. Nashville | April 14 |
| 1 | Something More Than Free | Jason Isbell | Southeastern | July 17 |
| 2 | Southern Drawl | Alabama | BMG Chrysalis North America | September 18 |
| 1 | Southern Style | Darius Rucker | Capitol Nashville | March 31 |
| 3 | Southernality | A Thousand Horses | Republic Nashville | June 9 |
| 1 | Spring Break...Checkin' Out | Luke Bryan | Capitol Nashville | March 10 |
| 5 | Spring Break...The Set List: The Complete Spring Break Collection ZinePak | Luke Bryan | Capitol Nashville | March 10 |
| 2 | Start Here | Maddie & Tae | Dot | August 28 |
| 2 | Still the One: Live from Vegas | Shania Twain | Mercury Nashville | March 3 |
| 1 | Storyteller | Carrie Underwood | Arista Nashville | October 23 |
| 2 | Suffer in Peace | Tyler Farr | Columbia Nashville | April 28 |
| 3 | Summer Forever | Billy Currington | Mercury Nashville | June 2 |
| 2 | Tangled Up | Thomas Rhett | Valory Music Group | September 25 |
| 3 | Terraplane | Steve Earle | New West | February 17 |
| 3 | Thirty One | Jana Kramer | Warner Music Nashville | October 9 |
| 9 | Today Is Christmas | LeAnn Rimes | Kobalt | October 16 |
| 8 | The Traveling Kind | Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell | Nonesuch | May 12 |
| 1 | Traveller | Chris Stapleton | Mercury Nashville | May 5 |
| 3 | The Turnpike Troubadours | Turnpike Troubadours | Bossier City | September 18 |
| 1 | The Underdog | Aaron Watson | Big Label | February 17 |
| 2 | Untamed | Cam | Arista Nashville/RCA | December 11 |
| 2 | Wild Ones | Kip Moore | MCA Nashville | August 21 |

### Other top albums

| US | Album | Artist | Record Label | Release Date |
| 16 | The 21 Project | Hunter Hayes | Atlantic | November 6 |
| 16 | 35 Biggest Hits | Hank Williams, Jr. | Curb | June 16 |
| 40 | 717 | Jason Cassidy | JC Music | May 19 |
| 28 | Alive! In Concert | Dailey & Vincent | Cracker Barrel | April 27 |
| 30 | All-Time Greatest Hits | LeAnn Rimes | Curb | February 3 |
| 14 | Answer to No One: The Colt Ford Classics | Colt Ford | Average Joes | October 23 |
| 16 | The Average Joes DJ's Present: Mud in the Club, Volume 1 | Various Artists | Average Joes | March 3 |
| 26 | The B-Sides, 2011–2014 (EP) | Jon Pardi | Capitol Nashville | May 19 |
| 49 | Bittersweet | Kasey Chambers | Sugar Hill | July 24 |
| 13 | Blacked Out | Moonshine Bandits | Backroad | July 17 |
| 27 | Bottom of the Fifth (EP) | Curtis Grimes | Curtis Grimes | August 21 |
| 12 | Bringin' It Home (EP) | Big Smo | Elektra Nashville | June 16 |
| 16 | Canaan Smith (EP) | Canaan Smith | Mercury Nashville | March 24 |
| 20 | Change: The Lost Record Vol. 1 – EP | Josh Thompson | Ole | October 9 |
| 29 | Cheatham County (EP) | Upchurch | Black Fly | May 12 |
| 26 | Christmas Time | Rhonda Vincent | Upper Management | October 30 |
| 31 | Clare Dunn (EP) | Clare Dunn | MCA Nashville | September 18 |
| 49 | Classic #1 Hits | Buck Owens | Cracker Barrel/Omnivore | |
| 39 | Cole Taylor | Cole Taylor | Cole Taylor | March 3 |
| 23 | Country Faith Christmas | Various Artists | Word/Curb | September 25 |
| 11 | Down Home Sessions II | Cole Swindell | Warner Bros. Nashville | November 6 |
| 26 | Down to Believing | Allison Moorer | eOne | March 17 |
| 28 | Dylan, Cash and the New Nashville Cats: A New Music City | Various Artists | Legacy | June 16 |
| 39 | Faded Gloryville | Lindi Ortega | Last Gang | August 7 |
| 42 | Firewater | Redneck Souljers | Play Make Believe | November 6 |
| 23 | Fix (EP) | Chris Lane | Big Loud Mountain | November 13 |
| 13 | Folks Like Us | Montgomery Gentry | Blaster | June 9 |
| 37 | Forever Changed | T. Graham Brown | Mansion | January 27 |
| 19 | Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story | Alan Jackson | Arista Nashville/Legacy | November 6 |
| 15 | Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me | Various Artists | Big Machine | February 17 |
| 36 | Goldmine | John Anderson | Bayou Boys Music | May 26 |
| 45 | The Good Fight | Cory Morrow | Write On | June 16 |
| 28 | Greatest Hits | Rodney Atkins | Curb | February 3 |
| 41 | Gulf Coast Time (EP) | Roger Creager | Fun All Wrong | September 25 |
| 30 | Hard to Please | The Black Lillies | Black Lilly | October 2 |
| 44 | Her (EP) | Blaire Hanks | Perfect Storm | June 30 |
| 49 | Hymns & Gospel Favorites | Loretta Lynn | Gaither Music Group | April 14 |
| 38 | I Love This Life (EP) | LoCash | Reviver | October 30 |
| 44 | Jake Worthington (EP) | Jake Worthington | W3 | October 16 |
| 25 | Jon Langston (EP) | Jon Langston | Jon Langston | December 11 |
| 32 | Just One Look: Classic Linda Ronstadt | Linda Ronstadt | Rhino | August 21 |
| 37 | Kiss You in the Morning EP | Michael Ray | Warner Bros. Nashville | April 28 |
| 42 | Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams | Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams | Red House | June 23 |
| 28 | Lauren Alaina (EP) | Lauren Alaina | 19/Interscope/Mercury Nashville | October 2 |
| 22 | Maren Morris (EP) | Maren Morris | Columbia Nashville | November 6 |
| 33 | Mixtape | JB and the Moonshine Band | Light It Up | June 30 |
| 18 | Mixtape: 'Til Summer's Gone (EP) | Lee Brice | Curb | July 17 |
| 15 | Mud Digger, Volume 6 | Various Artists | Average Joes | August 28 |
| 17 | The Music of Nashville: Season 4, Volume 1 | Various Artists | Big Machine | December 4 |
| 25 | Natural Man | Jon Wolfe | Fool Hearted | March 31 |
| 25 | Nothing but the Silence | Striking Matches | I.R.S. Nashville | March 24 |
| 13 | On Purpose | Clint Black | Thirty Tigers/Black Top | September 25 |
| 26 | On the Other Hand: All the Number Ones | Randy Travis | Warner Bros. Nashville | April 21 |
| 17 | Once Again It's Christmas | Kenny Rogers | Warner Bros. Nashville | September 25 |
| 43 | Panhandle Rambler | Joe Ely | Rack'em | September 18 |
| 12 | Paradise | The Wood Brothers | Honey Jar | October 2 |
| 32 | Pawn Shop Guitar (EP) | Logan Mize | Arista Nashville | May 19 |
| 14 | Ralph Stanley & Friends: Man of Constant Sorrow | Ralph Stanley | Cracker Barrel | January 19 |
| 45 | The Right Combination | Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton | Sony/Cracker Barrel | |
| 18 | Ringling Road | William Clark Green | Bill Grease | April 21 |
| 26 | Rock of Ages: Hymns and Gospel Favorites | The Oak Ridge Boys | Gaither Music Group | May 26 |
| 26 | Showtime (EP) | Jon Langston | Treehouse | May 5 |
| 37 | Shuteye | Logan Brill | Carnival | June 2 |
| 15 | Small Town Dreams | Will Hoge | Cumberland | April 7 |
| 27 | Something in the Water | Pokey LaFarge | Rounder | April 7 |
| 30 | Sonic Ranch | Whitey Morgan and the 78's | Whitey Morgan | May 19 |
| 16 | Southern Gravity | Kristian Bush | Streamsound | April 7 |
| 11 | Squelch | Jason Boland & The Stragglers | Proud Souls | October 9 |
| 39 | The State I'm In | Leigh Nash | One Son | September 18 |
| 11 | Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys | Asleep at the Wheel | Bismeaux | March 3 |
| 31 | Texas Like That | Zane Williams | Be Music & Entertainment | April 14 |
| 37 | Things That Can't Be Undone | Corb Lund | New West | October 9 |
| 16 | This Christmas (EP) | Jessie James Decker | Big Yellow Dog | December 4 |
| 36 | This One's for You (EP) | Luke Combs | Luke Combs | November 27 |
| 13 | Three | Gloriana | Emblem/Warner Bros. | June 2 |
| 34 | Torn (EP) | Backroad Anthem | Backroad Anthem | September 4 |
| 11 | Turn It On (EP) | Eli Young Band | Republic Nashville | March 10 |
| 22 | Us Time | Stoney LaRue | eOne | October 16 |
| 46 | Walkin a Wire | Pete Scobell Band | FrogBonz | September 11 |
| 31 | Welcome to Cam Country (EP) | Cam | Arista Nashville/RCA | March 31 |
| 37 | What Color Is Your Sky | Jason Michael Carroll | Kickstarter | May 5 |
| 23 | While the Gettin' Is Good | Corey Smith | Sugar Hill | June 23 |
| 26 | Whiskey on My Breath | Love and Theft | Hate & Purchase Music | February 10 |
| 39 | Willie Nelson and Friends | Willie Nelson | Cracker Barrel | |

## Deaths

* January 2 – Little Jimmy Dickens, 94, Grand Ole Opry member best known for "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose", "Take an Old Cold Tater (and Wait)", and standing at only 4.2 feet tall, as well as for his cameos in videos by artists such as Brad Paisley and Vince Gill. (cardiac arrest)
* January 12 – A. J. Masters, 64, singer-songwriter (prostate cancer)
* January 16 – Dixie Hall, 80, bluegrass songwriter and wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Tom T. Hall (brain tumor)
* January 17 – Don Harron, 90, Canadian comedian and playwright best known to country audiences as "Charlie Farquharson" on television's Hee Haw (cancer).
* March 9 – Wayne Kemp, 74, writer of Johnny Cash's "One Piece at a Time" among others; also a recording artist for MCA Nashville (various ailments)
* April 30 – Steven Goldmann, 53, music video director who directed a plethora of videos for many acts in the 90's and 2000's. (cancer)
* May 18 – Elbert West, 46, singer-songwriter
* June 11 – Jim Ed Brown, 81, Grand Ole Opry star and member of The Browns (cancer)
* July 20 – Wayne Carson, 72, writer of Elvis Presley's "Always on My Mind," later covered by Willie Nelson
* July 22 – Daron Norwood, 49, country singer from the 1990s
* July 29 – Buddy Emmons, 78, steel guitarist
* July 30 – Lynn Anderson, 67, singer best known for the 1970 crossover hit "Rose Garden." (heart attack)
* August 4 – Billy Sherrill, 78, record producer best known for his work with George Jones and Tammy Wynette
* September 4 – Hal Willis, 82, Canadian singer-songwriter, best known for the song "The Lumberjack"
* September 25 – Hugh Wright, 63, drummer for Boy Howdy (natural causes)
* October 6 – Billy Joe Royal, 73, country and rock singer best known for his hits "Down in the Boondocks" and "Tell It Like It Is"
* October 17 – John Jennings, 62, record producer and guitarist best known for his work with Mary Chapin Carpenter (kidney cancer)
* November 2 – Tommy Overstreet, 78, country singer from the 1970s
* November 8 – Charlie Dick, 81, widower of Patsy Cline who helped keep alive her legacy in the decades following her death; became a record promoter and publisher in his own right
* November 15 – Ron Hynes, 64, Canadian country-folk artist, best known for the songs "Sonny's Dream" and "Cryer's Paradise" (cancer)
* December 6 – Don Chapel, songwriter of hits by George Jones, Conway Twitty, ex-wife Tammy Wynette, and others
* December 7 – Don Pfrimmer, 78, songwriter known for co-writing many modern hits including "Meet in the Middle" and "My Front Porch Looking In" (leukemia)

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

* Larry Sparks
* Bill Keith

### Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

* Jim Ed Brown and The Browns (Jim Ed (1934–2015), Bonnie (1937–2016); and Maxine (1932–2019).
* Grady Martin (1929–2001)
* The Oak Ridge Boys (multiple members – currently Duane Allen (born 1943), Joe Bonsall (born 1948), William Lee Golden (born 1939) and Richard Sterban (born 1943)).

### Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

* Dianne Leigh
* Elizabeth "Ma" Henning

## Major awards
### Academy of Country Music

(presented April 3, 2016 in Las Vegas)
* Entertainer of the Year – Jason Aldean
* Top Male Vocalist – Chris Stapleton
* Top Female Vocalist – Miranda Lambert
* Top Vocal Group – Little Big Town
* Top Vocal Duo – Florida Georgia Line
* New Male Vocalist – Chris Stapleton
* New Female Vocalist – Kelsea Ballerini
* New Vocal Duo or Group – Old Dominion
* Album of the Year – Traveller, Chris Stapleton
* Single Record of the Year – "Die a Happy Man", Thomas Rhett
* Song of the Year – "Nobody to Blame", Chris Stapleton
* Video of the Year – "Mr. Misunderstood", Eric Church
* Vocal Event of the Year – "Smokin' and Drinkin'", Miranda Lambert feat. Little Big Town
ACM Honors
* Career Achievement Award – Alabama
* Crystal Milestone Award – Loretta Lynn
* Gene Weed Special Achievement Award – Luke Bryan
* Jim Reeves International Award – Eric Church
* Mae Boren Axton Award – Barry Adelman
* Mae Boren Axton Award – Tim DuBois
* Poet's Award – Bob McDill
* Poet's Award – Felice and Boudleaux Bryant
* Songwriter of the Year – Luke Laird

### Americana Music Honors & Awards

* Album of the Year – Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone (Lucinda Williams)
* Artist of the Year – Sturgill Simpson
* Duo/Group of the Year – The Mavericks
* Song of the Year – "Turtles All the Way Down" (Sturgill Simpson)
* Emerging Artist of the Year – Shakey Graves
* Instrumentalist of the Year – John Leventhal
* Spirit of Americana/Free Speech Award – Buffy Sainte-Marie
* Lifetime Achievement: Trailblazer – Don Henley
* Lifetime Achievement: Songwriting – Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
* Lifetime Achievement: Performance – Los Lobos
* Lifetime Achievement: Instrumentalist – Ricky Skaggs

### American Music Awards

(presented November 22 in Los Angeles)
* Favorite Country Male Artist – Luke Bryan
* Favorite Country Female Artist – Carrie Underwood
* Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group – Florida Georgia Line
* Favorite Country Album – Anything Goes, Florida Georgia Line

### ARIA Awards

(presented in Sydney on November 26, 2015)
* Best Country Album – All Hell Breaks Loose (Shane Nicholson)

### Canadian Country Music Association

(presented September 13 in Halifax)
* Fans' Choice Award – Johnny Reid
* Male Artist of the Year – Gord Bamford
* Female Artist of the Year – Jess Moskaluke
* Group or Duo of the Year – High Valley
* Songwriter(s) of the Year – "Where a Farm Used to Be", written by Gord Bamford, Buddy Owens and Phil O'Donnell
* Single of the Year – "Where a Farm Used to Be", Gord Bamford
* Album of the Year – Lifted, Dallas Smith
* Top Selling Album – Crash My Party, Luke Bryan
* Top Selling Canadian Album – Yoan, Yoan
* CMT Video of the Year – "Upside Down", Dean Brody
* Rising Star Award – Madeline Merlo
* Roots Artist or Group of the Year – Lindi Ortega
* Interactive Artist of the Year – Brett Kissel

### Country Music Association

(presented November 4 in Nashville)
* Single of the Year – "Girl Crush", Little Big Town
* Song of the Year – "Girl Crush", Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna
* Vocal Group of the Year – Little Big Town
* New Artist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
* Album of the Year – Traveller, Chris Stapleton
* Musician of the Year – Mac McAnally
* Vocal Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line
* Music Video of the Year – "Girl in a Country Song", Maddie & Tae
* Male Vocalist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
* Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
* Musical Event of the Year – "Raise 'Em Up", Keith Urban and Eric Church
* Entertainer of the Year – Luke Bryan

### CMT Music Awards

(presented June 10 in Nashville)
* Video of the Year – "Something in the Water", Carrie Underwood
* Male Video of the Year – "Play It Again", Luke Bryan
* Female Video of the Year – "Something in the Water", Carrie Underwood
* Group Video of the Year – "Bartender", Lady Antebellum
* Duo Video of the Year – "Dirt", Florida Georgia Line
* Breakthrough Video of the Year – "Leave the Night On", Sam Hunt
* Collaborative Video of the Year – "Somethin' Bad", Miranda Lambert with Carrie Underwood
* Performance of the Year – "Turn the Page", Bob Seger and Jason Aldean from CMT Crossroads
CMT Artists of the Year (presented on December 2, 2015)
* Luke Bryan
* Florida Georgia Line
* Sam Hunt
* Little Big Town
* Blake Shelton

### Grammy Awards

(presented February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles)
* Best Country Solo Performance – "Traveller" (Chris Stapleton)
* Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "Girl Crush" (Little Big Town)
* Best Country Song – "Girl Crush" (Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose)
* Best Country Album – Traveller (Chris Stapleton)
* Best Bluegrass Album – The Muscle Shoals Recordings (The SteelDrivers)
* Best Americana Album – Something More Than Free (Jason Isbell)
* Best American Roots Song – "24 Frames" (Jason Isbell)
* Best American Roots Performance – "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" (Mavis Staples)
* Best Roots Gospel Album – Still Rockin' My Soul (The Fairfield Four)

### Juno Awards

(presented April 3, 2016 in Calgary)
* Country Album of the Year – Gypsy Road, Dean Brody