January — Leo Fender, founder of Fender Guitars, sells his company to a subsidiary of Columbia Records for $13 million.February 17 — "The Tennessee Waltz" is declared the state song of Tennessee.October — Country Music Association president Tex Ritter awards Leo Fender the President's Award for "outstanding contributions to the sound of country music."The Vietnam War, which by now was making daily headlines, brings about the second wave of patriotic-themed songs. One of the first big songs was Johnnie Wright's "Hello Vietnam," a No. 1 hit in October. Late in the year, Dave Dudley records and releases "What We're Fighting For," an early response to the growing number of anti-Vietnam War protests.The trend continues through the rest of the 1960s and early 1970s, with songs such as "
Distant Drums" by
Jim Reeves; "Ballad of the Green Berets" by Staff Sgt.
Barry Sadler; "
Dear Uncle Sam" by
Loretta Lynn; and others. By the late 1960s, the tone of the songs became darker, most notably the
Mel Tillis-penned "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" (first a hit for
Johnny Darrell, but more famously in 1969 by
Kenny Rogers and the First Edition).
(as certified by Billboard)
(as certified by RPM)
Before You Go - Buck Owens (Capitol)Behind the Tear - Sonny James (Capitol)Breakin' In Another Heart - Hank Thompson (Capitol)Bright Lights and Country Music - Bill Anderson (Decca)Chet Atkins Picks on The Beatles - Chet Atkins (RCA)Connie Smith - Connie Smith (RCA)Country Willie: His Own Songs - Willie Nelson (RCA)Cute 'n' Country - Connie Smith (RCA)Doodle oo Doo Doo - Del Reeves (United Artists )The Easy Way - Eddy Arnold (RCA)From This Pen - Bill Anderson (Decca)Girl On The Billboard - Del Reeves (United Artists)Golden Hits - Roger Miller (Smash)Here Comes My Baby - Dottie West (RCA)Hot Rod Lincoln - Johnny Bond (Starday)I Heard the Bluebirds Sing - The Browns (RCA)I Want to Live and Love - Carl Smith (Columbia)The Race Is On - George Jones (United Artists)New Country Hits - George Jones (Musicor) debut on MusicorI'll Keep Holding On - Sonny James (Capitol)I've Got a Tiger By the Tail - Buck Owens (Capitol)The Instrumental Hits of Buck Owens and His Buckaroos - Buck Owens and the Buckaroos (Capitol)Kisses Don't Lie - Carl Smith (Columbia)Luckiest Heartache in Town - Hank Thompson (Capitol)Many Happy Hangovers - Jean Shepard (Capitol)My Favorite Guitars - Chet Atkins (RCA)My World - Eddy Arnold (RCA)Pretty Miss Norma Jean - Norma Jean (RCA)Sings Jim Reeves - Del Reeves (United Artists)Skeeter Sings Standards - Skeeter Davis (RCA)Ten Little Bottles - Johnny Bond (Starday)The Thin Man From West Plains - Porter Wagoner (RCA)Three Shades of Brown - The Browns (RCA)When Love is Gone - The Browns (RCA)You're the Only World I Know - Sonny James (Capitol)Your Favorite Country Hits - Hank Snow (RCA)January 20 — John Michael Montgomery, honky tonk-styled singer of the 1990s and 2000s (decade); younger brother of Eddie Montgomery (of Montgomery Gentry).July 16 — Craig Morgan, singer-songwriter since the 2000s (decade).August 7 — Raul Malo, lead singer of the alternative country band The Mavericks.August 28 — Shania Twain, mega country star since the latter half of the 1990s.June 20 — Ira Louvin, 41, tenor half of 2001 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees The Louvin Brothers.Ernest Tubb (1914–1984)Best Country and Western Vocal Performance, Female — "Queen of the House," Jody MillerBest Country and Western Vocal Performance, Male — "King of the Road," Roger MillerBest Country and Western Single — "King of the Road," Roger MillerBest Country and Western Album — The Return of Roger Miller, Roger MillerBest Country and Western Artist — The Statler BrothersTop Male Vocalist — Buck OwensTop Female Vocalist — Bonnie OwensTop Vocal Duo — Merle Haggard and Bonnie OwensTop New Male Vocalist — Merle HaggardTop New Female Vocalist — Kay AdamsCountry Music AssociationInductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame 