May 9 — Rising country star Keith Whitley is found dead at his home, a victim of alcohol poisoning. News of his death sent shockwaves through the industry, given that he had been hailed as a future superstar who helped bring neotraditionalism to the forefront during the 1980s. His widow, Lorrie Morgan, would become a major superstar after his death.1989 was one of two years during the 1980s which sprouted the most prolific class of newcomers in country music history (1986 being the other), a trend that had not been seen since the mid-1950s (when artists such as Elvis Presley, George Jones and Johnny Cash first rose to fame). Clint Black was at the head of the class early on, given that he had two of the year's most memorable singles – "A Better Man" and "Killin' Time" – and one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year (Killin' Time), and was already selling out shows nationwide. Garth Brooks, however, proved to be the 1989 newcomer that stood head and shoulders above everyone else, eventually selling millions of albums, taking worldwide tours and creating some of the most influential music of the 1990s and beyond.Another newcomer,
Alan Jackson, had a minor hit with his first release in the autumn of that year with "Blue Blooded Woman;" future singles – all featuring the neotraditional style, would do considerably better, to say the least.
Travis Tritt contributed with his brand of rock-influenced country, while
Lorrie Morgan (daughter of Grand Ole Opry legend
George Morgan) became a star in her own right following the alcohol-poisoning death of her husband,
Keith Whitley.Other top newcomers of the year were
Suzy Bogguss,
Lionel Cartwright and
Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Hee Haw (1969-1993, syndicated)March 10 — Rachel Reinert, member of Gloriana.March 29 — Lindsay Ell, Canadian country singer of the 2010s.August 28 — Cassadee Pope, lead singer of pop rock band Hey Monday, turned country singer; winner of the third season of The VoiceDecember 13 — Taylor Swift, teen star who quickly enjoyed major crossover success by the end of the 2000s decade.February 4 - Kenneth C. "Jethro" Burns, 68, of the Homer and Jethro comedy duo.March 8 — Stuart Hamblen, 80, one of radio's first country music superstars, whose later works reflected his religious convictions.May 9 — Keith Whitley, 34, honky tonk-styled singer who rose to fame in the mid-1980s (alcohol poisoning)August 25 — Al Cherney, 56, Albertan fiddlerSeptember 23 - Bradley Kincaid, 94, Singer and Guitarist who started his career in 1927 in Chicago over WLS Radio, performing the traditional mountain ballads he had learned during his boyhood in Kentucky, he soon became the genre's first Multimedia superstar. He collected, recorded, and published many of the old Folk ballads, thereby preserving them for posterity. (Automobile Accident).Jack Stapp (1912-1980)Cliffie Stone (1917-1998)Hank Thompson (1925-2007)Charlie ChamberlainAl Cherney (posthumous)King GanamDallas HarmsEarl HeywoodMarg OsburneIan TysonMercey BrothersMaurice BolyerDon GrasheyMaurice BolyerBest Female Country Vocal Performance — Absolute Torch and Twang, k.d. langBest Male Country Vocal Performance — Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Lyle LovettBest Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two, Nitty Gritty Dirt BandBest Country Collaboration with Vocals — "There's a Tear in My Beer," Hank Williams and Hank Williams, Jr.Best Country Instrumental Performance — "Amazing Grace," Randy ScruggsBest Country Song — "After All This Time," Rodney CrowellBest Bluegrass Recording — "The Valley Road," Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Bruce HornsbyCountry Male Vocalist of the Year — George FoxCountry Female Vocalist of the Year — k.d. langCountry Group or Duo of the Year — Family BrownEntertainer of the Year — George StraitSong of the Year — "Where've You Been," Jon Vezner and Don Henry (Performer: Kathy Mattea)Single of the Year — "A Better Man," Clint BlackAlbum of the Year — Killin' Time, Clint BlackTop Male Vocalist — Clint BlackTop Female Vocalist — Kathy MatteaTop Vocal Duo — The JuddsTop Vocal Group — Restless HeartTop New Male Vocalist — Clint BlackTop New Female Vocalist — Mary Chapin CarpenterTop New Vocal Duo or Group — The Kentucky HeadhuntersVideo of the Year — "There's a Tear in My Beer," Hank Williams, Jr. and Hank Williams (Director: Ethan Russell)Entertainer Artist of the Year — k.d. langMale Artist of the Year — Gary FjellgaardFemale Artist of the Year — k.d. langGroup of the Year — Family BrownSOCAN Song of the Year — "Town of Tears," Barry Brown, Randall Prescott, Bruce Campbell (Performer: Family Brown)Single of the Year — "Town of Tears," Family BrownAlbum of the Year — Shadowland, k.d. langTop Selling Album — Old 8×10, Randy TravisVista Rising Star Award — George FoxDuo of the Year — Gary Fjellgaard and Linda KidderEntertainer of the Year — George StraitSong of the Year — "Chisled in Stone," Max D. Barnes and Vern Gosdin (Performer: Vern Gosdin)Single of the Year — "I'm No Stranger to the Rain," Keith WhitleyAlbum of the Year — Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two, Nitty Gritty Dirt BandMale Vocalist of the Year — Ricky Van SheltonFemale Vocalist of the Year — Kathy MatteaVocal Duo of the Year — The JuddsVocal Group of the Year — Highway 101Horizon Award — Clint BlackMusic Video of the Year — "There's a Tear in My Beer," Hank Williams, Jr. and Hank Williams (Director: Ethan Russell)Vocal Event of the Year — Hank Williams, Jr. and Hank WilliamsMusician of the Year — Johnny GimbleCountry Music AssociationInductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame 