April 30 — Billboard magazine renames the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart "Hot Country Songs." The chart's renaming is part of a major redesign of the 110-year-old magazine.May 25 — Oklahoma-born Carrie Underwood becomes the fourth-season winner of "American Idol." Although her first single, "Inside Your Heaven," tops the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the 22-year-old Underwood's influences and music are predominantly country. Late in the year, she entered the top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the first time with "Jesus Take the Wheel." Her debut album, Some Hearts, rockets to No. 1 on the album charts.May 25 — Garth Brooks proposes to longtime girlfriend and fellow country music star Trisha Yearwood in Bakersfield, California, ending long-standing speculation about their relationship.September — Country music acts participate in benefit concerts to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. On September 9, Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are among the artists participating in "Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast," which airs live on cable and broadcast television stations in the United States and worldwide."ReAct Now:
Music & Relief" is held September 10. Country performers at the 4½-hour concert — which airs live on CMT — include
Alan Jackson and
Gretchen Wilson.
October — Koch Records Nashville folds when its parent company goes out of business.November 9 — After 27 years as host of "American Country Countdown," radio personality Bob Kingsley steps down, after his production company and ABC Radio Networks (which distributes the show) fail to come to terms in renegotiating a distribution agreement. Kix Brooks, one half of the superstar duo Brooks & Dunn, is named the new host and was slated to take over January 21, 2006. Kingsley's last shows with "ACC" are the December 24 countdown program and "Christmas in America."November 18 — The Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line, opens nationwide. The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as "The Man in Black" and Reese Witherspoon as his girlfriend (and wife-to-be) June Carter. The movie is widely praised by critics and a major box office hit.November 25 — Garth Brooks releases The Limited Series, his second box set to be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores. The set contains his previous two studio albums, Sevens and Scarecrow; plus his Double Live album; The Lost Sessions, a new album of previously unreleased material; and an All Access DVD containing behind-the-scenes footage of his concerts. The Limited Series is Brooks' first box set to be released under his label, Pearl Records; he had left his longtime label, Capitol Records, earlier in the year.December 5 — Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood marry at their home in Oklahoma. It is Brooks' second marriage, Yearwood's third.December 31 — Bob Kingsley's new countdown program, "Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40," premieres with the annual year-end countdown. The new four-hour show, which aired on many of the same stations that aired "ACC," is distributed by the Jones Radio Network.Mindy McCready endures a rough year, with stories about her personal and legal problems making headlines. They include violent run-ins with her ex-boyfriend, Billy McKnight; various crimes she had been charged with (including fraud, prescription drug crimes, driving under the influence and probation violation) and at least two suicide attempts. Late in the year, Mindy spoke about her problems on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live.Toby Keith, the flagship artist for DreamWorks Nashville, departs to form his own label, Show Dog Nashville. DreamWorks – which had never really lived up to its expectations – is shut down shortly thereafter by its parent company, Universal Music Group.The Country Music Association announces a new TV deal to move the CMA Awards to ABC, after years of being broadcast on CBS.Tammy Genovese becomes the head of the Country Music Association, succeeding Ed Benson.Country music icon George Jones marks his 50th year in country music.The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs charts in 2005:
The following albums placed within the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums charts in 2005:
February 6 — Merle Kilgore, 70, prolific songwriter ("Wolverton Mountain," "Ring of Fire") and manager of Hank Williams Jr. (cancer)February 12 — Sammi Smith, 61, best known for "Help Me Make it Through the Night."March 2 — Joe Carter, 78, son of A.P. and Sara Carter.March 9 — Chris LeDoux, 56, world champion bareback rider who sang about the rodeo circuit and cowboy life.May 14 — Jimmy Martin, 77, the "King of Bluegrass."June 27 — Robert Byrne, 50, songwriter (unknown causes)August 16 — Vassar Clements, 77, legendary fiddle player. (cancer)Alabama (Randy Owen (born 1949); Teddy Gentry (born 1952); Jeff Cook (born 1949); and Mark Herndon (born 1955)).DeFord Bailey (1899–1982)Glen Campbell (born 1936)Gary FjellgaardR. Harlan SmithPaul Kennedy(presented February 8, 2006 in Los Angeles)
Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "The Connection," Emmylou HarrisBest Male Country Vocal Performance — "You'll Think of Me," Keith UrbanBest Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "Restless," Alison Krauss & Union StationBest Country Collaboration with Vocals — "Like We Never Loved At All," Faith Hill and Tim McGrawBest Country Instrumental Performance — "Unionhouse Branch," Alison Krauss & Union StationBest Country Song — "Bless the Broken Road", Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna & Marcus HummonBest Country Album — Lonely Runs Both Ways, Alison Krauss & Union StationBest Bluegrass Album — The Company We Keep, Del McCoury Band(presented April 2, 2006 in Halifax)
Country Recording of the Year — The Road Hammers, The Road Hammers(presented April 11 in Nashville)
Video of the Year — "Days Go By," Keith UrbanMale Video of the Year — "I Go Back," Kenny ChesneyFemale Video of the Year — "When I Think About Cheatin'" Gretchen WilsonGroup/Duo Video of the Year — "Feels Like Today," Rascal FlattsBreakthrough Video of the Year — "Redneck Woman," Gretchen WilsonCollaborative Video of the Year — "Whiskey Lullaby," Brad Paisley Featuring Alison KraussHottest Video of the Year — "Whiskey Girl," Toby KeithMost Inspiring Video of the Year — "Live Like You Were Dying," Tim McGrawVideo Director of the Year — "Whiskey Lullaby," Brad Paisley Featuring Alison Krauss (Director: Rick Schroder)Johnny Cash Visionary Award — Loretta Lynn(presented May 23, 2006 in Las Vegas)
Entertainer of the Year — Kenny ChesneySong of the Year — "Believe," Ronnie Dunn and Craig WisemanSingle of the Year — "Jesus, Take the Wheel," Carrie UnderwoodAlbum of the Year — Time Well Wasted, Brad PaisleyTop Male Vocalist — Keith UrbanTop Female Vocalist — Sara EvansTop Vocal Duo — Brooks & DunnTop Vocal Group — Rascal FlattsTop New Male Vocalist — Jason AldeanTop New Female Vocalist — Carrie UnderwoodTop New Duo or Group — SugarlandVideo of the Year — "When I Get Where I'm Going," Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton (Director: Jim Shea)Vocal Event of the Year — "When I Get Where I'm Going," Brad Paisley and Dolly PartonACM/Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year — Vince GillPioneer Awards — Little Jimmy Dickens, Kris Kristofferson, Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs(presented September 12 in Calgary)
Kraft Cheez Whiz Fans' Choice Award — George CanyonMale Artist of the Year — George CanyonFemale Artist of the Year — Terri ClarkGroup or Duo of the Year — The Road HammersSOCAN Song of the Year — "My Name," George Canyon, Gordie SampsonSingle of the Year — "My Name," George CanyonAlbum of the Year — This Time Around, Paul BrandtTop Selling Album — Greatest Hits, Shania TwainCMT Video of the Year — "Convoy," Paul BrandtChevy Trucks Rising Star Award — Amanda WilkinsonRoots Artist or Group of the Year — Corb Lund(presented November 15 in New York City)
Entertainer of the Year — Keith UrbanSong of the Year — "Whiskey Lullaby," Bill Anderson and Jon RandallSingle of the Year — "I May Hate Myself in the Morning," Lee Ann WomackAlbum of the Year — There's More Where That Came From, Lee Ann WomackMale Vocalist of the Year — Keith UrbanFemale Vocalist of the Year — Gretchen WilsonVocal Duo of the Year — Brooks & DunnVocal Group of the Year — Rascal FlattsHorizon Award — Dierks BentleyVideo of the Year — "As Good As I Once Was," Toby Keith (Director: Michael Salomon)Vocal Event of the Year — "Good News, Bad News," George Strait and Lee Ann WomackMusician of the Year — Jerry DouglasCountry Music AssociationInductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame 