August — After 36 years of using the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart as the basis of its program, American Country Countdown begins using the Mediabase chart.August 10 — Brooks & Dunn announced that they are breaking up in 2010 after 20 years as a duo.August 25 — Jack Ingram sets Guinness Book of World Records mark for most consecutive radio interviews in 24 hours, having done 215 consecutive interviews for 5 minutes each.September 13 — Taylor Swift becomes the first country music artist to win an MTV Music Video award at the 2009 event, winning a Best Female Video for "You Belong with Me." Hip-hop artist and producer Kanye West interrupts Swift's acceptance speech, saying that another video should have won. This results in a media stir for several days; eventually, West apologizes — first on his blog, and then by personally contacting Swift.October 15 -- Garth Brooks announces that he is coming out of retirement to play concerts in Las Vegas. The concerts will be held approximately fifteen weekends per year until the year 2014. His first set of concerts has already sold out.The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs charts in 2009:
The following albums placed within the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums charts in 2009:
January 9 — Jon Hager, 67, one half of the Hager Twins, gained fame on Hee Haw.February 7 — Molly Bee, 69, gained fame through appearances on Hometown Jamboree. (complications from a stroke)March 2 — Ernest Ashworth, 80, Grand Ole Opry star, best known for his 1963 Number One hit, "Talk Back Tremblin' Lips".March 8 — Hank Locklin, 91, Grand Ole Opry star, best known for his 1960 crossover hit, "Please Help Me, I'm Falling".March 25 — Dan Seals, 61, singer-songwriter of the 1980s, best known for his 1985 crossover hit, "Bop". (mantle cell lymphoma)April 28 — Vern Gosdin, 74, singer-songwriter known as "the Voice." (complications from a stroke)June 10 — Barry Beckett, 66, record producer and session musician (natural causes)June 24 — Tim Krekel, 58, country music songwriter (cancer)July 28 — Reverend Ike, 74, Ike made a guest appearance on Hank Williams Jr.'s single “Mind Your Own Business”, a Number One country hit in 1986. (complications from a stroke)August 13 — Les Paul, 94, recording innovator and electric guitar inventor, both which have seen significant use in country music (complications from pneumonia)August 14 — Warren "Gates" Nichols, 65, steel guitarist and co-founding member of the 1990s group Confederate Railroad (pancreatic cancer).September 27 — Ruby Wright, 69, daughter of country music legends Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright and prominent member of her parents' touring act (heart-related illness)Roy ClarkBarbara MandrellCharlie McCoyBuffy Sainte-MarieBarry HaugenJohn Murphy(presented January 31, 2010 in Los Angeles)
Best Female Country Vocal Performance — "White Horse", Taylor SwiftBest Male Country Vocal Performance — "Sweet Thing", Keith UrbanBest Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "I Run to You", Lady AntebellumBest Country Collaboration with Vocals — "I Told You So", Carrie Underwood and Randy TravisBest Country Instrumental Performance — "Producer's Medley", Steve WarinerBest Country Song — "White Horse", Liz Rose and Taylor SwiftBest Country Album — Fearless, Taylor SwiftBest Bluegrass Album — The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, Steve Martin(presented April 18, 2010 in St. John's)
Country Album of the Year — Dance with Me, Johnny Reid(presented June 16 in Nashville)
Video of the Year — "Love Story", Taylor SwiftMale Video of the Year — "Waitin' on a Woman", Brad PaisleyFemale Video of the Year — "Love Story", Taylor SwiftGroup Video of the Year — "Every Day", Rascal FlattsDuo Video of the Year — "All I Want to Do", SugarlandUSA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year — "Chicken Fried", Zac Brown BandCollaborative Video of the Year — "Start a Band", Brad Paisley and Keith UrbanPerformance of the Year — "Country Boy", Alan Jackson featuring George Strait, Brad Paisley and Dierks BentleyWide Open Country Video of the Year — "All Summer Long", Kid RockVideo Director of the Year — Trey FanjoyNationwide On Your Side Award — Gloriana(presented April 18, 2010 in Las Vegas)
Entertainer of the Year — Carrie UnderwoodTop Male Vocalist — Brad PaisleyTop Female Vocalist — Miranda LambertTop Vocal Group — Lady AntebellumTop Vocal Duo — Brooks & DunnTop New Solo Vocalist — Luke BryanTop New Vocal Duo — Joey + RoryTop New Vocal Group — GlorianaTop New Artist — Luke BryanAlbum of the Year — Revolution, Miranda LambertSingle Record of the Year — "Need You Now", Lady AntebellumSong of the Year — "Need You Now", Lady AntebellumVideo of the Year — "White Liar", Miranda LambertVocal Event of the Year — "Hillbilly Bone", Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins(presented September 13 in Vancouver)
Fans' Choice Award — Johnny ReidMale Artist of the Year — Johnny ReidFemale Artist of the Year — Crystal ShawandaGroup or Duo of the Year — Doc WalkerSongwriter(s) of the Year — "A Woman Like You", written by Johnny Reid and Brent MaherSingle of the Year — "Brothers", performed by Dean BrodyAlbum of the Year — Dance with Me, Johnny ReidTop Selling Album — Fearless, Taylor SwiftTop Selling Canadian Album — Dance with Me, Johnny ReidCMT Video of the Year — "A Woman Like You", Johnny ReidRising Star Award — Tara OramRoots Artist or Group of the Year — Corb Lund(presented November 11 in Nashville)
Entertainer of the Year — Taylor SwiftSingle of the Year — "I Run to You", Lady AntebellumSong of the Year — "In Color", Jamey JohnsonVocal Group of the Year — Lady AntebellumNew Artist of the Year — Darius RuckerAlbum of the Year — Fearless, Taylor SwiftMusician of the Year — Mac McAnallyVocal Duo of the Year — SugarlandMusic Video of the Year — "Love Story", Taylor SwiftMale Vocalist of the Year — Brad PaisleyFemale Vocalist of the Year — Taylor SwiftMusical Event of the Year — "Start a Band", Brad Paisley and Keith Urban 