February 29 — Branson, Missouri, a city famous for its country music-oriented tourist attractions, sustained damage from the Leap Day tornadoes. Three of Branson’s 50 plus theaters are extensively damaged.May 11 — ABC picks up Malibu Country, starring Reba McEntire, to series. The new series debuts in November but is later cancelled in May 2013 after 18 episodes.May 21 — Scott Borchetta announces the signing of Tim McGraw to Big Machine Records.June 4 — Sony Music Nashville closes its BNA Records division after 21 years of operation; all its artists and staff are transferred to Columbia Nashville.June 18 — Gail Gellman, manager for Sugarland, confirms that member Jennifer Nettles is expecting a baby in November with husband Justin Miller.August — Randy Travis is involved in a number of legal incidents, including a drunk driving incident where he was found sitting nude outside his wrecked vehicle and – as police officers were trying to take him into custody – making verbal threats to injure and kill the officers, and a domestic disturbance approximately two weeks later.August 14 — George Jones announces plans for a 60-date farewell tour, titled The Grand Tour, for 2013.August 18 — Wynonna Judd's husband Scott "Cactus" Moser, who plays drums in both her road band and Highway 101, is involved in a motorcycle crash in South Dakota which results in the amputation of a leg.September 26 — George Strait announces plans for a farewell tour, titled The Cowboy Rides Away, for 2013 and 2014. Strait revealed he will continue recording and will perform on special occasions.October 11 — Billboard changes its Hot Country Songs from an airplay-only chart to one that reflects both airplay and music downloads, similarly to the Hot 100. The airplay-only methodology is transferred to a new chart called Country Airplay. As a result of the new methodology, Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" – which had previously peaked at No. 13 – rebounds back up the chart and becomes the first No. 1 single under the new methodology. In the process, the song becomes the first to top both the country and Billboard Hot 100 charts since "Amazed" by Lonestar in March 2000 and – with nine weeks at No. 1 – is the longest running chart-topper on the country chart since "Almost Persuaded" by David Houston in 1966. The song also is the longest-running No. 1 country song ever by a female artist, topping Connie Smith's "Once a Day" (which logged eight weeks at No. 1 in 1964-1965).November 1 — Luken Communications and Jim Owens Entertainment relaunch The Nashville Network (TNN) as an digital broadcast television network.The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay charts in 2012:
The following albums placed within the Top 50 on the Top Country Albums charts in 2012:
January 20 — Larry Butler, 69, producer for Kenny Rogers and other artists (natural causes)March 28 — Earl Scruggs, 88, Bluegrass musician. (natural causes)April 25 — Mark McCoy, bassist for Micky & the Motorcars. (drowning)April 29 — Kenny Roberts, 84, American country singer and yodeler "I Never See Maggie Alone" (natural causes)May 6 — George Lindsey, 83, comedian-actor, co-star of Hee HawMay 29 — Doc Watson, 89, folk-styled singer and guitarist whose music spanned into country and bluegrass, among many other genres (complications from a fall and colon surgery).July 3 — Andy Griffith, 86, comedian-actor and country-gospel singer. Best known for the TV series The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock.July 16 — Kitty Wells, 92, pioneering female country music superstar, best known for hits such as "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" (complications from a stroke).September 7 — Rollin "Oscar" Sullivan, 93, American country music entertainer that was the "Oscar" half of Lonzo and Oscar.September 30 — Raylene Rankin, 52, member of Canadian country group The Rankin Family. (breast cancer)October 21 — Tim Johnson, 52, songwriter best known for his number one hit "Do You Believe Me Now" for Jimmy Wayne and for his work with Rory Lee Feek of Joey + Rory (cancer).November 21 — Phil Stone, 57, disc jockey at KMOD-FM in Tulsa, Oklahoma, co-creator of the Roy D. Mercer character (heart attack)November 23 — Frank Dycus, 72, songwriter of over 500 songs including the hits "Unwound" and "Gonna Get a Life".Hargus "Pig" Robbins (born 1938).Connie Smith (born 1941).Garth Brooks (born 1962).Johnny BurkeRalph Murphy(presented December 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada)
Artist of the Year — Luke BryanMale Artist of the Year — Luke BryanFemale Artist of the Year — Carrie UnderwoodGroup/Duo of the Year — Lady AntebellumTouring Artist of the Year — Jason AldeanAlbum of the Year — Tailgates & Tanlines, Luke BryanBreakthrough Artist of the Year — Jake OwenNew Artist of the Year — Lauren AlainaSingle of the Year — "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke BryanMale Single of the Year — "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke BryanFemale Single of the Year — "Over You", Miranda LambertDuo/Group Single of the Year — "We Owned the Night", Lady AntebellumBreakthrough Single of the Year — "You Don't Know Her Like I Do", Brantley GilbertNew Artist Single of the Year — "Wanted", Hunter HayesSingle by a Vocal Collaboration — "Remind Me", Brad Paisley feat. Carrie UnderwoodMusic Video of the Year — "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke BryanMale Music Video of the Year — "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke BryanFemale Music Video of the Year — "Over You", Miranda LambertDuo/Group Music Video of the Year — "Pontoon", Little Big TownNew Artist Music Video of the Year — "Wanted", Hunter HayesSong of the Year — "Springsteen", Eric Church(presented April 7, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada)
Entertainer of the Year — Luke BryanTop Male Vocalist — Jason AldeanTop Female Vocalist — Miranda LambertTop Vocal Group — Little Big TownTop Vocal Duo — Thompson SquareTop New Male Vocalist — Brantley GilbertTop New Female Vocalist — Jana KramerTop New Duo/Group — Florida Georgia LineTop New Artist — Florida Georgia LineAlbum of the Year — Chief, Eric ChurchSingle Record of the Year — "Over You", Miranda LambertSong of the Year — "Over You", Miranda LambertVideo of the Year — "Tornado", Little Big TownVocal Event of the Year — "The Only Way I Know", Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Eric Church(presented November 18 in Los Angeles)
Favorite Country Male Artist — Luke BryanFavorite Country Female Artist — Taylor SwiftFavorite Country Band/Duo/Group — Lady AntebellumFavorite Country Album — Blown Away, Carrie Underwood(presented September 9 in Saskatoon)
Fans' Choice Award — Johnny ReidMale Artist of the Year — Dean BrodyFemale Artist of the Year — Carolyn Dawn JohnsonGroup or Duo of the Year — Hey RomeoSongwriter(s) of the Year — "Is It Friday Yet?", written by Gord Bamford, Roger Brown and Byron HillSingle of the Year — "They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore", Jason BlaineAlbum of the Year — Dirt, Dean BrodyTop Selling Album — Own the Night, Lady AntebellumTop Selling Canadian Album — Fire It Up, Johnny ReidCMT Video of the Year — "In This House", The StellasRising Star Award — Kira IsabellaRoots Artist or Group of the Year — Jimmy RankinGeneration Award — Taylor Swift(presented November 1 in Nashville)
Single of the Year — "Pontoon", Little Big TownSong of the Year — "Over You", Miranda Lambert and Blake SheltonVocal Group of the Year — Little Big TownNew Artist of the Year — Hunter HayesAlbum of the Year — Chief, Eric ChurchMusician of the Year — Mac McAnallyVocal Duo of the Year — Thompson SquareMusic Video of the Year — "Red Solo Cup", Toby KeithMale Vocalist of the Year — Blake SheltonFemale Vocalist of the Year — Miranda LambertMusical Event of the Year — "Feel Like a Rock Star", Kenny Chesney and Tim McGrawEntertainer of the Year — Blake Shelton(presented June 6 in Nashville)
Video of the Year — "Good Girl", Carrie UnderwoodMale Video of the Year — "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke BryanFemale Video of the Year — "Over You", Miranda LambertGroup Video of the Year — "We Owned the Night", Lady AntebellumDuo Video of the Year — "I Got You", Thompson SquareUSA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year — "The Trouble with Girls", Scotty McCreeryCollaborative Video of the Year — "Remind Me", Brad Paisley and Carrie UnderwoodPerformance of the Year — "Tattoos on This Town", Jason Aldean from CMT Artists of the Year(presented February 10, 2013)
Best Country Solo Performance — "Blown Away", Carrie UnderwoodBest Country Duo/Group Performance — "Pontoon", Little Big TownBest Country Song — "Blown Away", Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins (performed by Carrie Underwood)Best Country Album — Uncaged, Zac Brown BandBest Bluegrass Album — Nobody Knows You, Steep Canyon Rangers(presented April 21, 2013 in Regina)
Country Album of the Year — Fire It Up, Johnny Reid 