January 15 — Parodist Cledus T. Judd announces his retirement from the performing aspect of the music business.February 27 — Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher give birth to their son, Isaiah Michael Fisher.March 4 — Shania Twain announces that her Rock This Country tour will be her last but that she intends to continue releasing albumsApril — A new syndicated radio program, American Country Countdown Rewind with Bob Kingsley, consisting of Kingsley-hosted ACC programs from 1990-2005, is announced by Nash FM (the media brand and network of country music stations owned by Cumulus Media). The first programs aired the weekend of May 2.May — Radio consultant Keith Hill is criticized when stating in an interview that music stations should limit the airplay of female country artists. The story is further ignited when Hill compares female artists to that of "tomatoes in a salad". In response, Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, and Jennifer Nettles criticize Hill's comments via social media.June 15 — Country Weekly is rebranded as Nash Country Weekly, as part of a co-branding with Nash FM's radio product.June 19 — Almost a year after successfully recovering from cervical cancer, Joey Martin Feek of Joey + Rory is diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer.June 22 — With "Love Me Like You Mean It", Kelsea Ballerini becomes the first female artist to send her debut single to No. 1 on Country Airplay since Carrie Underwood did in 2006, and the first female artist to do so on an independent label.July 9 — Luke Bryan causes controversy in an interview with "HITS Double Daily" for implying that Outlaw country artists (particularly Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson) spent their career "laying in the gutter, strung out on drugs." Bryan would later call Jennings' widow Jessi Colter to apologize.July 18 — "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town makes country music history by breaking the record of weeks spent at number 1 by a group of three or more members, surpassing the current record holders The Browns and their song The Three Bells.July 20 — Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton announce their divorce after four years of marriage.August 3 — Reba McEntire announces the separation from long-time husband and manager Narvel Blackstock. Although they will be ending their marriage, they will continue to support one another professionally.September 25 — Kenny Rogers announces his plans to retire following a Christmas album and a 2016 farewell tourSeptember 27 — Producer Dave Brainard is hospitalized after being found unconscious with a broken jaw from a beating.October — Joey Martin Feek of Joey + Rory ends treatment for stage IV colorectal cancer after treatments fail to control growth of tumors.November 2 — Chris Cagle announces his retirement from the music business.November 9 — Joey Martin Feek of Joey and Rory enters Hospice care after terminal cancer diagnosisThe following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay or Canada Country charts in 2015:
The following albums placed on the Top Country Albums charts in 2015:
January 2 — Little Jimmy Dickens, 94, Grand Ole Opry member best known for "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose" (cardiac arrest)January 12 — A. J. Masters, 64, singer-songwriter (prostate cancer)January 16 — Dixie Hall, 80, bluegrass songwriter and wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Tom T. Hall (brain tumor)January 17 — Don Harron, 90, Canadian comedian and playwright best known to country audiences as "Charlie Farquharson" on television's Hee Haw (cancer).March 9 — Wayne Kemp, 73, writer of Johnny Cash's "One Piece at a Time" among others; also a recording artist for MCA Nashville (various ailments)April 30 — Steven Goldmann, 53, music video director (cancer)May 18 — Elbert West, 46, singer-songwriterJune 11 — Jim Ed Brown, 81, Grand Ole Opry star and member of The Browns (cancer)July 20 — Wayne Carson, 72, writer of Elvis Presley's "Always on My Mind," later covered by Willie NelsonJuly 22 — Daron Norwood, 49, country singer from the 1990sJuly 29 — Buddy Emmons, 78, steel guitaristJuly 30 — Lynn Anderson, 67, singer best known for the 1970 crossover hit "Rose Garden." (heart attack)August 4 — Billy Sherrill, 78, record producer best known for his work with George Jones and Tammy WynetteSeptember 4 — Hal Willis, 82, Canadian singer-songwriter, best known for the song "The Lumberjack"September 25 — Hugh Wright, 63, drummer for Boy Howdy (natural causes)October 6 — Billy Joe Royal, 73, country and rock singer best known for his hits "Down in the Boondocks" and "Tell It Like It Is"October 17 — John Jennings, 62, record producer and guitarist best known for his work with Mary Chapin Carpenter (kidney cancer)November 2 — Tommy Overstreet, 78, country singer from the 1970sNovember 8 — Charlie Dick, 81, widower of Patsy Cline who helped keep alive her legacy in the decades following her death; became a record promoter and publisher in his own rightNovember 15 — Ron Hynes, 64, Canadian country-folk artist, best known for the songs "Sonny's Dream" and "Cryer's Paradise" (cancer)December 6 — Don Chapel, songwriter of hits by George Jones, Conway Twitty, ex-wife Tammy Wynette, and othersDecember 7 — Don Pfrimmer, 78, songwriter (leukemia)December 27 — Craig Strickland, 29, lead singer of Backroad Anthem (hypothermia)Jim Ed Brown and The Browns (Jim Ed (1934-2015), Bonnie (1937-2016); and Maxine (born (1932)).Grady Martin (1929-2001)The Oak Ridge Boys (multiple members - currently Duane Allen (born 1943), Joe Bonsall (born 1948), William Lee Golden (born 1939) and Richard Sterban (born 1943)).Dianne LeighElizabeth "Ma" Henning(presented April 3, 2016 in Las Vegas)
Entertainer of the Year — Jason AldeanTop Male Vocalist — Chris StapletonTop Female Vocalist — Miranda LambertTop Vocal Group — Little Big TownTop Vocal Duo — Florida Georgia LineNew Male Vocalist — Chris StapletonNew Female Vocalist — Kelsea BalleriniNew Vocal Duo or Group — Old DominionAlbum of the Year — Traveller, Chris StapletonSingle Record of the Year — "Die a Happy Man", Thomas RhettSong of the Year — "Nobody to Blame", Chris StapletonVideo of the Year — "Mr. Misunderstood", Eric ChurchVocal Event of the Year — "Smokin' and Drinkin'", Miranda Lambert feat. Little Big Town(presented November 22 in Los Angeles)
Favorite Country Male Artist – Luke BryanFavorite Country Female Artist – Carrie UnderwoodFavorite Country Band/Duo/Group – Florida Georgia LineFavorite Country Album – Anything Goes, Florida Georgia Line(presented September 13 in Halifax)
Fans' Choice Award — Johnny ReidMale Artist of the Year — Gord BamfordFemale Artist of the Year — Jess MoskalukeGroup or Duo of the Year — High ValleySongwriter(s) of the Year — "Where a Farm Used to Be", written by Gord Bamford, Buddy Owens and Phil O'DonnellSingle of the Year — "Where a Farm Used to Be", Gord BamfordAlbum of the Year — Lifted, Dallas SmithTop Selling Album — Crash My Party, Luke BryanTop Selling Canadian Album — Yoan, YoanCMT Video of the Year — "Upside Down", Dean BrodyRising Star Award — Madeline MerloRoots Artist or Group of the Year — Lindi OrtegaInteractive Artist of the Year — Brett Kissel(presented November 4 in Nashville)
Single of the Year — "Girl Crush", Little Big TownSong of the Year — "Girl Crush", Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKennaVocal Group of the Year — Little Big TownNew Artist of the Year — Chris StapletonAlbum of the Year — Traveller, Chris StapletonMusician of the Year — Mac McAnallyVocal Duo of the Year — Florida Georgia LineMusic Video of the Year — "Girl in a Country Song", Maddie & TaeMale Vocalist of the Year — Chris StapletonFemale Vocalist of the Year — Miranda LambertMusical Event of the Year — "Raise 'Em Up", Keith Urban and Eric ChurchEntertainer of the Year — Luke Bryan(presented June 10 in Nashville)
Video of the Year — "Something in the Water", Carrie UnderwoodMale Video of the Year — "Play It Again", Luke BryanFemale Video of the Year — "Something in the Water", Carrie UnderwoodGroup Video of the Year — "Bartender", Lady AntebellumDuo Video of the Year — "Dirt", Florida Georgia LineBreakthrough Video of the Year — "Leave the Night On", Sam HuntCollaborative Video of the Year — "Somethin' Bad", Miranda Lambert with Carrie UnderwoodPerformance of the Year — "Turn the Page", Bob Seger and Jason Aldean from CMT Crossroads(presented February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles)
Best Country Solo Performance — "Traveller", Chris StapletonBest Country Duo/Group Performance — "Girl Crush", Little Big TownBest Country Song — "Girl Crush", Little Big TownBest Country Album — Traveller, Chris StapletonBest Bluegrass Album — The Muscle Shoals Recordings, The SteelDriversBest Americana Album — Something More Than Free, Jason IsbellBest American Roots Song — "24 Frames", Jason IsbellBest American Roots Performance — "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean", Mavis Staples(presented April 3, 2016 in Calgary)
Country Album of the Year — Gypsy Road, Dean BrodyCountry Music AssociationInductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame 