1997 in country music

From MedBib.com - Medicine & Nature

See also: 1996 in country music, 1997 in music, other events of 1997, 1998 in country music, 1990s in music and the List of years in Country Music

Contents

Events

"It's Your Love" sparks a renewed wave of songs that spend at least five weeks at No. 1, thanks in part to newer chart tracking methods and programming changes at country radio stations. However, as of 2007, no No. 1 song has approached the mega-week No. 1 status (i.e., spending at least 10 weeks at No. 1), a feat that was common through the early 1960s.

No dates

Top hits of the year

Number one hits

United States

(as certified by Billboard magazine)

Date Song Name Artist Wks. No. 1 Spec.
Note
January 11 Nobody Knows Kevin Sharp 4 C
February 8 It's a Little Too Late Mark Chesnutt 2
February 22 A Man This Lonely Brooks & Dunn 1
March 1 Running Out of Reasons to Run Rick Trevino 1 C
March 8 Me Too Toby Keith 1
March 15 We Danced Anyway Deana Carter 2
March 29 How Was I to Know Reba McEntire 1
  • Later in 1997, John Michael Montgomery reached #2 with an un-related song also titled "How Was I to Know".
April 5 (This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing Trace Adkins 1 A
April 12 Rumor Has It Clay Walker 2 B
April 26 One Night at a Time George Strait 5
May 31 Sittin' on Go Bryan White 1 B
June 7 It's Your Love Tim McGraw with Faith Hill 6 1
July 19 Carrying Your Love With Me George Strait 4
August 16 Come Cryin' to Me Lonestar 2
August 30 She's Got It All Kenny Chesney 3 A
September 20 There Goes Alan Jackson 1
September 27 How Your Love Makes Me Feel Diamond Rio 3
October 18 How Do I Get There Deana Carter 1 B
October 25 Everywhere Tim McGraw 2
November 8 Love Gets Me Every Time Shania Twain 5
  • Debuted on the country charts at #29, setting a record for the highest country chart debut ever made by a female artist.
December 13 From Here to Eternity Michael Peterson 1 C
December 20 Longneck Bottle Garth Brooks 3
  • Also reached No. 1 on its fifth chart week.
  • Co-written by Steve Wariner.

Canada

(as certified by RPM)

Date Song Name Artist Wks. No. 1 Spec.
Note
January 13 I Meant to Do That Paul Brandt 1
January 20 Nobody Knows Kevin Sharp 1 [C]
January 27 Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It Tim McGraw 1
February 3 Friends John Michael Montgomery 1
February 10 Is That a Tear Tracy Lawrence 1 [B]
February 17 Everybody Knows Trisha Yearwood 1
February 24 We Danced Anyway Deana Carter 6 [1], [2], [B]
  • Fell to #2 on the week of March 17.
March 17 Emotional Girl Terri Clark 1
April 14 How Was I to Know Reba McEntire 1
April 21 (This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing Trace Adkins 2 [A]
May 5 Rumor Has It Clay Walker 1 [B]
May 12 One Night at a Time George Strait 3
June 2 Sad Lookin' Moon Alabama 1
June 9 Take It from Me Paul Brandt 1
June 16 Sittin' on Go Bryan White 1 [B]
June 23 It's Your Love Tim McGraw with Faith Hill 4
July 21 Little Ol' Kisses Julian Austin 1 [C]
July 28 Carrying Your Love with Me George Strait 2
August 11 I Left Something Turned On at Home Trace Adkins 1
August 18 Still Holding On Clint Black with Martina McBride 2
September 1 How Do I Live Trisha Yearwood 2
September 15 She's Got It All Kenny Chesney 1 [A]
September 22 There Goes Alan Jackson 1
September 29 How Your Love Makes Me Feel Diamond Rio 2
October 13 Love Gets Me Every Time Shania Twain 6
November 24 A Little in Love Paul Brandt 1
December 1 I'm Feeling Kinda Lucky Tonight Charlie Major 1 [B]
December 8 Longneck Bottle Garth Brooks 4 [2]
  • Fell to #2 on the week of January 19, 1998.
Notes

Other major hits

United States

Peak Single Artist Notes
21 455 Rocket Kathy Mattea
25 All Lit Up in Love David Lee Murphy
4 All the Good Ones Are Gone Pam Tillis
2 Amen Kind of Love Daryle Singletary
3 Another You David Kersh
  • Written by Brad Paisley, who had not yet begun his recording career.
2 Better Man, Better Off Tracy Lawrence
3 Big Love Tracy Byrd
5 Count Me In Deana Carter
3 Dancin', Shaggin' on the Boulevard Alabama
21 Dark Horse Mila Mason
11 Day In, Day Out David Kersh
25 Did I Shave My Legs for This? Deana Carter
17 Don't Love Make a Diamond Shine Tracy Byrd
4 (Don't Take Her) She's All I Got Tracy Byrd
3 Drink, Swear, Steal, & Lie Michael Peterson
20 Ease My Troubled Mind Ricochet
10 Emotional Girl Terri Clark
3 Everybody Knows Trisha Yearwood
9 Everything I Love Alan Jackson
2 The Fool Lee Ann Womack
2 Friends John Michael Montgomery
4 A Girl's Gotta Do (What a Girl's Gotta Do) Mindy McCready
3 Go Away Lorrie Morgan
4 Good as I Was to You Lorrie Morgan
6 Half Way Up Clint Black
18 He Left a Lot to Be Desired Ricochet
18 Heartbroke Every Day Lonestar
  • This was the only single of Lonestar's career to feature former member John Rich on lead vocals.
18 Helping Me Get Over You Travis Tritt with Lari White
7 Her Man Gary Allan
4 Holdin' Diamond Rio
3 Honky Tonk Truth Brooks & Dunn
4 How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye Tracy Lawrence
2 How Do I Live Trisha Yearwood
  • Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes concurrently released versions of this same song. While Rimes' version was a #43 on the country charts, it was more successful on the pop and Adult Contemporary formats.
2 How Was I to Know John Michael Montgomery
8 I Can't Do That Anymore Faith Hill
  • Written by Alan Jackson.
17 I Have to Surrender Ty Herndon
2 I Left Something Turned On at Home Trace Adkins
6 I Miss You a Little John Michael Montgomery
7 I Only Get This Way with You Rick Trevino
19 I Will, If You Will John Berry
2 I'd Rather Ride Around with You Reba McEntire
9 If She Don't Love You The Buffalo Club
  • This was one of only three chart singles for The Buffalo Club, a short-lived group which included Restless Heart drummer John Dittrich.
4 If You Love Somebody Kevin Sharp
2 Is That a Tear Tracy Lawrence
19 It's All the Same to Me Billy Ray Cyrus
  • Cyrus' first Top 40 country hit since "Storm in the Heartland" in mid-1994.
19 King of the Mountain George Strait
5 Land of the Living Pam Tillis
8 Let It Rain Mark Chesnutt
11 Let Me into Your Heart Mary Chapin Carpenter
5 The Light in Your Eyes LeAnn Rimes
2 A Little More Love Vince Gill
9 Little Things Tanya Tucker
4 Love Is the Right Place Bryan White
2 Loved Too Much Ty Herndon
18 Maybe He'll Notice Her Now Mindy McCready with Richie McDonald
  • This was the first single for McDonald, who was then co-lead vocalist of Lonestar.
4 Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It Tim McGraw
23 Never Again, Again Lee Ann Womack
22 Of Course I'm Alright Alabama
2 On the Verge Collin Raye
18 One, Two, I Love You Clay Walker
5 Places I've Never Been Mark Wills
7 Please The Kinleys
2 Pretty Little Adrianna Vince Gill
4 The Rest of Mine Trace Adkins
2 Sad Lookin' Moon Alabama
5 The Shake Neal McCoy
4 She Drew a Broken Heart Patty Loveless
21 She Wants to Be Wanted Again Ty Herndon
24 She's Going Home with Me Travis Tritt
3 She's Sure Taking It Well Kevin Sharp
2 She's Taken a Shine John Berry
14 Shut Up and Drive Chely Wright
13 Six Days on the Road Sawyer Brown
22 Somebody Slap Me John Anderson
2 Something That We Do Clint Black
11 Still Holding On Clint Black with Martina McBride
2 Thank God for Believers Mark Chesnutt
15 That's Another Song Bryan White
25 This Is Your Brain Joe Diffie
6 This Night Won't Last Forever Sawyer Brown
3 Today My World Slipped Away George Strait
15 The Trouble with the Truth Patty Loveless
3 Unchained Melody LeAnn Rimes
4 Watch This Clay Walker
2 We Were in Love Toby Keith
15 What If It's You Reba McEntire
21 What If Jesus Comes Back Like That Collin Raye
2 What the Heart Wants Collin Raye
10 Whatever Comes First Sons of the Desert
2 When I Close My Eyes Kenny Chesney
13 When Love Starts Talkin' Wynonna
6 Where Corn Don't Grow Travis Tritt
2 Who's Cheatin' Who Alan Jackson
8 Why Would I Say Goodbye Brooks & Dunn
8 You and You Alone Vince Gill
14 You Don't Seem to Miss Me Patty Loveless with George Jones
  • Jones's first Top 40 country hit since "High-Tech Redneck" in 1993.

Canada

Peak Single Artist
16 455 Rocket Kathy Mattea
10 Ain't No Justice Greg Hanna
22 All I Do Is Love Her James Bonamy
21 All Lit Up in Love David Lee Murphy
4 All the Good Ones Are Gone Pam Tillis
3 Almost Always Chris Cummings
2 Amen Kind of Love Daryle Singletary
14 Another You David Kersh
4 The Answer Is Yes Michelle Wright
3 Better Man, Better Off Tracy Lawrence
5 Big Love Tracy Byrd
3 Born Again in Dixieland Jason McCoy
17 A Broken Wing Martina McBride
16 Cold Outside Big House
3 Come Cryin' to Me Lonestar
7 Count Me In Deana Carter
9 The Craziest Thing Rick Tippe
4 Dancin', Shaggin' on the Boulevard Alabama
12 Dark Horse Mila Mason
12 Day In, Day Out David Kersh
13 Don't Love Make a Diamond Shine Tracy Byrd
4 (Don't Take Her) She's All I Got Tracy Byrd
19 A Dozen Red Roses Joan Kennedy
2 Drink, Swear, Steal & Lie Michael Peterson
22 Ease My Troubled Mind Ricochet
6 Everything I Love Alan Jackson
2 Everywhere Tim McGraw
22 Far Cry from Leavin' Terry Kelly
5 The Fool Lee Ann Womack
11 From Here to Eternity Michael Peterson
10 Girl Out of the Ordinary Beverley Mahood
4 A Girl's Gotta Do (What a Girl's Gotta Do) Mindy McCready
3 Go Away Lorrie Morgan
7 God Bless the Child Shania Twain
17 Good as I Was to You Lorrie Morgan
4 Half Way Up Clint Black
21 Hand of Fate Sons of the Desert
14 He Left a Lot to Be Desired Ricochet
22 Heartbroke Every Day Lonestar
11 Heaven Help Her Heart Jason McCoy
21 Helping Me Get Over You Travis Tritt with Lari White
9 Her Man Gary Allan
5 Holdin' Diamond Rio
3 Honky Tonk Truth Brooks & Dunn
5 How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye Tracy Lawrence
2 How Do I Get There Deana Carter
8 How Was I to Know John Michael Montgomery
11 I Can't Do That Anymore Faith Hill
7 I Give You My Word George Fox
5 I Miss You a Little John Michael Montgomery
18 I Will, If You Will John Berry
2 I'd Rather Ride Around with You Reba McEntire
12 If She Don't Love You The Buffalo Club
7 If You Love Somebody Kevin Sharp
2 In Another's Eyes Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood
20 Indian Woman Montgomery Steele
23 It Could Happen to You Blue Rodeo
5 It's a Little Too Late Mark Chesnutt
14 It's All the Same to Me Billy Ray Cyrus
16 Just the Same Terri Clark
22 Landslide The Cruzeros
16 Let It Rain Mark Chesnutt
3 Let It Rain Shirley Myers
5 Let Me Into Your Heart Mary Chapin Carpenter
13 The Light in Your Eyes LeAnn Rimes
2 Little Bitty Alan Jackson
6 A Little More Love Vince Gill
12 A Little Thing Called Love Beverley Mahood
8 Little Things Tanya Tucker
15 Lonely Gypsy Wind Farmer's Daughter
3 Love Is the Right Place Bryan White
2 Loved Too Much Ty Herndon
19 Lying Here with You Thomas Wade
4 A Man This Lonely Brooks & Dunn
11 Maybe He'll Notice Her Now Mindy McCready with Richie McDonald
6 Me Too Toby Keith
17 The Night the Barn Burned Down George Fox
10 Now That I'm On My Own Farmer's Daughter
2 On the Verge Collin Raye
12 One, Two, I Love You Clay Walker
4 One Way Ticket (Because I Can) LeAnn Rimes
4 One Way Track Prairie Oyster
7 Places I've Never Been Mark Wills
22 Please The Kinleys
3 Pretty Little Adriana Vince Gill
15 The Real Thing Rick Tippe
16 Running Out of Reasons to Run Rick Trevino
23 Sadies Kitchen Don Neilson
7 The Shake Neal McCoy
2 She Drew a Broken Heart Patty Loveless
19 She Wants to Be Wanted Again Ty Herndon
12 She Won't Be Lonely Long Prairie Oyster
6 She's Getting Serious Thomas Wade
17 She's Going Home with Me Travis Tritt
4 She's Sure Taking It Well Kevin Sharp
2 She's Taken a Shine John Berry
10 She's Tough Duane Steele
21 Shut Up and Drive Chely Wright
9 Six Days on the Road Sawyer Brown
20 Slow Turning Sean Hogan
4 Something That We Do Clint Black
4 Somewhere Inside Chris Cummings
16 The Swing James Bonamy
9 Tell the Girl Duane Steele
7 Thank God for Believers Mark Chesnutt
3 That Ol' Wind Garth Brooks
10 That's Another Song Bryan White
8 This Crazy Heart of Mine Charlie Major
11 This Night Won't Last Forever Sawyer Brown
22 Til You Love Somebody Amy Sky
7 Today My World Slipped Away George Strait
19 Tonight There's a Blue Moon Prairie Oyster
24 The Trouble with the Truth Patty Loveless
21 Two Names on an Overpass Duane Steele with Lisa Brokop
3 Unchained Melody LeAnn Rimes
25 Vulnerable Sean Hogan
13 Watch This Clay Walker
2 We Were in Love Toby Keith
19 What If I Do Mindy McCready
22 What If Jesus Comes Back Like That Collin Raye
4 What Love Looks Like Michelle Wright
2 What the Heart Wants Collin Raye
19 What's It Gonna Take Denise Murray
12 Whatever Comes First Sons of the Desert
4 When I Close My Eyes Kenny Chesney
6 When Love Starts Talkin' Wynonna
8 Where Corn Don't Grow Travis Tritt
3 Who's Cheatin' Who Alan Jackson
9 Why Would I Say Goodbye Brooks & Dunn
19 Wild Rose Sean Hogan
18 Would I Randy Travis
8 You and You Alone Vince Gill
9 You Said Farmer's Daughter
25 You're All I Need Rick Tippe
15 Your Love Jim Brickman with Michelle Wright

Top new album releases

US CAN Album Artist Record Label
45 11 An Intimate Evening with Anne Murray Anne Murray Capitol
24 Back to You Anita Cochran Warner Bros.
23 31 Be Good at It Neal McCoy Atlantic
23 11 The Best of Billy Ray Cyrus: Cover to Cover Billy Ray Cyrus Mercury Nashville
4 3 The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits Collin Raye Epic
8 The Best of John Denver Live John Denver Legacy
7 26 Big Time Trace Adkins Capitol Nashville
24 Blink of an Eye Ricochet Columbia
1 1 Carrying Your Love with Me George Strait MCA Nashville
16 A Celebration of Life/The Last Recordings John Denver River North
4 CMT Canada '97 Various Artists BMG
4 6 The Coast Is Clear Tracy Lawrence Atlantic
9 8 Collection Wynonna Curb/MCA Nashville
1 1 Come On Over Shania Twain Mercury/PolyGram
15 11 Complicated Tanya Tucker Capitol Nashville
12 A Country Superstar Christmas Various Artists Hip-O
16 28 Crazy Nights Lonestar BNA
5 2 Dancin' on the Boulevard Alabama RCA Nashville
8 Dream Walkin' Toby Keith Mercury Nashville
11 Everything's Alright Charlie Major ViK.
1 1 Everywhere Tim McGraw Curb
4 7 Evolution Martina McBride RCA Nashville
19 The Gift Jim Brickman Windham Hill
10 Greatest Country Love Songs Various Artists MCA
8 Greatest Hits Diamond Rio Arista Nashville
5 Greatest Hits Neal McCoy Atlantic
5 11 Greatest Hits John Michael Montgomery Atlantic
6 Greatest Hits Pam Tillis Arista Nashville
17 Greatest Hits… and Then Some Aaron Tippin RCA Nashville
2 1 The Greatest Hits Collection Brooks & Dunn Arista Nashville
5 Here's Your Sign Bill Engvall Warner Bros.
24 A Holiday Album to Benefit St. Jude Various Artists BNA
10 I Will Stand Kenny Chesney BNA
12 12 If I Don't Stay the Night Mindy McCready BNA
22 32 Just Between You and Me The Kinleys Epic
11 Kickin' Country 4 Various Artists Sony
5 9 Labor of Love Sammy Kershaw Mercury/PolyGram
1 Leahy Leahy Virgin
9 Lee Ann Womack Lee Ann Womack Decca Nashville
25 23 Let Me In Chely Wright MCA Nashville
8 10 Lila Lila McCann Asylum
9 31 Long Stretch of Lonesome Patty Loveless Epic
8 Love & Gravity BlackHawk Arista Nashville
15 Love Travels Kathy Mattea Mercury/PolyGram
17 13 Michael Peterson Michael Peterson Reprise
1 New Country 4 Various Artists Warner
4 5 Nothin' but the Taillights Clint Black RCA Nashville
15 One of the Fortunate Few Delbert McClinton Rising Tide
5 17 The Other Side Wynonna Curb/Universal
50 1 Outside the Frame Paul Brandt Reprise
17 Playin' for Keeps Jason McCoy Universal
7 15 The Right Place Bryan White Asylum
25 Roots and Wings James Bonamy Epic
4 7 Rumor Has It Clay Walker Giant
1 1 Sevens Garth Brooks Capitol Nashville
9 Shakin' Things Up Lorrie Morgan BNA
8 Six Days on the Road Sawyer Brown Curb
4 So Long So Wrong Alison Krauss & Union Station Rounder
1 1 (Songbook) A Collection of Hits Trisha Yearwood MCA Nashville
22 16 Stone Country: Songs of the Rolling Stones Various Artists Tommy Boy
48 22 Sunday Morning to Saturday Night Matraca Berg Rising Tide
19 Takin' the Country Back John Anderson Mercury Nashville
25 Thank God for Believers Mark Chesnutt Decca Nashville
1 Tremolo Blue Rodeo Warner
1 1 Unchained Melody: The Early Years LeAnn Rimes Curb
8 8 Under the Covers Dwight Yoakam Reprise
9 What My Heart Already Knows Julian Austin ViK.
1 1 You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs LeAnn Rimes Curb

Other top albums

US CAN Album Artist Record Label
26 Across My Heart Kenny Rogers Magnatone
60 All Because of You Daryle Singletary Giant
40 Amazing Grace 2 – A Country Salute to Gospel Various Artists Sparrow
75 Annabelle's Wish Soundtrack Various Artists Rising Tide
45 The Best of Country Various Artists Madacy
29 The Best of Roy Orbison Roy Orbison Virgin
33 Big House Big House MCA Nashville
56 Billy Yates Billy Yates Almo Sounds
53 Bitter Sweet Kim Richey Mercury/PolyGram
45 Bluegrass Rules! Ricky Skaggs Rounder
75 Born Country Alabama BMG
69 The Buffalo Club The Buffalo Club Rising Tide
74 Burnin' Daylight Burnin' Daylight Curb
39 Butterfly Kisses Jeff Carson Curb
32 Come On Christmas Dwight Yoakam Reprise
75 Country Lovin' Songs from the Heart Various Artists Rhino
33 The Country Roads Collection John Denver RCA
44 Cowboy Up – The Official PRCA Rodeo Album Various Artists Edel America
75 Elvis Greatest Jukebox Hits Elvis Presley RCA
53 Every Night's a Saturday Night Lee Roy Parnell Arista Nashville
47 Gospel Super Hits Amazing Grace Various Artists Epic
74 The Girl Next Door Crystal Bernard River North
42 Hallelujah, He Is Born Sawyer Brown Curb
60 Hill Country Christmas Willie Nelson & Bobbie Nelson Finer Arts
75 Hits Johnny Cash Legacy
60 Hopechest Stephanie Bentley Epic
51 Hot Country '97 Various Artists K-Tel
39 How Big a Boy Are Ya? Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
43 How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 2 Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
31 How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 3 Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
53 I'd Be with You Kippi Brannon Curb
50 It's on the House Emilio Capitol Nashville
47 Little Texas Little Texas Warner Bros.
26 Live Chris LeDoux Capitol Nashville
32 Live at the Cimarron Ballroom Patsy Cline MCA Nashville
75 Merry Texas Christmas Y'all Asleep at the Wheel High Street
61 One Ride in Vegas Deryl Dodd Columbia
27 A Paul Brandt Christmas: Shall I Play for You? Paul Brandt Reprise
31 Peace in the Valley Various Artists Arista Nashville
69 Ray Stevens Christmas Ray Stevens MCA Nashville
31 The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers – A Tribute Various Artists Columbia
47 Tammy Graham Tammy Graham Career
44 36 The Truth Brady Seals Reprise
56 Three Chords and the Truth Sara Evans RCA Nashville
33 Twice Upon a Time Joe Diffie Epic
39 We Can't All Be Angels David Lee Murphy MCA Nashville
38 Whatever Comes First Sons of the Desert Epic
41 Words Sherrié Austin Arista Nashville

Deaths

Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Major Awards

Grammy awards

Academy of Country Music

Country Music Association

Further reading

Other links

External links