This is a list of notable events in country music that will take place in 2024.
Overview of the events of 2024 in country music
January 2 – John Michael Montgomery announces his retirement from touring, with his final tour dates scheduled for the end of 2025.[ 1] January 3 – Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys announces his retirement from touring; Ben James finished the Oaks farewell tour in his place.[ 2] January 19 – Elle King made headlines after taking to the Grand Ole Opry stage while heavily intoxicated during a Dolly Parton tribute show, in honor of Parton's 78th birthday. She later cancelled several of her own concerts in the wake of the incident. Parton subsequently came to King's defense during an interview with Extra , and King resumed performing in March.[ 3] March 10 – The UK Country Airplay chart , the first ever genre-specific radio chart in the United Kingdom , debuts its inaugural list, with "Creek Will Rise " by Conner Smith claiming the title of first number one single.[ 4] April 8 – Morgan Wallen is arrested for reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct after throwing a chair off the sixth floor of Eric Church 's rooftop bar in downtown Nashville. He was charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor and is due to appear in court on May 3 in between performances at Nissan Stadium .[ 5] April 20 – Scotty McCreery is inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry by his childhood hero Josh Turner . McCreery was invited in December 2023 by Garth Brooks .[ 6] April 24 – Miranda Lambert signs a joint record deal with Republic Records and Big Loud .[ 7] April 26–28 – The 2024 edition of Stagecoach Festival takes place at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California , featuring headline performances from Eric Church , Miranda Lambert , and Morgan Wallen .[ 8] May 3 – T. Graham Brown is inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was invited by Vince Gill earlier in the year during his guest appearance on Brown's Sirius XM radio show.[ 9] May 3 – Randy Travis releases "Where That Came From ", his first new recording in over a decade with the help of AI software to recreate his vocals following a series of strokes and health issues that left him unable to sing.[ 10] It would go on to chart on both the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, becoming Travis' first solo charting single in nearly two decades since "Angels" in 2005. May 21 – Lainey Wilson is surprised by Reba McEntire on the season finale of NBC's The Voice with an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry.[ 11] She was subsequently inducted by Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks on June 7. June 4 – Lukas Nelson announces that his band, Promise of the Real, would be going on hiatus so that the members can pursue their own projects.[ 12] June 15 – George Strait 's concert at Kyle Field in Texas becomes the most-attended ticketed show in US history , with 110,905 fans in attendance. The record was previously held by the Grateful Dead , who played for 107,019 people at Raceway Park in 1977.[ 13] June 27 – Raul Malo , lead singer of the Mavericks , announces that he has been diagnosed with colon cancer and that the band will have to reschedule or cancel several shows in 2024 while he undergoes treatment.[ 14] June 30 – Shania Twain performed in the traditional Legend's slot at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival , the first country artist to perform in the slot since Dolly Parton in 2014.[ 15] July 5 – The War and Treaty go public about a racist incident where a cotton plant was placed in their dressing room at the Coca-Cola Sips and Sounds Music Festival in Austin, Texas. The band stated that this was only in their dressing room and left them angry and upset based on the history of the plant in regards to black American history. They left the festival immediately after their set and spoke to their young son, who encouraged them to speak up.[ 16] August 23 – Ten years after coming out as gay, Billy Gilman marries his husband Anthony Carbone.[ 17] August 27 – Drew Baldridge makes history by becoming the first artist to self-fund a number one song when his single "She's Somebody's Daughter " reached the top of the Country Aircheck chart.[ 18] October 3 – Garth Brooks is sued by his former hairstylist and makeup artist who claimed she was sexually harassed by him. She also claimed that Brooks raped her during a trip the two took to film a Grammy tribute in 2019. Brooks has denied the accusations.[ 19] Top hits of the year [ edit ] The following songs placed within the Top 20 on the Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, or Canada Country charts in 2024:
Singles released by American and Australian artists [ edit ] Singles released by Canadian artists [ edit ] Top new album releases [ edit ] Hall of Fame inductees [ edit ] (announced on March 18, 2024)[ 139]
(announced on June 26, 2024)[ 140]
(announced on July 17, 2024)[ 141]
January – Audie Blaylock , 61, American bluegrass singer and guitarist (death announced on January 12).[ 142] January 5 – Larry Collins , 79, American rockabilly guitarist, songwriter ("Delta Dawn ") and member of the Collins Kids , natural causes.[ 143] January 13 – Jo-El Sonnier , 77, American singer-songwriter and accordionist ("Tear Stained Letter ", "No More One More Time "), heart attack.[ 144] January 23 – Margo Smith , 84, American country singer ("Don't Break the Heart That Loves You ", "It Only Hurts for a Little While "), complications from stroke.[ 145] February 5 – Toby Keith , 62, American country singer-songwriter and one of the most successful artists of the 1990s and 2000s ("Red Solo Cup ", "How Do You Like Me Now?! ", "Should've Been a Cowboy " and a plethora of other hits), stomach cancer.[ 146] February 22 – Roni Stoneman , 85, bluegrass musician, member of the Stoneman Family , and Hee Haw cast member.[ 147] March 31 – Norah Lee Allen, 76, background singer at the Grand Ole Opry and wife of Duane Allen .[ 148] April 2 – Jerry Abbott , 81, American country songwriter and musician.[ 149] May 6 – Wayland Holyfield , 82, American songwriter ("Arkansas (You Run Deep in Me) ", "Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer ", "You're My Best Friend ").[ 150] June 8 – Mark James , 83, American songwriter ("Suspicious Minds ", "Always on My Mind ").[ 151] June 27 – Kinky Friedman , 79, American singer-songwriter and humorist, Parkinson's disease.[ 152] July 1 – Rusty Golden, 65, American singer, son of the Oak Ridge Boys ' William Lee Golden and member of the Goldens .[ 153] July 9 – Joe Bonsall , 76, longtime member of the Oak Ridge Boys (tenor vocal), complications from ALS .[ 154] July 10 – Dave Loggins , 76, pop and country singer ("Please Come to Boston ", "Nobody Loves Me Like You Do ").[ 155] July 20 – Sandy Posey , 80, American pop, country and gospel singer, complications from dementia.[ 156] August 16 – Bobby Hicks , 91, American Hall of Fame bluegrass fiddler, complications from a heart attack.[ 157] September 13 – Tommy Cash , 84, American country musician ("Six White Horses ").[ 158] September 22 – Hugh Prestwood , 82, American songwriter ("Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart "), stroke. [ 159] September 28 – Kris Kristofferson , 88, American country singer-songwriter and actor ^ Edwards, Clayton (January 3, 2024). "Country Hitmaker John Michael Montgomery Reveals Retirement With Farewell Tour Announcement" . American Songwriter . ^ "Oak Ridge Boys' Joe Bonsall Announces Retirement" . countryrebel.com . 2024-01-03. Retrieved 2024-01-05 . ^ Haring, Bruce (March 10, 2024). "Elle King Addresses Her Tipsy Conduct At Grand Ol' Opry Dolly Parton Tribute" . Deadline . ^ Eames, Tom (March 11, 2024). "Conner Smith tops UK's first ever Country Radio Airplay Chart" . Smooth Radio . ^ Horton, Adrian (April 8, 2024). "Country singer Morgan Wallen arrested for throwing a chair off rooftop bar" . The Guardian . ^ "Scotty McCreery invited by Garth Brooks to become newest Grand Ole Opry member" . The Tennessean . ^ Willman, Chris (2024-04-23). "Miranda Lambert Signs With Republic, With Partner Label Big Loud Set to Handle Country Promotion" . Variety . Retrieved 2024-04-24 . ^ "Stagecoach 2024 Lineup to Feature Morgan Wallen, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, Willie Nelson, Jelly Roll" . Variety . 7 September 2023. ^ @Opry (March 29, 2024). "Someone tell "Darlene"! @TGrahamBrown is joining the Opry family on May 3rd!" (Tweet ) – via Twitter . ^ Liza Anderson (May 3, 2024). "Making Of Randy Travis' AI-Generated Single Explored In CBS News 'Sunday Morning' Segment" . Music Row . Retrieved May 3, 2024 . ^ Dowling, Marcus K. "Lainey Wilson surprised by Reba during 'The Voice' finale with invite to join the Grand Ole Opry" . The Tennessean . Retrieved 2024-05-22 . ^ "Lukas Nelson's Promise of the Real to Take Hiatus While Singer-Songwriter Continues Solo" . 4 June 2024. ^ Brooks, Dave (2024-06-18). "George Strait Breaks Attendance Record With Largest Concert Ever Held in the U.S." Billboard . ^ "Mavericks singer announces he has cancer and then goes to work at Syracuse's Jazz Fest (photos)" . June 28, 2024 . 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Retrieved August 26, 2024 . ^ Cantrell, LB (April 29, 2024). "Koe Wetzel Reveals Details For New Album '9 Lives' " . MusicRow . Retrieved July 19, 2024 . ^ Nicholson, Jessica (2024-05-16). "Luke Combs, Jelly Roll & More Share New Music For 'Twisters' Movie Companion Album" . Billboard . Retrieved 2024-05-17 . ^ "s3.amazonaws.com/bulletins.billboard.com/country/country_update_2024_0805.pdf" (PDF) . ^ "Instagram" . www.instagram.com . Retrieved 2024-06-20 . ^ "Thomas Rhett Details New Album, 'About A Woman', Inpired By His Wife Lauren" . Country Now . 7 June 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024 . ^ Newman, Melinda (May 9, 2024). "Lainey Wilson Talks Creating New Album 'Whirlwind' Amid Chaos: 'We Had to Cut the S–t' " . Billboard . Retrieved May 9, 2024 . ^ Crabtree, Mary Claire (2024-05-05). "George Strait Debuts New Song "Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame" With Chris Stapleton, Confirms New Album 'Cowboys & Dreamers' Coming "Soon" " . Whiskey Riff . Retrieved 2024-05-05 . ^ Garret K. Woodward (July 24, 2024). "Miranda Lambert Readies New Album 'Postcards From Texas,' Looks Back at 20 Years of 'Kerosene' " . Rolling Stone . Retrieved July 24, 2024 . ^ "Keith Urban Readies Brand-New Album, 'High' " . Country Now . Retrieved July 8, 2024 . ^ Hudak, Joseph (August 2, 2024). "Billy Strings Is a Wrinkled Old Man Raging Against a Hot Rodder in 'Leadfoot' Video" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved August 26, 2024 . ^ Iahn, Buddy (August 23, 2024). "Jelly Roll announces 'Beautifully Broken' " . The Music Universe . Retrieved August 26, 2024 . ^ "Top Country Albums" . Billboard . February 10, 2024. ^ "Gabby Barrett - Chart History (Top Country Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved February 17, 2024 . ^ "Blackberry Smoke - Chart History (Top Country Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved April 9, 2024 . ^ a b c "Top Country Albums" . Billboard . April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024 . ^ "Chris Young - Chart History (Top Country Albums)" . Billboard . 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Retrieved August 29, 2024 . ^ "Justin Moore Announces New Album, 'This Is My Dirt,' Drops New Song, 'The Worst' Featuring Randy Houser" . Country Now . 16 August 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024 . ^ Daykin, James (April 26, 2024). "Wyatt Flores announces new album 'Welcome to the Plains' " . Entertainment Focus . Retrieved 4 September 2024 . ^ Nicholson, Jessica (August 8, 2024). "Kelsea Ballerini Reveals Upcoming Album 'Patterns' Is Coming Soon" . Billboard . Retrieved August 9, 2024 . ^ Iahn, Buddy (August 15, 2024). "Willie Nelson announces 76th studio album" . The Music Universe . Retrieved August 26, 2024 . ^ Iahn, Buddy (August 23, 2024). "Dolly Parton unveils 37-track family album" . The Music Universe . Retrieved August 26, 2024 . ^ "Cory Marks // Announce New Album "Sorry For Nothing" And New Single "(Make My) Country Rock" " . Jace Media . July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024 . ^ Willman, Chris (March 18, 2024). "Toby Keith Elected Into Country Music Hall of Fame, in Voting That Wrapped Up Days Before His Death" . Variety . ^ "Pride of the Prairies k.d. lang to join Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame" . CTV News . June 26, 2024. ^ "IBMA Unveils Bluegrass Music Award Nominees & Hall Of Fame Inductees" . MusicRow . July 17, 2024. ^ Audie Blaylock passes ^ "Renowned Guitarist Larry Collins Passes" . Vintage Guitar Magazine. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024 . ^ Digital, DJ (2024-01-14). "Louisiana Cajun and Country Legend Jo-El Sonnier Passes Away After Show in Texas" . KPEL 96.5 . Retrieved 2024-01-14 . ^ "Former Clark County resident who had No. 1 country hits dies at 84" . Springfield News-Sun . January 26, 2024. ^ Smith, Patrick (February 5, 2024). "Country singer Toby Keith dies at 62" . NBC News . Retrieved February 5, 2024 . ^ Roni Stoneman, The First Lady of the Banjo, Dies at 85 Archived 2024-02-22 at the Wayback Machine Remind Magazine ^ Colurso, Mary (1 April 2024). "Country legend mourns wife's death over Easter weekend: 'Norah Lee went to be with Jesus' " . AL.com . Retrieved 1 April 2024 . ^ Kennelty, Greg (April 3, 2024). "Jerry Abbott, Father Of Dimebag & Vinnie Paul, Dead At 80" . Metal Injection . Retrieved April 4, 2024 . ^ Writer of ‘Arkansas, You Run Deep in Me’ dies at 82 ^ "Mark James, Songwriter of 'Suspicious Minds,' 'Always on My Mind' and 'Hooked on a Feeling,' Dies at 83" . Variety . June 12, 2024. ^ Risen, Clay (27 June 2024). "Kinky Friedman, 79, Dies; Musician and Humorist Slew Sacred Cows" . The New York Times . ^ "Rusty Golden Dies: Country Musician & Songwriter, Son of Oak Ridge Boys' William Lee Golden Was 65" . 2 July 2024. ^ Willman, Chris (July 9, 2024). "Joe Bonsall, Mainstay of Country Music's Oak Ridge Boys for 50 Years, Dies at 76" . Variety . Retrieved July 9, 2024 . ^ "David Allen Loggins" . The Tennessean . July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024 . ^ Sandy Posey, known for iconic 60s hit Born A Woman, dies aged 80 ^ Bobby Hicks passes ^ Tommy Cash, Country Singer and Brother of Johnny Cash, Dead at 84 ^ " 'The Song Remembers When' Writer Hugh Prestwood Dies at 82" . 26 September 2024.