This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1998.

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Contents

[edit] Events

[edit] Top hits of the year

[edit] Number one hits

[edit] United States

(As certified by Billboard)

Date Song Name Artist Wks. No. 1 Spec.
Note
January 10 A Broken Wing Martina McBride 1
  • Peaked at #17 in Canada.
January 17 Just to See You Smile Tim McGraw 6 [1]
February 28 What If I Said Anita Cochran with Steve Wariner 1 [C] - Anita Cochran

[B] - Steve Wariner

  • Wariner's first Top 40 single since 1994's "It Won't Be over You" and his first #1 since 1989's "I Got Dreams". In addition, it was Cochran's only Top 40 country hit.
March 7 Round About Way George Strait 2
March 21 Nothin' but the Taillights Clint Black 2
April 4 Perfect Love Trisha Yearwood 2 [B]
April 18 Bye, Bye Jo Dee Messina 2 [A]
May 2 You're Still the One Shania Twain 1
  • Reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest peak in 15 years for a #1 country song.
May 9 Two Piña Coladas Garth Brooks 1
May 16 This Kiss Faith Hill 3
  • Became Hill's breakthrough pop hit and established her as a major crossover artist.
June 6 I Just Want to Dance with You George Strait 3
June 27 If You See Him/If You See Her Reba McEntire with Brooks & Dunn 2
July 11 The Shoes You're Wearing Clint Black 1
July 18 I Can Still Feel You Collin Raye 2 [B]
  • Peaked at #2 in Canada.
August 1 To Make You Feel My Love Garth Brooks 1
  • Peaked at #7 in Canada.
  • Cover of a song written by Bob Dylan and initially recorded by Billy Joel.
August 8 There's Your Trouble Dixie Chicks 2 [A]
  • Peaked at #3 in Canada.
August 22 I'm Alright Jo Dee Messina 3
September 12 How Long Gone Brooks & Dunn 3
October 3 Where the Green Grass Grows Tim McGraw 4
October 31 Honey, I'm Home Shania Twain 1 [B]
November 7 Wide Open Spaces Dixie Chicks 4
December 5 It Must Be Love Ty Herndon 1 [B]
  • Peaked at #10 in Canada.
  • Doug Virden and Drew Womack, then members of Sons of the Desert, sang portions of this song's chorus.
December 12 Let Me Let Go Faith Hill 1
December 19 Husbands and Wives Brooks & Dunn 1
  • Peaked at #2 in Canada.
  • Originally a Top 5 country hit in 1966 for Roger Miller, who also wrote it.
December 26 You're Easy on the Eyes Terri Clark 3 [A]
  • This song made Clark the fourth Canadian act to reach #1 on the U.S. country charts.
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by Billboard.
  • A^ First Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only Billboard No. 1 hit for that artist.

[edit] Canada

(as certified by RPM)

Date Song Name Artist Wks. No. 1 Spec.
Note
January 12 Longneck Bottle Garth Brooks 4 [2]
  • Also stayed at #1 for two weeks in 1997.
  • Fell to #2 on the week of January 19.
January 19 Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You) Shania Twain 1
  • Peaked at #6 in the US.
February 2 The Kind of Heart That Breaks Chris Cummings 1
  • Peaked at #50 in the US.
February 9 Just to See You Smile Tim McGraw 1
February 16 Walk This Road Bruce Guthro 1 [C], [D]
February 23 I Wanna Fall in Love Lila McCann 1 [C]
  • Peaked at #3 in the US.
March 2 What If I Said Anita Cochran with Steve Wariner 1 [C] - Anita Cochran
March 9 Round About Way George Strait 1
March 16 She's Gonna Make It Garth Brooks 1
  • Peaked at #2 in the US.
March 23 Nothin' but the Taillights Clint Black 1
March 30 Little Red Rodeo Collin Raye 1
  • Peaked at #3 in the US.
April 6 Perfect Love Trisha Yearwood 1
April 13 You're Still the One Shania Twain 1
April 20 This Kiss Faith Hill 2
May 4 Bye, Bye Jo Dee Messina 1 [A]
May 11 Two Piña Coladas Garth Brooks 3
June 1 Out of My Bones Randy Travis 1 [B]
  • Peaked at #2 in the US.
June 8 I'm from the Country Tracy Byrd 1 [A]
  • Peaked at #3 in the US.
June 15 I Just Want to Dance with You George Strait 1
June 22 One of These Days Tim McGraw 1
  • Peaked at #2 in the US.
June 29 The Shoes You're Wearing Clint Black 3 [2]
  • Fell to #2 on July 6 and held #2 position on July 13.
July 6 If You See Him/If You See Her Reba McEntire with Brooks & Dunn 2
August 3 From This Moment On Shania Twain with Bryan White 2
  • Peaked at #6 in the US.
August 17 26 Cents The Wilkinsons 2 [A]
  • Peaked at #3 in the US.
August 31 True George Strait 2
  • Peaked at #2 in the US.
September 14 If You Ever Have Forever in Mind Vince Gill 1 [B]
  • Peaked at #5 in the US.
September 21 I'm Alright Jo Dee Messina 1
September 28 How Long Gone Brooks & Dunn 1
October 5 Where the Green Grass Grows Tim McGraw 2
October 19 Honey, I'm Home Shania Twain 4 [1], [2]
  • Fell to #2 on the week of November 2.
November 2 You Move Me Garth Brooks 1
  • Peaked at #3 in the US.
November 23 Wide Open Spaces Dixie Chicks 2 [A]
December 7 Let Me Let Go Faith Hill 3 [2]
  • Fell to #2 on the week of December 14.
December 14 You're Easy on the Eyes Terri Clark 1
Notes
  • 1^ No. 1 song of the year, as determined by RPM.
  • 2^ Song dropped from No. 1 and later returned to top spot.
  • A^ First RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • B^ Last RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • C^ Only RPM No. 1 hit for that artist.
  • D^ Did not chart in the US.

[edit] Other major hits

[edit] Singles released by American artists

US CAN Single Artist Notes
16 7 Absence of the Heart Deana Carter
4 6 Angel in My Eyes John Michael Montgomery
30 23 Bad Day to Let You Go Bryan White
2 3 Between the Devil and Me Alan Jackson
27 22 Big Time Trace Adkins
26 14 Burnin' the Roadhouse Down Steve Wariner with Garth Brooks
11 17 A Chance Kenny Chesney
14 12 Come Some Rainy Day Wynonna
4 4 Commitment LeAnn Rimes
3 2 Cover You in Kisses John Michael Montgomery
5 9 The Day That She Left Tulsa (In a Chevy) Wade Hayes
2 2 Don't Laugh at Me Mark Wills
5 3 Dream Walkin' Toby Keith
2 3 Everything's Changed Lonestar
  • This was the last single of Lonestar's career to feature former member John Rich, who was fired from the group in 1998.
4 4 Forever Love Reba McEntire
18 22 Getcha Some Toby Keith
2 4 Happy Girl Martina McBride
2 3 He's Got You Brooks & Dunn
20 22 High on Love Patty Loveless
9 4 The Hole Randy Travis
2 2 Holes in the Floor of Heaven Steve Wariner
18 14 A House with No Curtains Alan Jackson
2 9 How Do You Fall in Love Alabama
13 30 How Do You Sleep at Night Wade Hayes
7 3 I Can Love You Better Dixie Chicks
2 3 I Do (Cherish You) Mark Wills
  • This song was later covered by the boy band 98 Degrees.
18 22 I Might Even Quit Lovin' You Mark Chesnutt
12 7 I Said a Prayer Pam Tillis
9 28 I Wanna Feel That Way Again Tracy Byrd
20 31 I Wanna Remember This Linda Davis
3 2 I'll Go On Loving You Alan Jackson
2 4 I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying Toby Keith with Sting
  • This is a re-recording of a song which was previously a #84 pop hit for Sting in 1997. The duet version is Sting's only country chart entry.
3 10 If I Never Stop Loving You David Kersh
22 15 If You Can't Be Good (Be Good at It) Neal McCoy
4 4 Imagine That Diamond Rio
7 23 It Would Be You Gary Allan
9 5 It's Your Song Garth Brooks
12 9 Just Between You and Me The Kinleys
3 4 Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me Faith Hill with Tim McGraw
2 11 A Little Past Little Rock Lee Ann Womack
11 10 Lonely Won't Leave Me Alone Trace Adkins
12 6 Loosen Up My Strings Clint Black
2 3 Love of My Life Sammy Kershaw
14 11 Love Working on You John Michael Montgomery
5 14 A Man Holdin' On (To a Woman Lettin' Go) Ty Herndon
22 30 Matches Sammy Kershaw
41 25 More Than Everything Rhett Akins
10 7 Nothin' New Under the Moon LeAnn Rimes
4 9 On the Side of Angels LeAnn Rimes
14 12 One of Those Nights Tonight Lorrie Morgan
16 22 One Small Miracle Bryan White
35 22 Ordinary People Clay Walker
24 26 Papa Bear Keith Harling
13 23 Say When Lonestar
21 10 She's Got That Look in Her Eyes Alabama
33 18 Somebody to Love Suzy Bogguss
3 5 Someone You Used to Know Collin Raye
16 10 Stepping Stone Lari White
23 13 Still in Love with You Travis Tritt
4 15 Texas Size Heartache Joe Diffie
2 9 That's Why I'm Here Kenny Chesney
2 4 Then What? Clay Walker
2 4 There Goes My Baby Trisha Yearwood
17 23 Things Change Dwight Yoakam
  • Yoakam's first Top 40 country hit since "Nothing" in 1995.
51 23 To Be with You The Mavericks
12 17 To Have You Back Again Patty Loveless
8 5 Too Good to Be True Michael Peterson
9 14 Valentine Martina McBride with Jim Brickman
  • This was a re-release of a song that had previously been a #3 adult contemporary hit for Brickman one year previous. It is also Brickman's only Top 40 country hit.
4 2 We Really Shouldn't Be Doing This George Strait
23 19 What If? Reba McEntire
18 18 Where Your Road Leads Trisha Yearwood with Garth Brooks
12 4 You Walked In Lonestar
19 12 You'll Never Know Mindy McCready
4 5 You're Gone Diamond Rio
2 2 You've Got to Talk to Me Lee Ann Womack

[edit] Singles released by Canadian artists

US CAN Single Artist
20 Chevy Blue Eyes Brent McAthey
7 Cried All the Way Home Jamie Warren
3 Diamond Julian Austin
17 Do the Math George Fox
15 Falling Bruce Guthro
73 6 Famous First Words Gil Grand
10 Get Hot or Go Home Rick Tippe
13 Hard Time Loving You Julian Austin
10 Has Anybody Seen My Angel Denise Murray
9 Haven't You Heard Shirley Myers
59 19 How Do I Let Go Lisa Brokop
12 I Read Lips Thomas Wade
6 I'm Gone George Fox
15 I'm Gonna Make Her Mine Jason McCoy
10 If I Could Just Get to You Duane Steele
22 In This Heart of Mine Montgomery Steele
17 Let's Kiss and Make Up Beverley Mahood with Ken Munshaw
55 17 Let's Start Livin' Gil Grand
3 A Little Bit of You Jason McCoy
12 A Little Bit of Your Love Joel Feeney
9 A Minute and a Half Chris Cummings
7 Movin' On The Rankins
14 Never Givin' Up Rick Tippe
2 2 Now That I Found You Terri Clark
9 One Last Step Shirley Myers
3 Outside the Frame Paul Brandt
17 Radio 101 Beverley Mahood
19 The River Song Montgomery Steele
20 She Made Me an Offer Rick Tippe
4 Some Days Are Better Charlie Major
12 There's a Song in There Somewhere Thomas Wade
20 Two Out of Three Ain't Bad Julian Austin
18 Underneath the Moon Montana Sky
10 The Way Love Goes Jamie Warren
12 What My Heart Already Knows Julian Austin
68 10 What's Come Over You Paul Brandt
21 What's Not to Love Lisa Brokop
19 A Whole Lot of Love Montana Sky
12 Woman's Work Tracey Brown
5 Yeah! Paul Brandt
10 You Can Trust in My Love Charlie Major

[edit] Top new album releases

US CAN Album Artist Record Label
18 Ain't It the Truth Daryle Singletary Giant
21 The Apostle Soundtrack Various Artists Decca Nashville
9 14 Back with a Heart Olivia Newton-John MCA Nashville
13 12 The Best of Tracy Lawrence Tracy Lawrence Atlantic
22 31 Big Hopes Ty Herndon Epic
6 Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection Vince Gill MCA Nashville
6 15 Burnin' the Roadhouse Down Steve Wariner Capitol Nashville
14 Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Lucinda Williams Mercury
2 Country Heat 1998 Various Artists Ariola
22 A Country Superstar Christmas Various Artists Hip-O
16 Did I Shave My Back for This? Cledus T. Judd Razor & Tie
16 Dorkfish Bill Engvall Warner Bros.
1 1 Double Live Garth Brooks Capitol Nashville
6 11 Everything's Gonna Be Alright Deana Carter Capitol Nashville
2 1 Faith Faith Hill Warner Bros.
22 Famous First Words Gil Grand Monument
39 17 Farmers in a Changing World The Tractors Arista Nashville
2 4 For the Record Alabama RCA Nashville
21 Greatest Hits Joe Diffie Epic
9 18 Greatest Hits Clay Walker Giant
5 Greatest Hits Volume One Toby Keith Mercury Nashville
1 1 High Mileage Alan Jackson Arista Nashville
1 3 Hope Floats Soundtrack Various Artists Capitol Nashville
13 20 The Horse Whisperer Soundtrack Various Artists MCA Nashville
19 How Big a Boy Are Ya? Volume 4 Roy D. Mercer Capitol Nashville
10 4 How I Feel Terri Clark Mercury Nashville
23 Hungry Again Dolly Parton Decca Nashville
5 5 I'm Alright Jo Dee Messina Curb
8 9 I'm from the Country Tracy Byrd MCA Nashville
13 If I Never Stop Loving You David Kersh Curb
4 7 If You See Her Brooks & Dunn Arista Nashville
2 7 If You See Him Reba McEntire MCA Nashville
37 15 It Don't Get Any Better Than This George Jones MCA Nashville
21 It Would Be You Gary Allan Decca Nashville
3 It's Now! It's Live! The Mavericks MCA Nashville
1 2 The Key Vince Gill MCA Nashville
15 26 Leave a Mark John Michael Montgomery Atlantic
1 1 The Limited Series Garth Brooks Capitol Nashville
11 12 A Long Way Home Dwight Yoakam Reprise
3 Moments and Memories: The Best of Reba Reba McEntire MCA Nashville
2 New Country 5 Various Artists Warner
15 No More Looking over My Shoulder Travis Tritt Warner Bros.
11 4 No Place That Far Sara Evans RCA Nashville
16 4 Nothing but Love The Wilkinsons Giant
6 Of Your Son Bruce Guthro EMI
24 One Road Man Chris LeDoux Capitol Nashville
1 3 One Step at a Time George Strait MCA Nashville
8 6 The Prince of Egypt (Nashville) Various Artists DreamWorks Nashville
32 9 Shot Full of Love Billy Ray Cyrus Monument
2 2 Sittin' on Top of the World LeAnn Rimes Curb
25 11 The Sky's the Limit BlackHawk Arista Nashville
20 Some Things I Know Lee Ann Womack Decca Nashville
9 Step Inside This House Lyle Lovett MCA Nashville
18 1 Tammy Wynette Remembered Various Artists Asylum
17 15 Teatro Willie Nelson Island
3 4 Touched by an Angel: The Album Various Artists Epic
8 21 Totally Committed Jeff Foxworthy Warner Bros.
9 3 Trampoline The Mavericks MCA Nashville
36 18 Tribute to Tradition Various Artists Columbia
12 Ultimate Country Party Various Artists Arista Nashville
9 2 Unbelievable Diamond Rio Arista Nashville
25 VH1 Storytellers Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson Columbia
8 13 The Walls Came Down Collin Raye Epic
11 What Is This Country Prairie Oyster ViK.
23 What This Country Needs Aaron Tippin Lyric Street
9 22 When the Wrong One Loves You Right Wade Hayes Columbia
21 When You Get to Be You Lisa Brokop Columbia
3 2 Where Your Road Leads Trisha Yearwood MCA Nashville
9 White Christmas Martina McBride RCA Nashville
1 1 Wide Open Spaces Dixie Chicks Monument
47 19 Wine Into Water T. Graham Brown Intersound
8 Wish You Were Here Mark Wills Mercury Nashville
7 You and You Alone Randy Travis DreamWorks Nashville

[edit] Other top albums

US CAN Album Artist Record Label
55 16 Biggest Hits Merle Haggard Epic
50 16 Biggest Hits George Jones Epic
29 16 Biggest Hits Willie Nelson Columbia
75 29 Nights Danni Leigh Decca Nashville
73 Beautiful Day in the Cold, Cruel World The Warren Brothers BNA
38 The Best of John Denver John Denver Madacy
38 Big Backyard Beat Show BR5-49 Arista Nashville
30 Black Dog Soundtrack Various Artists Decca Nashville
69 Break in the Storm The Great Divide Atlantic
58 The Civil War: The Nashville Sessions Various Artists Atlantic
71 Closing in on the Fire Waylon Jennings Ark 21
27 CMT Canada '99 Various Artists BMG
50 Country Christmas Classics Various Artists RCA Nashville
63 The Essential Alabama Alabama RCA Nashville
73 The Essential Lorrie Morgan Lorrie Morgan BNA
26 Every Time Pam Tillis Arista Nashville
52 Fiddle Fire: 25 Years Charlie Daniels Blue Hat
66 Greatest #1 Hits Randy Travis Warner Bros.
36 Greatest Country Hits John Denver RCA
47 Greatest Hits Restless Heart RCA Nashville
73 Hangin' with Rodney Rodney Carrington Mercury Nashville
37 I Saw the Light Hal Ketchum Curb
69 I Turn the Page Don Williams Giant
70 I'm Just That Way Mark Nesler Asylum
61 I'm Yours Linda Davis DreamWorks Nashville
57 Keep on Rockin' Confederate Railroad Atlantic
34 Long Walk Back Junior Brown Curb
38 Love Is Kevin Sharp Asylum
66 The Lynns The Lynns Reprise
42 Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt Suzy Bogguss Capitol Nashville
41 Real Man Billy Dean Capitol Nashville
57 Rhythm and Country Elvis Presley RCA
36 Secret Love Lorrie Morgan BNA
27 Spyboy Emmylou Harris Eminent
50 Stepping Stone Lari White Lyric Street
38 The Strong One Mila Mason Atlantic
72 Super Hits John Anderson BNA
53 Super Hits Lorrie Morgan BNA
72 Super Hits Aaron Tippin RCA Nashville
59 Super Hits II Alabama RCA Nashville
55 Twistin' in the Wind Joe Ely MCA Nashville
33 What Livin's All About Rhett Akins Decca Nashville
56 Write It in Stone Keith Harling MCA Nashville

[edit] Deaths

[edit] Hall of Fame inductees

[edit] Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

[edit] Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

[edit] Major awards

[edit] Grammy Awards

[edit] Juno Awards

[edit] Academy of Country Music

[edit] Canadian Country Music Association

[edit] Country Music Association

[edit] Further reading

  • Kingsbury, Paul, "The Grand Ole Opry: History of Country Music. 70 Years of the Songs, the Stars and the Stories," Villard Books, Random House; Opryland USA, 1995
  • Kingsbury, Paul, "Vinyl Hayride: Country Music Album Covers 1947-1989," Country Music Foundation, 2003 (ISBN 0-8118-3572-3)
  • Millard, Bob, "Country Music: 70 Years of America's Favorite Music," HarperCollins, New York, 1993 (ISBN 0-06-273244-7)
  • Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs 1944-2005 - 6th Edition." 2005.

[edit] Other links

[edit] External links