1970 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1970.Events
Early in the year, Marty Robbins suffers a major heart attack which almost takes the life of the country star.Number-one hits
United States
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;Notes
^ 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 to date.Canada
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;Notes
^ 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.Other major hits
Singles released by American artists
Singles released by Canadian artists
Top new album releases
Other top albums
Births
- March 14 — Kristian Bush, member of Sugarland
- July 10 — Gary LeVox, lead singer of Rascal Flatts.
- August 22 – George Canyon, country singer from the late 1990s who enjoyed success in the mid 2000s.
- August 24 — Kristyn Osborn, member of SHeDAISY
- August 25 — Jo Dee Messina, female vocalist of the 1990s and 2000s.
- October 5 — Georgette Jones, the only biological child of George Jones and Tammy Wynette.
- October 25 — Chely Wright, country singer of the late 1990s and 2000s.
- November 5 – Heather and Jennifer Kinley, recorded in the late 1990s as the duo The Kinleys
- November 15 — Jack Ingram, rock-styled country singer-songwriter since the mid-2000s.
- December 19 — Kevin Sharp, country singer from the 1990s, best known for "Nobody Knows"
Deaths
- January 4 – Clayton McMichen, 69, pioneering fiddle player and member of the Skillet Lickers.
- April 1 — Paul Cohen, 61, pioneering record producer at Decca Records.
- September 5 – Curley Williams, 56, songwriter most famous for writing "Half as Much."
- The Original Carter Family –
Major awards
Grammy Awards
- Best Female Country Vocal Performance — " Rose Garden", Lynn Anderson
- Best Male Country Vocal Performance — "For the Good Times", Ray Price
- Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal — "If I Were a Carpenter", Johnny Cash and June Carter
- Best Country Instrumental Performance — Me & Jerry, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed
- Best Country Song — "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife", Marty Robbins
Juno Awards
- Country Male Vocalist of the Year — Tommy Hunter
- Country Female Vocalist of the Year — Dianne Leigh
- Country Group or Duo of the Year — Mercey Brothers
- Entertainer of the Year — Merle Haggard
- Song of the Year — "For the Good Times", Kris Kristofferson
- Single of the Year — "For the Good Times", Ray Price
- Album of the Year — For the Good Times, Ray Price
- Top Male Vocalist — Merle Haggard
- Top Female Vocalist — Lynn Anderson
- Top Vocal Group — The Kimberleys
- Top New Male Vocalist — Buddy Alan
- Top New Female Vocalist — Sammi Smith
Country Music Association
- Entertainer of the Year — Merle Haggard
- Song of the Year — "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", Kris Kristofferson
- Single of the Year — "Okie from Muskogee", Merle Haggard
- Album of the Year — Okie from Muskogee, Merle Haggard
- Male Vocalist of the Year — Merle Haggard
- Female Vocalist of the Year — Tammy Wynette
- Vocal Duo of the Year — Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
- Vocal Group of the Year — Tompall and the Glaser Brothers
- Instrumentalist of the Year — Jerry Reed
- Instrumental Group of the Year — Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass
- Comedian of the Year — Roy Clark
Other links
- Country Music Association
- Inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame
