Top Country Music News Stories of 2010
As 2010 comes to a close, we take a look back at the year's biggest moments in country music. With all that has occurred in the past 11 months -- engagements, weddings, divorces, babies, awards, new albums, historic floods, sold-out shows and more -- it was a difficult task to narrow the events down to just 10. See if you agree with The Boot's 2010 Top 10 Moments in Country Music, and let us know if you have any of your own favorite 2010 musical memories.
Country music fans and the industry alike were shocked when not one, not two, but three country music marriages fell apart this year. Billy Ray Cyrus filed from his wife, Tish, on Tuesday, Oct. 26, citing irreconcilable differences. He and Tish were married for 17 years, one year after having Destiny Hope, otherwise known as teen sensation Miley Cyrus.
Just two days later, Randy Travis and his manager-wife, Lib Hatcher, filed a petition for dissolution of marriage, and the divorce was finalized Oct. 29. Their relationship began 34 years ago when Randy was just 17 years old, and the two tied the knot in 1991, 12 years after their initial meeting.
Montgomery Gentry's Eddie Montgomery will be single soon, as well, as wife Tracy filed for divorce in November.
The two newly crowned CMA Male and Female Vocalists have had quite the break-out year. Blake Shelton earned himself a trip to the top of the country singles charts twice, released three albums and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a distinction he thought was out of his reach. Miranda Lambert has also had a whirlwind year, launching her first headlining tour, taking home three CMA Awards and getting engaged to the man she says "is the one, without a doubt."
The couple have been together for five years, and on May 9, Blake finally popped the question everybody had been asking the pair about for quite some time. They plan on getting married next spring.
Shortly after the Nashville floods, country artists rallied together at numerous benefits to help raise funds and spirits for the victims affected by the storm. To kick off the fundraising efforts, Vince Gill hosted a three-and-a-half hour telethon on Nashville's ABC-TV affiliate, WKRN, less than a week after the flood. The event, which also featured performances by Keith, Darius Rucker and Lorrie Morgan, raised more than $1.7 million.
GAC-TV took to the Ryman Auditorium stage to host the Music City: Keep On Playin' flood-relief benefit on May 16. Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Lady Antebellum and Dierks Bentley took to the stage and some even to the phones for the telethon, which also featured Keith's wife, Nicole Kidman, taking pledges to the tune of nearly $2 million.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill hosted the Nashville Rising all-star benefit concert in June, featuring performances by Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood and even actress Sandra Bullock took to the stage.
The CMA donated nearly $3 million to help victims of the flood. The funds came from proceeds procured from this year's CMA Music Festival.
Garth Brooks, along with his wife, Trisha Yearwood, will play nine sold-out shows at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena beginning Dec. 16. What started out as one benefit concert exploded into nine after tickets were in such high demand. All proceeds will assist victims who were impacted by May's tragic floods, which caused more than $2 billion in damages in Nashville alone.