This Day in Country History: May 21
At the 38th Academy of Country Music Awards held in Las Vegas in 2003, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, and Rascal Flatts won big awards on May 21. Other highlights of…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 13: Garth Brooks speaks onstage during 2021 CMT Artist Of The Year at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on October 13, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
At the 38th Academy of Country Music Awards held in Las Vegas in 2003, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, and Rascal Flatts won big awards on May 21. Other highlights of this day in country music history include Chris Stapleton showing up as a surprise guest at a P!nk concert and announcements of shows being canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
The ACM Awards are always a treat to watch with big names performing and receiving awards, including:
- 2003: The 38th ACM Awards ceremony was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the first time. Winners included Alan Jackson for Album of the Year for Drive and Video of the Year for "Drive (For Daddy Gene)."
- 2003: At this awards ceremony, Kenny Chesney won Single of the Year for "The Good Stuff" and Top Male Vocalist. Country music group Rascal Flatts won Top Vocal Group.
- 2003: Not to be outdone, Martina McBride won Top Female Vocalist, Kellie Coffey won Top New Female Vocalist, and Joe Nichols won Top New Male Vocalist. The seven-time winner of the Top Female Vocalist Award, Reba McEntire, hosted the show for her sixth time.
Cultural Milestones
- 2013: Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert sang an acoustic version of the song they co-wrote, "Over You," as a benefit to help victims of the deadly Moore, Oklahoma, tornado that killed at least 24 people. Shelton and Lambert wrote the song as a tribute to Blake Shelton's older brother who tragically died in a car accident in 1990.
- 2021: Legendary country music star Garth Brooks received an honor from the Kennedy Center. This prestigious accolade is awarded to those who have made a lifetime of contributions to American culture.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Hats off to these amazing performances:
- 2019: Pop met country at a P!nk show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, when the pop singer brought out surprise guest country music sensation, Chris Stapleton. The duo performed their song "Love Me Anyway."
- 2021: Australian country music star Keith Urban sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" at the opening of a National Hockey League game for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Industry Changes and Challenges
A country star gave up on the genre and moved to pop, and the COVID-19 restrictions caused some changes and challenges on May 21:
- 2016: A young Maren Morris made her Grand Ole Opry debut on May 21. Today, Morris is moving away from country music for political reasons and is now a pop star.
- 2020: Garth Brooks announced he would postpone his June 13 show at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, because of COVID-19 restrictions.
The country music industry is not immune to changes or challenges, but the artists seem to roll with the punches. It's always a pleasure seeing artists awarded for their work and contribution to society.
