Nov. 14 has been a significant day for the country music industry throughout the years, witnessing the CMA Awards, a big concert by Garth Brooks, and the death of Holly Dunn. Tanya Tucker had an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and Carrie Underwood had surgery on her broken wrist on this day in country music history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
From Garth Brooks’ record-selling concert to the American Music Awards, these were milestones for Nov. 14:
- 2004: Winners at the American Music Awards included Toby Keith for Male Artist, Reba McEntire for Female Artist, Brooks & Dunn for Band, Duo, or Group, and Toby Keith’s Shock’n Y’all for Album. Gretchen Wilson won New Artist, and the T-Mobile Text-In Award went to Kenny Chesney.
- 2007: Garth Brooks was scheduled to have a one-performance show at the new Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. However, due to popular demand by fans, concert organizers extended the shows to nine nights. The final performance on Nov. 14 was broadcast to more than 300 movie theaters in the U.S.
- 2017: Pearl Records released Garth Brooks’ The Anthology Part 1: The First Five Years. This is a box set of five discs highlighting his first five years of making music, performing, and touring. Key songs from this compilation include “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Burning Bridges,” “Night Riders Lament,” and “The Cowboy Song.”
- 2017: Craig Morgan announced the release of his Old Tattoo Cabernet Sauvignon. Morgan partnered with Lot18 to produce this limited edition Napa Valley, California, wine. The name and label reflect his patriotism, with the U.S. flag tattooed on his arm and in the label design.
- 2018: Country music fans enjoyed the 52nd Annual CMA Awards held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Chris Stapleton won Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year for “Broken Halos.” Keith Urban snagged Entertainer of the Year, and Carrie Underwood took home Female Vocalist of the Year.
Cultural Milestones
Tanya Tucker and Bob Kingsley had cultural milestones on Nov. 14, including:
- 2014: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened the Tanya Tucker: Strong Enough to Bend exhibit. This exhibit showcased artifacts from Tucker’s career, including colorful stage costumes and her National Cutting Horse awards and trophies.
- 2019: Big stars came out to the Country Music Hall of Fame to honor the life of the late Bob Kingsley, who was a legendary broadcaster. Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, and Dierks Bentley all performed at this event.
- 2025: NBC announced that Reba McEntire would host the Christmas in Rockefeller Center event that aired on Dec. 3. Performers included Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Marc Anthony, and the Radio City Rockettes.
Notable Recordings and Performances
The late Patsy Cline earned certifications, and Dierks Bentley performed a pop-up show on this day:
- 2001: Garth Brooks performed at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, as part of his Garth Brooks: Coast to Coast Live Tour. Trisha Yearwood joined him to sing duets on “That Summer” and “Ain’t Goin Down (‘Till the Sun Comes Up).”
- 2006: The Recording Industry Association of America awarded Patsy Cline’s album Patsy Cline Sings Songs of Love a Gold and Platinum certification on the same day.
- 2014: FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, hosted Eric Church for his Outsiders Revival Tour. Brandy Clark opened for Church.
- 2016: Dierks Bentley surprised fans by performing a free concert at Legends Corner in Nashville. This concert served as a warm-up for Bentley’s What The H*** World Tour, which featured Cole Swindell and Jon Pardi as guests.
- 2017: Thomas Rhett performed at the O2 Academy in Glasgow, Scotland, for his 2017 Home Team Tour. Old Dominion was Rhett’s support act.
- 2021: On the final day of the Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Tim McGraw was the main headliner. Additional top performers included Kip Moore, Jon Pardi, LOCASH, Jimmie Allen, and Lindsay Ell. Walker Montgomery, Tenille Arts, Jon Langston, and Hailey Whitters also took the stage.
- 2021: Ashley McBryde stopped at The Fillmore Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina, for her The Talk of the Town tour. Priscilla Block was McBryde’s support act.
- 2021: Miranda Lambert wrapped up her summer tour at the ilani Casino Resort in Ridgefield, Washington.
- 2022: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, hosted Luke Combs for a sold-out show. This was a stop on Combs’ Middle of Somewhere Tour. Jordan Davis and Morgan Wade were Combs’ special musical guests.
- 2025: Black River Entertainment released Kelsea Ballerini’s EP Mount Pleasant. Key songs from this album include “Emerald City,” “Check on Your Friends,” and “People Pleaser.”
- 2025: On a stop for his Free the Machine Tour, Eric Church stopped at the Save Mart Center at Fresno State in Fresno, California. Charles Wesley Godwin was his supporting act.
- 2025: Fans traveled to the Belle Mehus Auditorium in Bismarck, North Dakota, to see Cody Jinks perform on his Same Kind of Acoustic Tour with Wade Davis as his support.
Industry Changes and Challenges
A death and surgery were part of the industry changes and challenges on Nov. 14:
- 2016: The three-time GRAMMY-nominated artist Holly Dunn died at the age of 59. Dunn had numerous hit songs, including “Daddy’s Hands” and “You Really Had Me Going.” She was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was named Female Vocalist of the Year by the CMA in 1986.
- 2017: Four days after Carrie Underwood tripped and fell, breaking her wrist, she revealed that she had to have surgery. Underwood had a metal pin inserted to help repair the break.
- 2018: Vince Gill had to cancel several appearances, including the CMA Awards, due to an illness that required hospitalization. Gill was supposed to perform with Ricky Skaggs, and instead, Keith Urban, John Osborne, and Brothers Osborne stepped in and played with Skaggs.
- 2025: Country/Americana star Todd Snider died. He was known for albums such as East Nashville Skyline, Songs for the Daily Planet, and High, Lonesome, and Then Some.
Carrie Underwood not only had surgery on her broken wrist on Nov. 14, but she also got over 40 stitches on her face. Fans enjoyed seeing Garth Brooks perform in Kansas City, and Dierks Bentley surprised fans with his free concert in Nashville.