(NASHVILLE, 24 DEC 98) -- The Roughstock Network (http://www.roughstock.com/) announced their 1998 Single and Album of the Year awards today, the fourth year that Roughstock has conducted the fan-voted country music awards. Tim McGraw wrapped up a much-acclaimed 1998 with "Just To See You Smile" honored as Single of the Year. Garth Brooks landed three singles from "Sevens" on the year-end chart, earning him Album of the Year honors. McGraw and Brooks unseat George Strait, who earned the two previous Single of the Year awards (1996 and 1997) and last year's Album of the Year.

The Single and Album of the Year awards are compiled from the results of the weekly Roughstock Country Countdown (http://www.roughstock.com/roughstock/rcc.html) chart. The RCC Chart is the largest fan-voted country music chart, with over 100,000 votes tabulated each week. Along with the announcement, Roughstock released their 1998 Year-End Singles, Albums, and Country Record Label charts and honored their Best New Artist for 1998.

McGraw's "Just To See You Smile," from his multi-platinum album "Everywhere," edged out wife Faith Hill's early summer hit for top honors. "Just To See You Smile" spent seventeen weeks on the Roughstock Country Countdown from January 3rd through April 25th. Tim also charted the eleventh-best single, "Where The Green Grass Grows."

Brooks' "Sevens" album, certified for over 6 million sales by the RIAA in August, carried the 1998 Album of the Year award on the strength of three charted singles. Garth also added a fourth single from the soundtrack to the summer hit "Hope Floats." The soundtrack ranked tenth on the year-end album chart.

MCA Nashville had stiff competition from Mercury and Curb Records, but emerged as the top label for the second straight year and the third time in four years. MCA Nashville artists charted seven singles and three albums. In the debut of the award, Roughstock named the Dixie Chicks "Best New Artists" for 1998.

Other bright spots during the year included the re-emergence of Steve Wariner. Wariner's duets with Anita Cochran and Garth Brooks helped him place three songs in the year-end Top 40. 1998 also saw Monument Records headliners Dixie Chicks and DreamWorks' Randy Travis earn their labels' first charted albums.

Over 7 million votes were tabulated by the Roughstock Country Countdown during the 51 chart weeks in 1998. The oldest country and western site on the Web, founded in August 1993, Roughstock has presented the weekly Roughstock Country Countdown in its current format since 1995. For advertising information at Roughstock, visit http://www.roughstock.com/advertise.shtml or contact Roughstock at rodeo@roughstock.com.

1998 Singles of the Year

1 JUST TO SEE YOU SMILE - Tim McGraw - Curb

2 THIS KISS - Faith Hill - Warner Brothers
3 WHAT IF I SAID - Anita Cochran with Steve Wariner - Warner Brothers
4 THERE'S YOUR TROUBLE - Dixie Chicks - Monument
5 I JUST WANT TO DANCE WITH YOU - George Strait - MCA Nashville
6 I'M ALRIGHT - Jo Dee Messina - Curb
7 TRUE - George Strait - MCA Nashville
8 HOLES IN THE FLOOR OF HEAVEN - Steve Wariner - Capitol Nashville
9 I CAN STILL FEEL YOU - Collin Raye - Epic
10 THERE GOES MY BABY - Trisha Yearwood - MCA Nashville

11 WHERE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS - Tim McGraw - Curb
12 I'M FROM THE COUNTRY - Tracy Byrd - MCA Nashville
13 LOVE OF MY LIFE - Sammy Kershaw - Mercury
14 NOW THAT I FOUND YOU - Terri Clark - Mercury
15 I DO (CHERISH YOU) - Mark Wills - Mercury
16 TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE - Garth Brooks - Capitol Nashville
17 LITTLE RED RODEO - Collin Raye - Epic
18 YOU'RE STILL THE ONE - Shania Twain - Mercury
19 NOTHIN' BUT THE TAILLIGHTS - Clint Black - RCA
20 LONG NECK BOTTLE - Garth Brooks with Steve Wariner - Capitol Nashville

21 HOW LONG GONE - Brooks & Dunn - Arista Nashville
22 DON'T LAUGH AT ME - Mark Wills - Mercury
23 THEN WHAT? - Clay Walker - Giant
24 IF I NEVER STOP LOVING YOU - David Kersh - Curb
25 26 CENTS - The Wilkinsons - Giant/Reprise
26 OUT OF MY BONES - Randy Travis - DreamWorks
27 IF YOU SEE HIM/IF YOU SEE HER - Reba with Brooks & Dunn - MCA Nashville/Arista Nashville
28 I'LL GO ON LOVING YOU - Alan Jackson - Arista Nashville
29 THAT'S WHY I'M HERE - Kenny Chesney - BNA
30 WIDE OPEN SPACES - Dixie Chicks - Monument

31 PERFECT LOVE - Trisha Yearwood - MCA Nashville
32 YOU MOVE ME - Garth Brooks - Capitol Nashville
33 EVERYTHING'S CHANGED - Lonestar - BNA
34 TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE - Michael Peterson - Reprise
35 ROUND ABOUT WAY - George Strait - MCA Nashville
36 A LITTLE PAST LITTLE ROCK - Lee Ann Womack - Decca
37 ONE OF THESE DAYS - Tim McGraw - Curb
38 HAPPY GIRL - Martina McBride - RCA
39 HONEY I'M HOME - Shania Twain - Mercury
40 SHE'S GONNA MAKE IT - Garth Brooks - Capitol Nashville

1998 Albums of the Year

1 SEVENS -Garth Brooks - Capitol Nashville

2 COME ON OVER - Shania Twain - Mercury
3 EVERYWHERE - Tim McGraw - Curb
4 ONE STEP AT A TIME - George Strait - MCA Nashville
5 I'M ALRIGHT - Jo Dee Messina - Curb

6 FAITH - Faith Hill - Warner Brothers
7 WIDE OPEN SPACES - Dixie Chicks - Monument
8 WHERE YOUR ROAD LEADS - Trisha Yearwood - MCA Nashville
9 THE LIMITED SERIES - Garth Brooks - Capitol
10 HOPE FLOATS - Official Movie Soundtrack - Capitol (Los Angeles)

11 WISH YOU WERE HERE - Mark Wills - Mercury
12 EVOLUTION - Martina McBride - RCA
13 DID I SHAVE MY LEGS FOR THIS - Deana Carter - Capitol Nashville
14 IF YOU SEE HER - Brooks & Dunn - Arista Nashville
15 IF YOU SEE HIM - Reba McEntire - MCA Nashville

1998 Country Music Labels Of The Year

1 MCA Nashville - 7 Charted Singles, 3 Charted Albums

2 Mercury Records - 6 Charted Singles, 2 Charted Albums
3 Curb Records - 5 Charted Singles, 2 Charted Albums
4 Capitol Nashville - 5 Charted Singles, 2 Charted Albums
5 Arista Nashville - 3 Charted Singles, 1 Charted Album

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