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Introduction
At the 2019 CMT Artists of the Year ceremony on October 16, 2019, Kane Brown gave an emotional speech dedicating his award to his late drummer, Kenny Dixon, who had passed away in a car accident just four days earlier on October 12, 2019. Brown, visibly emotional and choking back tears, spoke about how Dixon had been with him from the start of his career, beginning in Chattanooga when they connected through Facebook. He emphasized Dixon’s unwavering support and their shared journey from small gigs to performing in stadiums, saying, “People didn’t think we would make it. He was with me the whole time. He was so supportive of me. I love you, man. I miss you. The band misses you.” The moment was deeply moving, receiving a standing ovation from the audience and resonating within the close-knit country music community. Other artists, like Chris Young, who performed “Drowning” in memory of Dixon, and Thomas Rhett, who led a prayer for Dixon’s family, also paid tribute during the event.