As we come to the close of 2019, The Boot is looking back at some of the top headlines from the year. Readers can look back and remember the stories that have made waves in the country music world from now until just before Christmas.

To determine the five biggest stories of each month, The Boot's staff looked at website traffic; the featured stories received the most visitors throughout the month in which they broke.

In October of 2019, another feel-good headline about Reba McEntire offered a respite from stars coping with bullying and the losses of loved ones. On a more solemn note, the biological and road families of Ned LeDoux and Kane Brown, respectively, dealt with unspeakable tragedies during what turned out to be one of the most heartbreaking months in recent memories.

Who else was making country music headlines in October this year? Keep reading to remember:

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