- Today in 1981, Willie Nelson recorded “Always On My Mind” and “The Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning” at his Pedernales Studio outside of Austin, Texas.
- Today in 1981, the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame inducted Bobby Braddock and Ray Whitley. Braddock was noted for George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and Tammy Wynette’s “D-I-V-O-R-C-E.” Whitley wrote Gene Autry’s theme song, “Back In The Saddle Again.”
- Today in 1982, Alabama won three honors – Entertainer, Vocal Group and Instrumental Group of the Year – from the Country Music Association during the 16th annual awards at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
- Today in 2002, The Dixie Chicks’ “Home” album was officially certified triple-platinum.
- Today in 2003, Tim McGraw’s “Real Good Man” made a real good showing in Billboard by reaching #1 on the country singles chart.
- Today in 2005, Gary Allan’s “Tough All Over” album arrived in stores.
- Today in 2011, Toby Keith’s single, “Red Solo Cup,” was released.
- Today in 2014, Ralph Stanley was formally inducted in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Others in his class included actor Al Pacino, author John Irving and former secretary of labor Robert Reich.
- Today in 2015, “Girl Crush,” written by Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose, earned Song of the Year from the Nashville Songwriters Association International at the Music City Center. Taylor Swift was named Songwriter/Artist of the Year a seventh time, while Rodney Clawson took Songwriter.
- Today in 2015, Rosanne Cash was added to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame during a dinner at the Music City Center. The class also included “Drivin’ My Life Away” songwriter Even Stevens, “Suspicious Minds” author Mark James and “Live Like You Were Dying” composer Craig Wiseman.
- Today in 2017, Rhiannon Giddens was named a MacArthur Fellow by the MacArthur Foundation, an award for creative leaders that included a $625,000 prize.
- Today in 2019, former president Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter were introduced on the Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood after a week of work building houses with Habitat For Humanity. The night’s lineup includds Emmylou Harris, Dierks Bentley, Margo Price and Bill Anderson.
- Today in 2019, Chris Lane’s single, “Big, Big Plans,” was released.
- Today in 2019, Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey performed at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater with the show taped for “CMT Crossroads.” The set included “Peter Pan,” “Miss Me More” and “homecoming queen?”
- Today in 2020, Whiskey Myers guitarist John Jeffers was hospitalized with a skull fracture and a loss of hearing in one ear following an ATV accident. He’s since made a full recovery – and you can hear about that journey in the band’s song, “Heavy on Me.”
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