- Today in 1957, in the “I do” that strangled “the Killer’s” career, Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13-year-old cousin Myra Gale Brown. Part of the resulting furor was due to the fact that he was still married to his second wife, Jane Mitcham — and that this was his second bigamous marriage. Undaunted by the negative public opinion, he was determined to return to the top. He divorced Jane and legally married Myra in 1958, but, it was too late, the damage to his career had been done.
- Today in 1957, a Portland, Oregon disc jockey was fired for playing Elvis Presley’s version of “White Christmas.”
- Today in 1960, Brenda Lee’s perennial Christmas single, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” makes its first appearance on the charts.
- Today in 1969, Elvis Presley’s “From Vegas To Memphis” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1970, Dolly Parton’s first #1 single, “Joshua,” entered the charts.
- Today in 1996, Clint Black received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He and his wife Lisa Hartman Black made a grand entrance in a stagecoach, and he received proclamations from the mayors of Nashville, Los Angeles and Houston.
- Today in 2000, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw wrapped up their hugely successful “Soul 2 Soul” tour in Orlando, Florida. According to MusicBusiness.com, it was the year’s highest grossing tour. The whirlwind, five-month tour that left 64 cities in its wake was the second time the supercouple had been on tour together. They fell in love the first time around back in 1996 during the aptly titled “Spontaneous Combustion” tour.
- Today in 2001, “I Wanna Talk About Me,” Toby Keith’s anthem to suffering men everywhere, topped the country singles charts.
- Today in 2001, Wynonna served as maid of honor when her sister, Ashley Judd, married racecar driver Dario Franchitti [[pr: fran-KEY-tee]] in Scotland. They had no children together, with Judd telling the “Sunday Mail” that “it’s unconscionable to breed with the number of children who are starving to death in impoverished countries.” They split in January 2013, attempted a reconciliation shortly thereafter, but ultimately divorced that same year. Franchitti went on to remarry and have a daughter in 2015.
- Today in 2002, Carlene Carter was arrested on two charges of identity theft. She allegedly used someone else’s identity to obtain prescription drugs.
- Today in 2003, “CMT Crossroads” aired featuring Martina McBride and Pat Benatar.
- Today in 2005, Dierks Bentley proposed to Cassidy Black in Las Vegas; two days later they tied the know in Mexico.
- Today in 2011, The Eli Young Band’s single, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” was released to the radio.
- Today in 2016, Brothers Osborne’s “It Ain’t My Fault” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2017, Kix Brooks publicly opposed a development plan surrounding Nashville’s abandoned Greer Stadium, siding with Civil War preservationists who want to honor the history of nearby Fort Negley. “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” producer T Bone Burnett is one of the creators of the plan Brooks dislikes.
- Today in 2017, Dylan Scott and his wife, Blair, welcome a son, Beckett Scott Robinson, in Nashville.
- Today in 2018, “Brokeback Mountain” was announced as a new addition to the National Film Registry. The gay-themed cowboy movie features music by Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette, Roger Miller and Linda Ronstadt.
- Today in 2018, Cole Swindell scored a gold single from the RIAA for “Break Up In The End” and a platinum certification for “Flatliner,” featuring Dierks Bentley.
- Today in 2018, “Crazy Girl” by Eli Young Band was certified triple-platinum single.
- Today in 2018, Martina McBride scored gold singles from the RIAA for “Independence Day” and “Anyway,” a quadruple-platinum album for her “Greatest Hits” and a double-platinum album for “White Christmas.”
- Today in 2018, Florida Georgia Line singles received RIAA certifications: “Simple” went platinum, the Tim McGraw collaboration “May We All” reached double-platinum, “Get Your Shine On” hit triple-platinum and the Luke Bryan partnership on “This Is How We Roll” was certified quintuple-platinum.
- Today in 2018, Brantley Gilbert earned a gold album from the RIAA for “The Devil Don’t Sleep.”
- Today in 2019, the Chicks and Jason Isbell participated in Jack Antonoff’s benefit for at-risk LGBTQ youth at Town Hall in New York. The Chicks’ set included “Landslide” and “Not Ready To Make Nice”
- Today in 2019, Luke Combs picked up a triple-platinum album from the RIAA for “This One’s For You,” plus awards for four singles: “Must’ve Never Met You” goes platinum, “She Got The Best Of Me” reaches double-platinum, and “Beautiful Crazy” and “When It Rains It Pours” are certified quadruple-platinum.
- Today in 2020, Maren Morris and Keb’ Mo’ receive the Harmony Award from the Nashville Symphony.
- Today in 2020, Charley Pride died of complications from COVID-19 in Dallas. A member of the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame, he was the first Black singer to become a star in the genre. His hit list included “Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone,” “Just Between You And Me” and his signature, “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’.” Hours after his passing, Chris Young honored him on the Grand Ole Opry by covering “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’.”
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