- Today in 1935, Patsy Montana recorded “I Wanna Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart” in New York
- Today in 1969, Merle Haggard’s blue-collar anthem “Workin’ Man Blues” went to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart
- Today in 1977, Elvis Presley died in his bathroom at Graceland Mansion in Memphis. The most significant pop artist of the 20th century, the beginning and end of his career are grounded in country. He entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998
- Today in 1980, Alabama registered its first #1 single in Billboard with “Tennessee River”
- Today in 2000, Mary Chapin Carpenter sang “Why Walk When You Can Fly” during the Democratic National Convention at the Staples Center in Los Angeles as the party nominated vice president Al Gore for president
- Today in 2005, Brad Paisley’s “Time Well Wasted” album arrived in stores.
- Today in 2012, Luke Bryan’s single, “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” was certified double-platinum. The same day, Jana Kramer scored her first gold single, for “Why Ya Wanna.”
- Today in 2015, Danielle Peck and husband Josh Smith welcomed their daughter, Ava Smith.
- Today in 2016, Taylor Swift donated $1-million for Louisiana flood relief after high waters killed 11 people and damaged 40,000 homes.
- Today in 2017, Midland earned their first gold single for “Drinkin’ Problem.”
- Today in 2017, Johnny Cash’s children – including Rosanne and John Carter Cash – posted a note on social media saying they were “sickened” to discover a neo-Nazi wore a Cash T-shirt during a violent demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia, that gained national attention. “Johnny Cash was a man whose heart beat with the rhythm of love and social justice,” they wrote, in part. “Our father…as a person, an icon, or symbol, is not you.”
- Today in 2019, Brett Young’s “In Case You Didn’t Know” was certified quintuple-platinum by the RIAA. On the same day, Jordan Davis scored a platinum single from the RIAA for “Take It From Me.”
- Today in 2019, Drake White nearly collapsed on stage while opening for Scotty McCreery at Elmwood Park in Roanoke, Virginia. He was later diagnosed with a brain bleed.
- Today in 2019, Carrie Underwood had a doubly good day. She scored a gold single from the RIAA for “Love Wins” as well as a double-platinum award for the Keith Urban collaboration “The Fighter.”
- Today in 2020, Dwight Yoakam and his wife, Emily Joyce, welcomed their son, Dalton Loren Yoakam.
- Today in 2021, Don McLean received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Today in 2021, the Judds, Ray Charles, steel guitarist Pete Drake and drummer Eddie Bayers are announced by the CMA as the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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