• Today in 1993, Faith Hill made her Grand Ole Opry debut.
• Today in 1998, Martina McBride joined Smokey Robinson, Kenny Loggins and vice president Al Gore on NBC-TV’s Brooke Shields-hosted special “Christmas In Washington.”
• Today in 2000, Tim McGraw’s “Greatest Hits” album was certified gold and platinum on the same day.
• Today in 2003, Reba McEntire gained a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series, for her work in the WB’s “Reba.” Among her competition was, “Will and Grace” star Debra Messing and “Sex and the City” actress Sarah Jessica Parker.
• Today in 2004, Tim McGraw’s “Back When” went to #1 on the Billboard charts.
• Today in 2006, Carrie Underwood returned to the US after performing for American troops in Iraq and Kuwait during her first USO tour.
• Today in 2012, Blake Shelton’s team finished with first and second place titles on the NBC competition, “The Voice.” Cassadee Pope won, while Terry McDermott was the runner up. Pope and McDermott sang “Catch My Breath” with guest Kelly Clarkson.

Country-fried On This Day – Tuesday, December 19^th

• Today in 1947, “Here Comes Santa Claus” by Gene Autry entered the Top 40 chart.
• Today in 1980, Dolly Parton’s first movie, “9 to 5,” premiered. It was a huge hit and the title song went on to hit #1 on the country charts and pop charts — Dolly also won two GRAMMY Awards for the song.
• Today in 1985, Johnny Paycheck shoots a man in a barroom brawl in Hillsboro, Ohio. He was released from prison in 1991.
• Today in 1988, Johnny Cash and friend Waylon Jennings were in the same hospital recovery room. Both had undergone heart bypass surgery, though six days apart.
• Today in 1991, Collin Raye was enjoying his first #1 hit, “Love, Me.”
• Today in 1991, the Judds’ “Greatest Hits Volume 2” album was certified gold.
• Today in 1991, the album, “Ropin’ The Wind,” by Garth Brooks was certified for sales of 5-million.
• Today in 1994, Reba McEntire’s album, “It’s Your Call,” was certified triple platinum.
• Today in 1994, the “Pocket Full Of Gold” album by Vince Gill was certified double platinum.
• Today in 1994, Travis Tritt’s album, “Ten Feet Tall And Bulletproof,” was certified platinum.
• Today in 1994, the album, “The Song Remembers When,” by Trisha Yearwood was certified platinum, while her self-titled debut album went double platinum.
• Today in 1996, Garth Brooks was #1 on the charts with “That Ol’ Wind.”
• Today in 1997, Shenadoah’s lead singer and founding member, Marty Raybon, made his last appearance with the group at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon.
• Today in 2000, Faith Hill was among the picks for “Entertainment Weekly” magazine’s “Best of 2000” list.
• Today in 2001, gold certifications were awarded for to George Strait for his album, “The Road Less Traveled,” Reba McEntire for her “Greatest Hits Volume III: I’m A Survivor” album and to Lee Ann Womack for her single, “I Hope You Dance.”
• Today in 2001, Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” became the fastest-rising single in four years to reach the #1 spot on both the “Radio & Records” and “Billboard” country charts. The song, which Jackson debuted the previous month during the 2001 CMA Awards, climbed to the peak position in only six weeks. The last tune to hit #1 that fast was Garth Brooks’ 1997 single, “Longneck Bottle.” This isn’t the only time Alan had a song top the charts so quickly. He also did it in 1994 with “Summertime Blues.”
• Today in 2005, Gary Allan collected a gold album for “Tough All Over.”
• Today in 2011, Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood got engaged to Warner Bros executive Kelli Cashiola at her home in Nashville.
• Today in 2014, A Thousand Horses’ debut single, “Smoke,” hit the airwaves.
• Today in 2016, Lee Brice performed “Go Rest High On That Mountain” during a military funeral for Air Force major Troy Lee Gilbert at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
• Today in 2017, Jason Isbell played the last of three artist-in-residence concerts at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, joined by unbilled guests Emmylou Harris, Jerry Douglas, Buddy Miller, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Mac McAnally, who gave his first public performance since a November heart attack.
• Today in 2018, Michael Ray and Carly Pearce got engaged in Tulum, Mexico. While the couple married October 6, 2019 near Nashville, Tennessee. In June 2020, Pearce filed for divorce from Ray after eight months of marriage.
• Today in 2019, John Prine was a 2020 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, along with Isaac Hayes, Chicago and Roberta Flack. Former MGM president Frank Walker, who signed Hank Williams to a recording deal, was named a Trustees Award recipient.
• Today in 2019, Cam and husband Adam Weaver welcomed their daughter, Lucy Marvel Weaver.
• Today in 2019, Jerry Lee Lewis was recognized with a Mississippi Country Music Trail marker, placed at his ranch in Nesbit, Mississippi. On hand for the event are Marty Stuart, Steve Azar and Connie Smith.