- Today in 1925, The Grand Ole Opry officially becomes a weekly program on Nashville’s WSM Radio one month after its inception, t
- Today in 1958, Johnny Cash, Tex Ritter and The Sons Of The Pioneers open at the Showboat Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Today in 1966, Capitol releases Buck Owens’ “Where Does The Good Times Go”
- Today in 1968, A man threatening to kill Waylon Jennings breaks into J.D.’s in Phoenix after hours and forces the Waylors to lie on the floor. The man is killed while running from police
- Today in 1970, “Rose Garden” brings Lynn Anderson her first #1 single on the Billboard country chart
- Today in 1975, Dolly Parton sings “Jolene” and Charlie Rich performs “All Over Me” during an NBC telecast of “The Midnight Special”
- Today in 1978, Willie Nelson receives a platinum album from the RIAA for “Stardust”
- Today in 1980, Jim McBride quits his job at the post office in Huntsville, Alabama, to become a Nashville songwriter. He amasses such credits as Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee,” Tammy Cochran’s “Angels In Waiting” and Waylon Jennings’ “Rose In Paradise”
- Today in 1991, RCA releases Alabama’s “Born Country”
- Today in 1993, Toby Keith sings “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” at halftime of Dallas’ NFL game against the Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium in Irving. The Cowboys romp, 38-3
- Today in 1996, Johnny Cash is hailed on CBS-TV’s “The Kennedy Center Honors.” Rosanne Cash sings “I Walk The Line” and delivers “I’ll Fly Away” with Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson and Lyle Lovett
- Today in 1998, Terri Clark goes to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart for the first time with “You’re Easy On The Eyes”
- Today in 2001, Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack shoot the music video to “Mendocino County Line” in Austin, Texas
- Today in 2003, Loretta Lynn is celebrated during CBS-TV’s “The Kennedy Center Honors.” Reba McEntire sings “You’re Lookin’ At Country”; Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood do “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man”; Lyle Lovett performs “Rated ‘X'”; and Patty Loveless covers “Coal Miner’s Daughter”
- Today in 2005, Hank Williams Jr.’s “Are you ready for some football?” is heard for the final time on ABC as the NFL prepares to move “Monday Night Football” to ESPN. The New England Patriots win the game, 31-21, over the New York Jets
- Today in 2006, Dolly Parton is celebrated in the CBS special “The Kennedy Center Honors.” Kenny Rogers and Carrie Underwood do “Islands In The Stream”; Alison Krauss, Suzanne Cox and Cheryl White cover “Jolene”; Shania Twain performs “Coat Of Many Colors”; and Vince Gill closes with “I Will Always Love You”
- Today in 2016, Taylor Swift gives a surprise performance for a 96-year-old fan at his home in Missouri. The World War II veteran and his family receive an intimate listen to Swift’s pop hit “Shake It Off”
- Today in 2018, Brooks & Dunn cover “Why Haven’t I Heard From You,” Kelly Clarkson performs “Fancy” and Lady Antebellum does “Is There Life Out There” and “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” as Reba McEntire is recognized in the CBS telecast of “The Kennedy Center Honors.” Little Big Town and Cyndi Lauper help pay tribute to Cher.
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