- Today in 1969, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs split up after 25 years as a bluegrass duo.
- Today in 1989, Ronnie Milsap topped the country charts with “Don’t You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me?”
- Today in 1992, the “No Fences” album by Garth Brooks was certified for sales of seven-million copies.
- Today in 1994, Martina McBride made her “Tonight Show” debut.
- Today in 1994, Neal McCoy scored his first number one single with “No Doubt About It.”
- Today in 1999, Jo Dee Messina made her debut on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
- Today in 2000, Theresa Crump married Joe Diffie at Nashville’s Opryland Hotel, with her pet Chihuahua, Lolo, serving as the ring bearer.
- Today in 2001, “Doc,” starring Billy Ray Cyrus as Clint Cassidy, had its premiere on PAX TV.
- Today in 2002, Pat Green was hospitalized in Brownsville, Texas after he was attacked by two men on a beach in South Padre.
- Today in 2002, Tim McGraw’s single “The Cowboy In Me” took the top spot on both the “Billboard” and “Radio & Records'” country charts. With “Bring On The Rain,” his vocal collaboration with Jo Dee Messina at number one on “Billboard” the week before, this made Tim the first artist to have back-to-back singles at the top spot on the “Billboard” Hot country Singles Chart since electronic monitoring began.
- Today in 2003, Dolly Parton was presented with the 2003 Governor’s Awards in the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Today in 2003, at the second annual CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, and Shania Twain each got five nominations, and The Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, and Keith Urban each got four.
- Today in 2004, Naomi, Wynonna, and Ashley Judd received the National Award at the Kentucky Governor’s Awards in the Arts ceremony.
- Today in 2005, The Oak Ridge Boys performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” on ABC’s “Good Morning America” to help launch the National Anthem Project, an initiative to teach Americans the lyrics to the song.
- Today in 2005, “Black Cloud,” a film written and directed by Rick Schroder opened, featuring Tim McGraw playing a sheriff.
- Today in 2006, “Your Man” by Josh Turner hit the top of the charts.
- Today in 2006, Don Williams performed his last Nashville concert. Keith Urban opened, and Williams was joined by Josh Turner for “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good.”
- Today in 2007, Jo Dee Messina sang “Heaven Was Needing a Hero” on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” in honor of 16-year-old Ransom Tipton-Smith, who lost his life in a car accident two years earlier.
- Today in 2008, Clint Black released his first digital EP, “The Long Cool EP,” which featured his cover of The Hollies’ “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress),” “The Strong One,” and his duet with wife Lisa, “You Still Get To Me.”
- Today in 2008, Eddy Arnold’s wife, Sally Gayhart Arnold, passed away at a Nashville-area hospital. She had been admitted to the hospital a few days earlier with breathing difficulties. She was 87. At the time of her death Arnold was also in the hospital, recovering from hip replacement surgery he underwent a week earlier.
- Today in 2009, Darius Rucker and Vic Chesnutt were among the performers a tribute concert honoring R.E.M. at Carnegie Hall in New York.
- Today in 2010, Lady Antebellum played the second of a two-night stand at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The date was originally slated to be the trio’s headlining debut at the venue, but the demand for tickets to the show prompted a second show, scheduled for March 10th.
- Today in 2011, Billy Ray Cyrus decided to try to reconcile his marriage with wife Tish, and filed papers to stop divorce proceedings.
- Today in 2011, Jewel, who was five-months pregnant, was driving in Stephenville, Texas when her SUV was hit by a volunteer fire truck. The singer suffered minor injuries in the crash, and her unborn child was fine. Jewel credited her sturdy vehicle for keeping them safe.
- Today in 2011, Craig Morgan performed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska at the start of a USO tour that visits six nations over the next week.
- Today in 2013, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift released “Highway Don’t Care,” which also features Keith Urban on guitar.
- Today in 2015, Maren Morris wrote “My Church” and recorded the final vocals the same day in Los Angeles with songwriter/producer busbee.
- Today in 2017, Dailey & Vincent joined the Grand Ole Opry.
- Today in 2018, Tim McGraw collapsed on stage in Dublin, Ireland, after his performance of “Humble And Kind.” Wife Faith Hill later announced her husband was suffering from dehydration and the concert was cut short.
- Today in 2019, the Whitney Houston single, “I Will Always Love You” – which was written and originally recorded by Dolly Parton – was certified eight-times platinum by the RIAA.
TAG SEARCH RESULTS FOR: ""
JELLY ROLL PLAYS HIS BIGGEST CROWD EVER AT THE HOUSTON RODEO
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Jelly Roll‘s star continues to rise, and his career arc seems to have no peak in sight. Wednesday night JR played the prestigious Houston Rodeo, and in doing so, he set a personal career milestone.
From the stage, JR told the crowd of 73-thousand, “My name is Jason ‘Jelly Roll’ DeFord, from Nashville, Tennessee…and as of right this moment, as of right this second, on March the 6th of 2024, at the Houston Rodeo at the NRG Stadium, this is officially the biggest show of my entire life!” It’s a long way from prison to being on one of the biggest stages in country music, but Jelly took it in stride, playing his hits for the crowd and bringing out Texas’ own Cody Johnson to join him on their duet “Whiskey Bent.” “I figured since I’m in Texas, I should also tell y’all, I grew up loving Texas country music,” Jelly Roll said while welcoming his guest to the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor tonight that I would like to introduce, right out of Texas, my brother Cody Johnson.”
Also Wednesday night, Jelly was presented with a Houston Rodeo belt buckle, which he gratefully accepted, saying, “The only person more excited about this is my daughter. Yeah, she’s been fired up. She said, ‘let me know when you get the buckle!'”
Source: CountryNow
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1972, the “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'” single by Charley Pride was certified gold.
- Today in 1975, Conway Twitty’s “Linda On My Mind” hit the top fo the Billboard country chart.
- Today in 1980, Willie Nelson’s single, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys,” topped the charts.
- Today in 1982, the single, “Elvira,” by Oak Ridge Boys was certified platinum.
- Today in 1984, Ricky Skaggs and his wife, Sharon, welcomed their daughter, Molly Kate into the world.
- Today in 1991, Dolly Parton’s “Eagle When She Flies” album was released.
- Today in 1991, the “Love Can Build A Bridge” album by the Judds was certified gold.
- Today in 1993, the “Best Of Vince Gill” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1994, Suzy Bogguss’ “Greatest Hits” album was released.
- Today in 1996, Garth Brooks’ self-titled debut album was certified for sales of 7-million copies. On the same day, he topped the charts with his single, “The Beaches of Cheyenne.”
- Today in 1999, at the Academy of Country Music’s “Hat” awards, Faith Hill earned six nominations. Garth Brooks, Steve Wariner, and Brooks & Dunn each got four.
- Today in 2001, “Playboy” magazine readers had something other than nude women to look at when the publication released the results of its annual Music Poll. While recent years may have seen a surge in teen pop groups, country music has always maintained a presence. Readers dubbed Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s “Soul 2 Soul” tour the Concert of the Year and they won Female Country Vocalist and Male Country Vocalist, respectively. Plus, Faith’s award winning album, “Breathe,” scored Country CD of the Year and the Dixie Chicks rounded out the country awards being dubbed Country Group of the Year.
- Today in 2003, Emerson Drive’s Pat Allingham married his longtime girlfriend, Krista Williamson.
- Today in 2003, CMT’s “Most Wanted Live” featured the premiere of Daryl Worley’s video “Have You Forgotten?”
- Today in 2006, at the Academy of Country Music Awards, Brad Paisley was nominated six times, Brooks & Dunn and Sugarland were each nominated five times, and Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood four times.
- Today in 2007, Carrie Underwood sang “Wasted” on “American Idol.”
- Today in 2011, Sara Evans released her new album, “Stronger.”
- Today in 2015, Rascal Flatts performed the national anthem before the Kobalt 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Kevin Harvick won the race).
- Today in 2015, RaeLynn kicks off a weeklong Music In Our Schools tour with a performance at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
- Today in 2017, Jaren Johnston left the stage during The Cadillac Three’s show at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, British Columbia, to deal with a male fan who’s abusing a woman…he broke his guitar in the process.
H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: ARNIE
Posted on by Bob Ballard
This week’s H&S Feed and Country Store Pet of the Week is “Arnie”, a loveable 2 to 3 year old Pit Bull mix who is a big, happy and super-friendly fellow who loves car rides, walks, and even does great with baths! Arnie loves to snuggle, and will do about anything for a treat! Arnie is likely housetrained, is fully vetted, vaccinated and ready to go to a loving home!
If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Arnie or any of the pets at Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter, visit https://www.stephenmemorial.org/ and fill out an adoption application.
Check out our visit about Arnie with Nicole from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1971, Gilley’s nightclub, which served as the inspiration for the 1980 movie “Urban Cowboy,” opened in Pasadena Texas.
- Today in 1980, the “Classic Crystal” album by Crystal Gayle was certified gold.
- Today in 1980, Kenny Rogers’ “Coward Of The County” single was certified gold.
- Today in 1983, “The Nashville Network” Cable TV Network was launched. The network featured a variety of country music and entertainment until last year, when honchos dropped the “Nashville” in its moniker and became “The National Network.”
- Today in 1983, the “Waitin’ For The Sun To Shine” album by Ricky Skaggs was certified gold.
- Today in 1986, Randy Travis made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. He performed “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” after an introduction by Little Jimmy Dickens.
- Today in 1990, the album, “Hank Williams Jr. Greatest Hits Volume Two,” was certified platinum.
- Today in 1995, “The Garth Brooks Collection” was certified gold, platinum and triple platinum simultaneously.
- Today in 1985, the soundtrack to “Honeymoon in Vegas,” featuring remakes of Elvis Presley, and songs by Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Billy Joel, Travis Tritt, Ricky Van Shelton, Bono, Dwight Yoakam, Amy Grant, and Vince Gill went platinum.
- Today in 1998, Sara Evans made her Grand Ole Opry debut – she sang, “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”
- Today in 1998, George Strait hit the top of the charts with “Round About Way.”
- Today in 2000, George Jones’ “Cold Hard Truth” album was certified gold.
- Today in 2000, the “Latest Greatest Straitest Hits” album by George Strait was released.
- Today in 2000, Frank “Pee Wee” King died in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 86.
- Today in 2001, Toby Keith’s single, “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This,” topped the “Radio & Records” country chart for the third time in six, non-consecutive weeks. The accomplishment remains unprecedented in the 28-year history of the “Radio & Records” country chart.
- Today in 2001, Montgomery Gentry were named “Top Country Duo” for the second year in a row in the annual “Radio & Records’” Readers’ Poll.
- Today in 2001, the 365 Songs of the Century chosen by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts included Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance.”
- Today in 2008, CMT’s “40 Sexiest Music Videos” featured Faith Hill’s “Breathe” at the top of the list.
- Today in 2010, at the Oscars, Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett won Best Original Song for “The Weary King (Theme From Crazy Heart.)”
- Today in 2011, Taylor Swift’s single, “Mean,” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2015, the Zac Brown Band performed “Homegrown” from New York during NBC-TV’s “Saturday Night Live.”
- Today in 2017, Reba McEntire met her wax figure during soundcheck at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The likeness resides at Madame Tussauds’ Nashville
Shania Twain Got Her Own Barbie for International Women’s Day
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Shania Twain got her own Barbie in honor of International Women’s Day, and she celebrated by copying Ryan Gosling’s classic line from the movie. (Here’s the original.)
In an Instagram post she said, quote, “All I’ve wanted to do my whole life is tell stories of empowerment, independence and self-expression through my songwriting.”
Shania is one of several women getting Barbies, including Viola Davis, Helen Mirren, and Kylie Minogue.
LAINEY WILSON VISITS “THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW,” EPIC DUET ENSUES
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Talent recognizes talent. Lainey Wilson visited with Kelly Clarkson yesterday on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and the two spent some quality time chatting before treating the audience to an epic duet.
The two singers spent considerable time fangirling over each other, each praising the other for their talents and their ability to convey emotion through song. Lainey pointed out that Kelly sings other people’s songs better than they do, and it’s not just learning the lyrics: “Even when you’re up here just covering everybody else’s songs, it’s not just like, you just learn the words and you got up there…you were feeling it, for everything that it is,” adding that it meant so much to her when Kelly covered her “Heart Like A Truck.” And Kelly fired back with her own raves, saying “That’s the thing I love about your voice – you open up your mouth…a musical baby of Dolly (Parton) and LeAnn (Rimes), but it’s still your sound…no one sounds like you..that’s so cool. I love it. And I’m obsessed with you.”
After, the pair jumped on stage and performed a duet version of Lainey’s “Country’s Cool Again” to the delight of the audience.
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1983, CMT made its cable debut with Faron Young’s video “It’s Four In The Morning.”
- Today in 1999, Sara Evans got her first #1 single with “No Place That Far.”
- Today in 1999, George Jones was driving home in Nashville when he tried to play his single “Choices” for his stepdaughter on his cellphone. His car crashed, seriously injuring him. Later, police found an opened vodka bottle in the car.
- Today in 2003, George W. Bush presented the National Medal of Arts at the White House to George Jones and Smokey Robinson.
- Today in 2006, Miranda Lambert got her first gold single with “Kerosene.”
- Today in 2010, Brad Paisley fell off the stage during a concert as he sang the last notes of his final song “Alcohol.” He was treated a local hospital for bruises – and no, he wasn’t tipsy.
- Today in 2012, the Country Music Association announced that Garth Brooks, Connie Smith, and session piano player Hargus “Pig” Robbins were the next to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Today in 2014, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo announced an $18,000 scholarship in the name of Reba McEntire as she played Reliant Stadium. Her set list included “Whoever’s In New England,” “Consider Me Gone” and “Fancy.”
- Today in 2017, com reported that Blake Shelton’s mother, Dorothy Shelton, had placed the home where he grew up on the market. The asking price for the three-bedroom structure and quarter-acre of land is $250,000.
- Today in 2017, Kelsea Ballerini co-hosted the CBS daytime show, “The Talk,” for one day.
- Today in 2018, Cam teamed with Smokey Robinson to shoot an installment of “CMT Crossroads” at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The set included “The Tears Of A Clown,” “I Second That Emotion,” “Diane” and “Burning House.”
MORGAN WALLEN SURPRISE-DROPS “ABBEY ROAD SESSIONS”
Posted on by Bob Ballard
On March 3, 2023, Morgan Wallen would unleash his “One Thing At A Time” album on music fans, and the album turned out to be a life-changer for Wallen, dominating the musical landscape for the better part of a year.
Over the weekend, the first anniversary of the release of that album brought another collection of Morgan Wallen music. To commemorate the date, Morgan surprise-released a collection of seven songs called “Abbey Road Sessions.” The set includes five live versions of songs from “One Thing At A Time,” the fan favorite “Lies Lies Lies” in polished form for the first time ever, and a cover of Nothing But Thieves‘ “Graveyard Whistling.” The songs were recorded in London in the iconic Studio Two at the world-renowned Abbey Road Studios on December 5, 2023.
“Playing the O2 in London last fall and getting to record at Abbey Road, where so much iconic music has been made, was legendary for me and my band. We will never forget it,” said Wallen of his trip overseas last year. “I’m so excited to release these Abbey Road Sessions for my fans on the first anniversary of One Thing At A Time. They make all this possible.” Check out the track list for the collection below.
1. Thinkin’ Bout Me (Abbey Road Sessions)
2. Lies Lies Lies (Abbey Road Sessions)
3. Sunrise (Abbey Road Sessions)
4. Everything I Love (Abbey Road Sessions)
5. I Wrote The Book (Abbey Road Sessions)
6. I Deserve A Drink (Abbey Road Sessions)
7. Graveyard Whistling (Abbey Road Sessions)
Source: TheMusicUniverse
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1960, Elvis Presley was discharged from the Army.
- Today in 1963, a plane crash in Tennessee claimed the lives of Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and pilot Randy Hughes as they returned to Nashville from a charity concert in Kansas City.
- Today in 1973, Alabama appeared for the first time as performers at the Bowery Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
- Today in 1976, Johnny Cash recorded “One Piece At A Time” at the House of Cash.
- Today in 1983, Ronnie Dunn debuted on the country charts as a solo act. Eight years later he returned to the charts as one half of the duo Brooks and Dunn with singing partner Kix Brooks.
- Today in 1986, MCA released Steve Earle’s album “Guitar Town.”
- Today in 1988, Alabama scored a number-one hit as “Face to Face,” the band’s duet with K.T. Oslin. topped “Billboard’s” country chart.
- Today in 1991, the “Pocket Full Of Gold” album by Vince Gill was released.
- Today in 2001, Montgomery Gentry were named national spokesmen for Jim Beam and the company’s “Country Band Search.” As part of the deal, the duo hit the road in a bus emblazoned with their name and the company’s logo during a club tour sponsored by the distillery.
- Today in 2003, Shania Twain was named as one of eleven inductees for Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto’s Theatre District. She attended the induction ceremonies that occurred in June.
- Today in 2004, Gretchen Wilson’s debut single, “Redneck Woman,” was released to radio.
- Today in 2004, Brad Paisley was named the 2004 Artist Humanitarian of the Year by the Country Radio Broadcasters at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville.
- Today in 2005, Pat Green made his Grand Ole Opry debut at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.
- Today in 2006, Dolly Parton, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her song “Travelin’ Thru” in the Original Song category, lost to “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” by Three 6 Mafia. When Dolly walked the red carpet for the 78th annual awards, she was wearing diamond jewelry worth more than two-million dollars.
- Today in 2006, Billy Ray Cyrus laid his father, Ron, to rest at a funeral in Wellington, Kentucky. The elder Cyrus had recently died of lung cancer.
- Today in 2007, George Strait racked up eight nominations to top the ballot at Academy of Country Music Awards, unveiled at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame. Brooks & Dunn collects seven, and Ronnie Dunn garner collected another on his own.
- Today in 2008, Trace Adkins, Garth Brooks, and Clay Walker were among the participants at the annual Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. Trace performed an invitation-only concert, and brought his “Celebrity Apprentice” co-stars Omarosa, Marilu Henner, Nely Galan, and Tiffany Fallon with him, quote, “just to show them a little about the music business here.” Garth performed as well, and discussed his life and career with the crowd. Meanwhile, Walker received the Humanitarian of the Year Award for his efforts in the fight against multiple sclerosis.
- Today in 2009, Taylor Swift made her first TV acting debut on CBS’ “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” Her character was stabbed in the heart with scissors.
- Today in 2010, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook became parents with the birth of their first child, son Elijah Dylan Westbrook.
- Today in 2011, Blake Shelton hit the top of the Billboard country singles chart with “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking.”
- Today in 2013, Ashley Monroe’s “Like A Rose” was released.
- Today in 2016, “Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: 50 Years And Circlin’ Back” debuted on PBS. The fundraiser features Vince Gill, Jackson Browne, Alison Krauss, Jerry Jeff Walker, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Jimmy Ibbotson, all of whom joined the Dirt Band on the finale, “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”
- Today in 2018, Katie Armiger took part in a Nashville press conference to voice support for a bill that would defend independent contractors in Tennessee’s music business against sexual harassment.
NEWSLETTER
Stay updated, sign up for our newsletter.
Thanks for signing up!