• Today in 1966, at the first Academy of Country & Western Music awards, Roger Miller was named Man of the Year and Top Songwriter. Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and Bonnie Owens also won big.
• Today in 1984, at the GRAMMYs, Anne Murray won Best Country Vocal Performance, Female for “A Little Good News.”
• Today in 1993, Travis Tritt got his first acting role in the TV movie “Rio Diablo.” He starred alongside Kenny Rogers and Naomi Judd.
• Today in 1996, at the GRAMMYs, Vince Gill won two awards – Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance – for “Go Rest High On That Mountain.”
• Today in 1998, Garth Brooks was the host and musical guest for “Saturday Night Live.”
• Today in 1998, Stevie Wariner and Anita Cochran’s “What If I Said” topped the singles chart.
• Today in 2012, “If I Die Young” by the Band Perry became a quadruple-platinum single.
• Today in 2015, Florida Georgia Line played in Europe for the first time during the Country 2 Country Festival at Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden. The night’s lineup also features Luke Bryan, Brandy Clark and Lee Ann Womack.
• Today in 2017, Jimmie Allen playeda showcase at The Country in Nashville and receives a call on the way home with an offer to sign a recording contract with Stoney Creek. The set list included his first hit, “Best Shot.”
• Today in 2019, Lindsay Ell has surgery to remove pre-cancerous cells.
• Today in 2019, Ryan Hurd’s concert at The Exit/In in Nashville includes a surprise appearance by Maren Morris on “To A T.” Hurd also did two country hits that he wrote for other artists: “You Look Good” and “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset.”
• Today in 2019, Brett Young shot a “CMT Crossroads” installment with Boyz II Men at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The set list included “On Bended Knee,” “Mercy” and a cover of the Lonestar hit “Amazed.”
• Today in 2020, Rhonda Vincent was (FINALLY!) invited to join the Grand Ole Opry by Jeannie Seely during an appearance on the show. Vincent, of course, said yes.
• Today in 2020, Marie Osmond revealed on the CBS show “The Talk” that she’s leaving her inheritance to a charity rather than her children: “I think you do a great disservice to just hand them a fortune because you take away the one most important gift you can give your children, and that’s the ability to work.”
• Today in 2021, Fox News reported Miranda Lambert’s husband, Brendan McLoughlin, had officially retired from the New York City police force.

• Today in 1961, Marty Robbins didn’t have a care in the world – as he was atop Billboard country single with “Don’t Worry.”
• Today in 1982, Don Williams was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “Lord, I Hope This Day is Good.”
• Today in 1990, Alan Jackson’s first album, “Here in the Real World’ was released.
• Today in 2002, at the GRAMMYs, T Bone Burnett’s “O Brother, Where Art Thou” won Album of the Year and Best Compilation Soundtrack Album.
• Today in 2004, the video for Reba McEntire’s “Somebody” premiered on CMT.
• Today in 2006, “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” earned Joe Nichols his first gold single.
• Today in 2009, a new episode of “CMT Crossroads” featured Jamey Johnson and Shooter Jennings performing “In Color.”
• Today in 2013, the Grand Ole Opry aired for the first time from the Country Radio Seminar. The night’s lineup included Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Dustin Lynch, Darius Rucker, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, and Scotty McCreery.
• Today in 2015, Carrie Underwood and husband Mike Fisher welcomed a son, Isaiah Michael Fisher.
• Today in 2016, RaeLynn married financial advisor Josh Davis in Franklin, Tennessee. The guest list included Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani.
• Today in 2017, Chuck Wicks suffered a fractured skull and vertebrae when a car carrying him and three friends hydroplaned and flipped in Mississippi on the way to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. He was hospitalized for several days and had to wear a neck brace for three months.
• Today in 2018, Dolly Parton presented the 100-millionth book in her Imagination Library program to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

• Today in 1987, George Strait’s “Strait From The Heart” turned into a gold album and he received a platinum award for his “Greatest Hits.”
• Today in 1997, LeAnn Rimes won two trophies, Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Blue” at the 39^th annual GRAMMY Awards.
• Today in 2001, Toby Keith received a platinum certification for his album, “How Do You Like Me Now?!”
• Today in 2001, Martina McBride earned her first triple-platinum album award for “Evolution.”
• Today in 2002, Sony released the soundtrack to “We Were Soldiers,” featuring a collaboration between Johnny Cash and Dave Matthews, plus a duet from Jamie O’Neal and Michael McDonald.
• Today in 2004, Pat Green netted his first gold album, for “Wave On Wave.”
• Today in 2006, Willie Nelson rode in the Krewe of Bacchus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.
• Today in 2007, Little Bit Town’s Jimi Westbrook broke his little toe jumping on the couch at his home in Nashville.
• Today in 2011, Luke Bryan checked in at top of the “Billboard” country singles list with “Someone Else Calling You Baby.”
• Today in 2017, Lady A performed “You Look Good” during the pre-game events for NASCAR’s Daytona 500 at the Daytona Motor Speedway. Kurt Busch won the race.

Country-fried On This Day – Tuesday, February 27^th

• Today in 1961, Marty Robbins didn’t have a care in the world – as he was atop Billboard country single with “Don’t Worry.”
• Today in 1982, Don Williams was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “Lord, I Hope This Day is Good.”
• Today in 1990, Alan Jackson’s first album, “Here in the Real World’ was released.
• Today in 2002, at the GRAMMYs, T Bone Burnett’s “O Brother, Where Art Thou” won Album of the Year and Best Compilation Soundtrack Album.
• Today in 2004, the video for Reba McEntire’s “Somebody” premiered on CMT.
• Today in 2006, “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” earned Joe Nichols his first gold single.
• Today in 2009, a new episode of “CMT Crossroads” featured Jamey Johnson and Shooter Jennings performing “In Color.”
• Today in 2013, the Grand Ole Opry aired for the first time from the Country Radio Seminar. The night’s lineup included Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Dustin Lynch, Darius Rucker, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, and Scotty McCreery.
• Today in 2015, Carrie Underwood and husband Mike Fisher welcomed a son, Isaiah Michael Fisher.
• Today in 2016, RaeLynn married financial advisor Josh Davis in Franklin, Tennessee. The guest list included Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani.
• Today in 2017, Chuck Wicks suffered a fractured skull and vertebrae when a car carrying him and three friends hydroplaned and flipped in Mississippi on the way to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. He was hospitalized for several days and had to wear a neck brace for three months.
• Today in 2018, Dolly Parton presented the 100-millionth book in her Imagination Library program to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

• Today in 1935, Gene Autry starred in the sci-fi western “The Phantom Empire,” which included his song “That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine.” His co-star was Smiley Burnette, and the plot was that Autry finds a lost race of people with laser guns living underneath his ranch.
• Today in 1957, Patsy Cline made her debut on the pop charts with “Walkin’ After Midnight.”
• Today in 1959, “Don’t Take Your Guns To Town” earned Johnny Cash a #1 country single in Billboard.
• Today in 1978, Kenny Rogers won the GRAMMY in the Best Male Country Vocal Performance category for “Lucille.”
• Today in 1979, Tanya Tucker’s “TNT” album was certified gold.
• Today in 1983, at the GRAMMYs, “Always On My Mind” won three awards: Song of the Year and Best Country Song for writers Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, and Best Country Vocal Performance Male for Willie Nelson.
• Today in 1985, “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On” earned Mel McDaniel his one and only #1 single in Billboard.
• Today in 1988, the “Born To Boogie” album by Hank Williams Jr. was certified platinum.
• Today in 1990, Reba McEntire gave birth to her son Shelby Stephen Blackstock.
• Today in 1993, the “Hard Workin’ Man” album by Brooks & Dunn was released.
• Today in 1996, George Strait’s “Strait Out of the Box” 4-CD set was certified for sales of three million copies, making it the best-selling country box set of all time.
• Today in 1996, Martina McBride’s album, “Wild Angels,” was certified gold.
• Today in 1996, Alan Jackson hit #1 on the charts with “I’ll Try.”
• Today in 1999, Garth Brooks attended spring training camp with baseball team the San Diego Padres as a non-roster player. In lieu of salary, the Padres Foundation agreed to contribute to the Touch ‘Em All Foundation, a charity Brooks co-founded in collaboration with Major League Baseball players, entertainers and corporate partners.
• Today in 2000, Lonestar’s “Lonely Grill” album was certified double platinum.
• Today in 2000, at the GRAMMYs, The Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain each won two awards. The Chicks got Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group for “Ready To Run,” and “Fly” won Best Country Album.
• Today in 2002, LeeAnn Rimes and Dean Sheremet got married. The couple split in 2009 amidst the revelations of her affair with Eddie Cibrian – and were divorced in June 2010. She was engaged to Cibrian by December 2010 and they married in April 2011.
• Today in 2003, Alan Jackson won his very first GRAMMY. It was in the Best Country Song category for “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning).”
• Today in 2004, Brad Paisley was the celebrity monarch for the Krewe of Orpheus at the Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans.
• Today in 2009, Gloriana’s video, “Wild At Heart,” premiered.
• Today in 2012, Luke Bryan scored a platinum single from the RIAA for “I Don’t Want This Night To End.”
• Today in 2012, Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” hit the airwaves.
• Today in 2013, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires were married in Nashville.
• Today in 2013, Tim McGraw’s “Two Lanes Of Freedom” spent a week at the top of the Billboard country albums chart.
• Today in 2018, Cole Swindell’s single, “Break Up In The End,” was released.
• Today in 2019, Steve Earle, Bob McDill, Christopher Cross and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons are inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Paramount Theatre in Austin.
• Today in 2019, Taylor Swift was a surprise performer for a fan’s engagement party.
• Today in 2012, Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” hit the airwaves.
• Today in 2020, Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis, Lee Roy Parnell, Walt Wilkins and Waylon Payne performed at Gruene Hall in Texas to raise money for Hal Ketchum’s medical expenses as he battled Alzheimer’s disease.
• Today in 2021, Scotty McCreery posted a video showing his dip into a chilly backyard pool. His “polar plunge” in place raised more than $2,600 for Special Olympics.
• Today in 2021, Luke Combs’ single, “Forever After All,” hit the airwaves.

• Today in 1956, Elvis Presley opened for Little Jimmy Dickens. After the show, the future Byrd Gram Parsons, who was in the front row, went back stage to get Elvis’ autograph.
• Today in 1968, Johnny Cash proposed to June Carter during a tour performance.
• Today in 1969, before a nasty split, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs made their last appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.
• Today in 1988, George Strait’s “If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’)” album was released.
• Today in 1989, at the GRAMMYs, K.T. Oslin’s “Hold Me” won both Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.
• Today in 1992, Lee Roy Parnell released the single, “Tender Moment.”
• Today in 1993, the “Alibis” album by Tracy Lawrence was released.
• Today in 1993, Chris LeDoux’s album, “Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy,” was certified gold.
• Today in 1994, Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Video Collection” was certified gold.
• Today in 1997, Paul Brandt married his wife, Elizabeth.
• Today in 1997, “A Man This Lonely” got Brooks & Dunn to the top of the Billboard country chart.
• Today in 1999, Brad Paisley released the single “Who Needs Pictures.”
• Today in 2000, Phil Vassar released his self-titled debut album.
• Today in 2003, “The Baby” earned Blake Shelton a #1 Billboard single.
• Today in 2007, a “CMT Crossroads” taping featured Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson singing “Because of You” and “Why Haven’t I Heard From You.”
• Today in 2012, as a surprise during a show, Lady Antebellum sang “Do I” with Luke Bryan and “A Little Bit Stronger” with Sara Evans.
• Today in 2015, Tim McGraw performed “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” from the documentary, “Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me,” during the Oscar Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. In attendance were Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman.
• Today in 2017, Jon Pardi cleaned up with a gold single from the RIAA for “Dirt On My Boots.”