- Today in 1970, Johnny Cash performed at the White House at the invitation of President Richard M. Nixon. Nixon asked Cash to perform “Okie From Muskogee,” but Johnny refused since it wasn’t his song. Instead, he sang his hit, “A Boy Named Sue.”
- Today in 1992, Aaron Tippin scored his first #1 hit single, “There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with the Radio.”
- Today in 1996, Alan Jackson’s “Greatest Hits Collection” CD was certified triple platinum.
- Today in 1997, Toby Keith and his wife Tricia became parents to their third child, a son named Stelen Keith Covel (He joined big sisters Shelley & Krystal).
- Today in 1998, Clint Black and Skip Ewing’s song, “Something That We Do,” was selected as Song of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
- Today in 1998, Tim McGraw began a six-week residency at #1 on the Billboard country chart with “Just To See You Smile”
- Today in 1998, “People” magazine announced that Alabama was chosen by readers as America’s favorite band. In “People’s” poll of 1000 readers, Alabama came in first with 4.1% of the vote. Alabama, who first walked away with the category in 1985, barely edged out another band you might have heard of — the Beatles. In the male vocalist category, Garth came out on top in the category with 8% of the vote. George Strait nearly placed second with 3.9%, but he was one-tenth of a percent behind Elton John. And even though the rumors abound that Elvis Presley has been dead since 1977, he placed fourth — just ahead of Wynonna’s old touring and duet partner, Michael Bolton.
- Today in 2000, ABC-TV began using Lonestar’s smash-hit single, “Amazed,” in promotional spots for their primetime-hit sitcom, “2 Guys and a Girl.”
- Today in 2000, Garth Brooks was named Artist of the Decade for the ’90s during the American Music Awards. He also won trophies for Favorite Male Country Artist and Favorite Country Album, for “Sevens.” Shania Twain took home two.
- Today in 2001,Brooks & Dunn’s album “Steers & Stripes” was released.
- Today in 2004, The Judds make their Grand Ole Opry debut, performing “Flies On The Butter (You Can’t Go Home Again)” and “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Old Days).”
- Today in 2006, Sugarland announced Kristen Hall was leaving the trio to concentrate on songwriting. While it had been suggested that leaving was her choice, the fact that she’s an open lesbian was rumored as the reason she was pushed out. In July 2008, Hall filed a lawsuit for $14-million against Nettles and Bush in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta says she bankrolled much of the group’s debut album on her credit cards. The remaining band members countered that it was in $100,000 debt at her exit. We’ll never know who would’ve won, as the case was settled in November 2010.
- Today in 2009, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley welcomed their second son, Jasper Warren Paisley, at a Nashville hospital.
- Today in 2011, a “colossal collapse of time management”: John Rich evaluated project leader Gary Busey’s leadership on the night’s episode of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” hosted by Donald Trump on NBC.
- Today in 2015, Chris Young snagged a gold single from the RIAA for “Lonely Eyes.”
- Today in 2017, Cassidy Bentley ran the Boston Marathon in three-hours, 26-minutes, with hubby Dierks Bentley and their three kids cheering her on. She raised more than $23-thousand in the process, including donations from Kix Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Nicole Kidman and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
- Today in 2017, Jon Pardi’s single, “Heartache On The Dance Floor,” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2017, Keith Urban scored a platinum album from the RIAA for “Get Closer.”
TAG SEARCH RESULTS FOR: ""
2023 ACM Nominations Are Out
Posted on by Bob Ballard
The 58th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards is fast approaching – and the full list of nominees was released yesterday. Leading the pack are HARDY and Lainey Wilson, who have seven and six nominations respectively (three of them jointly); Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert and Cole Swindell are right behind them with five nominations each. Some fun facts:
- Miranda Lambert won the “Triple Crown” last year (where an artist has won entertainer of the year, new artist and artist of the year over the course of their career.) If either Luke Combs or Chris Stapleton win entertainer of the year this year, they will have also won the “Triple Crown”
- Speaking of Miranda, she’s up for female artist of the year for a record-breaking 17th time; this year’s nomination pushes her past Reba McEntire‘s 16 career nominations in the category.
- Jason Aldean is nominated for entertainer of the year for the first time since 2017; of last year’s nominees in that category, only Eric Church is not nominated this year. And for the first time ever, there are seven nominees for this award, where it was traditionally a five-nominee category.
- This will only be the second time in the history of the ACM’s that the awards show will broadcast live from Texas – the previous time was back in 2015 for the award’s 50th anniversary.
- For those interested in how women are represented (something that periodically comes up), the Academy notes that this year women are accounted for as nominees in all the major categories. The organization also pointed out that women actually dominate the album of the year category, with albums by Wilson, Lambert and Ashley McBryde being up against releases by Combs and Jon Pardi.
The show will air live on Prime Video May 11, and is hosted by Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks. See our associated story about nomination snubs and surprises here. Here is your complete list of nominees for this years ACMs:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Jason Aldean
- Kane Brown
- Luke Combs
- Miranda Lambert
- Chris Stapleton
- Carrie Underwood
- Morgan Wallen
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde
- Carly Pearce
- Lainey Wilson
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Kane Brown
- Luke Combs
- Jordan Davis
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Maddie & Tae
- The War and Treaty
GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Midland
- Old Dominion
- Zac Brown Band
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Priscilla Block
- Megan Moroney
- Caitlyn Smith
- Morgan Wade
- Hailey Whitters
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Zach Bryan
- Jackson Dean
- ERNEST
- Dylan Scott
- Nate Smith
- Bailey Zimmerman
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville – Ashley McBryde
- Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson
- Growin’ Up – Luke Combs
- Mr. Saturday Night – Jon Pardi
- Palomino – Miranda Lambert
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
- Heart Like A Truck – Lainey Wilson
- Never Wanted To Be That Girl – Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde
- She Had Me At Heads Carolina – Cole Swindell
- Thank God – Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown
- ‘Til You Can’t – Cody Johnson
SONG OF THE YEAR
- Sand In My Boots – Morgan Wallen
- She Had Me At Heads Carolina – Cole Swindell
- ‘Til You Can’t – Cody Johnson
- wait in the truck – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson
- You Should Probably Leave – Chris Stapleton
VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR
- HEARTFIRST – Kelsea Ballerini
- She Had Me At Heads Carolina – Cole Swindell
- Thank God – Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown
- ‘Til You Can’t – Cody Johnson
- wait in the truck – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson
- What He Didn’t Do – Carly Pearce
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
- Nicolle Galyon
- Ashley Gorley
- Chase McGill
- Josh Osborne
- Hunter Phelps
ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- ERNEST
- HARDY
- Miranda Lambert
- Morgan Wallen
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR
- At the End of a Bar – Chris Young with Mitchell Tenpenny
- She Had Me At Heads Carolina [Remix] – Cole Swindell & Jo Dee Messina
- Thank God – Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown
- Thinking ‘Bout You – Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter
- wait in the truck – HARDY feat. Lainey Wilson
Source: People
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1932, Loretta Lynn was born in Butcher Holly, Kentucky. She was the first woman to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award in 1972 and landed in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988.
- Today in 1958, Don Gibson’s “Oh Lonesome Me” hit the top spot on the Billboard country chart.
- Today in 1964, Fiddler Stuart Duncan was born in Quantico, Virginia. He plays on numerous country hits with the Nashville Bluegrass Band and also with Faith Hill (“Breathe”), The Band Perry (“If I Die Young”) and Shania Twain (“Man! I Feel Like A Woman!).
- Today in 1979, the “Classics” album by Kenny Rogers & Dottie West was released.
- Today in 1979, Barbara Mandrell’s remake of the R&B hit, “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right” tops the Billboard country chart.
- Today in 1981, Hank Williams Jr. recorded “A Country Boy Can Survive.”
- Today in 1983, Kenny Rogers’ album, “We’ve Got Tonight,” was certified gold.
- Today in 1986, “Alabama’s Greatest Video Hits” video by Alabama was certified gold. As a bonus, Alabama won Entertainer of the Year for a record fifth straight time at the 21st annual Academy of Country Music awards, aired by NBC from Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. The band also collected its sixth straight Top Vocal Group trophy.
- Today in 1992, the single, “Achy Breaky Heart,” by Billy Ray Cyrus was released.
- Today in 1997, the website, country.com, now known as CMT.com, was officially launched.
- Today in 1997, Pam Tillis released her single “All the Good Ones Are Gone.”
- Today in 1998, Shania Twain joined Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan and Carole King at New York’s Beacon Theatre for a taping of “VH1 Divas Live,” with all six singers combining talents on “Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like).”
- Today in 1999, the body of Tammy Wynette was exhumed and an autopsy performed in Nashville at the request of her husband, George Richey.
- Today in 2000, Brad Paisley was named International Rising Star at the HMV British Country Music Awards. Other prizes went to Reba McEntire was dubbed the International Female Vocalist (for the second consecutive year) and the Dixie Chicks scored two trophies in the International Group/Duo and International Album categories. George Jones snagged an award for International Male Vocalist while Dolly Parton won for International Independent Artist. Alison Krauss & Union Station didn’t do too badly either, they garnered their 7th consecutive win as International Bluegrass Group.
- Today in 2002, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett and Dave Matthews were among the artists saluting Willie Nelson at a special concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
- Today in 2004, Dolly Parton was honored as a Living Legend by the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
- Today in 2008, Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler, and Trace Adkins were the big winners at the CMT Music Awards. Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, and Brad Paisley also took awards, along with country-rock duets by Bon Jovi and LeAnn Rimes and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.
- Today in 2008, the CMT talent competition “Can You Duet” debuted. Amongst the panelists were Naomi Judd and “Amazed” songwriter Aimee Mayo.
- Today in 2008, Kelly Pickler won three trophies during the CMT Music Awards at Belmont University’s Curb Events Center in Nashville.
- Today in 2008, Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery and his wife, Tracy, were honored for their charitable efforts on behalf of the Danville, Kentucky fire department’s Christmas Toy Drive. Danville is the singer’s hometown.
- Today in 2009, LeAnn Rimes’ book “What I Cannot Change” arrived in stores.
- Today in 2010, Kenny Chesney attended a special advanced screening of his concert film “Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D” in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee.
- Today in 2010, Garth Brooks was in Washington, DC for Grammys on the Hill, a music advocacy and awards event.
- Today in 2010, Lyric Street Records announced that the label was closing. Rascal Flatts was among the acts with the company.
- Today in 2011, Jason Aldean joined Kelly Clarkson to perform their chart-topping collaboration “Don’t You Wanna Stay” on “American Idol.”
- Today in 2012, Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood married Kelli Cashiola at Front Porch Farms in Ashland City, Tennessee. Lady A bandmates Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott attended. Singer/songwriter Dave Barnes performed.
- Today in 2012, Trisha Yearwood launched her cooking show, “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen,” on the Food Network.
- Today in 2013, Trace Adkins plays a caveman as his team creates a silent movie to support Australian Gold suntan lotion on NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice,” hosted by Donald Trump. As the winning project manager, Adkins earns $40,000 for his charity, the American Red Cross.
- Today in 2015, “Oh Gussie! Cooking And Visiting In Kimberly’s Southern Kitchen,” a cookbook by Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman.
- Today in 2015, albums arriving in stores included: Reba McEntire’s “Love Somebody” and Dwight Yoakam’s “Second Hand Heart.”
- Today in 2015, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and Lyle Lovett played for President Barack Obama as PBS shots a gospel-themed installment of “In Performance At The White House.”
- Today in 2017, Brett Young’s single, “In Case You Didn’t Know,” and Brett Eldredge’s track, “Wanna Be That Song,” both went gold.
- Today in 2017, Keith Urban’s albums, “Fuse” and “Greatest Hits,” both went platinum.
- Today in 2017, Madame Tussauds opened a Nashville location at the Opry Mills Mall. Artists represented in the wax museum include Kenny Rogers, Elvis Presley, Blake Shelton, George Jones, Reba McEntire and Loretta Lynn.
- Today in 2018, Kacey Musgraves’ album, “Golden Hour,” debuted in the top spot on the Billboard country albums chart.
- Today in 2019, Hal Ketchum’s wife, Andrea, revealed the singer was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, forcing him to stop touring. He ultimately passed away November 23rd, 2020.
- Today in 2020, Brett Young’s single, “Catch,” went gold single.
- Today in 2020, Luke Combs wrote “Six Feet Apart” via Zoom with Brent Cobb and Rob Snyder.
- Today in 2020, Tyler Rich scored a gold single from the RIAA for “The Difference.”
- Today in 2020, Jake Owen’s “Made For You” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2021, the Twelve Thirty Club, a restaurant owned in part by former ACM Awards nominee Justin Timberlake, opens in Nashville.
Kenny Rogers’ Posthumous ‘Life Is Like A Song’ Album Coming In June
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Kenny Rogers left us decades of incredible music when he passed away three years ago – but for some people, that’s not enough. For those people, we have wonderful news. A new Kenny album is on the way June 2!
The posthumous set of previously unreleased tracks is called “Life Is Like A Song,” and it features ten tracks (twelve if you buy the digital version), and includes three duets, with Kim Keyes, Jamie O’Neal and Dolly Parton. Much of the collection is Kenny’s rendition of songs made famous by other artists, including Eric Clapton‘s “Wonderful Tonight,” the Temptations‘ “I Wish it Would Rain” and Lionel Richie‘s “Goodbye.” For those that can’t wait, two tracks have been released: the Temptations classic and the swampy, rocking “Love Is A Drug.” Check out the entire track list for “Life Is Like A Song”:
1. “Love Is a Drug”
2. “I Wish It Would Rain”
3. “Am I Too Late” (with Kim Keyes)
4. “Tell Me That You Love Me” (with Dolly Parton)
5. “Straight Into Love” (with Jamie O’Neal)
6. “Wonderful Tonight”
7. “Catchin’ Grasshoppers”
8. “That’s Love To Me”
9. “I Will Wait For You”
10. “Goodbye”
11. “Say Hello to Heaven” (digital deluxe bonus track)
12. “At Last” (digital deluxe bonus track)
Source: Taste Of Country
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1959, George Jones’ “White Lightning” picked up his first #1 country single in Billboard magazine as a recording artist.
- Today in 1963, Bill Anderson’s “Still” reached #1 on Billboard’s country chart.
- Today in 1965, Roger Miller set a record by winning five GRAMMYS in one night. No other country star has ever won that many at one time.
- Today in 1970, Bettie Azevedez picked up five trophies on behalf of Merle Haggard in the Academy Of Country & Western Music awards at the Hollywood Palladium.
- Today in 1996, Lonestar’s “No News” topped Billboard for the first time.
- Today in 2002, Faith Hill was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame. She wasn’t there, though, and only about 70 people attended the induction ceremony at the University of Southern Mississippi. Other new inductees include jazz diva Cassandra Wilson; former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley; Walter Turnbull, the founder and conductor of the Boys Choir of Harlem; blues great Howlin’ Wolf; pop musician Van Dyke Parks; and former member of the Temptations David Ruffin.
- Today in 2003, Andy Griggs, Kris Kristofferson, Jeffrey Steele and others teamed up to play in a Waylon Jennings tribute concert in Scottsdale, Arizona. The event was one of three shows with the theme “Crossing the Bound’ries,” an acoustic evening of Waylon music and anecdotes that also raised funds for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Also participating were Waylon’s widow, Jessi Coulter, and son Shooter Jennings.
- Today in 2005, Willie Nelson’s attorney sent a Texas Senator a letter declining to have a toll road named for the singer. Nelson told the Austin American-Statesman, “I’d put my name on an electric chair, too, but I don’t think that’d be too great a thing.”
- Today in 2009, Big Machine released Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” to radio.
- Today in 2012, Jana Kramer performed “Why Ya Wanna” as she made her Grand Ole Opry debut.
- Today in 2013, Jason Aldean performed the first of a handful of stadium dates on his 2013 itinerary, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, with Luke Bryan, Jake Owens and Thomas Rhett. Ludacris made a surprise appearance.
- Today in 2014, Taylor Swift made a surprise cameo appearance during Seth Rogen’s show-opening monologue on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” “You’re getting really upset,” she exclaimed. “And whenever a man shows emotion, I appear!”
- Today in 2014, the late Johnny Cash was atop the “Billboard” country albums chart with “Out Among The Stars.”
- Today in 2015, Trace Adkins embarked on a USO tour that took him to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Germany.
- Today in 2018, Jason Aldean dropped his album, “Rearview Town.”
- Today in 2018, the John Prine album, “The Tree Of Forgiveness,” was released.
- Today in 2019, George Strait’s “Honky Tonk Time Machine” was locked in the top spot on the Billboard country albums chart.
- Today in 2020, Luke Bryan’s single, “One Margarita,” was released.
- Today in 2020, “Biography: Kenny Rogers” aired on A&E. On it, Rogers and Dolly Parton sang their classic, “Islands In The Stream,” and featured interviews included thoughts from Lady A, Justin Moore, Reba McEntire, Jamey Johnson, Kim Carnes and Chris Stapleton.
- Today in 2021, the Dustin Lynch single, “Thinking ‘Bout You,” which features MacKenzie Porter, hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2021, Morgan Wallen wrote a letter to fans, announcing he was dropping out of the upcoming Luke Bryan tour as he continues to work out personal issues.
MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: “AJAX”
Posted on by Bob Ballard
This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Ajax”, a 7 year old Pit/Lab Mix. Ajax is a happy go lucky chap who not only loves both adults and kids, but also gets along great with other dogs and doesn’t seem to mind cats. Ajax loves to play and he’s housetrained as well as fully vaccinated and vetted.
If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Ajax 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 Ajax with Shanna from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:
Clay Walker And Wife Expecting Baby Number Six
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Clay Walker and wife Jessica announced yesterday that the couple is expecting! The is baby #6 for the pair; Clay also has two adult daughters from a previous marriage. The new member of the family, already known to be a daughter, is due this fall. “We are beyond excited about having a little girl!” Walker wrote in a press release. “Her brothers and sisters are awaiting her arrival. God is great!”
The couple’s new addition will join sons Christiaan, 2, Ezra Stephen, 5, Elijah Craig, 10, and William Clayton, 14, and daughter Mary-Elizabeth, 13, plus Walker’s adult daughters Skylor and MaClay.
Source: People
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1961, at the GRAMMYs, Marty Robbins won Best Country & Western Performance for “El Paso.”
- Today in 1972, Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium hosted the first Fan Fair.
- Today in 1980, Christy Pride hit the top of the charts with her remake of “Honky Tonk Blues.”
- Today in 1986, the Judds topped the singles charts with “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Ol’ Days).”
- Today in 1989, Garth Brooks’ self-titled debut album was released.
- Today in 1991, the single, “Down Home,” by Alabama was #1 on the charts.
- Today in 1993, Tim McGraw released his self-titled debut album.
- Today in 1994, the “Big Time” album by Little Texas was certified platinum.
- Today in 1994, Dwight Yoakam’s “Hillbilly Deluxe” album was certified platinum.
- Today in 1995, Alabama’s single, “Give Me One More Shot,” topped the country charts.
- Today in 1996, Neal McCoy hit #1 with the single, “You Gotta Love That.”
- Today in 1997, Travis Tritt married Theresa Nelson in Georgia. He sang “More Than You’ll Ever Know” to his bride.
- Today in 1999, the “Greatest Hits” album by Diamond Rio was certified gold.
- Today in 1999, Shania Twain became the only female artist in music history to sell at least 10-million units with back-to-back releases. Plus, her “Come On Over” album was given the first-ever Diamond Award.
- Today in 2000, Bill Anderson and Jon Randall wrote “Whiskey Lullaby.”
- Today in 2002, the annual gala, “An American Celebration At Ford’s Theater,” from Washington D.C. aired on ABC. SHeDAISY was among the list of folks entertaining President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and a slew of other dignitaries.
- Today in 2002, Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Circus & Wild West Show” tour kicked off in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The show, which included Gary Allan, Chris Cagle, Trick Pony, Dwight Yoakam and Cledus T. Judd (as the emcee), wrapped in Holmdel, New Jersey on July 28th.
- Today in 2010, as the Pultzer Prize winners were announced, Hank Williams was honored with a special citation for “craftsmanship as a songwriter.”
- Today in 2014, Taylor Swift made a surprise cameo during Seth Rogen’s opening “Saturday Night Live” monologue, saying: “You’re getting really upset. And whenever a man shows emotion, I appear!”
- Today in 2016, Merle Haggard covers abound as Keith Urban and Vince Gill co-host the All for the Hall benefit at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Gill offered up “The Fightin’ Side Of Me,” Sam Hunt sang “The Way I Am” and Emmylou Harris performed “Kern River.” Also appearing were: Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Jason Isbell and Maddie & Tae.
- Today in 2019. Blake Shelton’s video for “God’s Country” premiered on CMT.
- Today in 2020, “Willie Nelson: American Outlaw–An All-Star Concert Celebration” airs on A&E, with George Strait duetting on “Good Hearted Woman.” Also aboard were Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Emmylou Harris, Ray Benson, Lyle Lovett and Chris Stapleton, who teamed with Nelson on “Always On My Mind.”
Carrie Underwood Marking 15 Years At The Grand Ole Opry With Two Shows In One Night
Posted on by Bob Ballard
June 10, 2005 – Carrie Underwood plays the Grand Ole Opry for the first time, just two weeks after winning Season 4 of “American Idol.” At the time, she said she didn’t feel like she deserved to be there – but 18 years later, how things have changed – as there are few in country music today that deserve to be on that stage more than her.
Nearly three years later, on May 10, 2008, Carrie was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry by country legend Randy Travis – an invitation that, 15 years down the road, has proven to be well-deserved. Now, with that 15th anniversary approaching, Carrie and the Opry have announced that the singer is going to mark the occasion with two shows – on the same night!
“@CarrieUnderwood steps back into the circle on May 13th for TWO shows celebrating her 15th Opry anniversary!,” the Opry posted on their Instagram. The shows will also feature Michael Ray, Deana Carter – and perhaps a few other stars yet to be announced. See the Instagram post below for ticket information.
Source: Taste Of Country
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1953, Hank Williams was on top of the charts with “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”
- Today in 1978, the “Waylon & Willie” album by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson was certified platinum.
- Today in 1980, Alabama signed their first record contract.
- Today in 1981, “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma” by David Frizzell and Shelly West hit the top of the charts.
- Today in 1988, Ricky Van Shelton earned a gold record for his debut album, “Wild-Eyed Dream.”
- Today in 1992, Lee Greenwood married 1989’s Miss Tennessee, Kimberly Payne.
- Today in 1992, Wynonna scored her first #1 single as a solo artist with “She Is His Only Need.”
- Today in 1994, Tim McGraw’s first big hit, “Indian Outlaw,” was certified gold, despite controversy over the song’s lyrics. For example, one Cherokee chief called it “insulting to Indians.”
- Today in 1996, Patty Loveless’ album, “When Fallen Angels Fly,” was certified platinum.
- Today in 1997, Tracy Lawrence’s appearance at the Wal-Mart in North Richland Hills, Texas was billed by some as the “largest outdoor in-store appearance in the history of mankind.” The event drew an estimated 6,000 screaming fans, who showed up to hear him perform and see him autograph his album, “The Coast Is Clear.” Later, Tracy took the stage and performed five songs, including “Stars Over Texas,” “Time Marches On” and “Better Man Better Off.” The audience got so rowdy that they actually stormed the stage, bowling over security officers to get Tracy’s autograph.
- Today in 2000, Clay Davidson’s debut album, “Unconditional,” was released.
- Today in 2000, “Manilow Country” premiered on TNN. The two-hour celebration of pop star Barry Manilow’s 25-year career included artists like Deanna Carter, Lila McCann, Neal McCoy, Jo Dee Messina, Lorrie Morgan, Kevin Sharp and Trisha Yearwood covering some of Barry’s biggest hits, from “It’s a Miracle” to “Copacabana.” Barry called his duet of “Could It Be Magic” with Deana Carter his most romantic moment on stage, ever.
- Today in 2000, Collin Raye was the keynote speaker at the 9th annual “Make a Difference Day Awards.”
- Today in 2000, Faith Hill appeared on VH1’s “Divas 2000: A Tribute To Diana Ross,” with Mariah Carey and Donna Summer.
- Today in 2001, Lonestar’s Richie McDonald and his wife, Lorie, welcomed daughter, Maisie Elizabeth McDonald, in Nashville. The girl is noted in the hit “My Front Porch Looking In,” as a “carrot top who can barely walk.”
- Today in 2006, Toby Keith’s new label, Show Dog Nashville, released its first album, Keith’s “White Trash With Money.”
- Today in 2013, Taylor Swift’s Diet Coke ad, featuring her song “22,” debuted during the FOX telecast of “American Idol.”
- Today in 2016, Darius Rucker made a surprise appearance on the South Carolina Gamecocks’ college team, catching a touchdown at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia during the annual Garnet & Black Game. The black team won the contest, 14-13.
- Today in 2017, Lee Brice headlined a black-tie benefit for cancer patients at the East Ivy Mansion in Nashville, joined by American Young, Paul McDonald and Louis Brice.
- Today in 2017, Alabama guitarist Jeff Cook revealed in “The Tennessean” that he’s suffering from Parkinson’s disease, forcing him to cut back significantly on concert appearances
- Today in 2017, the Grand Ole Opry got surprise visits from Blake Shelton, who sang “Honey Bee” and “Ol’ Red,” and from The Oak Ridge Boys, who performed “Elvira” with Home Free. The night’s scheduled guests included Rascal Flatts, Terri Clark and Keith Urban, marking five years since he was asked to join.
NEWSLETTER
Stay updated, sign up for our newsletter.
Thanks for signing up!