• Today in 1955, Johnny Cash auditioned for Sam Philips at Sun Records in Memphis. Philips liked “Hey, Porter,” and asked Cash to come back and record the next day, despite passing on most of his other songs.
• Today in 1981, Willie Nelson got a #1 single with “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground.”
• Today in 1987, Restless Heart hit the top of the charts with “I’ll Still Be Loving You.”
• Today in 1988, at the Academy of Country Music awards, Randy Travis won Top Male Vocalist and his song “Forever And Ever, Amen,” won Single Record and Song of the Year.
• Today in 1994, the “8 seconds” soundtrack went gold. Artists who contributed included John Anderson, Pam Tillis, Billy Dean, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, McBride & The Ride, Karla Bonoff, David Lee Murphy, Mark Chesnutt, Patty Smyth, and Bill Conti.
• Today in 1998, Clint Black and Steve Wariners “Nothin’ But The Taillights” hit the top of the Billboard country chart.
• Today in 1999, Garth Brooks experienced the beginning of spring training, getting a single up the middle of pitcher Mike Sirotka during a San Diego Padres game, as they lost to the Chicago White Sox.
• Today in 2000, Nickel Creek released a self-titled debut album.
• Today in 2004, Rascal Flatts singer Gary LeVox and his wife Tara gave birth to their second daughter, Brooklyn Leigh Vernon.
• Today in 2014, in an episode of “CMT Crossroads,” Dierks Bentley and OneRepublic sang “Apologize,” “Up On The Ridge,” “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” and “I Hold On.”
• Today in 2015, Jason Aldean married Brittany Kerr in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. “Duck Dynasty” star Willie Robertson conducted the ceremony, and Tyler Farr was one of the groomsmen. Aldean and Kerr’s first dance? Lionel Richie’s “Stuck On You.”
• Today in 2017, Little Big Town performed in Australia for the first time, appearing at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney with opening act Kip Moore.
• Today in 2018, Keith Urban’s “Coming Home” hit the airwaves.

Today in 1984, The Judds made their first large-venue appearance opening for the Statler Brothers at an arena in Omaha.
Today in 1993, George Strait’s “Heartland” topped the Billboard charts at #1.
Today in 1998, Steve Wariner gave his first public performance during the Grand Ole Opry of “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven.”
Today in 2002, Alison Krauss + Union Station picked up a gold album for “New Favorite.”
Today in 2004, Tim McGraw rose to #1 in Billboard with “Watch The Wind Blow By.”
Today in 2004, Gretchen Wilson’s video for “Redneck Woman” debuted on CMT’s “Most Wanted Live.” The clip included Hank Williams Jr. and Kid Rock.
Today in 2011, “Do not challenge the intelligence of my audience,” said John Rich, taking offense after Jose Canseco and Richard Hatch put down his theme song for Camping World on NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice.” The men’s team won the episode.
Today in 2013, Lady Antebellum nabbed a quadruple-platinum album from the Recording Industry Association of America for “Need You Now.”
Today in 2014, Canaan Smith announced his engagement to Christy Hardesty. The lovebirds married the following August and in October 2019? Th they welcomed daughter Virginia Rose Smith.
Today in 2016, Trisha Yearwood portrayed Mary, the mother of Jesus, as FOX aired a live two-hour TV special, “The Passion.”
Today in 2018, Sturgill Simpson was honored by the state legislature in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Today in 2018, Chris Janson joined the Grand Ole Opry…inducted by Garth Brooks.
Today in 2019, Lefty Frizzell’s “The Long Black Veil” was entered into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. The 2019 class also included music by Cyndi Lauper, Sam & Dave, Neil Diamond and Ritchie Valens.
Today in 2019, Randy Owen received the Heart Of An Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of America during a luncheon in Anniston, Alabama.

• Today in 1956, Elvis Presley got a number one Billboard country single with “Heartbreak Hotel.”
• Today in 1969, Glen Campbell released both the album and the single “Galveston.”
• Today in 1972, both hippies and traditional country fans flocked to an outdoor festival in Dripping Springs, Texas that featured Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Roy Acuff, Buck Owens, Kris Kristofferson, Tex Ritter, and Tom T. Hall.
• Today in 1972, a 13-year-old Tanya Tucker entered a studio to record her first hit, “Delta Dawn.”
• Today in 1986, the “Lost In The Fifties” album by Ronnie Milsap was released.
• Today in 1989, Keith Whitley hit number one on the “Radio & Records” country chart with “I’m No Stranger to the Rain.”
• Today in 1990, “Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart” by Randy Travis hit the top of the Billboard country chart, where it would stay for four weeks.
• Today in 1992, Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire were among the winners at the 18th Annual People’s Choice Awards, taking home trophies in the Favorite Male and Female Country Music Performer categories. They also trumped their pop counterparts in capturing the awards for overall Favorite Male and Female Musical Performer.
• Today in 1995, Suzy Bogguss and her husband, Doug Crider, became parents to son Ben.
• Today in 1995, Clay Walker topped the country charts with “This Woman and This Man.”
• Today in 1997, filming began on the first motion picture ever shot inside of Elvis Presley’s Graceland. “Finding Graceland” starred Harvey Keitel as a man claiming to be Elvis and Bridget Fonda as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator.
• Today in 1998, Jo Dee Messina released her second album, “I’m Alright.”
• Today in 1998, Doubleday announced it was canceling LeAnn Rimes’ two-book deal, which was reportedly worth two-million-dollars. They made the decision after LeAnn’s book “Holiday In Your Heart” failed to sell as well as expected.
• Today in 1998, Shania Twain announced plans for her first world tour.
• Today in 2000, Shania Twain’s “Come On Over” was certified for sales of 17-million in the U.S., making it the best-selling solo album by a female artist.
• Today in 2001, quarterback Peyton Manning married Ashley Thompson, and Kenny Chesney sang “Me And You” at the wedding.
• Today in 2002, Vince Gill was elected president of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. He succeeded Marty Stuart, who enjoyed six consecutive terms as president.
• Today in 2003, Dixie Chick Natalie Maines apologized to President George Bush for comments she made a week earlier in London, including saying she was ashamed she and Bush shared Texas as a home state.
• Today in 2004, Kenny Chesney performed at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, setting a new attendance record with 70-thousand-668 tickets sold for the show.
• Today in 2004, Brett Warren and his wife, Raquel, welcomed Angeli Nicole Warren to their family.
• Today in 2005, Keith Urban began a three-night performance at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. During his encore, Kenny Chesney joined him onstage to sing Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried.”
• Today in 2006, Kenny Chesney climbed to number one on the “Radio & Records” country chart with “Living in Fast Forward.”
• Today in 2007, Loretta Lynn received an honorary doctorate from Boston’s Berklee College of Music in recognition of her contributions to contemporary music and for using her songs to tackle real-life situations faced by many women. The presentation was made on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, where Lynn performed that evening.
• Today in 2007, an installment of “CMT Cross Country” featuring Big & Rich and John Anderson included the songs “Swingin’,” “8^th Of November,” “Seminole Wind,” and “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy.)”
• Today in 2008, two former Dallas policemen accused of assaulting Steve Holy and Holy’s friend the previous December were indicted on felony charges. Both were facing a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, while one of the ex-officers was also charged with kidnapping.
• Today in 2008, Steve Azar took part in Gino Torretta’s Celebrity Golf and Gourmet Weekend, golfing for charity at the Jacaranda Golf Club in Plantation, Florida.
• Today in 2009, Willie Nelson cancelled his show in Clearwater, Florida, along with his next five consecutive nights of concerts, reportedly due to “illness.” Shows in Melbourne and Panama City, Florida; Choctaw, Mississippi; Marksville, Louisiana; and Springdale, Arkansas were affected.
• Today in 2009, Jewel took the “Dancing With the Stars” stage — to sing. Leg injuries forced her to drop out of the competition before the show launched, but she was regularly on hand to support husband Ty Murray — who was still a contender — and on this night she also promoted her then-upcoming CD “Lullaby” with a performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
• Today in 2009, Randy Travis was the guest mentor for “American Idol” finalists for the show’s “Grand Ole Opry Week.” In addition, his CD “I Told You So: The Ultimate Hits of Randy Travis” arrived in stores, while Brad Paisley’s single “Then,” Rascal Flatts’ song “Forever,” and Alabama’s Jeff Cook’s solo CD “Ashes Won’t Burn” were released digitally.
• Today in 2010, Taylor Swift was honored for a number of her career accomplishments at an event in Nashville. Her list of achievements included record sales of more than 13-million units and 25-million digital downloads. In addition, her CD “Fearless” was the best-selling album in the U.S. in both 2008 and 2009, and is the only disc ever to be named Album of the Year by the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, and capture the same honors at the GRAMMY Awards and the American Music Awards.
• Today in 2010, Larry Gatlin became a member of Fox Business Network’s “America’s Nightly Scoreboard” panel as a celebrity political analyst.
• Today in 2011, Country Music Hall of Famer Ferlin Husky died at his daughter’s home in Westmoreland, Tennessee. He had been suffering from congestive heart failure. Husky was 85.
• Today in 2011, Kenny Chesney launched his “Goin’ Coastal” tour in West Palm Beach, Florida, marking his official return to the concert circuit after taking a year off touring.
• Today in 2011, the Zac Brown Band made their RodeoHouston debut.
• Today in 2012, during Miranda Lambert’s “On Fire Tour,” she brought out Kelly Clarkson as a surprise to sing her own hit “Stronger.”
• Today in 2013, George Strait’s appearance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which was part of his “Cowboy Rides Away” final tour, drew a record crowd of 80-thousand-28 people.
• Today in 2013, Trace Adkins impressed fellow contestants on NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” with his acting ability, sweeping Susan Lucci off her feet in a soap-opera skit to promote Crystal Light. His team wins Donald Trump’s assignment in the episode, with Stephen Baldwin serving as project manager.
• Today in 2014, Frankie Ballard topped the charts for the first time with his single “Helluva Life.”
• Today in 2014, Luke Bryan’s “Play It Again” hit the airwaves.
• Today in 2014, the Band Perry performed their first USO concert for American troops at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.
• Today in 2017, Ty Herndon received the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award during the HRC Nashville Equality Dinner at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.
• Today in 2017, Jeff Bates spoke to inmates at the Henderson County Detention Center in Henderson, Kentucky, recounting his own incarceration for theft to feed addictions to methadone and alcohol. Bates hoped to inspire the convicts to retool their lives once they’re released.
• Today in 2017, Garth Brooks surprised attendees at South By Southwest with an unannounced show at Austin’s Broken Spoke. The 45-minute set includes covers of “The Fightin’ Side Of Me,” “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
• Today in 2017, Loretta Lynn and B.B. King were honored with Governor’s Arts Awards at the Tennessee Governor’s Mansion in Nashville.

• Today in 1922, WSB radio in Atlanta was the first radio station to feature country music.
• Today in 1951, Hank Williams recorded “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You),” “Howlin’ At The Moon,” and “My Heart Would Know.”
• Today in 1955, “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” by Bill Hayes reached the #1 spot on the pop music charts and stayed for five weeks. The hit song sold more than 7,000,000 records on more than 20 different labels. Coonskin caps started sprouting up everywhere as the Crockett craze spread like a frontier fire. “Davy Crockett” was a big TV show in the 1950s that starred Fess Parker in the memorable Walt Disney production.
• Today in 1974, the first performance from the new Grand Ole Opry House at Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, took place. President Richard Nixon helped open the new facility by playing three songs on the piano. He also played with a yo-yo on stage like Opry star Roy Acuff.
• Today in 1987, George Strait earned a gold record for “Ocean Front Property.”
• Today in 1991, seven members of Reba McEntire’s road band, as well as her tour manager, were killed when their plane crashed near San Diego. Singer/songwriter Chris Austin was also on the plane. Ironically, Reba would’ve been on the plane too, had she not decided to stay behind and get a good night’s sleep. Reba has described the incident as “the worst time in my life,” and her grief inspired her album, “For My Broken Heart.”
• Today in 1995, David Ball’s album, “Thinkin’ Problem,” was certified platinum.
• Today in 1996, Garth Brooks hit the top of the chart with “The Beaches of Cheyenne.”
• Today in 1998, LeAnn Rimes single “Blue” went gold.
• Today in 1999, Pam Tillis made her Broadway debut in “Smokey’s Joe Café.”
• Today in 1999, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) presented the first Diamond Awards to a slew of artists including Garth Brooks and the Beatles. The awards are given in recognition of albums and singles that have sold 10-million copies or more.
• Today in 2001, a Nashville judge refused to let LeAnn Rimes out of a recording contract with Curb Records that was approved at the request of her parents when she was 12. The following November, LeAnn and Curb came to an agreement and she re-signed with the label.
• Today in 2002, Tim McGraw’s “The Cowboy In Me” hit the top of the country charts.
• Today in 2005, at the CMT Music Awards, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, and Big & Rich each earned three nominations and Keith Urban and Gretchen Wilson snagged three apiece.
• Today in 2006, CMT aired Carrie Underwood’s video for “Don’t Forget To Remember Me.”
• Today in 2011, Sara Evans earned a gold single for “A Little Bit Stronger.”
• Today in 2020, in compliance with a request from Nashville mayor John Cooper, Dierks Bentley shut down his Whiskey Row bar to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Bentley also gifts each of his 90 hourly employees $1,000 to help them get through the next few weeks.
• Today in 2021, Clint Black Cowboy Coffee launched.

• Today in 1966, the late Roger Miller took home six GRAMMY Awards, topping the record he set the year before.
• Today in 1969, Glen Campbell’s single, “Galveston,” entered the Top 40 chart.
• Today in 1987, Barbara Mandrell was named All-Around Female Entertainer at the People’s Choice Awards.
• Today in 1989, Suzy Bogguss released her “Somewhere Between” album.
• Today in 1991, Doug Stone’s “In A Different Light” single debuted on the “Radio and Records” country chart.
• Today in 1994, Mary Chapin Carpenter’s album, “State Of The Heart,” was certified gold.
• Today in 1996, Lorrie Morgan’s “Greatest Hits” album went platinum.
• Today in 1996, Patty Loveless hit #1 on the charts with “You Can Feel Bad.”
• Today in 2000, Keith Urban made his American TV debut on NBC-TV’s “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
• Today in 2001, Dixie Chick Natalie Maines and her husband, Adrian Pasdar, welcomed their first child, Jackson Slade Pasdar.
• Today in 2002, Tommy Shane Steiner made his Grand Ole Opry debut.
• Today in 2003, Brad Paisley and his actress wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, were married.
• Today in 2005, Dierks Bentley’s self-titled debut became his first platinum album.
• Today in 2006, Faith Hill topped all artists with four nominations for the CMT Music Awards. Eight acts collect three nominations apiece: Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban, Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney.
• Today in 2014, Brantley Gilbert’s “Bottoms Up” topped the “Billboard” country singles chart.
• Today in 2016, Britney Spears made an unannounced appearance to introduce her sister, “I Got The Boy” songwriter Jamie Lynn Spears, on the Grand Ole Opry.
• Today in 2018, Dierks Bentley was the first star inducted in the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital’s Walk of Champions in Nashville.
• Today in 2018, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones and Lucinda Williams sang “When Will I Be Loved” at the Beacon Theatre in New York during a Love Rocks benefit concert. The bill also featured Keith Richards, Marc Cohn, Mavis Staples, David Hidalgo and Warren Haynes.