• Today in 1923, WBAP in Dallas became the first station west of the Mississippi River to broadcast country music, airing “The Radio Barn Dance.”
• Today in 1953, Hank Williams’ funeral drew more than 20,000 people in Montgomery, Alabama. A country choir led by Webb Pierce, Red Foley, Little Jimmy Dickens and Carl Smith performed “I Saw The Light.” Ernest Tubb offered “Beyond The Sunset.”
• Today in 1969, Johnny Cash earned a #1 single in “Billboard” with “Daddy Sang Bass.” Written by Carl Perkins, it features vocal appearances by The Statler Brothers and The Carter Family.
• Today in 1989, Dwight Yoakam registered a gold album with “Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room.”
• Today in 1991, the US Internal Revenue Service holds the first of several auctions of property belonging to Willie Nelson to pay off nearly $17-million in taxes and penalties.
• Today in 1992, Collin Raye posted his first #1 country single with “Love, Me.”
• Today in 2000, the Dixie Chicks’ “Fly” album was nominated for the Album of the Year GRAMMY, competing with Santana, Diana Krall, The Backstreet Boys and TLC. In all, the Chicks picked up a total of four nominations.
• Today in 2002, the soundtrack to “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and individual cuts pick up five nominations in the GRAMMY awards. The album, “Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute” also collected five.
• Today in 2006, LeAnn Rimes sang the national anthem at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, while Big & Rich performed six songs at a pre-game tailgate party. The Texas Longhorns defeat the USC Trojans, 41-38, in the waning seconds.
• Today in 2016, a thief broke into Kacey Musgraves’ car in downtown Nashville and stole her new pair of boots. When 30-year-old Darnell Cunningham tried to return the boots – which were valued at about $900 – for cash, the clerk recognized them, called the cops and Cunningham was busted on theft of property charges.

• Today in 1950, Sam Phillips opened the Sun Recording Studio, originally known as the Memphis Recording Service, at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis. It became a site for sessions by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, among others.
• Today in 1975, John Denver scored a gold single with “Back Home Again.”
• Today in 1986, Willie Nelson and Alabama collected four nominations each at the American Music Awards. Lee Greenwood and Hank Williams Jr. were tapped three times each.
• Today in 1991, Billy Ray Cyrus signed his first recording contract with Mercury Records in Ashland, Kentucky. In conjunction with the event, the mayors of Ashland and Flatwoods, Kentucky, each proclaim Billy Ray Cyrus Day.
• Today in 1999, Lee Ann Womack and her record producer husband Frank Liddell welcomed daughter, Anna Lise Liddell, in Nashville.
• Today in 2000, LeAnn Rimes’ self-titled album was certified platinum, becoming the first release to receive a sales award in the new millennium.
• Today in 2001, Toby Keith performed the national anthem before the game and Lee Ann Womack sang “I Hope You Dance” during halftime at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The Oklahoma Sooners beat the Florida State Seminoles, 13-2.
• Today in 2012, Dustin Lynch’s debut single, “Cowboys And Angels,” hit the airwaves.
• Today in 2014, Eric Church’s single, “Give Me Back My Hometown,” was released.
• Today in 2017, Willie Nelson posted a photo on Facebook of an ugly Christmas sweater he received from rapper Snoop Dogg, which was emblazoned with a unique yuletide message: “Smoke Weed Everyday.”
• Today in 2018, LANco’s single, “Greatest Love Story,” went platinum.
• Today in 2018, Mickey Gilley and his son are injured when their car rolls over three times after being hit by another driver who ran a stop sign on Highway 59 near Corrigan, Texas. Gilley fractures an ankle and his right shoulder and postponed a January 6^th
• Today in 2018, Nielsen Music announced Chris Stapleton had the best-selling country album of 2017 with “From A Room: Volume 1,” selling 658-thousand copies during the year. Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” was the most-downloaded country single, at 1.8-million units, and the most-streamed, as well.

· Today in 1950, Lefty Frizzell hit #1 on the Billboard country chart with his debut single, “If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time.”

· Today in 1968, Tammy Wynette’s album, “Stand By Your Man,” was released.

· Today in 1969,J. Thomas received a gold certification for the single, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.” It was from the motion picture, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

· Today in 1978, Kenny Rogers’ single, “The Gambler,” topped the country charts.

· Today in 1983, the album, “Family Tradition,” by Hank Williams Jr. was certified gold.

· Today in 1994, Wynonna Judd gave birth to her first child, Elijah Judd Kelly.

· Today in 1997, Shania Twain’s “Come On Over” album was certified gold, platinum and double-platinum.

· Today in 1997, the “Evolution” album by Martina McBride was certified gold.

· Today in 2000, Billy Ray Cyrus presented the Second Annual “Some Gave All” award to the widow of Officer Alan Ragsdale. The event raised money for the family of the Howenwald police officer who was killed in the line of duty earlier in the year.

· Today in 2003, Craig Morgan delivered an acoustic set in Kuwait, the first concert in a Middle Eastern tour for American G.I.s during the holiday season.

· Today in 2005, the movie “Transamerica,” starring Felicity Huffman, opened in scattered theaters. The soundtrack featured Dolly Parton, Jim Lauderdale, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Old Crow Medicine Show, Lucinda Williams, and Larry Sparks.

· Today in 2006, Sugarland collected a #1 country single with “Want To.”

· Today in 2011, Taylor Swift’s collaboration with The Civil Wars “Safe & Sound” was released.

• Today in 1948, Hank Williams recorded “Lovesick Blues” in Cincinnati.
• Today in 1960, guitarist Chuck Mead was born in Missouri. He came one of the two lead vocalists in BR549.
• Today in 1973, Merle Haggard’s song “If We Make It Through December” hit #1 on the Billboard country chart.
• Today in 1981, at a rock auction in London, a letter of introduction from Buddy Holly to Decca Records sold for $2,000. At the same event, John and Cynthia Lennon’s marriage certificate was sold for $850 and an autographed program from the world premiere of the Beatles film “Help!” brought in $2,100.
• Today in 1984, The Judd’s and “Why Not Me” were found at #1 on the Billboard country chart.
• Today in 1994, Martina and John McBride welcomed their daughter, Delaney.
• Today in 1995, Clint Black’s album, “One Emotion,” was certified platinum.
• Today in 2002, Nashville’s morning paper, “The Tennessean,” named Alan Jackson the Tennessean of the Year, in great part because of his accomplishments with the song “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning).” The funny thing is, Alan hails from Newnan, Georgia.
• Today in 2009, The Zac Brown Band’s “Highway 20 Ride” video premiered on CMT.com.
• Today in 2010, “Country Strong” debuted in Los Angeles and Nashville. Time McGraw portrayed the manager of a singer played by Gwyneth Paltrow.
• Today in 2013, Paris, Illinois observed Brett Eldredge Day and unveiled city-limit signs proclaiming the community the “Home of Nashville Recording Artist: Brett Eldredge.”
• Today in 2016, Lucy Hale posted her outrage on Twitter after topless photos were stolen from her phone and posted online.
• Today in 2017, Dustin Lynch made a surprise appearance as the opening act for Garth Brooks at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
• Today in 2017, Lady A’s Dave Haywood and his wife, Kelli, welcomed daughter Lillie Renee Haywood, in Nashville.
• Today in 2018, Brett Young’s “Ticket To L.A.” tops the Billboard country albums chart.

• Today in 1974, Waylon Jennings’ single, “Rainy Day Woman,” entered the country charts
• Today in 1979, Willie Nelson made his movie debut with the film, “The Electric Horseman,” which opened in theaters nationwide. His songs, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” and “Midnight Rider” were included in the soundtrack.
• Today in 1983, the “20 Greatest Hits” album by Kenny Rogers was certified gold and platinum.
• Today in 1985, George Strait’s “The Chair” was sitting at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
• Today in 1988, K.T. Oslin’s album, “This Woman,” was certified gold.
• Today in 1996, Garth Brooks was #1 on the charts with the single, “That Ol’ Wind.”
• Today in 1999, the holiday album, “Garth Brooks & The Magic Of Christmas,” was certified gold and platinum.
• Today in 2001, Josh Turner made his Grand Ole Opry debut – he performed “Long Black Train.”
• Today in 2002, “Who’s Your Daddy?” had Toby Keith at #1 on the Billboard country chart.
• Today in 2007, “Oklahoma Today” magazine named Vince Gill the Oklahoman of the Year.
• Today in 2007, Reba McEntire and Carole King performed “Everyday People,” from the album “Reba Duets,” during the CBS-TV special “A Home For The Holidays.” Also appearing: Sheryl Crow, Fergie and James Blunt.
• Today in 2010, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine named “Home Cooking With Trisha Yearwood” one of the five worst cookbooks of the year. The book gets knocked for being “loaded with fat and cholesterol” Oh well…
• Today in 2011, Martina McBride sings “O Holy Night” and “Blessed” while hosting the annual CBS special “A Home For The Holidays.” Guests include Justin Bieber, Gavin DeGraw, OneRepublic and Mary J. Blige.
• Today in 2012, Kelly Clarkson delivered a holiday concert and visited patients at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville. Among her performances: “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “White Christmas” and “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”
• Today in 2013, two gay men were booted from Cactus Canyon in Victoria, Texas, for slow-dancing to Dustin Lynch’s “Cowboys And Angels.” Apparently, the couple had danced together to hip-hop, and that was okay – but was told the club has a policy against same-sex dancing to country.
• Today in 2013, Ray Price was celebrated during a memorial service at the First Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant, Texas. “Blue” songwriter Bill Mack and radio host Eddie Stubbs address mourners, who heard versions of “In The Garden” and “Danny Boy.”
• Today in 2016, Dustin Lynch defeats Cassadee Pope in an episode of Spike TV’s “Lip Sync Battle,” using whipped cream in a sex simulation to Ludacris’ “What’s Your Fantasy.” Pope performed to Panic! At The Disco’s “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” with a surprise appearance by the band’s lead singer, Brendon Urie.
• Today in 2017, Midland performed for Robert Redford at the actor’s Sundance Ranch in Utah.
• Today in 2018, Mark Wills performed “Don’t Laugh At Me” after Vince Gill invited him to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jimmy Capps also celebrated 60 years as a guitarist in the Opry house band, playing songs that he helped record: “The Gambler,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Elvira” and “Stand By Your Man.”
• Today in 2020, T. Oslin passed away in an assisted-living facility in Middle Tennessee. A member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, she snagged GRAMMY Awards, plus ACM and CMA honors behind the hits “80s Ladies,” “Do Ya’,” “Hold Me” and “Come Next Monday.” Oslin also wrote Gail Davies’ “‘Round The Clock Lovin’.”
• Today in 2020, Kenny Rogers’ single, “The Gambler,” and Vernon Dalhart’s “The Wreck Of The Old ’97” were named as new entries in the Grammy Hall of Fame, along with USA For Africa’s “We Are The World” and the “Trio” album, featuring Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris.
• Today in 2021, Eric Church performed “Joy To The World” as PBS premiered “In Performance At The White House: Spirit Of The Season.” Other artists included Pentatonix, Norah Jones, Billy Porter and The Jonas Brothers.