- Today in 1969, Waylon Jennings married his wife, Jessi Colter.
- Today in 1976, Charlie Daniels’ “Fire On The Mountain” album was released.
- Today in 1978, Anne Murray’s “You Needed Me” single was certified gold.
- Today in 1993, the video, “Livin’, Lovin’, And Rockin’ That Jukebox,” by Alan Jackson video was released.
- Today in 1993, Trisha Yearwood’s album, “The Song Remembers When,” was released.
- Today in 1993, Dwight Yoakam’s “This Time” album was certified platinum.
- Today in 1994, the Tractors’ self-titled debut album and Joe Diffie’s “Third Rock From The Sun” album were both certified gold.
- Today in 1998, John Michael Montgomery raised over $14,000 for the Jessamine Humane Society at his Putt for Paws golf tournament and concert. He noted, quote, “We have a moral obligation to take care of these homeless animals. After all, we domesticated them.”
- Today in 1999, LeAnn Rimes’ self-titled album was released.
- Today in 1999, Alan Jackson’s album, “Under The Influence,” was released.
- Today in 2000, Garth Brooks was in Nashville to celebrate the milestone of selling 100-million album in the last decade. He is the only recording artist to accomplish this incredible feat, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Plus, Garth is also credited as being the fastest selling artist in RIAA history, and the only artist with four albums that have sold over 10-million copies each (“No Fences,” “Ropin’ The Wind,” “The Hits,” and “Double Live”). The same day, he announced his intention to retire.
- Today in 2001, Garth Brooks announced that he planned to release one more album – “Scarecrow” – before going into retirement at the end of 2001. Garth acknowledged that many of his friends and business associates had begged him to avoid using the word “retirement.” Garth explained, “I can only be as honest as I can be. I don’t know how else to say it: I’m here to announce my retirement. It’s a thing I feel good about.”
- Today in 2002, the Statler Brothers went into retirement, playing their final date as a touring act at the Salem Civic Center in Virginia. Their last song: “Amazing Grace.”
- Today in 2004, Sugarland’s debut album, “Twice The Speed Of Life” was released.
- Today in 2006, Reba McEntire was celebrated in the first “CMT Giants” concert at Los Angeles’ Kodak Theatre. Participants included Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, Wynonna, Martina McBride, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Jennifer Nettles and LeAnn Rimes.
- Today in 2011, Taylor Swift welcomed a surprise guest, Shawn Colvin, to sing “Sunny Came Home” during a concert at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.
- Today in 2015, Chris Stapleton’s “Nobody To Blame” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2017, Thomas Rhett’s single, “Unforgettable,” was certified gold by the RIAA.
- Today in 2018, Kane Brown was featured when Nashville Lifestyles magazine unveiled its annual list of the city’s 25 Most Beautiful People. Also included are new artist Ryan Griffin, “Tequila” songwriter Nicolle Galyon and Thomas Rhett’s wife, Lauren Akins.
- Today in 2018, Josh Turner’s gospel album, “I Serve A Savior,” arrived on store shelves.
- Today in 2018, Lady A performed an acoustic concert in Boston, helping to raise $123,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
- Today in 2019, Scotty McCreery performed in the United Kingdom for the first time, launching at Bush Hall in London.
- Today in 2020, Jason Aldean’s single, “Blame It On You,” hit the airwaves.
Wynonna Judd Extends ‘The Judds: The Final Tour’
Wynonna Judd just added 15 new dates to “The Judds: The Final Tour.” The new dates will feature special guests throughout the tour, including appearances by Ashley McBryde, Brandi Carlile, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town and Martina McBride.
The trek kicks off January 26th in Hershey, Pennsylvania, wrapping February 25th in Hollywood Florida.
“In my 39 years of performing, this tour has truly been one of my favorite experiences ever. You all have been such a gift during my time of grieving and honoring my mother in song,” Wy shares on social media. “Getting to experience all the different generations of Judds fans each night (with your vintage tees, homemade signs, flashlights in the air, singing every word to every song), has been other-worldly.”
She adds, “I look so forward to continuing this celebration of the music that has changed my life forever.”
This day in Country Music History
- Today in 1984, Alabama became the first country group to go triple-platinum, with the “Feels So Right” and “Mountain Music” albums each certified for shipment of three million copies. The albums “Roll On” and “The Closer You Get” also go double-platinum
- Today in 1997, Tim McGraw’s “Everywhere” traveled to #1 in Billboard.
- Today in 2003, Gary Allan took the top spot in Billboard with “Tough Little Boys.”
- Today in 2005, Toby Keith’s singles, “American Soldier” and “As Good As I Once Was,” went gold.
- Today in 2007, Hank Williams Jr. was honored in a “CMT Giants” concert shot at Los Angeles’ Gibson Amphitheatre. Guests included Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Toby Keith, Steven Tyler, Gretchen Wilson, Buddy Guy and Terry Bradshaw.
- Today in 2008, Craig Morgan joined the Grand Ole Opry, performing “Rose Colored Glasses” and “International Harvester.” Kristy Lee Cook also made her Opry debut the same night.
- Today in 2010, Taylor Swift’s album, “Speak Now,” arrived in stores.
- Today in 2015, the Oak Ridge Boys, The Browns and guitarist Grady Martin were inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.
- Today in 2019, Chris Lane and former “bachelorette” Lauren Bushnell were married in Nashville. They welcomed their first child – a son – in December 2020 and announced in June 2022 that they’re expecting their second child later this month!
- Today in 2020, Old Dominion’s self-titled album was released.
- Today in 2020, Maren Morris took part in “I Will Vote,” an online fundraiser for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. “Just like I believe country music is for everyone,” she says, “so is this country.” Also participating were Cher, Dave Matthews, The Black Eyed Peas, Jon Bon Jovi and Helen Mirren.
Thomas Rhett Drops Christmas EP
Thomas Rhett is ready for Christmas and wants his fans to be too. The singer just dropped a new holiday EP, “Merry Christmas Y’all,” which features his take on four holiday classics.
“I love everything about Christmas–there’s nothing like the holiday season,” Thomas shares. “I wanted to record some of the Christmas songs that my family and I enjoy every year. I hope this music gets everyone in the holiday spirit!”
Check out the track list below:
“Winter Wonderland”
“It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
“It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas”
This day in Country Music History
- Today in 1975, John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain Christmas” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1980, the albums, “The Best Of Eddie Rabbitt” and “Horizon,” by Eddie Rabbitt were both certified gold.
- Today in 1981, Juice Newton’s “The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known)” debuted on the country singles charts.
- Today in 1991, Garth Brooks’ “No Fences” album was certified for sales of 5-million copies.
- Today in 1991, Alan Jackson’s album, “Don’t Rock The Jukebox,” was certified platinum.
- Today in 1993, Garth Brooks gave a fan a signed guitar at a North Dakota concert after she gave him a picture she had commissioned just for him.
- Today in 1993, Clay Walker and his wife, Lori, were married.
- Today in 1993, George Strait topped the charts with the single, “Easy Come, Easy Go.”
- Today in 1995, Alan Jackson’s “Greatest Hits Collection” album was released.
- Today in 1997, the Garth Brooks/ Trisha Yearwood duet, “In Another’s Eyes,” was at #1 on “Radio & Records’” Country Top 50 chart.
- Today in 1998, Sawyer Brown played their 3000th show in front of 15,000 fans in Salt Lake City, Utah. The concert offered the band a bit of déjà vu – the venue was where they performed their first gig as a headline act in the mid-’80s
- Today in 2000, it was revealed that Clint Black and his lovely wife, Lisa Hartman Black, were expecting their first child. On May 8th of 2002, the couple welcomed Lily Pearl as the newest member of the Black family. Their happy news wasn’t revealed until the following day, when “Early Show” co-host Jane Clayson announced the joyous arrival to the world during the 36th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
- Today in 2000, Faith Hill topped the list of nominees for the first annual “My VH1 Music Awards” with 5 nods. At the ceremonies that followed on November 30th, Faith scored trophies in the “Woman of the Year,” “Do You Want Fries With That Album?” and “Sexiest Video” categories.
- Today in 2000, the “Another Rosie Christmas” album, which featured the Dixie Chicks singing with Rosie O’Donnell was released. Chris Cagle’s debut album, “Play It Loud,” also arrived in stores for the first time – it was re-released the following June with bonus tracks.
- Today in 2002, LeAnn Rimes sang the national anthem prior to Game 5 of the World Series where the Giants beat the Anaheim Angels, 16-4.
- Today 2005, Montgomery Gentry, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley taped a performance for CBS’ “I Walk The Line: A Night For Johnny Cash.”
- Today in 2006, Trace Adkins performed the national anthem before Game 3 of the World Series. The Cardinals beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-0.
- Today in 2006, Big Machine released Taylor Swift’s self-titled debut album.
- Today in 2010, Don Williams and Jimmy Dean are inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Today in 2012, Randy Travis and The Avett Brothers shot an installment of “CMT Crossroads” at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee.
- Today in 2014, Little Big Town performed the national anthem before Game 3 of the World Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco. The Kansas City Royals edged out the Giants, 3-2.
Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’ Is Here
The wait is finally over for Swifties. Taylor Swift’s new album “Midnights” is out now, with a video for the tune “Anti-Hero” dropping this morning at 8 am.
In the week leading up to the release, Taylor has been revealing song lyrics around the world on Spotify billboards, and one of the final drops revealed that Taylor actually shared a lyric with fans months ago.
In a billboard in Mexico City, she shared the lyric, “Breathe in, breathe through, breathe deep, breathe out.” Well, fans were shocked by this, realizing that Tay actually shared that same mantra during her speech at NYU graduation in May.
And last night fans got their first look at the visuals for “Midnights,” with Taylor sharing a teaser trailer for the album’s videos during the Thursday Night Football game on Prime Video.
And now that the album’s out, fans have more “Midnights” fun ahead of them. Tay will appear on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” to talk about the album Monday, and The Graham Norton Show” on October 28th. She’ll also drop a video for an unnamed song on Tuesday.
This day in Country Music History
- Today in 1957, the Elvis Presley film “Jailhouse Rock” premiered.
- Today in 1968, Nashville’s top Country Music Awards go to Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.” for best song and to “Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison” for best album.
- Today in 1987, the “Hillbilly Deluxe” album by Dwight Yoakam was certified gold.
- Today in 1987, “The Best Of Dan Seals” album was released.
- Today in 1994, Willie Nelson’s “Always On My Mind” album was certified quadruple platinum.
- Today in 1997, Wynonna Judd’s album, “The Other Side,” was released.
- Today in 1999, the “Wide Open Spaces” album by the Dixie Chicks was certified for multi-platinum sales of 8-million.
- Today in 2001, some of country music’s biggest artists gathered in Nashville to show their support of America and to raise money for the Salvation Army, which has been working around the clock since the September 11th terrorist attacks. The music at the “Country Freedom Concert” began with Martina McBride’s a cappella introduction to “Independence Day” and closed with Trisha Yearwood and a choir belting out “We Shall Be Free.” But those were just two of the key moments during the three-hour show that featured some unexpected songs while the artists – and the fans – demonstrated their unwavering love of America.
- Today in 2001, Billy Gilman took part in the all-star “United We Stand” concert in Washington, D.C.
- Today in 2001, Alan Jackson was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
- Today in 2002, it was revealed that Faith Hill’s “Cry” album debuted at #1 on “Billboard’s” Top Country Albums chart as well as the all-genre “Billboard 200” chart. The CD sold a whopping 472,000 copies in just its first week – that was the highest SoundScan debut in history for any Warner Bros. Records recording artist. Plus, first-week sales of “Cry” were nearly twice her record-breaking 1999 “Breathe” debut, which also hit the #1 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 Album and Country Album Chart (it sold 242,229 in its first week).
- Today in 2003, the Eagles’ album, “Eagles – The Very Best Of,” as well as Mark Wills’ “And The Crowd Goes Wild” arrived in stores.
- Today in 2004, Toby Keith received his second quadruple-platinum album for “Shock’n Y’all.”
- Today in 2009, Brad Paisley performed at Madison Square Garden for the first time.
- Today in 2012, Garth Brooks, Connie Smith, and session keyboard player, Hargus “Pig” Robbins, officially joined the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Today in 2014, Little Big Town’s “Pain Killer” album was released.
- Today in 2015, Miranda Lambert makes a surprise appearance during Taylor Swift’s concert at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina. They team on “Little Red Wagon.”
- Today in 2016, Zac Brown Band guitarist Coy Bowles and his wife, Kylie, welcomed daughter Hattie Bowles shortly after midnight.
- Today in 2017, Kane Brown’s “What Ifs,” featuring Lauren Alaina, began a five-week run at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
- Today in 2017, Reid Perry, of The Band Perry, had an emergency appendectomy at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.
- Today in 2017, Shania Twain’s single, “Now,” hit #1.
- Today in 2018, Ricky Skaggs, Dottie West and fiddler Johnny Gimble were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during an official medallion ceremony.
- Today in 2019, Brett Young and wife Taylor Mills welcome a daughter, Presley Elizabeth Young.
- Today in 2020, Garth Brooks was injured in a saw accident after working on his deck at home in Tennessee. Fortunately, the damage is relatively minor: he lost the fingernail on his left ring finger.
MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: “MAMA CASS”
This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Mama Cass”, a 6 year old adorable domestic shorthair kitty. Mama Cass has a sweet disposition and loves to look out the window. She loves to cuddle and is the perfect “lap-cat”.
If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Mama Cass 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 Mama Cass with Shanna from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:
Reba McEntire Calls Boyfriend The ‘Love Of My Life’
Reba McEntire is happy in her relationship with boyfriend Rex Linn, and says that spending time apart during COVID helped make their relationship stronger.
“He was in Los Angeles, and I was in Oklahoma because my Mama had just died,” she tells “People.” “We didn’t get to see each other from March to June, but we’d talk over Zoom and FaceTime four to five times each day,” noting, “We created a bond and an intimacy that was getting to know each other without being physical.”
And while Reba admits she “really wasn’t interested in finding love again,” after her 26-year marriage to Narvel Blackstock ended, she now says Rex is “the love of my life,” adding, “We’re pretty much inseparable.”
Source: People
This day in Country Music History
- Today in 1957, the Elvis Presley film “Jailhouse Rock” premiered.
- Today in 1968, Nashville’s top Country Music Awards go to Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.” for best song and to “Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison” for best album.
- Today in 1987, the “Hillbilly Deluxe” album by Dwight Yoakam was certified gold.
- Today in 1987, “The Best Of Dan Seals” album was released.
- Today in 1994, Willie Nelson’s “Always On My Mind” album was certified quadruple platinum.
- Today in 1997, Wynonna Judd’s album, “The Other Side,” was released.
- Today in 1999, the “Wide Open Spaces” album by the Dixie Chicks was certified for multi-platinum sales of 8-million.
- Today in 2001, some of country music’s biggest artists gathered in Nashville to show their support of America and to raise money for the Salvation Army, which has been working around the clock since the September 11th terrorist attacks. The music at the “Country Freedom Concert” began with Martina McBride’s a cappella introduction to “Independence Day” and closed with Trisha Yearwood and a choir belting out “We Shall Be Free.” But those were just two of the key moments during the three-hour show that featured some unexpected songs while the artists – and the fans – demonstrated their unwavering love of America.
- Today in 2001, Billy Gilman took part in the all-star “United We Stand” concert in Washington, D.C.
- Today in 2001, Alan Jackson was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
- Today in 2002, it was revealed that Faith Hill’s “Cry” album debuted at #1 on “Billboard’s” Top Country Albums chart as well as the all-genre “Billboard 200” chart. The CD sold a whopping 472,000 copies in just its first week – that was the highest SoundScan debut in history for any Warner Bros. Records recording artist. Plus, first-week sales of “Cry” were nearly twice her record-breaking 1999 “Breathe” debut, which also hit the #1 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 Album and Country Album Chart (it sold 242,229 in its first week).
- Today in 2003, the Eagles’ album, “Eagles – The Very Best Of,” as well as Mark Wills’ “And The Crowd Goes Wild” arrived in stores.
- Today in 2004, Toby Keith received his second quadruple-platinum album for “Shock’n Y’all.”
- Today in 2009, Brad Paisley performed at Madison Square Garden for the first time.
- Today in 2012, Garth Brooks, Connie Smith, and session keyboard player, Hargus “Pig” Robbins, officially joined the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Today in 2014, Little Big Town’s “Pain Killer” album was released.
- Today in 2015, Miranda Lambert makes a surprise appearance during Taylor Swift’s concert at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina. They team on “Little Red Wagon.”
- Today in 2016, Zac Brown Band guitarist Coy Bowles and his wife, Kylie, welcomed daughter Hattie Bowles shortly after midnight.
- Today in 2017, Kane Brown’s “What Ifs,” featuring Lauren Alaina, began a five-week run at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
- Today in 2017, Reid Perry, of The Band Perry, had an emergency appendectomy at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.
- Today in 2017, Shania Twain’s single, “Now,” hit #1.
- Today in 2018, Ricky Skaggs, Dottie West and fiddler Johnny Gimble were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during an official medallion ceremony.
- Today in 2019, Brett Young and wife Taylor Mills welcome a daughter, Presley Elizabeth Young.
- Today in 2020, Garth Brooks was injured in a saw accident after working on his deck at home in Tennessee. Fortunately, the damage is relatively minor: he lost the fingernail on his left ring finger.