- Today in 1966, Tracy Byrd was born in Vidor, Texas. He emerged in 1993 to record a series of hits, including “Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich And Famous,” “Watermelon Crawl,” and “The Keeper Of The Stars.”
- Today in 1978, a “train bound for nowhere” reached #1 as Kenny Rogers tops the Billboard country chart with “The Gambler”
- Today in 1988, Restless Heart reeled in a #1 single on the Billboard country chart with “A Tender Lie.”
- Today in 1993, the tribute album “Common Thread: The Songs Of The Eagles” went gold, platinum, and double platinum.
- Today in 1994, Joe Diffie parked “Pickup Man” at #1 on the Billboard country chart.
- Today in 2009, Lady Antebellum earned a platinum single for “Need You Now.”
- Today in 2010, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood delivered the first two of nine concerts at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, joined by unannounced guest Steve Wariner. The shows raised $3.5-million for flood relief.
- Today in 2013, Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley married Brittney Marie Cole in Nashville.
- Today in 2014, Craig Wayne Boyd won NBC’s “The Voice,” earning $100,000 and a Dot recording deal. He also performed “Keep Your Hands To Yourself” with three female contestants who’ve been eliminated and “Sweet Home Alabama” with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Boyd was a member of Blake Shelton’s team.
- Today in 2015, Cam’s single. “Burning House,” went platinum.
- Today in 2016, Frankie Ballard began a two-night stand at the State Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan, raising $40-thousand for a cancer charity.
- Today in 2016, the CW telecast the “Hollywood Christmas Parade” with Scotty McCreery singing “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” and Cyndi Lauper performing “Hard Candy Christmas.” The lineup also includes Bill Engvall, The Beach Boys, Kenny G and grand marshal Olivia Newton-John.
- Today in 2017, Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line took over the #1 position on the Billboard country singles chart with “Meant To Be.” It remained at the top for a record 50 weeks.
- Today in 2017, Garth Brooks hit #1 on the Billboard country albums chart with his book/CD package, “The Anthology: Part I, The First Five Years.”
- Today in 2020, LeAnn Rimes was declared the winner of FOX’s “The Masked Singer” after she is revealed as the real-life celebrity dressed as the sun character. Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, who was disguised as a crocodile, places third.
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Maddie & Tae Dropping New EP
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Maddie & Tae are ready to share some new music in the New Year. The duo just announced they’ll drop the new EP “Through The Madness: Vol 1” on January 28th.
The album features eight new songs, including their latest single “Woman You Got” and their new release “Madness,” as well as guest appearances by Morgane Stapleton and Lori McKenna.
“These eight songs are the start of a new chapter for us,” Maddie & Tae share. “We couldn’t be more excited for them to be out in the world!”
Check out the track list below:
- “What It’s Like Loving You”
- “Woman You Got”
- “Don’t Make Her Look Dumb” (Feat. Morgane Stapleton)
- “Grown Man Cry”
- “Madness”
- “The Other Side” (Feat. Lori McKenna)
- “Wish You The Best”
- “Strangers”
Source: Maddie & Tae
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1973, Charlie Rich hit #1 on the charts with “The Most Beautiful Girl.”
- Today in 1979, Alan Jackson married his wife Denise. They have three daughters: Mattie, Ali and Dani.
- Today in 1995, Vince Gill’s “When Love Finds You” went triple platinum.
- Today in 1996, Garth Brooks’ segment of VH1’s “Storytellers” first aired. It became the highest-rated “Storytellers” ever at the time, beating out segments starring Sting, Jackson Browne and Melissa Etheridge.
- Today in 1997, Garth Brooks’ album, “Sevens,” goes gold and was certified for sales of 5-million.
- Today in 1998, on their 19th anniversary, Alan and Denise Jackson renewed their wedding vows. It was the couple’s first anniversary since their four-month separation earlier that year. “Our separation was a wake-up call for both of us,” Denise said. “It forced us to deal with issues that had never really been dealt with before.”
- Today in 1999, Garth Brooks taped his final interview on the “Crook & Chase” show. During the piece, he announced his intentions to retire from the music business at the end of 2000 to spend more time with his daughters. In late 2000, he did exactly that.
- Today in 2000, “Breathe” became Faith Hill’s best-selling album, as it was certified quintuple platinum.
- Today in 2003, Keith Urban’s self-titled solo album was certified platinum.
- Today in 2008, Taylor Swift had surgery to remove her wisdom teeth.
- Today in 2009, songwriters Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett received a Golden Globe award nomination for Best Original Song for a Motion Picture, recognizing “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart).”
- Today in 2010, the Zac Brown Band received a gold album for “You Get What You Give.”
- Today in 2013, Oops! Numerous media outlets reported the death of Ray Price following a Facebook post by his son. The stories were taken off the Internet once it became clear that Price was in fact alive, but in a coma. He passed away the following day.
- Today in 2014, Miranda Lambert’s “Little Red Wagon” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2015, Jason Isbell makes his Grand Ole Opry debut at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
- Today in 2019, Carrie Underwood sings “Blue Bayou” and “When Will I Be Loved” and Trisha Yearwood performs “You’re No Good” to celebrate Linda Ronstadt as CBS presents “The Kennedy Center Honors.” Emmylou Harris, Aaron Neville and Don Henley also participate, while Thomas Rhett takes part in the tribute to “Sesame Street.”
Reba McEntire Shares “Funniest” Christmas Story
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Reba McEntire has a lot of fond memories of Christmas growing up and one of the “funniest” involves her older brother Pake.
“When we were kids at home, he’d always be the first one to jump out of bed and run down the hall, and he’d just run down the hall with his underwear on,” she shares. “And he’d say, ‘If y’all don’t hurry up and get up and get in here, I’m opening all the presents by myself.’”
She adds, “he knew it was a standing rule we all had to be in there before anybody could open up a present, but I can still see Pake running down the hall.”
Source: Reba McEntire
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1961, Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John” became the first country song to go gold.
- Today in 1973, Lorrie Morgan gave her first performance on the Grand Ole Opry, singing “Paper Roses” at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
- Today in 1974, Billy Swan scored the only #1 country single of his career with “I Can Help.”
- Today in 1999, Montgomery Gentry’s Troy Gentry married Angie McClure in Maui.
- Today in 2001, Kid Rock performed with Hank Williams Jr. at a Grand Ole Opry House TV studio in Nashville for the genre-mixing “CMT Crossroads.” The set list included “Midnight Rider,” “Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound” and “Family Tradition.”
- Today in 2002, Toby Keith made his Grand Ole Opry debut.
- Today in 2005, Dierks Bentley married his high school sweetheart, Cassidy Black, in Mexico.
- Today in 2006, Brooks & Dunn’s “Hillbilly Deluxe” video debuted on CMT.
- Today in 2012, Kelly Clarkson got engaged to her manager, Brandon Blackstock.
- Today in 2013, Brad Paisley received the Harmony Award at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. After accepting the trophy, he plays “Southern Comfort Zone” with the orchestra.
- Today in 2015, Cole Swindell’s “You Should Be Here” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2015, Frankie Ballard’s “Sunshine & Whiskey” went platinum.
- Today in 2016, Gary Allan, Maren Morris, Big & Rich and Trent Harmon raised $59-thousand for a children’s hospital with the Concert for the Kids at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center in South Carolina.
- Today in 2017, Brett Eldredge performed a fundraiser for his foundation at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. John Oates and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard attended the event as well.
- Today in 2017, Kelsea Ballerini, Linda Davis and the wives of her Lady Antebellum band mates joined Hillary Scott at the baby shower in Nashville for her impending twins.
- Today in 2017, Brothers Osborne played a pop-up concert for truck drivers at Whiskey Pete’s in Primm, Nevada. The show includes acoustic versions of “It Ain’t My Fault” and “Stay A Little Longer.”
- Today in 2017, the single, “Craving You,” by Thomas Rhett and featuring Maren Morris, went platinum.
Tim McGraw Announces New Tour
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Tim McGraw is headed out on the road. The singer just announced dates for a 17-city tour, with special guests Russell Dickerson, Alexandra Kay and Brandon Davis.
The tour kicks off April 29th in Rogers, Arkansas and wraps June 4th in Mansfield, Massachusetts.
Check out the first set of dates below and click here for the complete schedule. Tickets go on sale Friday.
April 29: Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
April 30: St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
May 5: Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
May 6: Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater
May 7: West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheater
May 12: Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
May 13: Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheater
May 14: Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
May 19: Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
May 20: Philadelphia, PA – BB&T Pavilion
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1980, Waylon Jennings’ “Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys)” peaked at #21 on the pop charts.
- Today in 1988, the album, “Reba,” was certified gold.
- Today in 1991, Brooks & Dunn’s single, “My Next Broken Heart,” topped the charts.
- Today in 1994, Garth Brooks released his “best of” album, “The Hits.” It’s since gone on to sell 10-million copies, making it the best-selling country greatest hits record in history.
- Today in 1994, Mary Chapin Carpenter’s album, “Shooting Straight In The Dark,” was certified platinum, while her “Come On, Come On” album was certified triple-platinum.
- Today in 1995, the soundtrack, “Pure Country,” by George Strait was certified for sales of 5-million. His “Strait Out Of The Box” set was certified double-platinum.
- Today in 1995, Vince Gill’s album, “When Love Finds You,” was certified triple-platinum.
- Today in 1995, the “Thinkin’ About You” album by Trisha Yearwood was certified platinum.
- Today in 1996, LeAnn Rimes hit #1 with the single, “One Way Ticket (Because I Can).”
- Today in 2001, for the fourth consecutive week, Garth Brooks’ latest album, “Scarecrow,” held on to the #1 position on “Billboard’s” Top Country Albums chart. At the same time, his holiday project, “Garth Brooks & The Magic of Christmas: Songs from Call Me Claus,” was #8 on the Top Country Albums chart.
- Today in 2005, the Johnny Cash biopic “Walk The Line” earned multiple nominations in the Golden Globe Awards. Dolly Parton got a nomination for Best Song for “Travelin’ Thru” from “Transamerica,” and Bernie Taupin scored for a “Brokeback Mountain” song performed by Emmylou Harris.
- Today in 2006, Heidi Newfield gave her final performances as a member of Trick Pony as the band held three concerts at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon.
- Today in 2010, Josh and Jennifer Turner had their third son, Crawford Marion Turner.
- Today in 2012, Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Song were announced for “For You,” written by Keith Urban and Monty Powell; and “Safe & Sound,” by Taylor Swift, John Paul White, Joy Williams, and T Bone Burnett. Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere received acting nominations for their roles on ABC’s “Nashville.”
- Today in 2014, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill received the Nashville Symphony’s Harmony Award at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
- Today in 2016, Dolly Parton’s “Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit For The My People Fund” raised $9-million for fire victims in East Tennessee. The lineup includes Big & Rich Jamey Johson, LoCash, Reba McEntire, Chris Stapleton, Chris Janson and Chris Young. As an added bonus, Dolly performed “Islands In The Stream” with Kenny Rogers.
Brett Young Wreaked Havoc As A Kid With His Christmas Gift
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Can you picture Brett Young wreaking havoc as a child? Whether you can or not, he did when he was younger with one of his Christmas gifts! He admits that he “probably” drove his parents crazy with that gift.
Young says, “one year I got, like a mini little plastic indoor basketball hoop, and the living room was just big enough that I could justify playing all the time. I was probably four or five years old, which is big enough to wreak havoc in the living room and jump off sofas to try to slam dunk.”
There was a positive about it though, he shares, “I just remember it was the era where Nintendo was really popular and it was the one thing that would get me to put the controller down and actually run around and play. Unfortunately for them, it was in the living room. But I really loved that thing.”
Source: Brett Young
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1951, Johnny Rodriguez was born in Sabinal, Texas. He became country’s first mainstream star of Hispanic descent, emerging out of Tom T. Hall’s band in 1972. He recorded numerous songs in Spanglish, with a line of hits that stretch from 1972-1983.
- Today in 1973, Charlie Rich picked up his second gold single for “The Most Beautiful Girl.”
- Today in 1988, George Strait went to #1 in Billboard with a remake of an old Faron Young hit, “If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’).”
- Today in 2004, Keith Urban’s “You’re My Better Half” video first public aired on CMT.
- Today in 2005, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood married at their home in Owasso, Oklahoma.
- Today in 2010, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” debuted in theaters with Carrie Underwood singing the end theme, “There’s A Place For Us.”
- Today in 2011, Lady Antebellum owned #1 position on the “Billboard” country singles chart with “We Owned The Night.”
- Today in 2012, Luke Bryan claimed nine trophies to top the winners list in the American Country Awards, aired by Fox from Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay.
- Today in 2016, Maren Morris was the musical guest on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” performing “My Church” and “80s Mercedes.”
- Today in 2017, Eric Church performed a fundraiser for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee at a home in Franklin, Tennessee. Mr. Lee is now Governor-elect Lee.
- Today in 2018, three Luke Bryan singles were certified multi-platinum by the RIAA: “Do I” reaches triple-platinum, “Play It Again” hits quintuple-platinum and “Country Girl (Shake It From Me)” goes six-times platinum.
- Today in 2019, Blake Shelton’s single, “God’s Country,” was certified double-platinum by the RIAA.
- Today in 2019, Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber picked up a timely gold single for “10,000 Hours.”
MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: “MAE”
Posted on by Bob Ballard
This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Mae”, a one and a half year old Pit Bull mix. Mae is energetic, loves toys, and is very playful. She’s a great lap-dog too, and loves attention. Mae gets along with other dogs and some cats, is fully vetted and looking for her ‘furr-ever’ home!
If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Mae 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 Mae with Terry Gott from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:
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