• Today in 1948, “Here Comes Santa Claus” by Gene Autry entered the Top 40 chart.
• Today in 1964, Bobby Bare married his wife, Jeannie.
• Today in 1966, Charley Pride entered the charts for the first time with “Just Between You And Me.”
• Today in 1968, Elvis Presley’s NBC-TV special” Elvis,” aired for the first time. “Elvis” constitutes the King’s first big step toward his successful comeback. It drew rave critical reactions and also the year’s largest viewing figures for a musical special at the time. It was his first live performance in eight years — his first TV performance in seven. It has since been cited by “TV Guide” as the tenth most memorable moment in television history.
• Today in 1984, the “Once Upon A Christmas” album by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton was certified gold and platinum simultaneously.
• Today in 1984, Kenny Rogers’ “What About Me” album was certified gold and platinum simultaneously.
• Today in 1991, the album, “Okie From Muskogee,” by Merle Haggard was certified platinum.
• Today in 1991, “The Best Of The Best Of Merle Haggard” album was certified platinum.
• Today in 1992, Alan Jackson’s album, “A Lot About Livin’ (And A Little ‘Bout Love),” was certified platinum.
• Today in 1993, Little Texas topped the country charts with the single, “God Blessed Texas.”
• Today in 1993, the “20 Years Of Dirt: Best Of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band” album was certified gold.
• Today in 1998, Shania Twain’s album, “The Woman In Me,” was certified for sales of 11-million.
• Today in 2001, Martina McBride won $125,000 for the New York Police and Fire Widows and Children’s Fund on a special celebrity edition of the syndicated game show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”
• Today in 2003, Toby Keith’s “American Soldier” video debuted on CMT.
• Today in 2004, Trace and Rhonda Adkins welcomed a daughter, Trinity Lee Adkins.
• Today in 2005, Dierks Bentley’s “Come A Little Closer” got cozy in the #1 position on the Billboard country singles chart.
• Today in 2006, Dolly Parton and Smokey Robinson were awarded Kennedy Center Honors in a Washington, D.C. event attended by president George W. Bush. Also recognized were Steven Spielberg and theatrical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
• Today in 2012, Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck” video debuted on CMT.
• Today in 2014, Darius Rucker sang “White Christmas” from New York City during NBC’s annual “Christmas In Rockefeller Center,” which also featured Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes. Also performing on the special were Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Cyndi Lauper and Idina Menzel.
• Today in 2016, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood played Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand – the first concert in the country for each of them. The special occasion also marked the first time they performed “The Fighter” together publicly.

Today, December 2^nd:

• Today in 1957, “Jailhouse Rock” gave Elvis Presley a #1 country single in Billboard magazine.
• Today in 1989, Randy Travis went to #1 on the Billboard country chart with “It’s Just A Matter Of Time.”
• Today in 1998, Garth Brooks helped first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton light the Christmas tree at New York’s Rockefeller Center. Along with Jewel, Babyface and Cyndi Lauper, he did the honors on NBC-TV’s “Christmas In Rockefeller Center.”
• Today in 2002, Kenny Chesney’s album “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” was served with a double-platinum certification.
• Today in 2004, Marty Stuart and Connie Smith provided music for the lighting of the national Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. Willard Scott served as Santa Claus for the event, attended by president George W. Bush.
• Today in 2005, Robert Earl Keen’s “Merry Christmas From The Family” ranked at #1 in the holiday special “CMT 20 Merriest Christmas Videos.”
• Today in 2009, Taylor Swift picked up eight nominations for the 52^nd annual Grammy Awards. Her haul included Record and Song of the Year, for “You Belong With Me”; and Album of the Year, for “Fearless.”

• Today in 1977, the “Elvis Country” album by Elvis Presley was certified gold.
• Today in 1987, George Strait’s “Ocean Front Property” album was certified platinum.
• Today in 1992, Brooks & Dunn’s “Brand New Man” album was certified double-platinum.
• Today in 1993, the “Big Time” album by Little Texas was certified gold.
• Today in 1993, Alan Jackson’s album, “A Lot About Livin’ (And A Little ‘Bout Love),” went triple-platinum, while his single “Chattahoochee” was certified gold, for sales of half a million copies.
• Today in 1993, George Strait’s “Easy Come, Easy Go” album was certified gold and platinum.
• Today in 1993, the album, “Greatest Hits, Volume II,” by Reba McEntire was certified gold and platinum.
• Today in 1994, Brooks & Dunn’s “Waitin’ On Sundown” album was certified gold and platinum.
• Today in 1995, Alabama hit the top of the charts with the single, “In Pictures.”
• Today in 1995, David Lee Murphy’s debut album, “Out With A Bang,” went gold
• Today in 1996, Clint Black’s “Greatest Hits” went gold and platinum.
• Today in 1998, the single, “This Kiss,” by Faith Hill was certified platinum.
• Today in 1999, Alan Jackson’s “Under The Influence” album was certified gold and platinum.
• Today in 2000, Tim McGraw’s “Greatest Hits” debuted at #1 on the “Billboard” Country Albums chart.
• Today in 2000, Aaron Tippin and his wife, Thea, welcomed a new addition to their family – their second son, Thomas Aaron. He was born at 5:10 PM at Baptist Women’s Pavilion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Thomas weighed in at seven pounds, four ounces and measured 20 inches long.
• Today in 2005, Ricky Skaggs and The Whites performed at the lighting of the national Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. Also participating: CeCeWinans, Maya Angelou and President George W. Bush.
• Today in 2007, Carrie Underwood got big results from “So Small” as the song reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
• Today in 2011, Jennifer Nettles hosted as ABC-TV aired the holiday special “CMA Country Christmas.” Guests include Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Faith Hill, Amy Grant, Martina McBride, Darius Rucker and Keith Urban
• Today in 2012, Shania Twain began a two-year, 120-show residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
• Today in 2014, Little Big Town’s single, “Girl Crush,” hit the airwaves.

• Today in 1963, Dottie West debuted on the charts with the single, “Let Me Off at the Corner.”
• Today in 1978, Kenny Rogers’ album, “The Gambler,” was certified gold.
• Today in 1982, the album, “Heaven’s Just A Sin Away,” by the Kendalls was certified gold.
• Today in 1990, Randy Travis’ “Heroes And Friends” album was certified gold.
• Today in 1990, the album, “No Fences,” by Garth Brooks was certified double-platinum. It has since gone on to be certified for sales of over 16-million copies.
• Today in 1991, the Judds graced the cover of TV Guide.
• Today in 1996, Mark Wills and his wife, Kelly, were married.
• Today in 1997, Pam Tillis’ single, “Land of the Living,” hit the top five of the country charts.
• Today in 2000, Trisha Yearwood’s video, “Where Are You Now,” hit #1 on CMT Brazil.
• Today in 2002, “These Days” propelled Rascal Flatts to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
• Today in 2009, Sugarland performed “Silent Night” with Jennifer Hudson on a Christmas edition of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Tim McGraw joined Alicia Keys on John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).”
• Today in 2011, a Nashville judge ruled Tim McGraw was free to record for a label other than Curb Records.
• Today in 2012, Glen Campbell delivered the final concert of his career at the Uptown Theatre in Napa, California. The set included “Try A Little Kindness,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Southern Nights” and the last song of his lifetime, “Gentle On My Mind.”
• Today in 2016, “Dolly Parton’s Christmas Of Many Colors – Circle Of Love” aired on NBC with Jennifer Nettles and Rick Schroder starring. Parton narrated, sang and played a hooker. “Some women,” her character notes, “say I’m their worst nightmare.”

• Today in 1973, Charlie Rich earned his first gold album with, “Behind Closed Doors.”
• Today in 1980, William Lee Golden of The Oak Ridge Boys stopped trimming his beard.
• Today in 1993, Joe Diffie joined the Grand Ole Opry.
• Today in 1996, “Sling Blade” opened in American movie theaters.
• Today in 2001, Reba McEntire was nominated for a People’s Choice Award for her acting in the TV series, “Reba.” Other country stars that received nominations were The Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, and George Strait.
• Today in 2002, Keith Urban rode off with a gold album for, “Golden Road.”
• Today in 2003, Toby Keith performed “Beer For My Horses,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!” and “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue” at halftime when the Dallas Cowboys hosted the Dolphins in a Thanksgiving Day game.
• Today in 2006, Dierks Bentley received a gold album for “Long Trip Alone.”
• Today in 2008, Trace Adkins performed “You’re Gonna Miss This” at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
• Today in 2014, Cole Swindell, riding a Domino Sugar float, sings “Chillin’ It” as snow falls during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Other participants include Dan + Shay, Lucy Hale, Nick Jonas and Kiss.
• Today in 2015, Tanya Tucker performed “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville.
• Today in 2016, Olivia Newton-John is the grand marshal of the Hollywood Christmas Parade. Scotty McCreery performed “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” during a pre-parade concert, and Cyndi Lauper sang “Hard Candy Christmas.”
• Today in 2017, parts of the ceiling broke free and dropped on the stage as Brothers Osborne performed “Stay A Little Longer” at the Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
• Today in 2017, Mel Tillis was sent off with a round of “Detroit City” during his memorial service at the Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee. Aside from daughters Pam and Carrie Tillis, other mourners included Charley Pride, Bobby Bare, Jeannie Seely and “One More Day” songwriter Bobby Tomberlin.
• Today in 2017, as ABC aired the eighth annual “CMA Country Christmas,” host Reba McEntire performed “A Holly Jolly Christmas” while Trisha Yearwood turned in a great performance of “Hard Candy Christmas.” Other folks like up the stage include Luke Bryan, Brett Eldredge, Dan + Shay and Alan Jackson.