- Today in 1939, Gene Autry’s “Back In The Saddle Again” was released.
- Today in 1976, Willie Nelson released “The Troublemaker” album.
- Today in 1979, “Just Good Ol’ Boys” (not the theme for “Dukes of Hazzard,” which belongs to Waylon Jennings) hit #1 on the Billboard country singles chart for duet partners Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley.
- Today in 1983, the Everly Brothers performed together for the first time in 10 years at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
- Today in 1985, Willie Nelson, John Cougar and Neil Young hosted the first Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois, raising $10-million for troubled family farmers.
- Today in 1986, Reba McEntire’s “What Am I Gonna Do About You” album was released.
- Today in 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Some Gave All” album was certified quadruple platinum.
- Today in 1992, Garth Brooks released his album, “The Chase.” It was the second country album ever to enter both the pop and country album charts at #1 – his “Ropin’ the Wind” was the first.
- Today in 1995, Collin Raye was #1 with the single, “One Boy, One Girl.”
- Today in 1998, Vince Gill’s album, “The Key,” was certified gold.
- Today in 1998, Lee Ann Womack released the album, “Some Things I Know.”
- Today in 1998, Garth Brooks performed for the first time in Latin America at the world’s largest rodeo in Barretos, Brazil.
- Today in 1999, the Dixie Chicks’ album, “Wide Open Spaces,” was certified for multi-platinum sales of 7-million. On the same day, the Chicks won three awards at the CMAs during the 33rd ceremony at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. They were named Vocal Group of the Year, while “Wide Open Spaces” took Single and Music Video of the Year
- Today in 2001, Cyndi Thomson’s debut single, “What I Really Meant To Say,” began a three-week run at #1 in Billboard.
- Today in 2005, Keith Urban’s “Golden Road” album went triple-platinum.
- Today in 2007, Rascal Flatts’ “Take Me There,” which was written by Kenny Chesney, hit #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
- Today in 2008, Toby Keith ranked #3 on the “Forbes” List of the World’s Best-Paid Music Stars, earning $48-million that year. Rascal Flatts’ $40-million puts them at #7. In the pop arena, Justin Timberlake was #4; Madonna came in at #5; and The Police were at the top of the heap at #1 with earnings of $115-million.
- Today in 2009, Eli Young Band frontman Mike Eli got engaged to Kacey Herndon. The happy couple exchanged “I do’s” the following March – and have since welcomed a daughter Kline Olivia (in 2012) and their son, Kash (in 2018).
- Today in 2009, Diamond Rio’s album, “The Reason,” was released.
- Today in 2010, Del McCoury was honored with the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
- Today in 2010, Toby Keith’s single, “Bullets In The Gun,” was released.
- Today in 2011, Jason Aldean’s “Tattoos On This Town” video dropped on YouTube.
- Today in 2012, Brad Paisley performed “Southern Comfort Zone” publicly for the first time during the iHeart Radio Music Festival at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Taylor Swift sings five songs during her portion of the show, including “Sparks Fly,” “Mean” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”
- Today in 2012, Miranda Lambert served as a surprise bridesmaid – the matron of honor, even – for her friend, Laci, at the Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, Nevada. Turns out, Miranda was in Sin City for her performance the night before at the iHeart Radio Music Festival.
- Today in 2014, Kenny Chesney’s “Til It’s Gone” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2014, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard got engaged to Hayley Stommel. The lovebirds got hitched the following. Since then, the couple has welcomed two sons and a daughter.
- Today in 2014, Dierks Bentley’s single, “Say You Do,” was released.
- Today in 2015, Lady A’s Hillary Scott announced she was establishing a scholarship at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro specifically for women pursuing a career in the music business
- Today in 2017, Luke Bryan turned his concert at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas, into a benefit for Hurricane Harvey victims.
- Today in 2017, Willie Nelson performed “Funny How Time Slips Away” with soul singer Leon Bridges at a Hurricane Harvey relief concert at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin. Also on the bill are James Taylor, Lyle Lovett, Ryan Bingham, Asleep At The Wheel and Paul Simon, who covered “Waltz Across Texas” with Edie Brickell.
- Today in 2017, Reba McEntire celebrated 40 years since her Grand Ole Opry debut. Her Opry anniversary includes surprise appearances by Dolly Parton, Vince Gill and Carrie Underwood, who performed with McEntire on “Does He Love You.” Underwood’s set also includes “Wasted” and “I Told You So.”
- Today in 2018, Charlie Worsham and Kristen Korzenowski married at Christ The King Catholic Church in Nashville. The famous faces in attendance included Jeannie Seely, Jenny Gill, songwriters Don Schlitz and Luke Dick, as well as producers Frank Liddell and Eric Masse.
- Today in 2018, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves and Sturgill Simpson played the annual Farm Aid concert at the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut. Willie Nelson and fellow board members John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Neil Young also welcomed Margo Price, Lukas Nelson and Nathaniel Rateliff, among others.
- Today in 2020, Mercury signed Priscilla Block to a recording deal…and promptly released her debut single, “Just About Over You.”
- Today in 2020, “One Too Many,” Keith Urban’s duet With P!nk, was released.
- Today in 2021, Ashley McBryde fell while horseback riding in Montana and landed on her head, suffering a concussion and requiring stitches. In the days following the accident, she was unable to walk without assistance and cancels a series of concerts. She’s since made a full recovery.
TAG SEARCH RESULTS FOR: ""
Kenny Chesney Announces Nashville Album Release Party
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Kenny Chesney is holding a party for the release of his first new music in more than two years. The singer has announced a “Silver Sands Marina Album Release Party” this Friday at the Pinnacle in Nashville, the same day that “Silver Sands Marina” drops. About the party, Kenny says, “…we’re taking over the Pinnacle in Nashville. One night only, probably not more than a couple thousand tickets, and we’re trying to make it fun and fair to get in. If the band and I can get it together, we’re gonna play five, six, maybe even seven of these eleven songs, and I can’t wait.” Registration for tickets was limited to Friday and Saturday, with tickets prices at just $10. It remains to be seen if additional tickets will be freed up this week.
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1990, The Internal Revenue Service placed liens totaling $16.7-million on Willie Nelson’s property to guarantee that he paid $6.5-million in back taxes.
- Today in 1993, Garth Brooks’ self-titled debut album was certified for sales of 5-million copies.
- Today in 1993, the Country Music Association announced it would induct Willie Nelson into its Hall of Fame. The actual induction took place on September 29th.
- Today in 1994, Garth Brooks’ “No Fences” album was certified for sales of 11-million copies.
- Today in 1994, Pam Tillis’ “Sweetheart’s Dance” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1995, John Berry’s debut album was certified platinum.
- Today in 1995, the album, “Games Rednecks Play,” by Jeff Foxworthy was certified gold and platinum simultaneously.
- Today in 1996, the audience at the Grand Ole Opry witnessed a historic moment when 23-year-old Hank Williams III, son of Hank Williams Jr. and grandson of country music legend Hank Williams made his Opry debut. Hank III wore a black western shirt trimmed with green fringe that belonged to his grandfather.
- Today in 1999, Brooks & Dunn’s album, “Tight Rope,” was released.
- Today in 2001, newlyweds Vince Gill and wife Amy Grant announced that they were expecting their first child together. The couple welcomed their daughter Corrina Grant Gill, into the world at 12:36 am CT on March 11th. Here are two fun facts for you: First, Vince and Amy didn’t find out if they were having a boy or a girl until she made her debut. Second, the baby’s name isn’t a combination of the couple’s last names – “Grant” is actually Vince’s middle name.
- Today in 2004, Keith Urban’s “Be Here” album was released.
- Today in 2011, Carrie Underwood, Ashley Gorley and Chris DeStefano wrote their future hit, “Good Girl,” in Los Angeles.
- Today in 2013, Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid featured Kacey Musgraves, Carlene Carter, Pete Seeger, Jack Johnson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Neil Young, among others, at the Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center in New York.
- Today in 2015, Dierks Bentley was a surprise guest during Taylor Swift’s concert at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. They teamed up on “Every Mile A Memory.”
- Today in 2016, the Garth Brooks album, “The Ultimate Hits,” was certified 10-times platinum by the RIAA.
- Today in 2019, “The Highwomen” debuted at #1 on the Billboard country albums chart.
- Today in 2019, Tenille Arts made her Grand Ole Opry debut.
- Today in 2021, Cody Johnson’s single, “‘Til You Can’t,” was released.
Chris Stapleton Fronts Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers At Americana Awards
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Chris Stapleton appeared with Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers at the Americana Awards. The band performed three songs: “American Girl,” which featured guitarist Mike Campbell on lead vocals; “Breakdown,” which saw Stapleton take the mic; and “You Wreck Me,” which featured the band’s original lineup along with two more recent additions, Steve Ferrone and Scott Thurston.
After the performance, Stapleton presented the band the Americana Lifetime Achievement Award, saying, “This year marks the 50th anniversary of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Words cannot express how much that catalog of music means to me, but also to the world. It transcends genre, it transcends Americana, it transcends lots of things. It heals and it makes you feel good and it makes you want to drive too fast. And it makes you want to play music; that’s what it did for me.” See the entire evening (The Heartbreakers w/Chris Stapleton starts at around the 9:00 mark) here.
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1947, Carnegie Hall hosted its first country music show with Ernest Tubb and Roy Acuff as headliners.
- Today in 1981, George Jones’ “I Am What I Am” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1986, the “#7” album by George Strait was certified gold.
- Today in 1989, Willie Nelson’s “Take It To The Limit” album was certified gold and his “Pretty Paper” album was certified platinum.
- Today in 1992, Clint Black’s album, “The Hard Way,” was certified gold and platinum simultaneously.
- Today in 1997, Patty Loveless’ “Long Stretch Of Lonesome” album was released.
- Today in 1997, the Farm Aid concert – canceled due to low ticket sales at the Texas Stadium – was rescheduled at the New World Music Theatre in Tinley Park, Illinois, for the same day…October 4th. The benefit was a sell-out.
- Today in 1998, Reba McEntire joined the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her star, the 2,120th planted in the famous foot thoroughfare, was unveiled in front of the Johnny Grant Building, 7018 Hollywood Boulevard.
- Today in 1998, Jett Williams paid tribute to her late father, Hank Williams, who would have been 75 the day before, on the Grand Ole Opry. She saluted her dad by performing “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” a song released after his death on New Year’s Eve, 1952. Jett told the crowd, quote, “He never sang the song on the Opry. He never sang it live.”
- Today in 1999, Faith Hill graced the cover of “TV Guide.”
- Today in 2000, Toby Keith was the guest of honor at a special event in Nashville. Toby was the benefactor of the first songwriter/artist endowment to support the work and mission of the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
- Today in 2001, Martina McBride’s “Greatest Hits” collection and Aaron Tippin’s “A December To Remember” album arrived in stores.
- Today in 2002, Joe Nichols scored a number of firsts: a debut artist, a debut single, a brand new label and a #1 record! Joe’s debut single, “The Impossible,” leapt four chart positions to claim the top spot on the “Radio & Records” Country Top 50 chart.
- Today in 2004, “Days Go By” took Keith Urban to the top of the Billboard country chart.
- Today in 2006, Willie and Bobbie Nelson received misdemeanor citations for drug possession when his bus stopped on Interstate 10 in Louisiana. A search of the vehicle yielded 1.5-pounds of pot and 2/10 of a pound of mushrooms.
- Today in 2008, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant won two trophies – Duo/Group of the Year and Album of the Year for “Raising Sand” – during the seventh annual Americana Honors & Awards.
- Today in 2010, Billy Currington rose to the top of the Billboard country singles chart with “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer.”
- Today in 2015, Miranda Lambert launched her eighth annual Paws For The Cause fundraiser for the MuttNation Foundation in Luckenbach, Texas. She’s joined by Radney Foster, Gwen Sebastian and songwriters Jon Randall and Jessi Alexander.
- Today in 2017, Three years after the previous signs were removed, new signs proclaiming Marshville, North Carolina, as the birthplace of Randy Travis were dedicated. Travis was also presented keys to the city.
- Today in 2017, Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron launched their new talk show, “Pickler & Ben,” launches on television with surprise guest Dolly Parton. Faith Hill is one of several executive producers.
Reba’s Tribute To Dolly At The Emmys Included More Than Just Her Song
Posted on by Bob Ballard
When Reba McEntire paid loving tribute to Dolly Parton at the Emmys this week, she brought more to the performance than just her voice. The “Dolly Archive” IG account revealed that Reba took the stage wearing some key pieces of jewelry it had loaned her. “The Dolly Archive was honored to loan Reba a few pieces of Dolly’s jewelry to wear during her performance, including Dolly’s earrings from the ‘Does He Love You’ music video and a butterfly ring from Dolly’s personal collection.”
MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: PICKLE
Posted on by Bob Ballard
This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Pickle”, a sweet 3 year old male kitty. Pickle is a pretty quiet fellow who would not only make a great companion at home, but would also be a great office kitty. Pickle doesn’t seem to mind dogs and gets along with other cats.
Pickle is fully vaccinated, vetted, neutered, microchipped and ready to go!
And since Pickle is the H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week and his adoption fee has been paid, you can adopt him FREE!
If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Pickle 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 Pickle with Izzy from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:
Author Claims She Has A One-Of-One Dolly Parton Album
Posted on by Bob Ballard
A best-selling author says she’s in possession of a Dolly Parton album that no one has ever heard. According to Kim Michele Richardson, Dolly read her 2019 novel “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.” The historical fiction was inspired by the real-life Pack Horse Library Project, where women traveled through the Appalachian Mountains on horseback delivering books during the 1930s. Dolly, whose own Imagination Library could be considered the modern day equivalent to the Pack Horse Library Project, was so taken with the book, she sent the author a gift.
That gift? A complete 15-song album, all written and recorded by Parton and based on Richardson’s book. The author says she received the recordings from Dolly about four years ago, and the legend gave Richardson permission to use the songs however she wanted. The good news? We may eventually get to hear this unreleased gem. Richardson says plans were already being worked on to make the music available to the public before Parton died. “We’re working on things now,” Richardson said.
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1960, Loretta Lynn made her Grand Ole Opry debut.
- Today in 1977, Reba McEntire made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. She performed “Invitation to the Blues.”
- Today in 1996, Alabama released their second holiday album, “Alabama Christmas II,” and John Berry released his album, “Faces.”
- Today in 1996, the mayor of Rhinelander, Wisconsin proclaimed today’s date as “Trace Adkins Day,” and presented Trace with the key to the city. The previous month, the mayor of Trace’s hometown of Sarepta, Louisiana had made such a declaration.
- Today in 1996, Ty England’s “Two Ways to Fall” album arrived in stores.
- Today in 1999, the Dixie Chicks’ album, “Fly,” began its second straight week at #1 on both the pop and country albums charts. In just two weeks, the album sold 545,000 units, which means it had already gone gold (you need 500,000 copies sold for a gold album). In fact, first day sales were 75,000. SoundScan figures show that the album had the highest first week sales of any act in country music history except for Garth Brooks. In addition, “Fly,” became the first country album to spend more than one week at #1 on the pop albums chart since Garth’s album, “Double Live,” in 1998.
- Today in 1999, Lisa Hartman Black joined her hubby Clint Black on stage for their first public performance of their mega-hit, “When I Said I Do.”
- Today in 2000, Alan Jackson, Sawyer Brown and Travis Tritt joined Farm Aid founders Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young and a host of other performers in Bristow, Virginia for the 15th anniversary of Farm Aid.
- Today in 2002, Clay Walker’s album, “Christmas,” arrived in stores.
- Today in 2002, Tracy Byrd and his wife, Michelle, finally had a name for their third child, who had arrived two weeks earlier – Jared James. When he left St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, Jared – aka J.J. – joined his sister, Evee Elisabeth, and brother, Logan Lynn. By the way, in case you’re wondering, the Byrd family did not break the record for delayed baby-naming – not even close. The State of Texas told them it once took a family three months to decide on what to call their child.
- Today in 2002, Faith Hill was in Los Angeles to tape an NBC concert special, which aired on Thanksgiving.
- Today in 2005, The Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton single “Islands in The Stream” topped the list with the debut of “CMT 100 Greatest Duets”
- Today in 2009, Buddy Miller won four times during the Americana Music Association Awards & Honors at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville
- Today in 2012, Tim McGraw’s “Truck Yeah” video debuted on CMT.
- Today in 2017, LANCO lead singer Brandon Lancaster and Tiffany Trotter were married near Nashville. The ceremony was attended by all his bandmates: Tripp Howell, Eric Steedly, Jared Hampton and Chandler Baldwin.
- Today in 2018, Faith Hill headlines a voting rally at Marathon Music Works in Nashville for a non-profit agency, When We All Vote.
- Today in 2019, Luke Combs joined Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris at All For The Hall, a fundraiser for the Country Music Hall of Fame at The Novo in Los Angeles.
- Today in 2019, Old Dominion scored a gold single from the RIAA for “One Man Band.”
- Today in 2021, the Carly Pearce album, “29: Written In Stone,” and Scotty McCreery’s “Same Truck” album were released.
Taylor Swift Will Attend Her First CMA In Ten Years
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Taylor Swift’s slow walk back to country music is picking up a little speed. Earlier this year, the singer released the country-tinged smash “I Knew It, I Knew You” from the soundtrack for “Toy Story 5.” The song marks Swift’s first new country release since her 2010 album “Speak Now.” Last nominated for a CMA in 2022 for her “I Bet You Think About Me” collab with Chris Stapleton, Swift has been nominated once again for “I Knew It, I Knew You” in the “Single of the Year” category. That seems to be enough to get Taylor back in the room for the upcoming 60th CMA Awards; on her Instagram Story, she posted “Looks like I haven’t yee’d my last haw – Thank you CMA!!!! – See you there Nov 18.” Taylor’s last appearance at the CMA Awards was in 2016, when she presented Garth Brooks with the “Entertainer of the Year” award.
NEWSLETTER
Stay updated, sign up for our newsletter.
Thanks for signing up!