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This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1975, Minnie Pearl was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
  • Today in 1975, John Denver was named Entertainer of the Year at the ninth annual CMA Awards. The award presentation didn’t exactly go smoothly as 1974 Entertainer of the Year Charlie Rich, who was there to award the trophy, pulled out a lighter and torched the envelope to express his outrage.
  • Today in 1978, Ronnie Milsap’s album, “Only One Love In My Life,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 1980, at the 14th annual CMA Awards, Johnny Cash was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Barbara Mandrell was named Entertainer of the Year, Emmylou Harris and George Jones were Female and Male Vocalists of the Year and the Single of the Year was “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
  • Today in 1986, at the 20th annual CMA Awards, Reba McEntire became the first woman in five years to be named Entertainer of the Year. She was also named Female Vocalist of the Year, while George Strait was named Male Vocalist. The Horizon Award went to Randy Travis, and the Single of the Year was “Bop” by Dan Seals.
  • Today in 1992, Reba McEntire scored another #1 hit with “The Greatest Man I Never Knew.”
    Today in 1993, the “Haunted Heart” album by Sammy Kershaw was certified gold.
  • Today in 1998, Travis Tritt’s “No More Looking Over My Shoulder” CD arrived in stores.
  • Today in 1999, Vince Gill confirmed that he and Amy Grant were an item.
  • Today in 2000, the Dixie Chicks’ “Fly” album was certified for multi-platinum sales of seven million.
  • Today in 2001, Martina McBride thrilled thousands of fans as she performed her very first live concert on pay-per-view.
  • Today in 2001, Alan Jackson’s “Where I Come From” topped the Billboard country chart.
  • Today in 2005, Keith Urban’s “Better Life” video debuted on CMT.
  • Today in 2007, Sammy Hagar’s 60th birthday bash featured performances by Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Ted Nugent and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith at Sammy’s Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
  • Today in 2008, Darius Rucker’s “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2009, Keith Urban hosted a concert at Nashville’s Sommet Center, raising $500-thousand for the Country Music Hall of Fame. Also on board: Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town.
  • Today in 2010, Elvis Presley’s album “How Great Thou Art” was certified triple-platinum by the RIAA.
  • Today in 2010, Blake Shelton launched his first headlining tour at the Ogden Theatre in Denver.
  • Today in 2011, Martina McBride completed a cross-country train trip to promote her album “Eleven” as she arrives in New York City. McBride gives a performance at Manhattan’s Penn Station that includes her current single, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It.”
  • Today in 2014, Luke Bryan was the only country artist to appear on the ballot twice as nominees for the American Music Awards are announced.
  • Today in 2015, RaeLynn announced her engagement to Josh Davis on Instagram. The couple married the following October. The year after their marriage…he enlisted in the military and she’s since said she loves being a military wife.
  • Today in 2015, Sam Hunt leads the country field with three nominations in the American Music Awards. Taylor Swift tops the entire list with six nominations as a pop artist.
  • Today in 2016, Garth Brooks single, “Baby, Let’s Lay Down And Dance” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2017, Carly Pearce’s album, “Every Little Thing,” was released. On the same day, Jessie James Decker’s “Southern Girl City Lights” album arrived on shelves.
  • Today in 2017, Dolly Parton visits patients at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville. She also announces she’s making a $1 million donation to the facility.
  • Today in 2017, Charley Pride, Jimmie Rodgers and Ralph Peer are among the honorees as PBS airs a “Great Performances” episode that features a Grammy salute to legends. Dwight Yoakam delivers a three-song medley of Rodgers’ hits, Neal McCoy covers Pride’s “Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone” and Pride sings “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’.”
  • Today in 2018, Kellie Pickler plays a benefit for Tyler Rich, a 29-year-old who had a lung transplant, at the Campos Family Vineyards in Bryan, California.
  • Today in 2019, Gretchen Wilson and her entourage are told to leave Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces, New Mexico, after allegedly making excessive noise in the early hours. Body cam footage released by police two weeks later suggests the hotel may have sent officers to the wrong room.

 

Kane Brown Hosts Town Hall For Boys & Girls Club Of America

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Kane Brown showed his support for the Boys & Girls Club of America by hosting a “Worldwide Beautiful” Town Hall, which was attended by more than 100 members from across the U.S. and those living on U.S. military bases.

Kane has been active with the Boys & Girls Club for quite some time, and even hosted a VIP meet-and-greet for them last year during his “Live Forever Tour.”

As part of the town hall he took part in a Q&A about diversity and equality, and showed his new video for the unifying track “Worldwide Beautiful.”

https://www.facebook.com/100001524829399/videos/3495101353883991/

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1981, the 15th annual CMA Awards were held. In a history-making move, Barbara Mandrell won Female Vocalist honors as well as Entertainer of the Year for the second year in a row (she was the first artists to do so); George Jones won Male Vocalist and the Horizon Award went to Teri Gibbs. The Single of the Year was “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones.
  • Today in 1985, Marie Osmond and Dan Seals enjoyed having a #1 single with “Meet Me In Montana.”
  • Today in 1987, the 21st annual CMA Awards were held. Hank Williams Jr. was named Entertainer of the Year; Randy Travis and Reba McEntire were the Male and Female Vocalists, and the Horizon Award went to Holly Dunn. The Single of the Year was “Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis.
  • Today in 1991, Sammy Kershaw made his chart debut with “Cadillac Style.”
  • Today in 1991, Ricky Van Shelton’s drove to #1 with his single, “Keep It Between The Lines.”
  • Today in 1993, the “Cheap Seats” album by Alabama and the “Honky Tonk Christmas” album by Alan Jackson were released.
  • Today in 1993, Suzy Bogguss’ “Voices In The Wind” album was certified gold.
  • Today in 1993, the “Common Thread: The Songs Of The Eagles,” which had with some of the royalties benefitting the Walden Woods Project, arrived in stores. Among the artists contributing: Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill and Trisha Yearwood
  • Today in 1996, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and other performed in front of 45-thousand fans at Farm Aid ’96 in Columbia, South Carolina.
  • Today in 1996, the truth was that Trisha Yearwood was at #1 in Billboard with “Believe Me Baby (I Lied).”
  • Today in 1997, singer/songwriter/actor John Denver was killed when the experimental plane he was piloting crashed into the Monterey Bay. He was 53.
  • Today in 2010, The Band Perry’s self-titled debut album was released.
  • Today in 2012, Thomas Rhett married his lovely wife, Lauren Gregory.
  • Today in 2013, the ribbon cutting was held for the $4-million Taylor Swift Education Center at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Reba, Little Big Town & More Set For Save Our Stages Festival

Posted on by Bob Ballard

The coronavirus pandemic has forced independent music venues across the country to close, and it’s expected that many won’t survive the shut down. Well, now a group of artists are doing what they can to raise awareness and money for these important clubs.

Reba McEntire, Brothers Osborne, Little Big Town and Kelsea Ballerini are among the artists set to perform for the Save Our Stages Virtual Festival, happening October 16th to 18th.

The event is produced by YouTube Music and the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and hopes raise money for independent venues and to spread awareness of the $10 billion Save Our Stages Act currently before Congress.

The festival, which will livestream i on NIVA’s Official YouTube Channel, will feature original performances from 26 different independent venues throughout the U.S., with 35 acts confirmed. Other artists participating in the fest include Foo Fighters, Miley Cyrus, Dave Matthews, Demi Lovato & Marshmello, Brittany Howard, The Roots, G-Eazy, Leon Bridges, YG, Finneas, Phoebe Bridgers, Jason Mraz, Macklemore and more.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1929, Gene Autry began his first recording session.
  • Today in 1967, the “Ode to Billy Joe” album by Bobbie Gentry was certified gold.
  • Today in 1976, Bobby Bare’s single, “Dropkick Me Jesus (Through the Goalposts of Life),” entered the country charts.
  • Today in 1978, Dolly Parton became the second woman ever to be named the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year. The first was Loretta Lynn.
  • Today in 1981, Emmylou Harris’ “Evangeline” album was certified gold.
  • Today in 1989, George Strait won the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award, while Kathy Mattea took Female Vocalist of the Year honors.
  • Today in 1996, the album, “A Place in the World,” by Mary Chapin Carpenter was released.
  • Today in 1998, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris performed in Washington, D.C., to raise funds for the Campaign for a Landmine Free World.
  • Today in 1998, Mark Wills was #1 on “Radio & Records’” Country Top 50 chart with “Don’t Laugh at Me.”
  • Today in 2000, Garth Brooks told “Billboard” magazine that he and his wife, Sandy, had agreed to divorce.
  • Today in 2001, Trace Adkins’ album, “Chrome,” arrived in stores.
  • Today in 2001, the “Country Goes Raffi” project featuring folks like Asleep at the Wheel, Elizabeth Cook, Billy Gilman, Alison Krauss, Kathy Mattea, Marty Stuart and Keith Urban, arrived in stores.
  • Today in 2007, LeAnn Rimes was joined by pop singer Joss Stone to shoot an episode of “CMT Crossroads” in Franklin, Tennessee. Their performance included a duet version of “Nothin’ Better to Do.”
  • Today in 2009, Taylor Swift’s “Fifteen” video premiered on CMT.
  • Today in 2012, Hunter Hayes’ single, “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” was released.

MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: “JINGLES”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Jingles”, an adorable 12 year old kitty. Jingles loves attention, and would make a great “strictly indoors” cat, since she has been front-declawed.

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Jingles 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 Jingles with Terry Gott from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

Dolly Parton’s Brother Inspired “You Are My Christmas”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Dolly Parton’s new Christmas album, “A Holly Dolly Christmas,” features the very personal song “You Are My Christmas,” which was inspired by her brother Randy, who was born around the holiday.

“Randy was our Christmas baby,” she shares in a video on her website. “We used to cry for one of those walking, talking dolls when we were kids, that we’d see in the catalog. Or, some of our relatives that had a little more than we did, they’d get one.”

She adds, “So I remember the year that Randy was born around Christmas, Mama said, ‘Hey, come here, look. We’ve got your own walking, talking doll. He actually cries real tears, he pees real pee, and he’s like your walking, talking doll.'”

Randy and his daughter Heidi actually sing background vocals on the tune, and Dolly says since they “sound great together” she thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to have her sing that third part harmony on it?,” adding, “So I was real proud to have Randy and Heidi on the same record.”

Source: Dolly Parton

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1983, Kathy Mattea first appeared on the country charts with a song called “Street Talk.” It made the top forty, but it took her another five years to score her first #1, “Goin’ Gone.”
  • Today in 1984, Anne Murray became the first female country artist to win the CMA’s Album of the Year trophy, for “A Little Good News.”
  • Today in 1984, Alabama was named the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year for the third year in a row. They were the first act ever to win the prestigious award that many times. Garth Brooks tied that record with his win in 1997, and then beat it by winning “Entertainer of the Year” again in 1998. Reba McEntire also won for Female Vocalist of the Year (the first of four consecutive wins).
  • Today in 1985, the “Live in London” album by Ricky Skaggs was released.
  • Today in 1990, the 24th annual CMA Awards were held. George Strait was named Entertainer of the Year, Kathy Mattea and Clint Black were the Male and Female Vocalists of the Year, and the Horizon Award went to…Garth Brooks!
  • Today in 1990, Tennessee Ernie Ford was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
  • Today in 1991, the albums, “Don’t Go Near the Water” by Sammy Kershaw and “Greatest Hits Volume II” by Alabama were released.
  • Today in 1996, Daryle Singletary’s album, “All Because Of You,” and the album, “One Ride in Vegas” by Deryl Dodd were released.
  • Today in 2002, Keith Urban’s album, “Golden Road,” arrived in stores.
  • Today in 2002, Martina McBride was at the Safe Haven homeless shelter in Nashville to draw attention to ways people can help others on Make a Difference Day.
  • Today in 2002, Shania Twain celebrated a stunning triumph. “I’m Gonna Getcha Good,” the first single from her album, “UP!,” debuted on “Radio & Records’” Country Top 50 chart at #21.
  • Today in 2002, Joe Diffie was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
  • Today in 2002, Johnny Cash was honored with the Founders Award at the 32nd annual Conference of the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA).
  • Today in 2003, Dolly Parton and Melissa Etheridge taped an episode of “CMT Crossroads,” hosted by Radney Foster, at the Sony Television Studios in Los Angeles.
  • Today in 2004, Keith Urban launched his first headlining tour, sponsored by CMT, at Emens Auditorium in Muncie, Indiana.
  • Today in 2008, Jason Aldean kicked off his first headlining tour at the Ramsey Center in Cullhowee, North Carolina. Lady Antebellum and Eric Durrance were also on the CMT-sponsored tour.
  • Today in 2011, Rascal Flatts joined the Grand Ole Opry and performed three songs. Ronnie Dunn, of Brooks & Dunn, also made his solo Opry debut as a solo artist.
  • Today in 2012, Eric Church launched a two-night stand at the Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga. The shows were recorded for the 2013 concert album, “Caught in the Act: Live.”

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill Celebrate 24th Wedding Anniversary

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary yesterday, and Tim took to Instagram to mark the occasion with a beautiful tribute to his wife and their time together.

“These years have rushed by in a series of beautiful, painful and unexpected moments…. We have loved, laughed and cried through exciting, inspiring and heartbreaking events in our lives together,” he writes. “U have been a role model for 3 remarkable young women who have made me a better man than I ever thought I could be…..”

He adds, “The future will surely hold more of all of these things. It only matters if I’m with you. It only works if I’m with you. My oxygen only exists if you’re by my side. Forever and always living and loving our way through anything @faithhill.”

Meanwhile, Faith’s tribute was short but equally sweet. “To my guy…The one that stole my heart 24 years ago today,” she writes. “Happy Anniversary my love❤️❤️❤️”

ONE MORE THING! Not only is Faith’s Tim’s love, she’s apparently a good judge of his music. Tim says that when he was deciding to record his latest single “I Called Mama” he knew it was the right thing to do because Faith approved. “When everybody was going back and forth, even my daughters, about songs,” Tim says, “Faith really, she was like a hand that weighed in big time on this song and said, ‘You know, that song will mean a lot to people.’” He adds, “She’s just a special lady and so, when she puts her hand on something, it’s almost like it’s hard to not listen to her for sure.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF_-9yGAZ-z/?utm_source=ig_embed

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1978, Merle Haggard married fellow country singer, Leona Williams.
  • Today in 1984, the movie, “Songwriter,” starring Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson premiered in Nashville.
  • Today in 1986, the Judds’ album, “Rockin’ with the Rhythm,” was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1986, Dolly Parton’s “Greatest Hits” collection was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1994, the “City Of New Orleans” album by Willie Nelson was certified platinum.
  • Today in 2000, Chris LeDoux got a new liver. After being diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis two months earlier, he underwent transplant surgery at the Nebraska Health System hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Today in 2002, Toby Keith made his Monday Night Football debut, but he wasn’t wearing a helmet. Toby and Ford launched the first of several truck ads featuring Toby during the game.
  • Today in 2002, Mary Chapin Carpenter was named the honorary chairwoman for the Habitat For Humanity’s Women Build Project.
  • Today in 2006, Big & Rich and Lynyrd Skynyrd perform a benefit concert at the HiFi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta to raise funds for a memorial to the 173rd Airborne, the division commemorated in “8th Of November.”
  • Today in 2008, Josh Turner and John Rich are in the audience when presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama debate on national TV from Nashville’s Belmont University.
  • Today in 2013, Florida Georgia Line’s “Stay” video debuts on CMT.
  • Today in 2014, Broken Bow released Jason Aldean’s album “Old Boots, New Dirt.”

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