This day in 1981: Kix gets hitched

Posted on August 1, 2019August 1, 2019 by Bob Ballard

Today in 1981: Kix Brooks married his wife, Barbara.

As the story goes, Kix overslept and barely arrived to his Nashville wedding on time. Barbara met her husband in Maine in 1979, before he was pursuing a musical career.

“I’m from Boston, but I moved to Maine after college and had a fabric store there,” Barbara Brooks recalls. “Kix was there, having left his native Louisiana to help his sister and brother-in-law at their fledgling ad agency.”

Even though Kix Brooks left Maine the following year to follow his musical dreams, their relationship survived the long distance, and Barbara Brooks moved to Nashville a year later. They married in 1981, but it would be a while before Brooks & Dunn really made it big; in the beginning, Brooks was known as a songwriter — before Brooks & Dunn’s hits “Brand New Man” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” hit the airwaves in the early ’90s.

The couple are still happily married, 38 years later.

Carrie Underwood Surprises Elementary School Students During “The Champion” Rehearsal

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Bob Ballard

Carrie Underwood made the day of a group of elementary school students last month, and the whole thing was caught on tape.

The Andrew Jackson Elementary School Eagle Honor Choir caught Carrie’s attention when they shared a video of them performing Carrie’s hit “The Champion.” The performance was so great, the CMA Foundation asked the kids to perform at CMA Fest last month, but before they took the stage they got a surprise visit from Carrie herself.

Video shows Carrie hiding out in the wings as the students rehearse the song, with Carrie noting, “I just love listening to them.” She eventually walks out to the surprise the kids, who were definitely excited and shocked.

The video release is in conjunction with ABC’s “CMA Fest” special, which is set to air Sunday at 8 pm.

This day in 1964: Jim Reeves dies in plane crash

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Bob Ballard

This day in 1964: Country Music Hall of Fame member, Jim Reeves, died when his single-engine Beechcraft plane crashed near Nashville, Tennessee.

Reeves and his business partner and manager Dean Manuel was flying on their way to Nashville. They were riding on a single-engine aircraft, and the country singer is at the controls. The two came from Batesville, Arkansas, where they secured a deal on some real estate.

When they were flying over Brentwood, Tennessee, they were caught in a violent storm. It was an unexpected incident that caused Reeves to suffer from spatial disorientation, which is the pilot’s inability to determine his body position in space.

According to forensic evidence, Reeves relied on his instincts more than his training during the thunderstorm encounter. He turned left attempting to follow Franklin Road. This caused them to fly further into the rain. Having been too focused on establishing his ground references, Reeves let his airspeed get too low and stalled the aircraft.

Official investigation recorded that Reeves ran into the heavy rain at 4:52 p.m. and crashed only a minute later. The wreckage was found 42 hours later. The plane’s parts were buried in the ground due to the crash’s impact. Ernest Tubb and Marty Robbins were among those who joined the search operation. After their death was formally announced in public, thousands of supporters traveled to pay their last respects at the country star’s funeral.

Maren Morris Lands Third Number One

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Bob Ballard

Maren Morris announced on Instagram that she had the number one song in the country, and now it’s official. “Billboard” reveals that Maren’s “Girl” has topped the Country Airplay chart this week, making it her third number one single.

“I am so proud that ‘Girl’ is my third ‘Billboard’ number one,” Maren shares. “The title of the song alone feels like poetic justice breaking this year-and- a-half streak of a woman not having a number one on [Country Airplay], so let’s be hopeful we never see that dry spell again.”

The dry spell Maren is referring to the last female number one from Kelsea Ballerini, who topped the Country Airplay chart with “Legends” back in February, 2018.

Elsewhere on the chart…

Luke Combs’ “This One’s For You” is number one on the Top Country Albums chart, its 43rd week on top, tying Randy Travis’ “Always & Forever” for the second-most weeks on top. Only Shania Twain’s “Come On Over” has more weeks, with 50.

Blanco Brown’s “The Git Up” tops the Hot Country Songs chart for a third, non-consecutive week.

This day in 1955, Johnny Cash records “Folsom Prison Blues”

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Bob Ballard

This day in 1955, Johnny Cash records his first version of “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Luther Played The Boogie” and “So Doggone Lonesome” at the Sun Recording Studio in Memphis.

Folsom Prison Blues, made the country Top 5, and “I Walk the Line” became No. 1 on the country charts, also making it into the pop charts Top 20. In 1957, Cash became the first Sun artist to release a long-playing album.

Dolly Parton & The Highwomen Highlight Newport Folk Festival

Posted on July 29, 2019 by Bob Ballard

There was certainly a lot of girl power at the Newport Folk Festival this weekend. Not only did it include the first-ever live set by the Highwomen, but it also featured a surprise appearance by Dolly Parton for an all-female collaboration set, which wowed the crowd.

First off the Highwoman – Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby – took the stage Friday night, backed by a band that included Jason Isbell (Shires’ husband) and Brandi’s band members, the Hanseroth Twins.

The Highwomen’s set included songs from their upcoming album, including “Cocktail and a Song,” “My Name Can’t Be Mama,” “Heaven is a Honky Tonk,” their first single “Redesigning Women” and more.

But the big surprise of the weekend was Saturday’s surprise headlining act. It was billed simply as “♀♀♀♀: The Collaboration,” and it turned out to be an all-female jam session curated by Brandi, including the surprise appearance of Dolly, as well as Linda Perry, Sheryl Crow, the rest of the Highwomen, Maggie Rogers and more.

Dolly joined the Highwomen for “Jolene,” “Just Because I’m A Woman,” and “Eagle When She Flies,” and also teamed with Brandi for “I Will Always Love You,” while everyone came out for a rousing performance of “9 to 5.”

It also featured Sheryl Crow and Maren performing Sheryl’s “If It Makes You Happy,” and Sheryl, Yola and Rogers performing “Strong Enough,” Perry, Jade Bird and Highwomen singing Perry’s 4 Non Blondes hit “What’s Up?” Judy Collins and Brandi performing, “Both Sides Now” and more.

This day in 1972, Barbara Mandrell becomes a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Posted on July 29, 2019 by Bob Ballard

This day in 1972, Barbara Mandrell became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

She gave her last concert at the Grand Ole Opry House on October 23, 1997. She then retired from performing music. Mandrell was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009. Although retired, Mandrell is still a member of the Grand Ole Opry; an honor she has held since 1972.

Mandrell was the first performer to win the Country Music Association’s “Entertainer of the Year” award twice (1980, 1981). She also won the Country Music Association’s “Female Vocalist of the Year” in 1979 and 1981.

Mandrell’s first Billboard number-one hit was 1978’s “Sleeping Single in a Double Bed”, immediately followed by “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right” in early 1979. In 1980, “Years” also reached number one. She added one more chart topper in each of the next three years. “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” (her signature song), then “‘Till You’re Gone” and “One of a Kind Pair of Fools”—all hit number one between 1981 and 1983, a period during which Mandrell also received numerous industry awards and accolades.

Garth & Trisha Narrate New Opry Film

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Bob Ballard

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood narrate a new film about the history of the Grand Ole Opry. The movie is part of the Opry’s $12 million expansion, and is shown ahead of daytime backstage tours of the facility.

The film features archival footage of over 100 artists, including legends like Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl, and new members like Luke Combs and Kelsea Ballerini. Garth and Trisha also spend time reflecting on some of their favorite Opry memories, and they talk about their debuts and more.

On this day in 1968: Jeannie C. Riley records “Harper Valley PTA.”

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Bob Ballard

On this day in 1968: Jeannie C. Riley recorded “Harper Valley PTA.”

The song was written by Tom T. Hall and became, in 1968, a major international hit single for country singer Jeannie C. Riley. The song was originally recorded by Margie Singleton, on Ashley Records A 5000 in July, 1968. Riley’s record sold over six million copies as a single. It made Riley the first woman to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.S. Hot Country Singles charts with the same song, a feat that would go un-repeated until Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” in 1981.

The song also inspired the 1978 American comedy film starring Barbara Eden, Nanette Fabray, Ronny Cox, Louis Nye and Susan Swift. The film was primarily released to drive-in theaters throughout the summer of 1978. The film’s promotional tagline is: “The song was scandalous. The movie is hilarious!”

The Oak Ridge Boys Announce Christmas Album & Tour

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Bob Ballard

The Oak Ridge Boys are ready to get into the holiday spirit. The band announced they’ll be releasing the new Christmas album, “Down Home Christmas,” on October 25th and they’ll hit the road on a holiday tour in support of it.

The “2019 Down Home Christmas Tour” will feature more than 31 concerts, kicking off November 13th in Branson, Missouri, wrapping December 22nd in Joliet, Illinois.

Check out the track list for “Down Home For Christmas” below, as well as the first set of dates on the tour. Click here for the complete schedule.

“Down Home Christmas” track list:

“The Family Piano”
“Angels”
“Bring Daddy Home For Christmas”
“Reindeer On The Roof”
“Silent Night”
“Hallelujah Emmanuel”
“Down Home Christmas”
“South Alabama Christmas”
“Don’t Go Pullin’ On Santa Claus’ Beard”
“Amazing Grace”

“Down Home Christmas Tour” dates:

November 13 & 14: Branson, MO – The Mansion Theatre
November 15: Sioux Falls, IA – Orpheum Theatre
November 16: Deadwood, SD – Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel
November 17: Aberdeen, SD – Aberdeen Civic Arena
November 18: Jefferson, IA – Wild Rose Casino & Resort
November 19: Park City, KS – : Hartman Arena /
November 20 & 21: Branson, MO – The Mansion Theatre
November 22: Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Theater
November 23: Portsmouth, OH – The Vern Riffe Center For The Arts
November 24: St. Louis, MO – River City Casino
Novembe 30: Independence, KS – Memorial Hall
December 1: Manhattan, KS – McCain Auditorium

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