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This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1989, Naomi Judd had a lot to celebrate. She married her husband, Larry Strickland. That wasn’t the only good news – the Judds’ single, “Young Love (Strong Love),” topped the country charts.
  • Today in 1989, Keith Whitley played a concert date at the Armadillo Ballroom in Brazoria, Texas, which amounted to his final show. He was dead three days later of alcohol poisoning.
  • Today in 1991, Alan Jackson released the hit single, “Don’t Rock the Jukebox.”
  • Today in 1993, IRS agents seized possessions from the Mississippi home of Jerry Lee Lewis for failing to pay more than $1.6-million in overdue.
  • Today in 1994, the single, “Before You Kill Us All,” by Randy Travis topped the country singles charts.
  • Today in 1994, Garth Brooks hosted his second TV special on NBC.
  • Today in 1996, Lee Roy Parnell released the single, “Givin’ Water to a Drowning Man.”
  • Today in 1998, Shania Twain’s single, “You’re Still The One,” was certified platinum.
  • Today in 2006, Bon Jovi rocked at #1 on the “Billboard” country chart with the Jennifer Nettles collaboration, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”
  • Today in 2006, Carrie Underwood graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree.
  • Today in 2007, Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn wrap the two-day Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California, for a crowd of 30,000. Also playing: Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Jason Aldean, Gary Allan, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Pat Green and Sugarland.
  • Today in 2011, Taylor Swift’s “Mean” video had its world premiere on CMT.
  • Today in 2014, Keith Urban hosted the fifth We’re All For The Hall benefit at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, with Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Brantley Gilbert, Kip Moore, Reba McEntire, Ronnie Milsap and Lee Ann Womack, among others.

MORGAN WALLEN’S FIRST CALL AFTER THE CHAIR-THROWING INCIDENT WAS TO ERIC CHURCH

Posted on by Bob Ballard

It’s taken months, but we’re getting a more complete picture of what exactly happened in the Morgan Wallen chair-throwing incident. In an interview with the “Los Angeles Times,” Eric Church revealed for the first time that when Morgan was in the process of being arrested (after the chair-toss but before the handcuffs), his first call was to Church. “Morgan called me from the street after it happened. I was watching college basketball, and he said, ‘Hey, this just happened.’ I said, ‘Uh-oh.’ I knew it was gonna be noisy, and it was…it was damn noisy.” Once the noise died down, though, Church says it was a growth-moment for the singer. “It was actually a good thing for Mo. I think that was a line for him, and he’s done really well since then…it was a thing he’s reacted positively to as a person. I used the old Billy Joe Shaver line on him: ‘I’m just an old chunk of coal, but I’ll be a diamond one day.’ He went down [to Chief’s] and apologized to the staff, shook everybody’s hand. I was proud of him.”

 

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1985, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson released the “Highwayman” album.
  • Today in 1988, the album, “Remembering Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline,” was released.
  • Today in 1989, the “Killin’ Time” album by Clint Black and the “Something Inside So Strong” album by Kenny Rogers were released.
  • Today in 1994, Garth Brooks won two honors – Entertainer and Video of the Year – at the 29th Academy Of Country Music awards on NBC, though he wasn’t in Los Angeles to receive them. His wife, Sandy, gave birth to August Anna that night in Nashville.
  • Today in 1996, Travis Tritt’s “Greatest Hits – From the Beginning” went platinum.
  • Today in 1998, backstage at the Grand Ole Opry Loretta Lynn made the announcement that she intended to return to college and get a degree.
  • Today in 1998, Shania Twain was at #1 in Billboard with “You’re Still The One.”
  • Today in 2000, Collin Raye released his album, “Tracks,” while Chad Brock’s “Yes!” hit stores.
  • Today in 2000, Faith Hill and hubby Tim McGraw confirmed plans to perform their hit single, “Let’s Make Love,” at the upcoming ACM Awards. Their subsequent performance absolutely sizzled.
  • Today in 2002, highly anticipated CBS-TV special, featuring Clint Black, Lonestar, Celine Dion and others, was taped in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida aboard the U.S.S. Harry Truman. The show, titled “Rockin’ In The USA,” aired the following Memorial Day weekend.
  • Today in 2007, Taylor Swift’s debut single, “Tim McGraw,” went gold.
  • Today in 2009, Clint Black was fired by Donald Trump during an episode of the NBC-TV series “The Celebrity Apprentice.”
  • Today in 2010, water from the Cumberland River floods Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, peaked more than two feet above the venue’s stage. The Opry moves like a nomad to other Nashville locations for the next four months.
  • Today in 2011, Lady A’s single, “Just A Kiss,” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2013, Alan Jackson performed “He Stopped Loving Her Today” to close George Jones’ memorial at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Other participants include Randy Travis, Brad Paisley, Barbara Mandrell, The Oak Ridge Boys, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Ronnie Milsap, Charlie Daniels, Travis Tritt and Kenny Chesney.
  • Today in 2014, Carrie Underwood wrote “Something In The Water” with Chris DeStefano and Brett James in a Tennessee cabin, weaving in an “I Saw The Light” reference and a section of “Amazing Grace.”
  • Today in 2016, Maren Morris underwent a tonsillectomy.
  • Today in 2017, Sara Evans headlined a George Michael tribute at City Winery in Nashville. A benefit for the Unlikely Heroes organization, the show also featured Cassadee Pope and songwriters James Slater, Shane Stevens and Desmond Child.
  • Today in 2017, Vince Gill and his daughters, Jenny and Corrina Gill, performed the national anthem before an NHL playoff game at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The Predators edged the St. Louis Blues, 2-1, for a crowd that included Kix Brooks, Brothers Osborne, Joe Don Rooney and Carrie Underwood.

H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: MIKE

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H&S Feed and Country Store Pet of the Week is “Mike” a friendly 2 year old Terrier mix who is a big boy, weighing in around 65 pounds, but he has a great disposition, gets along with other dogs and doesn’t mind cats! Mike has lived at the shelter his entire life, so he is certainly ready to find his furr-ever home! Mike is fully vetted, vaccinated, neutered and ready to go!

Plus, thanks to a grant from the Bissel Foundation, Mike’s adoption fee is only $50 until May 15th!

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Mike 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 Mike with Nicole from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

LAINEY WILSON SCORES ROLE IN UPCOMING FILM, “REMINDERS OF HIM”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Lainey Wilson may have caught the acting bug. After a short stint on “Yellowstone,” the singer now has her first movie role. Lainey will appear in the big-screen adaptation of “Reminders of Him,” a romantic drama adapting the novel from “It Ends With Us” author Colleen Hoover. Lainey joins a cast led by Maika Monroe, and featuring Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lauren Graham, Nicholas Duvernay and Bradley Whitford. No word on what her role in the film will be.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1967, Elvis Presley married his longtime girlfriend, 21-year-old Priscilla Ann Beaulieu at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. They had their daughter, Lisa Marie just nine months later. After six years of marriage, the couple divorced but remained very close.
  • Today in 1969, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan taped the first installment of “The Johnny Cash Show” at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Future singer/songwriter John Hiatt was in the audience. Country Music named Loretta Lynn its 80’s Artist of the Decade.
  • Today in 1982, “Mountain Music” peaked at #1 for Alabama on the Billboard Country singles chart.
  • Today in 1980, the Academy of s released The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s album “Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. 2.” The guests included Johnny Cash, Levon Helm, Roy Acuff, John Denver, Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn, Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby.
  • Today in 1989, the “Sweet Sixteen” album by Reba McEntire was released.
  • Today in 1993, Charley Pride joined the Grand Ole Opry.
  • Today in 1999, Dixie Chick Emily Erwin married Charlie Robison at a West Texas ranch. They made the wedding a Texas family-and-friends event rather than a Nashville extravaganza and did the planning themselves. While they later divorced, fellow Chick Natalie Maines met her future husband, Adrian Pasdar, at the ceremony – and they’re still hitched.
  • Today in 2000, Steve Wariner was in Colorado to help raise money for the construction of a new library at Columbine High School library. He signed autographs in exchange for donations to “Hope Columbine,” an organization formed by the Columbine High School families after the 1999 shooting tragedy.
  • Today in 2000, SHeDAISY staged a free concert as part of the USTA festivities. The event kicked off with a morning tennis clinic at Centennial Park in cooperation with the Tennessee Education Association. Following the clinic, Governor Sundquist officially renamed the state Tennis-e for the day. Then tennis stars like Patrick McEnroe and Alexandra Stevenson conducted a tennis exhibition/clinic. The event at War Memorial Plaza concluded with a free lunchtime concert from the sisters.
  • Today in 2002, Chely Wright was the only country artist to be featured in People magazine’s annual “50 Most Beautiful” issue.
  • Today in 2008, George Strait picked up a gold album for “”
  • Today in 2010, Rascal Flatts signed the national anthem before the Kentucky Derby at Louisville’s Churchill Downs. Amongst the attendees were Little Big Town, Smokey Robinson and Terry Bradshaw, won by Super Saver.
  • Today in 2012, Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” album was released.
  • Today in 2016, Dustin Lynch brought out two surprise guests – Jay Popoff and Jeremy Popoff, of the rock band Lit – for a version of “My Own Worst Enemy” during the Stagecoach Country Festival at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. Lynch later joins headliner Luke Bryan on “Play Something Country” and “She’s Country.”
  • Today in 2018. the downtown Nashville venue Ole Red, associated with Blake Shelton and the Grand Ole Opry, opened its doors on lower Broadway.
  • Today in 2019, Dan + Shay sang “Speechless” as pop singer Joe Jonas married actress Sophie Tucker at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas.
  • Today in 2020, Kenny Chesney album, “Here And Now,” was released.
  • Today in 2020, the Luke Combs single, “Six Feet Apart,” to radio.
  • Today in 2021, Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley took part in the Natchez Trace Century Ride, a cycling event in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

DOLLY PARTON TO PUBLISH THIRD CHILDREN’S BOOK

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Dolly Parton‘s side gig as a children’s author continues. The singer is set to publish “Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Dances His Heart Out,” the third children’s picture book in Parton’s New York Times bestselling series featuring the French bulldog Billy the Kid. It follows 2023’s “Billy The Kid Makes It Big” and 2024’s “Billy The Kid Comes Home For Christmas.” The new book comes out December 2nd.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1974, “The Best Of The Best Of Merle Haggard” album was certified gold.
  • Today in 1982, the “Always On My Mind” album by Willie Nelson was certified gold.
  • Today in 1993, Alan Jackson’s single, “Tonight I Climbed The Wall,” hit the top of the charts.
  • Today in 1994, Faith Hill’s remake of “Piece Of My Heart” grabs the #1 spot on the Billboard country chart.
  • Today in 1996, Mindy McCready’s album, “Ten Thousand Angels,” was released.
  • Today in 1996, BR5-49 released the album, “Live From Robert’s Western World Home.”
  • Today in 1999, Jo Dee Messina appeared on CBS TV’s Nash Bridges as “Tammy McGraw.” In the episode, Nash was trying to track down a group of female robbers, whom he suspected as being manipulated by their jailed husbands. In the process, he goes to Jo Dee’s character for help. Besides acting in the show, Jo Dee also performed her hit single, “Lesson In Leavin’.”
  • Today in 2002, Tracy Byrd, Charlie Daniels, Andy Griggs, Blake Shelton and Montgomery Gentry’s Troy Gentry spent the morning on Nashville’s Percy Priest Lake for the second annual “Fishing For A Cure” tournament, which raised money for the T.J. Martell Foundation for leukemia, cancer and AIDS research.
  • Today in 2002, the albums, “Cledus Envy” by Cledus T. Judd; “The Soul & The Edge” from Johnny Paycheck and “Super Hits” by Collin Raye, arrived in stores.
  • Today in 2006, Big & Rich perform at a rally sponsored by human rights agencies in Washington, D.C., to call attention to genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.
  • Today in 2007, Sheryl Crow brought home her adopted son, Wyatt Steven Crow. And then, on the dame date in 2010, her son Levi James was born – Sheryl waited until June of that year to make the announcement.
  • Today in 2011, Garth Brooks attended the wedding of Las Vegas casino magnate Steve Wynn. Clint Eastwood was best man. Also in attendance: Priscilla Presley, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme.
  • Today in 2011, Miranda Lambert raised $294,000 with her fourth annual Cause For Paws benefit concert in Tyler, Texas, with guests Josh Kelley and Stoney LaRue.
  • Today in 2013, Kenny Chesney’s “Life On A Rock” album was released.
  • Today in 2014, Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert’s “We Were Us,” Miranda’s “Automatic” and music by Dan + Shay were all featured in the background during an episode of ABC’s “Nashville.”
  • Today in 2015, Little Big Town received a gold single for “Girl Crush” from the RIAA. The same day, Florida Georgia Line’s single, “Dirt,” went double platinum.
  • Today in 2015, Atlantic Council recognized Toby Keith with its Distinguished Leadership Award in Washington, D.C. During the ceremony, Toby performed “American Soldier.”
  • Today in 2016, Dierks Bentley was sunnin’ himself at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “Somewhere On A Beach.”
  • Today in 2016, Cassadee Pope and Terri Clark are part of a nine-person team that runs the marathon as a relay in the St. Jude Rock ‘N’ Roll Nashville Races.
  • Today in 2017, Jana Kramer threw the ceremonial first pitch when Los Angeles defeats baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies, 5-3, at Dodger Stadium.
  • Today in 2019, Wynonna, Vince Gill, The Oak Ridge Boys and Ricky Skaggs participated in a tribute to Christian artist Michael W. Smith at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Also taking part were Amy Grant, Randy Travis, Lee Greenwood and The Gatlins.
  • Today in 2020, Brett Young’s “Lady” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2021, Thomas Rhett’s album, “Country Again (Side A),” was released.

ELLA LANGLEY, ZACH TOP ADDED TO LIST OF ACM AWARDS PERFORMERS

Posted on by Bob Ballard

While this should not be surprising, since both of them were announced as early winners of an ACM award, Ella Langley and Zach Top have been added to the growing list of performers for the upcoming ACM awards. Both were named as winners in the categories of New Artist Of The Year (Female) and New Artist of the Year (Male), respectively. The awards will once again be hosted by Reba McEntire, and will stream live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch on Thursday, May 8th at 8PM Eastern/5PM Pacific from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

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