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This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1946, Grandpa Jones wed Ramona Riggins.
  • Today in 1957, Elvis Presley’s single, “Jailhouse Rock,” was released.
  • Today in 1967, Tammy Wynette had her first solo #1 country hit with “I Don’t Wanna Play House.”
  • Today in 1969, the “Galveston” single by Glen Campbell was certified gold.
  • Today in 1977, Elvis Presley’s “In Concert” album was certified gold and platinum simultaneously.
  • Today in 1985, the “Greatest Hits – Volume 2” collection by Hank Williams Jr. was released.
  • Today in 1985, bluegrass legends Flatt and Scruggs were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
  • Today in 1985, Ricky Skaggs was named the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year in 1985. The Judds won first of three straight CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Awards.
  • Today in 1985, Lee Greenwood’s single, “God Bless the USA” was the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year.
  • Today in 1989, Roy Orbison’s name was added to the West Texas Walk of Fame.
  • Today in 1992, John Denver launched a concert tour of China. It was the most extensive tour by a Western artist ever approved by the Beijing government.
  • Today in 1997, federal aviation officials said John Denver didn’t have a valid pilot’s license when his plane crashed off the California coast two days earlier. The National Transportation Safety Board said Denver’s license had been revoked in 1996 and he was told he couldn’t get it back until he provided medical certification that he didn’t have a drinking problem. (Denver had been arrested twice on drunk driving charges in Colorado.)
  • Today in 1998, Mark Wills’ album, “Wish You Were Here,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 1999, Vince Gill was inducted into Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. That weekend he also admitted publicly, for the first time, that he and Amy Grant were a couple. The lovebirds have since married and had a child together, Corrina.
  • Today in 1999, Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood were among the famous folks on hand at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden for a tribute concert honoring Carole King.
  • Today in 2000, the Grand Ole Opry’s 75th birthday celebration included a red carpet walk of stars, special weekend performances and the cutting of a large birthday cake.
  • Today in 2000, Bryan White and wife, Erika Page, were married.
  • Today in 2002, Cyndi Thomson publicly pulled the plug on her recording career by writing an open letter to her fans via Nashville’s “Tennessean” newspaper. The move was a stunner considering the chart-topping success of her debut single, “What I Really Meant To Say,” and the gold certification of her debut album, “My World.” She added that she’d rather continue songwriting than worry about the difficulties of maintaining a performance schedule. In October 2009, Thomson released “This Time,” her first new music album in eight years.
  • Today in 2003, Josh Turner’s debut album, “Long Black Train,” arrived in stores.
  • Today in 2006, Josh Turner stormed to the top of the Billboard country chart with “Would You Go With Me.”
  • Today in 2011, the Zac Brown Band’s “Keep Me In Mind” video debuted on CMT.
  • Today in 2014, Florida Georgia Line’s album, “Anything Goes,” arrived in stores.
  • Today in 2016, Kris Kristofferson and Shelby Lynne performed “Me And Bobby McGee” in honor of Monument founder Fred Foster as PBS telecasts a “Great Performances” salute to GRAMMY legends. Martina McBride and J.D. Souther delivered “Blue Bayou” to recognize Linda Ronstadt.
  • Today in 2017, Chris Stapleton’s concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena includesd a surprise guest: actor Chris Pratt, who joined Stapleton on “Tennessee Whiskey.”
  • Today in 2017, the Zac Brown Band generates $1.7-million for Camp Southern Ground with a benefit concert at the Southern Ground Amphitheater in Fayetteville, Georgia.
  • Today in 2017, Kacey Musgraves married singer/songwriter Ruston Kelly in Tennessee. Fast forward to July 2020 and the couple released a joint statement confirming (after months of rumors) that they were going their separate ways.
  • Today in 2019, the Osmonds give their final public performance on CBS’ “The Talk” to celebrate the 60th birthday of their sister, then-co-host Marie Osmond.
  • Today in 2019, Dwight Yoakam and Larry Gatlin joined the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame during an event at the Music City Center. The 2019 class also includedcomposers Rivers Rutherford, Marcus Hummon, Sharon Vaughn and Kostas.
  • Today in 2019, Lauren Alaina did a samba to “Under The Sea,” from the movie “The Little Mermaid,” during a Disney-themed edition of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.”
  • Today in 2019, Kane Brown postponed his October 18th concert at Los Angeles’ Staples Center following the death of his drummer in an auto accident.
  • Today in 2021, Miranda Lambert’s single, “If I Was A Cowboy” was released.

Lainey Wilson Talks Work/Life Balance

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Lainey Wilson is the most in-demand artist in all of Country music.  Her life is all go, go, go.  So, it was really nice to hear Lainey talk about work/life balance.

She appeared on the “Broken Record” podcast and had a really illuminating conversation about how difficult it is to stay normal in this crazy business.

Lainey said, “I love being around people . . . But when I really need to refill my cup, I need to be by myself.  I just need to be sitting in my front yard with my feet in the grass, feeling the sun and wind on my face, then I feel like I can go back out and do it again.”

She went on to say, “I’m realizing, the deeper I get into this job how important it truly is to make sure you fill your cup to the brim, so you can go out and keep pouring out, and pouring out.

“I love my job, but I always want to make sure that I’m the very best version of myself.”

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1981, Willie Nelson recorded “Always On My Mind” and “The Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning” at his Pedernales Studio outside of Austin, Texas.
  • Today in 1981, the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame inducted Bobby Braddock and Ray Whitley. Braddock was noted for George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and Tammy Wynette’s “D-I-V-O-R-C-E.” Whitley wrote Gene Autry’s theme song, “Back In The Saddle Again.”
  • Today in 1982, Alabama won three honors – Entertainer, Vocal Group and Instrumental Group of the Year – from the Country Music Association during the 16th annual awards at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
  • Today in 2002, The Dixie Chicks’ “Home” album was officially certified triple-platinum.
  • Today in 2003, Tim McGraw’s “Real Good Man” made a real good showing in Billboard by reaching #1 on the country singles chart.
  • Today in 2005, Gary Allan’s “Tough All Over” album arrived in stores.
  • Today in 2011, Toby Keith’s single, “Red Solo Cup,” was released.
  • Today in 2014, Ralph Stanley was formally inducted in the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Others in his class included actor Al Pacino, author John Irving and former secretary of labor Robert Reich.
  • Today in 2015, “Girl Crush,” written by Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose, earned Song of the Year from the Nashville Songwriters Association International at the Music City Center. Taylor Swift was named Songwriter/Artist of the Year a seventh time, while Rodney Clawson took Songwriter.
  • Today in 2015, Rosanne Cash was added to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame during a dinner at the Music City Center. The class also included “Drivin’ My Life Away” songwriter Even Stevens, “Suspicious Minds” author Mark James and “Live Like You Were Dying” composer Craig Wiseman.
  • Today in 2017, Rhiannon Giddens was named a MacArthur Fellow by the MacArthur Foundation, an award for creative leaders that included a $625,000 prize.
  • Today in 2019, former president Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter were introduced on the Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood after a week of work building houses with Habitat For Humanity. The night’s lineup includds Emmylou Harris, Dierks Bentley, Margo Price and Bill Anderson.
  • Today in 2019, Chris Lane’s single, “Big, Big Plans,” was released.
  • Today in 2019, Kelsea Ballerini and Halsey performed at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater with the show taped for “CMT Crossroads.” The set included “Peter Pan,” “Miss Me More” and “homecoming queen?”
  • Today in 2020, Whiskey Myers guitarist John Jeffers was hospitalized with a skull fracture and a loss of hearing in one ear following an ATV accident. He’s since made a full recovery – and you can hear about that journey in the band’s song, “Heavy on Me.”

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

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H&S Feed and Country Store Pet of the Week is “Banshee”, a beautiful blue-eyed 5 year old domestic shorthaired kitty who’s a lazy fellow, but super-friendly and occasionally chatty. Banshee gets along great with kids, other cats and even dogs! He’s kind of a big dude, but would love to cuddle up and hang with you!

Banshee is fully vetted, vaccinated, microchipped and ready to go to a loving home.

And because Banshee is the Pet of the Week, his adoption is FREE!

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

MORE BIG NAMES ADDED TO “CONCERT FOR CAROLINA”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

“Concert For Carolina,” the Hurricane Helene benefit concert is being put together by Luke Combs and Eric Church. Set to play the benefit last week were Combs and Church, along with Billy Strings and James Taylor; it was also stated that more acts would be added to the event in the coming weeks. Some of those acts were announced yesterday, and they add some serious starpower to the proceedings. Keith Urban, Bailey Zimmerman and Sheryl Crow have been added to the bill. The concert will take place October 26 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, and tickets go on sale this morning at 10am ET. All proceeds from the event, including sponsorships, will go to various organizations to assist in Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1977, three people were arrested by police in Memphis, Tennessee and later charged with attempting to steal the body of Elvis Presley, who had been buried at the local Forest Hill cemetery a week and a half earlier. As a result of the incident, Elvis’ dad, Vernon, arranged to have the bodies of both his son and wife Gladys moved and re-buried side-by-side on the grounds of the Graceland mansion.
  • Today in 1979, “The Oak Ridge Boys Have Arrived” album was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1981, Ronnie Milsap topped the country singles chart with “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me.
  • Today in 1981, T.G. Sheppard’s “Party Time” hit the top of the Billboard country chart.
  • Today in 1986, Hank Williams Jr. won his second Entertainer of the Year trophy and claimed Album of the Year for “Born To Boogie” during the 22nd annual Country Music Association awards.
  • Today in 1989, Randy Travis’ album, “An Old Time Christmas,” was released.
  • Today in 1989, Kenny Rogers’ “Christmas In America” album was released.
  • Today in 1995, Faith Hill’s “It Matters To Me” album was released.
  • Today in 2000, “Pollstar” announced that Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s “Soul 2 Soul” tour was the largest grossing country tour of the summer.
  • Today in 2000, the “Strong Heart” album by Patty Loveless and Sara Evans’ “Born To Fly” album arrived in stores.
  • Today in 2001, Lonestar’s “With Me” video debuted on CMT’s “Most Wanted Live.
  • Today in 2002, Alan Jackson was nominated for a record 10 CMA awards, including Entertainer of the Year. In fact, his 10 nominations beat the previous record of 9, which was set by Merle Haggard in 1970.
  • Today in 2002, Lee Ann Womack sang “I Hope You dance” with Gloria Estefan while taping Lifetime Television’s third annual “Women Rock! Girls & Guitars” in Los Angeles.
  • Today in 2005, Alabama, Glen Campbell and DeFord Bailey were announced by the Country Music Association as the latest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
  • Today in 2012, the Eli Young Band’s “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” played as ABC debuted “Nashville.”
  • Today in 2013, Taylor Swift received five nominations, leading all country artists as the ballot for the American Music Awards was announced. Florida Georgia Line received four nominations.
  • Today in 2016, the Chicks played the historic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Opening act Elle King returned during the Chicks’ set to help out on “Landslide.”
  • Today in 2016, Tyler Farr married Hannah Freeman in Nolensville, Tennessee. Groomsmen included Jason Aldean, Colt Ford, Lee Brice and Maddie & Tae. Brad Paisley also gave a surprise performance of “Today.”
  • Today in 2018, Florida Georgia Line’s single, “Cruise,” was certified 11-times platinum.
  • Today in 2017, Cole Swindell headlined a concert at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge before the Nashville Predators’ home opener. Also in the lineup were Billy Ray Cyrus, Trick Pony, Darryl Worley and Terri Clark.
  • Today in 2019, it was a big day for Dan + Shay. They snapped up a quadruple-platinum certification for their single, “Tequila.” On top of that, their single, “Speechless,” hit triple-platinum status and the single, “All To Myself,” went platinum.
  • Today in 2019, Maren Morris’ single, “Girl,” was certified platinum. On the same day, Sam Hunt’s single, “Downtown’s Dead,” went gold – and so did Eric Church’s single, “Some Of It” (it went gold).
  • Today in 2019, Luke Bryan scored a double-platinum single from the RIAA for “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” and a platinum award for “Someone Else Calling You Baby.” His singles for “Games,” “We Rode In Trucks” and “Drinkin’ Beer And Wastin’ Bullets” were also certified gold.
  • Today in 2020, Niko Moon made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Moon co-wrote the Zac Brown Band hits “Loving You Easy,” “Homegrown” and “My Old Man.”
  • Today in 2020, Carrie Underwood’s Christmas package, “My Gift,” hit the top of the Billboard country albums chart.

ERIC CHURCH EXTENDS HIS “CHIEFS” RESIDENCY

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Eric Church has announced that his mini-residency at his own Nashville venue “Chief’s” is getting a little longer. Originally slated as a 19-date stay, the “To Beat The Devil” residency now has four more dates for fans to look forward to: October 29, November 1, November 13 and November 17. Tickets are available exclusively to members of his fan club, the Church Choir, and the presale sign up goes through 11:59 PM tonight. And to make sure as many fans as possible are able to get in, this round of tickets is only open to fans who haven’t previously bought tickets to the residency.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in1929, Gene Autry began his first recording session.
  • Today in1967, the “Ode to Billy Joe” album by Bobbie Gentry was certified gold.
  • Today in1976, 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.

JASON ALDEAN LATEST TO GIVE BIG FOR HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Count Jason Aldean among the country stars stepping up for the Hurricane Helene victims. The Georgia native closed out his “Highway Desperado” tour in his hometown of Macon, Georgia, and wrapped the trek up in amazing style. Aldean presented Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones a check for over $6.5-million dollars for “Samaritan’s Purse,” which was raised through Donald Trump‘s Go Fund Me. The singer then tacked on an additional $500-thousand of his own money for the relief efforts, bringing the total donation to over $7-million. Jason told the crowd, “My wife is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and as we know, North Carolina got hammered pretty hard by this, so we also want to donate to the state of Georgia and Florida to Samaritan’s Purse as well.”

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.”
  • Today in 2013, the Kenny Rogers album, “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” was released.
  • Today in 2014, Don Henley filed suit against the Duluth Trading Company, asserting a clothing ad unfairly uses his trademarked name without permission. The source of the dispute is a pun: “Don a Henley and Take It Easy.”
  • Today in 2016, Darryl Worley held his annual Tennessee River Run benefit in Savannah, Tennessee. He was joined by Kellie Pickler, Randy Houser and Chuck Wicks.
  • Today in 2016, Lonestar headlined a benefit at the Murphy Theatre in Wilmington, Ohio, raising $60-thousand for veterans groups.
  • Today in 2016, Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three and Kane Brown play the final country concert at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine, California, before the venue is torn down in favor of apartments. FGL’s set includes “This Is How We Roll,” “May We All,” “H.O.L.Y.” and “Cruise.”
  • Today in 2016, Aaron Lewis was at #1 on the Billboard country albums chart with “Sinner.”
  • Today in 2017, one week after a Las Vegas massacre that occurred while he was on stage, Jason Aldean returned to the city to meet with victims.
  • Today in 2018, Old Dominion’s “Make It Sweet” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2018, Chris Young performed “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and Trisha Yearwood sang “You Don’t Know Me” as “An Opry Salute To Ray Charles” was taped at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The PBS special also featured Darius Rucker, Brett Eldredge, LeAnn Rimes, Travis Tritt and Cam.
  • Today in 2018, Vince Gill, Michael McDonald and Butch Walker played “Take It To The Limit” and “Life’s Been Good” as Joe Walsh received a humanitarian award at the Rainbow Room in New York from Facing Addiction and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Guests included Stephen Van Zandt, Olivia Harrison and Ringo Starr.
  • Today in 2019, Phil Vassar has a role in the movie “I Only Miss You When I’m Breathing,” – and it premiere at the Regal Hollywood 27 during the Nashville Film Festival.
  • Today in 2019, Midland vocalist Mark Wystrach married Ty Haney in Austin, Texas.

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