COUNTRY HISTORY

This day in 1949, Hank Williams, Sr. made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. He sang “Lovesick Blues” and got an unprecedented six encores. Ironically, Opry bigwigs had been reluctant to book him at…

This day in 1972, Elvis Presley's afternoon performance during a four-show stand in New York is taped for a future album: "Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden." Future Oak Ridge Boy Richard Sterban was…

This day in 1998, George Strait headlined country’s first stadium tour, which featured artists such as Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, the Dixie Chicks, Jo Dee Messina and many others. In an…

Today in 2000, Lee Ann Womack made her debut appearance on NBC-TV's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” She didn't take the "Leno" stage alone, though -- when she got the request to perform her…

This day in 1980, The John Travolta movie “Urban Cowboy” premiered. Urban Cowboy is a romantic drama film directed by James Bridges. The plot concerns the love-hate relationship between Buford "Bud" Davis (John Travolta) and Sissy…

Today in 1982, Alabama held their first ever June Jam in their hometown of Fort Payne, Alabama. More than 30,000 attended the charity concert near the high school, where the hometown band shares the stage…

This day in 1989, Reba McEntire married her road manager, Narvel Blackstock, in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. He had previously been her steel guitar player. Reba joked that after she’d promoted him to road manager, she…

This day in 1991, Tracy Lawrence left a Nashville studio in the early morning hours to celebrate finishing recording his first album, “Sticks and Stones.” A few hours later, he and a female friend were robbed…

This day in 2009: Steve Martin made his Grand Ole Opry debut, playing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" in Nashville with Vince Gill, Randy Scruggs, John McEuen and Stuart Duncan among his backing musicians.  

This day in 1952, Hank Williams Sr. his first wife, Audrey, (the mother of Hank Williams Jr.) finally divorced. Married since 1944, their union was marked by his drug and alcohol addiction and infidelity. The…