COUNTRY HISTORY

This day in 1967, Bobbie Gentry released her only hit: "Ode to Billy Joe." The single was a number-one hit in the US within three weeks of release and a big international seller. Billboard ranked…

This day in 2000: The felony charges filed against Tim McGraw in connection with the infamous "horse incident" in Buffalo were dropped. Since he and Kenny Chesney still faced a variety of misdemeanor charges, the…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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.…

This day in 1995: Charlie Rich died in his sleep in a Hammond, Louisiana motel. The cause of death was listed as a blood clot in a lung. He was 62. In the later part…

This day in 1948, Opry legend Roy Acuff announced his intent to run for governor of Tennessee. He did eventually run for office against the incumbent and lost. He also campaigned for the job twice…

This day in 1977, Alabama debuted on the charts with their first single, “I Wanna Be With You Tonight.” The group (while still known as 'Wild Country') sent out demo tapes to record companies but…