COUNTRY HISTORY

Today in 2016, Eric Church donated $1-million for diabetes research during a fundraiser at the Westin in Charlotte, where his parents, Ken and Rita Church, received an award.  

This day in 1968: Nashville's top Country Music Awards go to Jeannie C. Riley's "Harper Valley P.T.A." for best song and to "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" for best album.    

Today in 2009, Tammy Wynette was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, along with "I Hope You Dance" author Mark D. Sanders and "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool" creator Kye Fleming.…

Today in 1991, Country Music Hall of Fame member, Tennessee Ernie Ford, died in Reston, Virginia at the age of 72. Ernie made his mark as a country singer from the late 1940s until the…

Today in 1954, Elvis Presley made his first appearance on "The Louisiana Hayride," singing "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" two times each. Drummer D.J. Fontana plays with Presley for the first time,…

Today in 1969, Johnny Cash wins a record-setting five times during the third annual Country Music Association awards at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. He takes home Entertainer and Male Vocalist; Album, for "San Quentin"; Single, for…

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 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. The album "Always on My Mind" is…

This day 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…

Today in 1967, the "Ode to Billy Joe" album by Bobbie Gentry was certified gold. Bobbie Gentry (born Roberta Lee Streeter; July 27, 1942) was one of the first female artists to compose and produce…