COUNTRY HISTORY

Today in 1958, Private Elvis Presley was sworn into the U.S. Army. Thousands of fans wept the following day when his hair was cut by James Peterson. Elvis quipped, "Hair today, gone tomorrow." His salary…

Today in 1926, country instrumentalist great "Mother" Maybelle Addington joined the Carter Family when she married Ezra Carter. Today in 1956, Singer/songwriter Harley Allen was born in Dayton, Ohio. He wrote Alan Jackson’s “Between The Devil…

Today in 1956, Carl Perkins got into a car accident, breaking his collarbone. Today in 1958, 8-year-old Hank Williams Jr. made his stage debut in Swainsboro, Georgia. His father, the late country singer Hank Williams, passed…

Today in 1955, Johnny Cash auditioned for Sam Philips at Sun Records in Memphis. Philips liked “Hey, Porter,” and asked Cash to come back and record the next day, despite passing on most of his other…

Today in 1984, The Judds made their first large-venue appearance opening for the Statler Brothers at an arena in Omaha. Today in 1993, George Strait’s “Heartland” topped the Billboard charts at #1. Today in 1998,…

Today in 1956, Elvis Presley got a number one Billboard country single with “Heartbreak Hotel.” Today in 1969, Glen Campbell released both the album and the single “Galveston.” Today in 1972, both hippies and traditional country fans flocked…

Today in 1922, WSB radio in Atlanta was the first radio station to feature country music. Today in 1951, Hank Williams recorded “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You),”…

Today in 1966, the late Roger Miller took home six GRAMMY Awards, topping the record he set the year before. Today in 1969, Glen Campbell’s single, "Galveston," entered the Top 40 chart. Today in 1987, Barbara Mandrell was…

Today in 1970, Merle Haggard’s “The Fightin’ Side Of Me” reached #1 on the Billboard country chart. Today in 1972, California Governor Ronald Reagan pardoned Merle Haggard for a 1975 attempted robbery that landed the singer in…

Today in 1965, the Statler Brothers recorded “Flowers On The Wall” at the Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, a session originally for Johnny Cash who never appeared. Today in 1967, Decca released Patsy Cline’s “Greatest Hits.” Today…