March 23 in Country Music History

1870: Fiddler John Carson is born on this day in Fannin County, Georgia. Carson would later become the first “hillbilly” artist to play on the radio.

1970: Merle Haggard is #1 on the US Country Chart with The Fightin’ Side of Me.

1981: Dolly Parton is at #1 on the Country Charts with 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs.

1986: American country singer Brett Eldredge signs to Atlantic Records Nashville.

1990: Ricky Van Shelton is at #1 on the Country Charts with his third album RVS III.

2006: American singer/songwriter Cindy Walker dies at the age of 87.

February 16th in Country Music History

1914: Actor and country Western music vocalist Jimmy Wakely is born is Howard County, Arkansas. Wakely was known as one of the last singing cowboys.

1950: American record producer and session guitarist Paul Worley is born in Nashville, Tennessee. Worley is known primarily for his work in country music. Formerly a vice president at Sony BMG, Worley has worked for Big & Rich, and is most widely known as the co- producer (with Victoria Shaw) of the self-titled debut album of Lady Antebellum (2008), as the co-writer (with Lady Antebellum) of their global hit, “Need You Now.” He also discovered the Dixie Chicks and, with Blake Chancey, co-produced their first two albums.

1967: American country music performer Smiley Burnette (Lester Alvin Burnett ), dies from leukemia aged 55.

1969: George Jones and Tammy Wynette marry in Ringgold, Georgia.

1971: Lynn Anderson sits at #1 on the country music album chart with Rose Garden. The title track went on to top the country charts, where it stayed at the #1 position for five weeks, and reached #3 on the pop charts in 1971.

2002: Hank Williams Jr. makes his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in more than 20 years, joining Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart to pay tribute to the late Waylon Jennings.

2006: John Michael Montgomery is arrested at an intersection in Lexington, Kentucky for driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance. Police also found two loaded handguns in Montgomery’s vehicle. Montgomery was charged with a count of a prescription drug not in its proper container, and two counts of carrying a concealed deadly weapon.

February 15 in Country Music History

1917: Singer, manager, music promoter, and businessman Wally Fowler is born near Adairsville, Georgia. He was the founder of The Oak Ridge Quartet, a gospel act that eventually became The Oak Ridge Boys. Fowler died on June 3, 1994.

1918: Lawrence Hankins Locklin (better known as Hank Locklin) is born in the Florida Panhandle. A member of the Grand Ole Opry for nearly 50 years, Locklin had a long recording career.

1979: Willie Nelson takes home two trophies during the 21st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles: Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for “Georgia On My Mind”; and Best Country Vocal Duo or Group (shared with Waylon Jennings), for “Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.”

1983: The TV film starring Johnny Cash, Murder in Coweta County is released in the US. The film was set in 1948, in rural Georgia, and based on a true story.

2012: A Kenny Chesney fan is arrested for trespassing on the singer’s property. Melissa Mansfield of Murrieta, California, was arrested around 2AM and charged with trespassing and public intoxication. Reports state that Chesney was not home at the time of the incident.

This Day in Country Music History

2011: Thompson Square’s self-titled debut album is released by Stoney Creek.

2009: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss take home five trophies in the 51st Grammy Awards at the Staples Center for: Album of the Year and Contemporary Folk/Americana Album, for “Raising Sand”; Record of the Year, “Please Read The Letter”; Pop Collaboration, “Rich Woman”; and Country Collaboration, “Killing The Blues”

2006: Alison Krauss + Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas score three trophies during the 48th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They take home: Best Country Album, for “Lonely Runs Both Ways”; Best Country Vocal by a Duo or Group, “Restless”; and Best Country Instrumental, “Unionhouse Branch”
1997: A timely appearance at the top of the Billboard country chart is made by Mark Chesnutt with “It’s A Little Too Late”

1996: Travis Tritt proposes to Theresa Nelson at home near Marietta, Georgia.

1948: Dan Seals is born in McCamey, Texas.