- Today in 1985, Gary Morris hit #1 on the charts for the first time with “Baby Bye Bye” from his album, “Faded Blue.”
- Today in 1987, the “Trio” album featuring Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris was released.
- Today in 1988, at the 30th annual GRAMMY Awards, K.T. Oslin won the GRAMMY for Best Country Female Vocal Performance for “80’s Ladies.” Randy Travis won Best Country Male Vocal Performance for his album “Always and Forever,” and got Best Country Song “Forever and Ever, Amen.” The “Trio” album, featuring Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, won the trophy for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group. Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, and Asleep at the Wheel were also winners.
- Today in 1992, Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson each received five nominations for the 27th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
- Today in 1993, the “Super Hits” album by David Allan Coe was released.
- Today in 1993, Billy Ray Cyrus, Garth Brooks, Brooks and Dunn, and Mary Chapin Carpenter topped the list of nominees for the 28th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
- Today in 1996, Martina McBride hit #1 with “Wild Angels.”
- Today in 1999, Garth Brooks got up to bat during a spring training game for the San Diego Padres. He struck out. While his performance on the field didn’t score him a place on the regular season roster; Garth was offered a non-roster spot but declined it. The following season, he signed with the New York Mets. This time, his team embraced the entertainment value of having a country star on the diamond. This spring-training stint was also a poor performance for Brooks, however, resulting in a zero-for-seventeen batting record.
- Today in 1999, George Strait’s album, “Always Never The Same,” was released.
- Today in 1999, VH1 premiered “Behind The Music: Shania Twain.”
- Today in 2000, Travis Tritt marked his 10th anniversary as a recording artist.
- Today in 2002, the video for Brad Paisley’s “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)” debuted on CMT.
- Today in 2004, Brad Warren and his wife, Michelle, welcomed their new son, Jude Fox Warren, who weighed in at seven-pounds, six-ounces. With his brother Brett, Brad makes up the Warren Brothers. Nominated for an ACM award on their own in 2001, they’ve gone on to write any number of hits including Jason Aldean’s “Lights Come On,” Jerrod Niemann’s “Drink To That All Night,” Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” and Tim McGraw & Taylor Swift’s “Highway Don’t Care,” and Blake Shelton’s “Every Time I Hear That Song.”
- Today in 2004, Clint Black’s album “Spend My Time” arrived in stores.
- Today in 2004, Alabama received the Country Radio Broadcasters Career Achievement Award as part of the CRB’s annual Country Music DJ Hall of Fame Ceremonies. Jeff Bates and Lonestar each offered their own tributes to the legendary supergroup during the event.
- Today in 2006, Carrie Underwood returned to “American Idol” to perform her single, “Jesus, Take The Wheel.”
- Today in 2007, Joe Nichols performed “I’ll Wait for You” and the country gospel song “On the Wings of a Dove” at the funeral for Anna Nicole Smith.
- Today in 2008, Toby Keith appeared on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” performing for the “Home Edition” team and the family of a U.S. soldier whose new home enabled them to devote themselves to preserving Virginia history.
- Today in 2008, Jason Michael Carroll performed at the Nationwide Series race in Las Vegas.
- Today in 2009, Tracy Byrd was recognized in his home state of Texas with a resolution honoring his charitable work.
- Today in 2009, Keith Urban’s “Sweet Thing” hit number one on both the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and Mediabase/Country Aircheck. It was his third number one in six months, following “Start a Band,” his collaboration with Brad Paisley that went to number one a couple months earlier, and “You Look Good In My Shirt,” which topped the chart in September 2008.
- Today in 2010, Brooks & Dunn’s Kix Brooks received the Distinguished Service Award from the Nashville Alliance for Public Education, and he was inducted into the organization’s Public Schools Hall of Fame.
- Today in 2010, new releases included Blake Shelton’s six-pak “Hillbilly Bone,” Easton Corbin’s self-titled debut album, Danny Gokey’s debut CD, “My Best Days,” Shooter Jennings’ “Black Ribbons,” and Luke Bryan’s EP “Spring Break 2…Hangover Edition.”
- Today in 2010, an episode of “CMT Crossroads” featured Kenny Chesney and Steve Miller performing “Living in Fast Forward,” “I Go Back,” and “Rock N’ Me.”
- Today in 2011, Eric Church and The Band Perry formally received their Academy of Country Music awards. They were the “Top New” winners, with Eric taking Top New Solo Vocalist and The Band Perry earning the Top New Vocal Duo or Group title. Luke Bryan presented the trophies to them at an event in Nashville.
- Today in 2011, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill received the 2011 CRB Artist Humanitarian Award in recognition of their efforts to help Nashville following the May 2010 flood, and The Judds were presented with the Country Radio Broadcasters’ Career Achievement Award.
- Today in 2011, Clay Walker hosted his second annual Chords of Hope: The Clay Walker MS Benefit Concert at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. Money raised went to the MS research program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
- Today in 2012, Dustin Lynch made his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, singing “Cowboys and Angels,” and “She Cranks My Tractor.” He was introduced by John Conlee.
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