- Today in 1962, the single, “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” by Elvis Presley was certified gold.
- Today in 1967, Barbara Mandrell and Navy pilot, Ken Dudney, were engaged.
- Today in 1974, “Sunshine On My Shoulders” by John Denver peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart.
- Today in 1974, Tanya Tucker’s “Would Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone)” reached #1 in Billboard.
- Today in 1974, Ronnie Milsap’s album, “Pure Love,” entered the charts. It went on to become his first #1.
- Today in 1976, “The Outlaws” album by Jennings/Nelson/Colter/Glaser was certified gold.
- Today in 1977, “John Denver’s Greatest Hits, Volume II” was certified gold.
- Today in 1984, Justin Moore was born in Poyen, Arkansas. His hit, “Small Town USA” of 2009, welcomed a musical persona built on hard country and brash Southern rock.
- Today in 1987, The Oak Ridge Boys gave William Lee Golden the boot because he supposedly disliked the other members of the group. He later returned to the fold.
- Today in 1990, Rhett Akins and his wife became parents to son Thomas Rhett Akins Jr.
- Today in 1992, Garth Brooks made the cover of “Time.” They called him a “jumping-jack-flash performer who can bring 40-year-olds to tears with existential hymns about accepting life’s compromises” inside their pages.
- Today in 1998, David Kersh met his idol, guitar pioneer Les Paul, during a trip to New York.
- Today in 2000, the “Heartaches” album by Patsy Cline was certified platinum.
- Today in 2001, Jessica Andrews’ album, “Who I Am,” was certified gold. The same day, the project’s title track hit #1 on “Radio & Records’” Country Top 50 chart.
- Today in 2002, Martina McBride and “Blessed” reached the #1 spot in Billboard.
- Today in 2004, Brad Paisley taped an installment of the Radney Foster-hosted “CMT Crossroads” in New York. He teamed up with pop singer/songwriter/guitarist John Mayer.
- Today in 2004, Tracy Lawrence’s album “Strong” was released.
- Today in 2005, Trace Adkins’ CD “Songs About Me” debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. In addition, his discs “Comin’ On Strong” and “Greatest Hits Volume 1” were also on the listing, marking the first time he’d had three CDs on the chart at the same time.
- Today in 2006, Little Big Town kicked off their tour with John Mellencamp in Evansville, Indiana.
- Today in 2006, CMT debuted Phil Vassar’s “Last Day Of My Life” video and The Wreckers’ “Leave The Pieces.”
- Today in 2007, “Nashville Star” winner Angela Hacker made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry.
- Today in 2007, George Jones University, which offers classes on country music, officially opened at the singer’s Franklin, Tennessee home with the start of its first class.
- Today in 2007, Carolyn Dawn Johnson participated in the Musicians On Call 3rd annual benefit concert at Sotheby’s Auction House in New York City. Proceeds helped the organization bring live and recorded music to patients who are bed-ridden in healthcare facilities.
- Today in 2009, Darryl Worley shot the video for his single, “Sounds Like Life To Me” in Nashville. He was originally slated to film the clip four days earlier, but the shoot was postponed due to bad weather.
- Today in 2010, new album releases included Alan Jackson’s “Freight Train” and Gretchen Wilson’s “I Got Your Country Right Here.”
- Today in 2011, Taylor Swift wrapped up the European portion of her “Speak Now World Tour” with a sold out show in London. Backstage at the concert, Taylor received a plaque commemorating her reaching the 20-million mark in album sales. Half of those sales occurred in the previous 18-months.
- Today in 2011, noted songwriter Harley Allen died at his Brentwood, Tennessee home following a battle with cancer. He was 55. Allen’s credits included the Alan Jackson hits “Everything I Love” and “Between the Devil and Me,” Ricky Skaggs’ “A Simple Life,” Blake Shelton’s “The Baby,” Garth Brooks’ “Rollin’,” Dierks Bentley’s “My Last Name,” and Darryl Worley’s “Awful, Beautiful Life.”
- Today in 2012, services were held in Nashville for the late bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, who passed away two days earlier at the age of 88.
- Today in 2013, Kacey Musgraves performed “Merry Go ‘Round” during her debut at the Grand Ole Opry.
- Today in 2015, Blake Shelton’s single, “Sangria,” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2015, Keith Urban’s video for “Raise ‘Em Up,” which features Eric Church, premiered at Conan O’Brien’s website, TeamCoco.com.
- Today in 2016, Merle Haggard cancelled all his concert appearances for the month of April, still battling pneumonia four months after his initial diagnosis.
- Today in 2017, Jaren Johnston of the Cadillac Three became a father as his wife, Evyn Mustoe, delivered their son, Jude Daniel Johnston.
