- Today in 1967, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened for business.
- Today in 1978, Crystal Gayle’s “Ready For The Times To Get Better” hit #1 on the country charts.
- Today in 1979, drummer Mark Herndon joined Alabama.
- Today in 1985, the “40 Hour Week” album by Alabama was certified gold and platinum simultaneously.
- Today in 1989, George Strait’s “Baby’s Gotten Good At Goodbye” hit the top of the Billboard country chart.
- Today in 1991, Reba McEntire’s album, “Rumor Has It,” was certified platinum.
- Today in 1993, Garth Brooks made the cover of “Rolling Stone,” where he defended his stance on homosexuality and interracial marriage in “We Shall Be Free” saying: “I do believe that God exists. I do believe in the Bible. But I can’t see that loving somebody is a sin.”
- Today in 1996, Alabama’s “Greatest Hits” album was certified for multi-platinum sales of 5-million. At the time, it was the best-selling project by a country group ever.
- Today in 1999, the Dixie Chicks’ “Wide Open Spaces” album was certified for multi-platinum sales of 5-million.
- Today in 2000, TNN premiered the animated movie, “Tom Sawyer.” Rhett Akins was the voice of Tom Sawyer, Lee Ann Womack provided the voice of Becky Thatcher, Mark Wills was Huck Finn and Waylon Jennings was Judge Thatcher. Hank Williams Jr. was at his “bad boy” best, infusing his voice into the menacing character of Injurin’ Joe. Marty Stuart provided the voice for the zealous Reverend, television veteran Betty White voiced Aunt Polly, while film and television icon Don Knotts had the perfect voice for the befuddled Mutt Potter.
- Today in 2002, Chris Cagle scored his very first #1 hit with his single, “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out.”
- Today in 2003, Johnny Cash was released from a hospital after a bout of pneumonia.
- Today in 2003, Chris Cagle’s self-titled album arrived in stores.
- Today in 2003, Darryl Worley enjoyed a second week at the top of the singles charts with “Have You Forgotten?”
- Today in 2004, Carlene Carter’s bond was revoked after she failed a drug test. The bond was in conjunction with an earlier arrest, in which she had been charged with stealing a dead man’s identity to get prescription drugs.
- Today in 2004, Rachel Proctor performed at the Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee’s annual Taste of Spring fundraiser in Nashville.
- Today in 2006, Willie Nelson held a press conference and broke ground on the new Pacific BioDiesel Texas, on a two-acre parcel adjacent to Carl’s Corner Truck Stop in Carl’s Corner, Texas.
- Today in 2006, Eric Church made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Church performed his debut single, “How ‘Bout You,” then segued into the Leadbelly song “Black Betty.”
- Today in 2006, Craig Morgan was in a cross country motorcycle accident in Bucksnort, Tennessee, where he sustained a broken left wrist and a mild concussion. The singer finished the race, placing third, before going to the hospital. He also performed that night.
- Today in 2006, Tim McGraw stepped in for Sheryl Crow at the 18th annual Bob Costas Benefit for SSM Cardinal Glenn on Children’s Medical Center show in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Today in 2006, More than six thousand mourners filed past an open casket on the dance floor of Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace nightclub to pay their last respects to the country music icon.
- Today in 2007, the Dixie Chicks’ “Taking the Long Way” was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2007 Juno Awards. Emerson Drive, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and George Canyon were also nominees.
- Today in 2007, Sugarland performed at MyCokeFest at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia, which was a free music event held in conjunction with the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
- Today in 2008, Dolly Parton was the guest mentor on “American Idol.”
- Today in 2008, new album releases included George Strait’s “Troubadour,” Kathy Mattea’s “Coal,” Josh Gracin’s “We Weren’t Crazy,” and Willie Nelson’s “One Hell of a Ride.”
- Today in 2008, Vince Gill and Larry Gatlin helped launch the 16th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriter Festival in Nashville.
- Today in 2012, Taylor Swift was named the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year for a second consecutive year at the 47th annual ACM Awards. Meanwhile, Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert took home multiple awards, while Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Thompson Square, Eli Young Band, Toby Keith, and Scotty McCreery were also honored.
- Today in 2012, Terri Clark got the nod for Country Album of the Year for “Roots and Wings” at the 2012 Juno Awards, which are the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys.
- Today in 2012, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Daniels, Emmylou Harris and Patty Loveless were some of the stars who participated in a special memorial service for bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, who had died four days earlier.
- Today in 2014, Dierks Bentley performed at the Station Inn in Nashville with two surprise guests: Kip Moore and Kacey Musgraves.
Share 
