- Today in 1932, Loretta Lynn was born in Butcher Holly, Kentucky. She was the first woman to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award in 1972 and landed in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988.
- Today in 1958, Don Gibson’s “Oh Lonesome Me” hit the top spot on the Billboard country chart.
- Today in 1964, Fiddler Stuart Duncan was born in Quantico, Virginia. He plays on numerous country hits with the Nashville Bluegrass Band and also with Faith Hill (“Breathe”), The Band Perry (“If I Die Young”) and Shania Twain (“Man! I Feel Like A Woman!).
- Today in 1979, the “Classics” album by Kenny Rogers & Dottie West was released.
- Today in 1979, Barbara Mandrell’s remake of the R&B hit, “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right” tops the Billboard country chart.
- Today in 1981, Hank Williams Jr. recorded “A Country Boy Can Survive.”
- Today in 1983, Kenny Rogers’ album, “We’ve Got Tonight,” was certified gold.
- Today in 1986, “Alabama’s Greatest Video Hits” video by Alabama was certified gold. As a bonus, Alabama won Entertainer of the Year for a record fifth straight time at the 21st annual Academy of Country Music awards, aired by NBC from Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. The band also collected its sixth straight Top Vocal Group trophy.
- Today in 1992, the single, “Achy Breaky Heart,” by Billy Ray Cyrus was released.
- Today in 1997, the website, country.com, now known as CMT.com, was officially launched.
- Today in 1997, Pam Tillis released her single “All the Good Ones Are Gone.”
- Today in 1998, Shania Twain joined Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan and Carole King at New York’s Beacon Theatre for a taping of “VH1 Divas Live,” with all six singers combining talents on “Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like).”
- Today in 1999, the body of Tammy Wynette was exhumed and an autopsy performed in Nashville at the request of her husband, George Richey.
- Today in 2000, Brad Paisley was named International Rising Star at the HMV British Country Music Awards. Other prizes went to Reba McEntire was dubbed the International Female Vocalist (for the second consecutive year) and the Dixie Chicks scored two trophies in the International Group/Duo and International Album categories. George Jones snagged an award for International Male Vocalist while Dolly Parton won for International Independent Artist. Alison Krauss & Union Station didn’t do too badly either, they garnered their 7th consecutive win as International Bluegrass Group.
- Today in 2002, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett and Dave Matthews were among the artists saluting Willie Nelson at a special concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
- Today in 2004, Dolly Parton was honored as a Living Legend by the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
- Today in 2008, Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler, and Trace Adkins were the big winners at the CMT Music Awards. Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, and Brad Paisley also took awards, along with country-rock duets by Bon Jovi and LeAnn Rimes and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.
- Today in 2008, the CMT talent competition “Can You Duet” debuted. Amongst the panelists were Naomi Judd and “Amazed” songwriter Aimee Mayo.
- Today in 2008, Kelly Pickler won three trophies during the CMT Music Awards at Belmont University’s Curb Events Center in Nashville.
- Today in 2008, Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery and his wife, Tracy, were honored for their charitable efforts on behalf of the Danville, Kentucky fire department’s Christmas Toy Drive. Danville is the singer’s hometown.
- Today in 2009, LeAnn Rimes’ book “What I Cannot Change” arrived in stores.
- Today in 2010, Kenny Chesney attended a special advanced screening of his concert film “Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D” in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee.
- Today in 2010, Garth Brooks was in Washington, DC for Grammys on the Hill, a music advocacy and awards event.
- Today in 2010, Lyric Street Records announced that the label was closing. Rascal Flatts was among the acts with the company.
- Today in 2011, Jason Aldean joined Kelly Clarkson to perform their chart-topping collaboration “Don’t You Wanna Stay” on “American Idol.”
- Today in 2012, Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood married Kelli Cashiola at Front Porch Farms in Ashland City, Tennessee. Lady A bandmates Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott attended. Singer/songwriter Dave Barnes performed.
- Today in 2012, Trisha Yearwood launched her cooking show, “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen,” on the Food Network.
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