- Today in 1966, Roy Orbison’s first wife, Claudette, was killed in a motorcycle crash near Nashville. As a result, he stopped writing songs for years. His shutdown was complicated by the fact that two of their three children died in a house fire two years after hear death. He met his second wife, Barbara, while on tour in England; they married in 1969 and he began writing songs again. In addition to his surviving son, he and Barbara had two more boys.
- Today in 1969, ABC airs the first episode of “The Johnny Cash Show” with guest Bob Dylan.
- Today in 1975, “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” by John Denver peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart.
- Today in 1982, Barbara Mandrell was a big winner at the 16th Music City News Country Awards.
- Today in 1991, Dwight Yoakam’s “Just Lookin’ For A Hit” album was certified Gold.
- Today in 1991, Alan Jackson joins the Grand Ole Opry
- Today in 1993, the video, “It’s All About To Change,” by Travis Tritt was certified gold.
- Today in 1994, Vince Gill’s “When Love Finds You” album was released.
- Today in 1996, Travis Tritt’s albums, “Country Club” and “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” were certified double platinum, and “It’s All About to Change” was certified triple platinum.
- Today in 1997, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill spend six weeks at #1 on the Billboard Country singles chart with “It’s Your Love.”
- Today in 1998, George Strait headlined country’s first stadium tour, which features Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and other artists
- Today in 2002, Kenny Rogers performed at the Grand Ole Opry – and it was his DEBUT at the legendary venue! What’s not a surprise is that he sang to a packed house and got a standing ovation! He performed the songs, “Buy Me A Rose,” “The Gambler” and “Harder Cards.”
- Today in 2003, Kenny Chesney headlined his first stadium show with artists including Rascal Flats and Keith Urban.
- Today in 2005, Johnny Cash’s version of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” went gold.
- Today in 2007, Taylor Swift’s self-titled debut album was certified platinum.
- Today in 2012, Scotty McCreery graduated high school in North Carolina
- Today in 2014, George Strait performed his final concert at the AT&T stadium in Texas. The tour had been appropriately named, “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.”
- Today in 2015, Josh Turner carried the Special Olympics flame into the city of Nashville during the first relay across America.
- Today in 2017, Darius Rucker dedicated a new Habitat for Humanity home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He also presented the keys to the house’s owners.
- Today in 2018, the Kane Brown single, “Lose It,” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2019, Morgan Wallen’s debut album, “If I Know Me,” was released.
- Today in 2021, Chaco Footwear announced the Thomas Rhett Collection, a limited-edition line of three sandals styles influenced by Rhett.
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