- Today in 1949, Hank Williams recorded “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It” and “I Just Don’t Like This Kind Of Livin'” during an afternoon session at the E.T. Herzog Studio in Cincinnati.
- Today in 1982, Kenny Rogers’ “Love Will Turn You Around” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1983, Kenny Rogers’ album, “Eyes That See In The Dark,” was released.
- Today in 1988, the album, “Always & Forever,” by Randy Travis was certified triple platinum.
- Today in 1988, KT Oslin’s album, “This Woman,” was released.
- Today in 1988, John Denver – who wanted to ride on a Soviet spaceship – underwent an astronaut-style physical at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Why’d he want to fly with the Russians? For years, NASA has refused to allow “civilians” on flights – saying it’s too dangerous for amateurs. One of NASA’s early attempts to put a non-professional in space ended in tragedy when school teacher Christa McAuliffe and the crew she was flying with were killed in the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986. Last year, zillionaire Dennis Tito became the first “space tourist” when he shelled out $20-million to the Russians for a trip to the International Space Station.
- Today in 1991, Dottie West was critically injured in a car accident while en route to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. It seems that due to problems with her own car, Dottie had asked a neighbor to drive her to her appearance. The car crashed and reportedly went airborne for 165-feet and slammed into the center divide. Both occupants were rushed to the Vanderbilt Medical Center in critical condition. Dottie suffered severe internal injuries and through her course of treatment received 35 units of blood. Her old friend, Kenny Rogers, reportedly visited her just before surgery. He is said to have promised her that they would record another song together when she was well enough to perform again. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be and she died five days later at the age of 58.
- Today in 1991, Tanya Tucker’s single “Down To My Last Teardrop” hit the top of the country music charts.
- Today in 1994, Alan Jackson’s “Who I Am” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1997, one of the largest ever collections of Elvis Presley memorabilia went on sale. Some 300 lots, including stage suits, record collections and jewelry, went for about $324,000 in the one-day sale conducted simultaneously in London and Berlin. The only items that didn’t find buyers were a lock of hair snipped from Elvis’ famous sideburns in 1972, his grand piano, his army uniform and two of his glitzy 1970s stage suits. His 1960s Gretsch guitar was one of the biggest moneymakers, fetching $66,240.
- Today in 1997, Kenny Chesney picked up his first #1 single in Billboard: “She’s Got It All.”
- Today in 2000, Faith Hill joined Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Drew Barrymore and others on “Sophisticates Hairstyle Guide’s” “Top 10 Best Styled Women of 2000” list.
- Today in 2001, Blake Shelton celebrated his fifth week at the top of the country charts with his debut single, “Austin.” He was the first new artist to earn this distinction since Billy Ray Cyrus garnered it in 1992 with “Achy Breaky Heart.”
- Today in 2004, Kris Kristofferson and former record executive Jim Foglesong were named the 2004 inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Today in 2006, George Strait, Sonny James and session guitarist Harold Bradley were announced as the 2006 inductees in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Today in 2007, Brad Paisley and George Strait lead the pack with five nominations apiece for the 41stannual Country Music Association awards.
- Today in 2012, Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” video premiered on CMT, MTV and VH1.
- Today in 2014, Luke Bryan fell off the stage at the Klipsch Music Centerin Noblesville, Indiana. He was uninjured.
- Today in 2015, William Lee Golden married Simone Staley at the Rosewall in downtown Nashville. His fellow Oak Ridge Boys: Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen and Richard Sterban attended, of course. And afterwards? The newlyweds returned home for wine and pizza.
- Today in 2016, Taylor Swift reported for jury duty in Nashville. She was considered for serving on a domestic violence case, but was dismissed before the day is over.
- Today in 2017, Florida Georgia Line was paired with The Backstreet Boys as a new episode of “CMT Crossroads” debuted. The acts teamed up on “As Long As You Love Me,” “Cruise,” “Dirt,” “Smooth,” “H.O.L.Y.” and “God, Your Mama, And Me.”
- Today in 2018, Jake Owen headlined the inaugural concert at Regions Field, a minor-league baseball park in Birmingham – where he was joined on the bill by Chris Janson and Jordan Davis.
- Today in 2018, Brad Paisley brought a couple – identified as ‘Ralph and Shannon’ – on stage at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey…where Ralph popped the question. As a bonus, Brand serenaded them with “Then.”
- Today in 2018, after the controversial Westboro Baptist Church accused Brett Eldredge and Devin Dawson of “promoting fornication,” Dawson used the attack to promote a show on Twitter…and encouraged fans to “Come fornicate” with the singers at Yallapalooza.
- Today in 2018, John Mellencamp, a co-writer of “I Was Jack (You Were Diane),” receives the Woody Guthrie Prize in Tulsa, which recognized his use of art as a catalyst for social change.
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