THIS DAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

This day in Country Music History

  • Today in 1967, the President’s daughter, Lynda Bird Johnson, requested that Eddy Arnold attend a White House dinner. Arnold was almost late after getting stuck in an elevator.
  • Today in 1973, Patsy Cline’s “Greatest Hits” album was released.
  • Today in 1981, Charly McClain earned a #1 country single for “Who’s Cheatin’ Who.”
  • Today in 1985, two weeks after recording “On The Other Hand,” Randy Travis signed a recording contract with Warner Brothers.
  • Today in 1988, Kathy Mattea married songwriter Jon Vezner, who co-wrote her Grammy-winning hit “Where’ve You Been.”
  • Today in 1989, Reba McEntire gave her then-fiancé Narvel Blackstock a chainsaw for Valentine’s Day. The couple cut each other loose in Summer 2015.
  • Today in 1995, Alan Jackson’s album, “Who I Am,” was certified double platinum.
  • Today in 1995, Trisha Yearwood’s “Thinkin’ About You” album was released.
  • Today in 1997, Ty England and his wife, Shanna, welcomed their third child, Levi Wyatt, into the world.
  • Today in 1998, Hal Ketchum and makeup artist Gina Pacconi tied the knot on Valentine’s Day in Austin, Texas. Hal’s hits include “Small Town Saturday Night” and “Past the Point of Rescue.”
  • Today in 2001, Emily Robison and Amy Grant were contestants on “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire,” while Jo Dee Messina was on “Hollywood Squares.”
  • Today in 2001, before the last wall of the new Country Music Hall of Fame, was sealed, cranes lifted Elvis Presley’s gold Cadillac, Webb Pierce’s Pontiac, and Nudie’s sign onto the third floor.
  • Today in 2002, Steve Holy was in Newport News, Virginia to help 40 couples get hitched in a mass Valentine’s Day ceremony. As the lovebirds said, “I do,” they took their “first dance” as newlyweds while Steve performed his #1 song, “Good Morning Beautiful.” The happy couples had plenty of witnesses, too — nearly 1000 folks showed up to watch as the lovebirds kissed their single days goodbye.
  • Today in 2006, Little Big Town’s single, “Boondocks,” went gold.
  • Today in 2011, Eric Church’s single, “Homeboy,” was released.
  • Today in 2012, Hunter Hayes’ was a “Wanted” man – as his new single hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2013, Thompson Square’s video for the single, “If I Didn’t Have You,” debuted on CMT.
  • Today in 2015, Luke Bryan was the celebrity monarch for the Krewe of Endymion Parade during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
  • Today in 2017, Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini sang “Islands In The Stream” and Keith Urban performed “To Love Somebody” as CBS recorded “Stayin’ Alive: A Grammy Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees” at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Also appearing: Little Big Town, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Celine Dion and Barry Gibb.
  • Today in 2018, Troy Gentry’s widow, Angela Gentry, filed suit in Philadelphia against Sikorsky Aircraft and Keystone Helicopter, charging that a design flaw was responsible for the Montgomery Gentry singer’s September 2017 death. Less than a week later, she also filed suit against an event promoter in connection with the helicopter crash.

NEWSLETTER

Stay updated, sign up for our newsletter.