- Today in 1971, Gilley’s nightclub, which served as the inspiration for the 1980 movie “Urban Cowboy,” opened in Pasadena Texas.
- Today in 1980, the “Classic Crystal” album by Crystal Gayle was certified gold.
- Today in 1980, Kenny Rogers’ “Coward Of The County” single was certified gold.
- Today in 1983, “The Nashville Network” Cable TV Network was launched. The network featured a variety of country music and entertainment until last year, when honchos dropped the “Nashville” in its moniker and became “The National Network.”
- Today in 1983, the “Waitin’ For The Sun To Shine” album by Ricky Skaggs was certified gold.
- Today in 1986, Randy Travis made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. He performed “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” after an introduction by Little Jimmy Dickens.
- Today in 1990, the album, “Hank Williams Jr. Greatest Hits Volume Two,” was certified platinum.
- Today in 1995, “The Garth Brooks Collection” was certified gold, platinum and triple platinum simultaneously.
- Today in 1985, the soundtrack to “Honeymoon in Vegas,” featuring remakes of Elvis Presley, and songs by Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Billy Joel, Travis Tritt, Ricky Van Shelton, Bono, Dwight Yoakam, Amy Grant, and Vince Gill went platinum.
- Today in 1998, Sara Evans made her Grand Ole Opry debut – she sang, “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”
- Today in 1998, George Strait hit the top of the charts with “Round About Way.”
- Today in 2000, George Jones’ “Cold Hard Truth” album was certified gold.
- Today in 2000, the “Latest Greatest Straitest Hits” album by George Strait was released.
- Today in 2000, Frank “Pee Wee” King died in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of 86.
- Today in 2001, Toby Keith’s single, “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This,” topped the “Radio & Records” country chart for the third time in six, non-consecutive weeks. The accomplishment remains unprecedented in the 28-year history of the “Radio & Records” country chart.
- Today in 2001, Montgomery Gentry were named “Top Country Duo” for the second year in a row in the annual “Radio & Records’” Readers’ Poll.
- Today in 2001, the 365 Songs of the Century chosen by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts included Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance.”
- Today in 2008, CMT’s “40 Sexiest Music Videos” featured Faith Hill’s “Breathe” at the top of the list.
- Today in 2010, at the Oscars, Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett won Best Original Song for “The Weary King (Theme From Crazy Heart.)”
- Today in 2011, Taylor Swift’s single, “Mean,” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2015, the Zac Brown Band performed “Homegrown” from New York during NBC-TV’s “Saturday Night Live.”
- Today in 2017, Reba McEntire met her wax figure during soundcheck at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The likeness resides at Madame Tussauds’ Nashville
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