- Today in 1922, WSB radio in Atlanta was the first radio station to feature country music.
- Today in 1951, Hank Williams recorded “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You),” “Howlin’ At The Moon,” and “My Heart Would Know.”
- Today in 1955, “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” by Bill Hayes reached the #1 spot on the pop music charts and stayed for five weeks. The hit song sold more than 7,000,000 records on more than 20 different labels. Coonskin caps started sprouting up everywhere as the Crockett craze spread like a frontier fire. “Davy Crockett” was a big TV show in the 1950s that starred Fess Parker in the memorable Walt Disney production.
- Today in 1974, the first performance from the new Grand Ole Opry House at Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee, took place. President Richard Nixon helped open the new facility by playing three songs on the piano. He also played with a yo-yo on stage like Opry star Roy Acuff.
- Today in 1987, George Strait earned a gold record for “Ocean Front Property.”
- Today in 1991, seven members of Reba McEntire’s road band, as well as her tour manager, were killed when their plane crashed near San Diego. Singer/songwriter Chris Austin was also on the plane. Ironically, Reba would’ve been on the plane too, had she not decided to stay behind and get a good night’s sleep. Reba has described the incident as “the worst time in my life,” and her grief inspired her album, “For My Broken Heart.”
- Today in 1995, David Ball’s album, “Thinkin’ Problem,” was certified platinum.
- Today in 1996, Garth Brooks hit the top of the chart with “The Beaches of Cheyenne.”
- Today in 1998, LeAnn Rimes single “Blue” went gold.
- Today in 1999, Pam Tillis made her Broadway debut in “Smokey’s Joe Café.”
- Today in 1999, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) presented the first Diamond Awards to a slew of artists including Garth Brooks and the Beatles. The awards are given in recognition of albums and singles that have sold 10-million copies or more.
- Today in 2001, a Nashville judge refused to let LeAnn Rimes out of a recording contract with Curb Records that was approved at the request of her parents when she was 12. The following November, LeAnn and Curb came to an agreement and she re-signed with the label.
- Today in 2002, Tim McGraw’s “The Cowboy In Me” hit the top of the country charts.
- Today in 2005, at the CMT Music Awards, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, and Big & Rich each earned three nominations and Keith Urban and Gretchen Wilson snagged three apiece.
- Today in 2006, CMT aired Carrie Underwood’s video for “Don’t Forget To Remember Me.”
- Today in 2011, Sara Evans earned a gold single for “A Little Bit Stronger.”
- Today in 2020, in compliance with a request from Nashville mayor John Cooper, Dierks Bentley shut down his Whiskey Row bar to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Bentley also gifts each of his 90 hourly employees $1,000 to help them get through the next few weeks.
- Today in 2021, Clint Black Cowboy Coffee launched.
Share 
