- Today in 1980, the single, “Bar Room Buddies,” Merle Haggard and actor/director Clint Eastwood debuted on the charts. The song would become Clint’s first and only #1 and Merle’s 25th of 38 #1s.
- Today in 1991, Diamond Rio hit the top of the charts for the first time with “Meet In The Middle.”
- Today in 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to reconsider a lower court ruling that granted the illegitimate daughter of Hank Williams Sr. partial rights to his music.
- Today in 1993, Johnny Cash began four days of recording in producer Rick Rubin’s living room in Los Angeles, backed only by his own guitar. The session marks the start of work on Cash’s album “American Recordings.”
- Today in 1994, the “Walking Away A Winner” album by Kathy Mattea was released.
- Today in 1999, Shania Twain showed her loyalty and fondness for her hometown of Timmins, Ontario by setting up an endowment fund, which awards two scholarships a year to Timmins High and Vocational School graduates. The news wasn’t revealed until a year later, when the “Timmins Daily Press” website carried a note marking the one year anniversary of her generosity.
- Today in 2000, the family special, “Judds Reunion: Power To Change,” debuted on CBS-TV. The show featured performances by the Judds, plus appearances by Ashley Judd and Jo Dee Messina.
- Today in 2001, the new $37-million Country Music Hall of Fame opened in downtown Nashville. Celebs on hand included Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Diamond Rio, Martina McBride, Bill Anderson and ribbon-cutters Charley Pride, Brenda Lee and Kitty Wells.
- Today in 2003, Brian Hofeldt guitarist and frontman of the Derailers, became the third member of the group to tie the knot as he exchanged “I do’s” with his longtime sweetheart Tiffany Snyder. The happy couple exchanged vows in the gardens of the Hofeldt Ranch in Oregon, Brian’s childhood home.
- Today in 2010, The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2012, Country Music Hall of Fame announced that Taylor Swift had donated $4-million to fund an education center as the museum expanded its Nashville facility.
- Today in 2013, the Zac Brown Band’s “Jump Right In” video debuted on CMT.
- Today in 2013, Jake Owen exposes himself on stage in Charleston, South Carolina, when his pants split. He is, in a move he conceded was a bad idea, as he goes commando.
- Today in 2014, Pizza Hut ran the first commercial in a campaign starring Blake Shelton to introduce a new product, Blake’s Smokehouse BBQ Pizza.
- Today in 2015, Hunter Hayes launched a USO tour of American bases in Italy.
- Today in 2016, Guy Clark died in Nashville. A 2004 inductee in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, he authored Ricky Skaggs’ “Heartbroke,” Rodney Crowell’s “She’s Crazy For Leaving,” Vince Gill’s “Oklahoma Borderline” and Jerry Jeff Walker’s “L.A. Freeway,” among others.
- Today in 2017, Carrie Underwood made a surprise appearance on stage during a New Kids On The Block concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena to lead the crowd in a round of “Happy Birthday” for group member Jordan Knight. Big & Rich showed up to play “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy).”
- Today in 2019, the Lil Nas X video for “Old Town Road” premiered, with appearances by Billy Ray Cyrus, Chris Rock and Diplo, among others.
- Today in 2019, Lady A’s “What If I Never Get Over You” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2020, Rosanne Cash was announced as the recipient of the Edward MacDowell Medal, recognizing her contributions to American culture.
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