- Today in 1951, Hank Williams signed a movie contract with MGM.
- Today in 1955, a little known singer, Elvis Presley, played at a sock hop at Brooklyn High School (a Cleveland suburb) in his first appearance outside his native South (along with Pat Boone and Bill Haley and the Comets).
- Today in 1967, Sonny James and Bobbie Gentry hosted the first CMA Awards presentation.
- Today in 1982, the Statler Brothers’ “Christmas Card” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1991, Clint and Lisa Hartman Black were married on a farm outside of Houston. In his vows, Clint told Lisa, “Our two lives will become one life and together the two of us will overcome what would overcome one.”
- Today in 1992, Travis Tritt’s album, “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” was certified gold.
- Today in 1992, the film, “Pure Country,” starring George Strait, premiered in Nashville. Attendees included George, Garth Brooks, Joe Diffie and Randy Travis.
- Today in 1993, Mark Chesnutt’s “Almost Goodbye” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1994, the “Heartaches” album by Patsy Cline was certified gold.
- Today in 1998, Deana Carter’s Everything’s Gonna Be Alright album was released.
- Today in 1999, Martina McBride’s album, “Emotion,” was certified gold.
- Today in 2000, Vince Gill and Amy Grant adopted a mixed-breed puppy from Love at First Sight in Nashville’s Sylvan Park. The family’s new addition was a 6-week-old golden retriever-Shetland sheep dog mix.
- Today in 2008, The Zac Brown Band’s “Chicken Fried” video debuted on CMT.
- Today in 2009, Curb released Tim McGraw’s “Southern Voice” album
- Today in 2011, The Eli Young Band earned its first platinum single for “Crazy Girl.”
- Today in 2012, Brad Paisley headlined the historic Hollywood Bowl for the first time. The bill also included The Band Perry and Scotty McCreery.
- Today in 2013, Kelly Clarkson married Brandon Blackstock in Tennessee.
- Today in 2016, Little Big Town’s “Better Man,” which written by Taylor Swift, hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2017, Shay Mooney married Hanna Billingsley on his family’s property in Arkansas. Dan Smyers, the other half of Dan + Shay, is a member of the wedding party.
- Today in 2018, Eric Church’s “Desperate Man” debuted at #1 on the Billboard country albums chart.
- Today in 2019, Brooks & Dunn, Ray Stevens and record producer Owen Bradley were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Today in 2020, Tim McGraw was honored with the Tom Hanks Caregiver Champion Award by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation in an online ceremony. McGraw performs “I Called Mama.”
- Today in 2020, a life-size statue of Loretta Lynn was unveiled outside the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
- Today in 2020, David Nail and his wife, Catherine, welcomed their daughter, Ellie Britton Nail.
THIS DAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY
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