May 10 – This Day in Country Music

1909
Born on this day in Nickelsville, Virginia, was Maybelle Carter, country musician. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and ’30s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters. Maybelle Carter was inducted as part of The Carter Family in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970. In 1993, her image appeared on a US postage stamp honoring the Carter Family. She died on Oct 23rd 1978 aged 69.

1970
Decca records released “Coal Miner’s Daughter” by Loretta Lynn. The autobiographical song became Lynn’s signature song, one of the genre’s most widely-known songs, and provided the basis for both her autobiography and a movie on her life. In addition to reaching #1 on the Country charts, “Coal Miner’s Daughter” also became Lynn’s first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #83.

1988
The final edition of Dolly the television variety show hosted by Dolly Parton aired on ABC. Guest stars featured in the series had included Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, Tyne Daly, Bruce Willis, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty, Tom Selleck, the Neville Brothers, Alabama, Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Dudley Moore, and Oprah Winfrey

1999
Shel Silverstein, American poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children’s books died of a massive heart attack aged 68. He wrote Tompall Glaser’s highest-charting solo single “Put Another Log on the Fire”, “One’s on the Way” (a hit for Loretta Lynn), and wrote one of Johnny Cash’s best known whimsical hits, “A Boy Named Sue.” Other songs co-written by Silverstein include “The Taker” by Waylon Jennings and hits for Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show.

2007
Trisha Yearwood announced she was leaving MCA Records where she had been for 16 years and selling over 12 million albums. She announced she was signing with Big Machine Records. Yearwood and Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta met in her intern days at MTM records. Trisha’s last top 10 hit with MCA was “I Would’ve Loved You Anyway” in 2001.

2008
The winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005, Carrie Underwood was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, being introduced by Garth Brooks. She performed “Last Name,” “All-American Girl” and “Jesus, Take The Wheel.”