1955
Billboard magazine’s annual disc jockey poll voted Elvis Presley as the most promising country and western artist.
1960
Hank Locklin was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. His signature song “Please Help Me, I’m Falling” spent a total of 14 weeks at the top of country charts and went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. Billboard’s 100th anniversary issue listed it as the second most successful country single of the rock and roll era. It sold over one million copies.
1964
Born on this day in Tillamook, Oregon, was Jerry Kilgore, country music artist who as well as releasing solo albums has written singles for Tracy Byrd and John Michael Montgomery, (“Cover You in Kisses”).
1980The soundtrack album Honeysuckle Rose was at #1 on the US Country chart. The 1980 musical drama film of the same name, featured Willie Nelson. Tracks on the album include songs by Nelson and various artists including Kenneth Threadgill, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Gimble, Hank Cochran, Jeannie Seely and Dyan Cannon. The song “On the Road Again” was nominated for Best Original Song in the 53rd Academy Awards.
1990
Garth Brooks was at #1 on the US Country album charts with his second studio album No Fences. Some of Brooks most famous songs appear on No Fences, including: “The Thunder Rolls” (CMA’s 1991 Video of the Year), “Friends in Low Places” (Academy of Country Music’s 1990 Single of the Year), “Unanswered Prayers” and “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House”.
2005
Martina McBride was at #1 on the Country chart with her eighth studio album Timeless a collection of classic country songs. Major artists whose songs were covered include Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Don Gibson, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Ray Price, Hank Snow, Hank Williams, Tammy Wynette and many others.
2008
The 42nd Country Music Association Awards, Ceremony was held at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee, hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. Brad Paisley won Male Vocalist of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “Waitin’ on a Woman”. George Strait won Album of The Year for Troubadour and Single of the Year for “I Saw God Today”. Carrie Underwood won Female Vocalist of the Year, Rascal Flatts won Vocal Group of the Year, Lady Antebellum won New Artist of the Year and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss won Musical Event of the Year for “Gone, Gone, Gone”.
