1965
Johnny Wright was at #1 on the Country chart with “Hello Vietnam.” The single, with backing vocals from his wife, Kitty Wells, was later used as the opening theme in the 1987 Stanley Kubrick film Full Metal Jacket.
1973
Kris Kristofferson was at #1 on the country album chart with his fourth studio release, Jesus Was a Capricorn. The album cover pictures Kristofferson and his soon-to-be wife Rita Coolidge. The track “Why Me” from the album reached #1 on the Country singles charts. The Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge album Full Moon went to #1 on the Country chart the following week.
1980Waylon Jennings was at #1 on the US Country charts with, “Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys)”. The theme to the CBS comedy adventure television series, The Dukes of Hazzard, spent seventeen weeks on the Billboard country singles charts and became his biggest hit.
2008
After being diagnosed with lung Cancer in May of 2008, Merle Haggard had surgery to remove part of the upper lobe of his right lung that had a lemon-size tumor growing on it.
2009
Carrie Underwood released her third album Play On, her second album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, and her third to debut atop the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album featured her #1 single “Cowboy Casanova”.
2011
Keith Urban announced that he would undergo throat surgery to remove a polyp in his vocal cords. He canceled or postponed all public appearances until 2012.
