COUNTRY HISTORY

Today in 1939, "Billboard" magazine introduced the hillbilly chart, which has since become the country music chart. Today in 1950, Hank Williams charted what would be come the number one single "Long Gone Lonesome Blues." Today in…

Today in 1956, Carl Perkins got into a car accident, breaking his collarbone. Today in 1958, 8-year-old Hank Williams Jr. made his stage debut in Swainsboro, Georgia. His father, the late country singer Hank Williams, passed…

Today in 1955, Johnny Cash auditioned for Sam Philips at Sun Records in Memphis. Philips liked “Hey, Porter,” and asked Cash to come back and record the next day, despite passing on most of his other…

Today in 1984, The Judds made their first large-venue appearance opening for the Statler Brothers at an arena in Omaha. Today in 1993, George Strait’s “Heartland” topped the Billboard charts at #1. Today in 1998, Steve Wariner gave…

Today in 1953, Tex Ritter performed the theme to “High Noon” at the Academy Awards. “Do Not Forsake Me,” became the first country title to win the Oscar for Best Original Song. Today in 1957, Elvis Presley…

Today in 1985, Kris Kristofferson was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in New York. Today in 1989, Ricky Van Shelton hit the top of the Billboard country singles chart with his remake of “From A…

Today in 1966, the late Roger Miller took home six GRAMMY Awards, topping the record he set the year before. Today in 1969, Glen Campbell’s single, "Galveston," entered the Top 40 chart. Today in 1987, Barbara Mandrell was…

Today in 1970, Merle Haggard’s “The Fightin’ Side Of Me” reached #1 on the Billboard country chart. Today in 1972, California Governor Ronald Reagan pardoned Merle Haggard for a 1975 attempted robbery that landed the singer in…

Today in 1965, the Statler Brothers recorded “Flowers On The Wall” at the Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, a session originally for Johnny Cash who never appeared. Today in 1967, Decca released Patsy Cline’s “Greatest Hits.” Today…

Today in 1961, Gene Autry’s expansion Los Angeles Angels dropped baseball player Charley Pride during spring training in Palm Springs after a two-week tryout. Today in 1975, George jones and Tammy Wynette’s divorce was finalized. Wynette took…