On this day in 1959, Bill Anderson made his Grand Ole Opry debut at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Bill Anderson has released more than 40 studio albums and has reached No. 1 on the country charts seven times: “Mama Sang a Song” (1962), “Still” (1963), “I Get the Fever” (1966), “For Loving You” (with Jan Howard, 1967), “My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)” (1969), “World of Make Believe” (1973), and “Sometimes” (with Mary Lou Turner, 1976). Twenty-nine more of his singles have reached the top ten.

One of the most successful songwriters in country music history, Anderson is also a popular singer, earning the nickname “Whisperin’ Bill” for his soft vocal style and occasional spoken narrations.  Artists who have recorded his material include Ray Price, Wanda Jackson, Connie Smith, Lynn Anderson, Jim Reeves, Conway Twitty, Eddy Arnold, Roy Clark, Con Hunley, Lefty Frizzell, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, and George Strait.

Bill Anderson had his own television show in the 1960s. Anderson has made several television appearances, including two stints as a game show host: The Better Sex (with co-host Sarah Purcell) in 1977, and the country music-themed quiz show Fandango (1983–1989) on The Nashville Network. He has also hosted an interview show called Opry Backstage and was a producer of a talent show called You Can Be a Star, hosted by fellow Opry member Jim Ed Brown, both shows on the former Nashville Network, and has made guest appearances on several other television series.

Anderson is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.