Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On April 11, 1953, Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart" was No. 1 on Billboard's country chart. In 1977, Waylon Jennings released "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)." Jim Lauderdale and Tara Lyn Hart share this birthday.
Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart" was No. 1 on Billboard's country chart. He cut the song at his last session in September 1952, and it came out after his death in early 1953.
Jim Lauderdale was born in Troutman, North Carolina. He has made more than 30 studio albums since 1986, and his songs have been cut by George Strait, Vince Gill and Patty Loveless.
Steve Azar was born in Greenville, Mississippi. His song "I Don't Have to Be Me ('Til Monday)" climbed to No. 2 on the country chart and led off his album "Waitin' on Joe."
Tara Lyn Hart was born in Roblin, Manitoba, Canada. Her self-titled first album came out in 1999, and its song "Stuff That Matters" reached No. 6 on the Canadian country chart.
Trace Adkins had the No. 1 country album in America with Songs About Me, his sixth studio album. It became his best-selling record, with singles like the title song and "Arlington."
Waylon Jennings released "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)." The song went to No. 1 on the country chart, though Waylon later admitted he never cared for it.
Carrie Underwood's "Church Bells" officially hit country radio as a single from her Storyteller album. It climbed to No. 1 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart, her 15th time at the top there.
Willie Nelson and his sons Lukas and Micah hosted At Home With Farm Aid, an online concert that raised more than $500,000 for family farmers. Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews also took part.
Source: farmaid.orgRecord producer Tony Brown took a hard fall down some stairs at a business dinner and suffered a brain injury. He needed two surgeries but made a full recovery.
Alabama's Jeff Cook told fans he had been living with Parkinson's disease for about four years. He later stepped back from regular touring with the band.
Songwriter Eddie Miller died at 57 in Nashville. He co-wrote the standard "Release Me" and helped start the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
Session bass player Floyd "Lightnin'" Chance died in Nashville at 79. He played on classics like Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart," the Everly Brothers' "Bye Bye Love" and Conway Twitty's "It's Only Make Believe."
Steel guitar great Jerry Byrd died in Honolulu at 85. He played on Hank Williams records like "Lovesick Blues" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," and he helped a young Dolly Parton get her start.
Songwriter Jesse Winchester died at 69 at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia. Many artists recorded his folk and country songs, and Michael Martin Murphey took his "I'm Gonna Miss You, Girl" to No. 3 on the country chart.
Jim Lauderdale (1957), Steve Azar (1964) and Tara Lyn Hart (1978) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1953, Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart" was No. 1 on Billboard's country chart. In 2005, Trace Adkins had the No. 1 country album in America with Songs About Me, his sixth studio album.
Every entry is checked by the Country Thang Daily editors. Spot something we got wrong? Let us know and we’ll fix it and note the change.