Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On April 2, 2014, the Library of Congress added the Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown" and Linda Ronstadt's album Heart Like a Wheel to the National Recording Registry. In 1995, Trisha Yearwood sat at No. 1 on the country chart with "Thinkin' About You," the title song from her album. Emmylou Harris and Leon Russell share this birthday.
The Library of Congress added the Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown" and Linda Ronstadt's album Heart Like a Wheel to the National Recording Registry. "Cathy's Clown" was cut at RCA Studio B in Nashville.
Songwriter Sonny Throckmorton was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Country singers have cut over 1,000 of his songs, including "The Cowboy Rides Away" for George Strait. NSAI named him Songwriter of the Year three years running, 1978 to 1980.
Leon Russell was born Claude Russell Bridges in Lawton, Oklahoma. He played piano on countless 1960s records with the Wrecking Crew. In 1979 he and Willie Nelson took "Heartbreak Hotel" to No. 1 on the country chart.
Emmylou Harris was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Her version of the Buck Owens song "Together Again" became her first country No. 1, and she has gone on to win 13 Grammy Awards.
Buddy Jewell was born in Lepanto, Arkansas. He won the first season of Nashville Star in 2003, and his self-titled album went to No. 1 on the country chart with "Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song)."
Billy Dean was born in Quincy, Florida. A win on Star Search put him on the map. In 2000 he and Alison Krauss sang on Kenny Rogers' No. 1 hit "Buy Me a Rose."
Chris Janson was born in Perryville, Missouri. Fans know him for the harmonica and for hits like "Buy Me a Boat" and the No. 1 song "Good Vibes."
Zach Bryan was born in Yokosuka, Japan, and grew up in Oologah, Oklahoma. In 2023 his self-titled album opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and "I Remember Everything" with Kacey Musgraves topped the Hot 100.
Trisha Yearwood sat at No. 1 on the country chart with "Thinkin' About You," the title song from her album. It was her third No. 1, and Lee Roy Parnell added the slide guitar.
Cody Johnson led the Hot Country Songs chart with "'Til You Can't." Later that year it won CMA Single and Video of the Year, and it took the Grammy for Best Country Song in 2023.
Johnny Cash cut "I Walk the Line" at Sun Studio in Memphis. It became his first No. 1 country hit and sold more than 2 million copies. He got the odd chord changes from hearing a guitar tape played backward while in the Air Force in Germany.
Dolly Parton put out My Tennessee Mountain Home, her 11th solo studio album. The cabin on the cover is the house her family called home in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Songwriter and producer Jerry Abbott died in Denton, Texas, at 81. His songs were cut by Freddy Fender, and he wrote a duet for Buck Owens and Emmylou Harris. He was also the father of Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell of the band Pantera.
Leon Russell (1942), Emmylou Harris (1947), Buddy Jewell (1961), Billy Dean (1962), Chris Janson (1986) and Zach Bryan (1996) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1995, Trisha Yearwood sat at No. 1 on the country chart with "Thinkin' About You," the title song from her album. In 2022, Cody Johnson led the Hot Country Songs chart with "'Til You Can't." Later that year it won CMA Single and Video of the Year, and it took the Grammy for Best Country Song in 2023.
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.