Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On April 23, 1997, At the 32nd ACM Awards, George Strait and Patty Loveless won the top vocalist awards. In 1981, George Strait released "Unwound," his first single on a major label. It’s also Roy Orbison’s birthday.
At the 32nd ACM Awards, George Strait and Patty Loveless won the top vocalist awards. LeAnn Rimes was named Top New Female Vocalist and won Single of the Year for "Blue," and Trace Adkins was Top New Male Vocalist.
Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife and mother of Rosanne Cash, was born in San Antonio, Texas. Her memoir, I Walked the Line, came out in 2007, two years after she passed.
Roy Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas. He got his start at Sun Records, hit No. 1 with "Oh, Pretty Woman" in 1964 and later sang with the Traveling Wilburys. He died in 1988 at 52.
Jerry Lee Lewis was No. 1 on the country singles chart with "Chantilly Lace," his take on the Big Bopper song. It held the top spot for three weeks.
George Strait released "Unwound," his first single on a major label. Written by Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus, it reached No. 6 and became his first Top 10 hit.
George Strait released Blue Clear Sky, his 16th studio album, and it went to No. 1 on the country albums chart. Its singles included the title song, "Carried Away" and "I Can Still Make Cheyenne."
Kenny Chesney released No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems. It became his first No. 1 on the Billboard 200, also topped the country albums chart and sold more than four million copies.
Taylor Swift opened her first headlining tour, the Fearless Tour, at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Indiana. The city named it Taylor Swift Day and gave her a key to the city. Kellie Pickler and Gloriana opened.
Morgan Wallen called off his show at Ole Miss's Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, after losing his voice. The news came just before he was due on stage, and fans were promised refunds.
Source: wsbtv.comRed Foley was found not guilty of federal tax charges. The case had weighed on his career and helped end his TV show Ozark Jubilee.
Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney married Tiffany Fallon, a former Miss Georgia USA.
Singer, songwriter and producer Keith Gattis died at 52 in a farm accident. He co-wrote George Strait's "I Got a Car" and Kenny Chesney's "When I See This Bar."
Roy Orbison (1936) was born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1972, Jerry Lee Lewis was No. 1 on the country singles chart with "Chantilly Lace," his take on the Big Bopper song.
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.