Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On April 4, 1995, the Highwaymen released The Road Goes On Forever, produced by Don Was. In 1977, Kenny Rogers held the No. 1 spot on Billboard's country singles chart with "Lucille." Norro Wilson and Clay Davidson share this birthday.
The Highwaymen released The Road Goes On Forever, produced by Don Was. Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson kicked it off with Steve Earle's "The Devil's Right Hand."
Norro Wilson was born in Scottsville, Kentucky. He wrote hits for Charlie Rich, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, and he produced records for Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney and Shania Twain. He died in 2017 at 79.
Songwriter Bob McDill was born in Beaumont, Texas, and grew up nearby in Walden. He wrote or co-wrote 31 No. 1 country hits for stars like Don Williams, Anne Murray and Alan Jackson. He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2023.
Source: countrymusichalloffame.orgClay Davidson was born in Saltville, Virginia. His 2000 debut album, Unconditional, gave him a No. 3 country hit with its title song.
Kenny Rogers held the No. 1 spot on Billboard's country singles chart with "Lucille." The song was a hit overseas too, later topping the chart in the United Kingdom.
Shania Twain's The Woman in Me was the No. 1 country album in America. Her second studio album was made with producer Mutt Lange, and the two co-wrote nearly every song. It stayed on top for 14 straight weeks.
Buck Owens released "My Heart Skips a Beat," with "Together Again" on the flip side. Both songs went on to hit No. 1. Tom Brumley played the much-loved steel guitar solo on "Together Again."
Source: americansongwriter.comPistol Annies, the trio of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, sang in public for the first time. They performed "Hell on Heels" at the taping of the ACM's Girls' Night Out special in Las Vegas, which later aired on CBS.
Source: americansongwriter.comLoretta Lynn began taping her guest spot on The Muppet Show. In the story the theater was being fumigated, so the whole show moved to a train station. She sang "One's on the Way" with the Muppet babies.
Songwriter Alex Harvey died at 79. The Tennessee native co-wrote "Delta Dawn" and "Reuben James," and Kenny Rogers cut 18 of his songs.
Norro Wilson (1938) and Clay Davidson (1971) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1977, Kenny Rogers held the No. 1 spot on Billboard's country singles chart with "Lucille." In 1996, Shania Twain's The Woman in Me was the No. 1 country album in America.
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.