Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On April 6, 1987, the 22nd Academy of Country Music Awards were handed out at Knott's Berry Farm in California, with Patrick Duffy and The Judds as hosts. In 2014, the 49th ACM Awards came to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, hosted by Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan. Merle Haggard and Warren Haynes share this birthday.
The 22nd Academy of Country Music Awards were handed out at Knott's Berry Farm in California, with Patrick Duffy and The Judds as hosts. Reba McEntire and Randy Travis won top female and male vocalist, and Dwight Yoakam was named top new male vocalist.
Merle Haggard was born in Oildale, California. With his band The Strangers, he helped build the Bakersfield sound and scored 38 No. 1 country hits. He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994 and died on his 79th birthday in 2016.
Dottsy, the Texas country singer, was born on this day. She placed 13 singles on Billboard's country chart, and "(After Sweet Memories) Play Born to Lose Again" climbed to No. 10 in 1977.
Warren Haynes was born in Asheville, North Carolina. The longtime Allman Brothers Band guitarist also helped write "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House," a No. 1 hit for Garth Brooks.
Charlie Rich reached No. 1 on the country chart with "A Very Special Love Song." The tender ballad held the top spot for three weeks that spring.
The 49th ACM Awards came to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, hosted by Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan. George Strait was named Entertainer of the Year, and Miranda Lambert took home three trophies, including Female Vocalist.
Trisha Yearwood put out the cookbook Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood, written with her mother Gwen and sister Beth. Many of its recipes came down from family and old friends.
Source: penguinrandomhouse.comStars gathered at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City to tape an all-star tribute to Johnny Cash. The Man in Black took the stage himself, and TNT aired the special on April 18, 1999.
George Jones played his last concert at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum in Tennessee. The Possum died 20 days later, on April 26, 2013, at 81.
Hank Williams sat for his very first set of publicity photos on this day, during his Louisiana Hayride years in Shreveport. One of those pictures later served as the model for his 1993 U.S. postage stamp in the Legends of American Music series.
Source: rrauction.comTammy Wynette died at her Nashville home at 55. Best loved for "Stand by Your Man," she sent 20 singles to No. 1 on the country chart and sold about 30 million records.
Merle Haggard died at his home in Palo Cedro, California, on his 79th birthday. With his band the Strangers, he helped shape the Bakersfield sound.
Jim Glaser died at 81. He sang with his brothers in Tompall and the Glaser Brothers, then earned a No. 1 solo hit in 1984 with "You're Gettin' to Me Again."
Merle Haggard (1937) and Warren Haynes (1960) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1974, Charlie Rich reached No. 1 on the country chart with "A Very Special Love 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.