Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On August 12, 2007, Porter Wagoner was honored at the Grand Ole Opry on his 80th birthday for 50 years as a member. In 2022, Gretchen Peters said she would retire from full-scale touring, with a farewell run in June 2023. Porter Wagoner and Buck Owens share this birthday.
Porter Wagoner was honored at the Grand Ole Opry on his 80th birthday for 50 years as a member. Dolly Parton, Marty Stuart and Patty Loveless joined the celebration on GAC's Grand Ole Opry Live.
Porter Wagoner was born in West Plains, Missouri. Known as Mr. Grand Ole Opry for his flashy suits, he brought a young Dolly Parton onto his TV show in 1967 and charted 81 singles.
Buck Owens was born on a farm in Sherman, Texas. He helped build the Bakersfield sound and, with his Buckaroos, scored 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country chart.
Charley Pride landed his first No. 1 country hit with "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)." He went on to become country music's first Black superstar, with more than 30 chart-toppers.
Olivia Newton-John was No. 1 on the country albums chart with If You Love Me, Let Me Know. The album gave fans the title song and "I Honestly Love You."
Lonestar hit No. 1 on the country chart with "What About Now." The upbeat song stayed on top for four weeks.
Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" logged its 25th week at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs, breaking the 24-week record of "Cruise." It ran 34 weeks in all and reached No. 6 on the Hot 100.
Garth Brooks put out "Rodeo" on Liberty Records. The Larry Bastian song was the first single from Ropin' the Wind and climbed to No. 3 on the country chart.
Gretchen Peters said she would retire from full-scale touring, with a farewell run in June 2023. Her songs have been recorded by Martina McBride, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood and Patty Loveless.
Porter Wagoner (1927) and Buck Owens (1929) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1969, Charley Pride landed his first No. 1 country hit with "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)." In 1974, Olivia Newton-John was No. 1 on the country albums chart with If You Love Me, Let Me Know.
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