Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On August 13, 1951, Hoot Hester was born near Louisville, Kentucky. In 2025, George Strait was named one of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipients, a top national award for lifetime work in the arts. Hoot Hester and Andy Griggs share this birthday.
Hoot Hester was born near Louisville, Kentucky. The fiddler backed stars like Alabama, Conway Twitty, Randy Travis and Bill Monroe, and played in the Grand Ole Opry staff band. He died in 2016 at 65.
Andy Griggs was born in West Monroe, Louisiana. His hits "You Won't Ever Be Lonely" and "She's More" both made it to No. 2 on the country chart.
Hank Williams was No. 1 on Billboard's country chart with "Hey, Good Lookin'." The song later went into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and Jimmy Buffett and The Mavericks are among those who have cut it.
John Michael Montgomery reached No. 1 on Billboard's country singles chart with "Be My Baby Tonight." It held the top spot for two weeks.
Morgan Wallen was back at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs with "Last Night," one of the biggest songs of the year.
George Strait was named one of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipients, a top national award for lifetime work in the arts.
Source: upi.comLoretta Lynn released Love Is the Foundation, her 23rd solo studio album. It went to No. 1 on the country albums chart, and the title song topped the singles chart too.
Taylor Swift released "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," the first single from Red. It went to No. 1 on Hot Country Songs and became her first No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Farm Aid 2011 raised money for family farmers at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Founders Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young played, along with Jamey Johnson, Billy Joe Shaver and Ray Price.
Strong winds brought down the stage at the Indiana State Fair before a Sugarland concert, and seven people lost their lives. Sugarland and opener Sara Bareilles were not on stage at the time.
Tompall Glaser died at his Nashville home at 79 after a long illness. He sang with his brothers in Tompall & the Glaser Brothers and was part of the famed Wanted! The Outlaws album with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.
Source: musicrow.comSongwriter Gene Price died. He was best known for writing songs with Buck Owens and also played in Merle Haggard's band, The Strangers, including on the 1969 Okie from Muskogee recording.
Hoot Hester (1951) and Andy Griggs (1973) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1951, Hank Williams was No. 1 on Billboard's country chart with "Hey, Good Lookin'." In 2023, Morgan Wallen was back at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs with "Last Night," one of the biggest songs of the year.
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.