Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On August 8, 2013, the White House named Loretta Lynn as a winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's top civilian honor. In 1964, Dottie West became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Henry Strzelecki and Mel Tillis share this birthday.
The White House named Loretta Lynn as a winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's top civilian honor. The coal miner's daughter from Kentucky received it later that year.
Webb Pierce was born in West Monroe, Louisiana. The honky-tonk star had more No. 1 country hits than anyone else in the 1950s, and "In the Jailhouse Now" spent 21 weeks at the top in 1955.
Mel Tillis was born in Tampa, Florida. He scored his first No. 1 in 1972 with "I Ain't Never" and later topped the chart with "Good Woman Blues" and "Coca-Cola Cowboy." His stutter never touched his singing. Tillis died in 2017 at 85.
Phil Balsley was born in Staunton, Virginia. He sang baritone with The Statler Brothers, whose No. 1 hits included "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine" in 1978 and "Elizabeth" in the 1980s.
Source: countrymusichalloffame.orgHenry Strzelecki was born in Birmingham, Alabama. The Nashville session bass man played for Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and many more, and he wrote "Long Tall Texan." He died in December 2014 at 75.
Michael Johnson was born in Alamosa, Colorado. Known first for the 1978 pop hit "Bluer Than Blue," he later took "Give Me Wings" and "The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder" to No. 1 on the country chart. He died in 2017 at 72.
Jamie O'Hara was born in Toledo, Ohio. He wrote The Judds' No. 1 "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Ol' Days)" and teamed with Kieran Kane as The O'Kanes, who hit No. 1 with "Can't Stop My Heart from Loving You." He died in 2021 at 70.
Songwriter Todd Cerney was born in Detroit, Michigan. He co-wrote Steve Holy's "Good Morning Beautiful," which held No. 1 for five weeks. He also co-wrote "Tell Me That You Love Me," which reunited Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in 2009.
Mark Wills was born in Blue Ridge, Georgia. His song "Wish You Were Here" went to No. 1 on the country chart in 1999.
Dottie West became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. That same year her song "Here Comes My Baby" made her the first woman in country to win a Grammy.
Oliver Anthony Music put out "Rich Men North of Richmond" on his own. Within weeks it opened at No. 1 on both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs, a first for an artist with no earlier chart history.
The movie Beer for My Horses opened. Toby Keith starred in the comedy, which he co-wrote with Rodney Carrington, and it was built around his hit song. Willie Nelson also had a part.
Hank Williams Jr. survived a fall of nearly 500 feet while climbing Ajax Peak in Montana. He spent about two years healing and relearning to sing, and the beard, hat and sunglasses he wore afterward became his trademark look.
"Cowboy" Jack Clement died at 82 at his Nashville home. He wrote Johnny Cash favorites like "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" and "Guess Things Happen That Way" and produced Waylon Jennings and Townes Van Zandt. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame that same year.
Glen Campbell died at 81 in Nashville, Tennessee, after a long fight with Alzheimer's. He sold more than 45 million records with songs like "Wichita Lineman," "Galveston" and "Rhinestone Cowboy," and he played guitar on sessions for Frank Sinatra and the Monkees.
Webb Pierce (1921), Mel Tillis (1932), Henry Strzelecki (1939), Phil Balsley (1939), Michael Johnson (1944) and Jamie O'Hara (1950) were all born on this date.
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.