Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On August 9, 2004, Songwriter Sam Hogin died at 54. In 2025, Kathy Mattea got a surprise invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry during a Saturday night show. It’s also Merle Kilgore’s birthday.
Songwriter Sam Hogin died at 54. The Tennessee native earned CMA Song of the Year nominations for Don Williams' "I Believe in You" and Martina McBride's "A Broken Wing." Artists from John Denver to Shania Twain and Diamond Rio recorded his songs.
Merle Kilgore was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He co-wrote "Ring of Fire" with June Carter, a big No. 1 for Johnny Cash. As a boy he carried Hank Williams' guitar, and he later managed Hank Williams Jr.
Jerry Reed was at No. 1 on the country chart with "Lord, Mr. Ford," a funny look at how the car took over American life.
The Urban Cowboy soundtrack sat at No. 1 on Billboard's country albums chart. The two-record set gave fans hits like Johnny Lee's "Lookin' for Love" and Mickey Gilley's "Stand by Me," and it helped spark a big wave of interest in country music.
The Judds held the top spot on Billboard's country singles chart with "Rockin' with the Rhythm of the Rain." Written by Brent Maher and Don Schlitz, it was the mother-daughter duo's seventh No. 1 hit.
Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett reached No. 1 on the country singles chart with "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere." The Jim "Moose" Brown and Don Rollins song stayed on top for eight weeks in all and later won the CMA Award for Vocal Event of the Year.
The Chicks spent a second week at No. 1 on Billboard's country albums chart with Gaslighter. It was the trio's eighth studio album and their first new record in 14 years.
Source: musicrow.comKathy Mattea got a surprise invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry during a Saturday night show. Fellow West Virginian Charlie McCoy asked her on stage while she was singing, and her induction was set for October 11.
Source: savingcountrymusic.comGeorge Jones and Tammy Wynette released Golden Ring, their seventh album together. It reached No. 1 on the country albums chart, and both "Golden Ring" and "Near You" became No. 1 singles.
Alabama put out "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" as a single. The song climbed to No. 1 on the country chart that November, making it the band's 18th straight chart-topper.
George Strait released "Easy Come, Easy Go" as the first single from his album by the same name. The Aaron Barker and Dean Dillon song went on to spend two weeks at No. 1 on the country chart.
The Dixie Chicks released "Without You," the fifth single from their album Fly. Natalie Maines wrote it with Eric Silver, and it reached No. 1 on the country chart in January 2001.
Johnny Cash's ABC show, taped at the Grand Ole Opry, welcomed Pat Boone, Diana Trask and Tom T. Hall. Cash and Boone sang "Peace in the Valley" together, and Hall did "Worried Man Blues."
Merle Kilgore (1934) was born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1986, The Judds held the top spot on Billboard's country singles chart with "Rockin' with the Rhythm of the Rain." In 2003, Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett reached No. 1 on the country singles chart with "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere."
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.