Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On December 19, 2016, Songwriter Andrew Dorff died at 40, just days after his birthday. In 1980, the movie 9 to 5 opened in theaters, with Dolly Parton in her first film role as Doralee Rhodes. Bill Carlisle and Little Jimmy Dickens share this birthday.
Songwriter Andrew Dorff died at 40, just days after his birthday. He wrote Kenny Chesney's "Save It for a Rainy Day," Hunter Hayes' "Somebody's Heartbreak" and Martina McBride's "Ride."
Bill Carlisle was born in Wakefield, Kentucky. The singer, songwriter and comic joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1953 and kept performing there for decades. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002 and died the next year.
Little Jimmy Dickens was born in Bolt, West Virginia. The tiny star with the big rhinestone suits hit No. 1 in 1965 with "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose." He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1948 and died in 2015 at 94.
John McEuen was born in Oakland, California. A founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, he could play banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and more. He later produced Steve Martin's Grammy-winning banjo album The Crow.
Janie Fricke was born in South Whitley, Indiana. She had a long run of country hits in the 1980s and was named the CMA's Female Vocalist of the Year in both 1982 and 1983.
Canadian country singer Codie Prevost was born in Archerwill, Saskatchewan. He has been nominated by the Canadian Country Music Association and won Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year many times in his home province.
The movie 9 to 5 opened in theaters, with Dolly Parton in her first film role as Doralee Rhodes. Her title song went to No. 1 on both the country and pop charts.
Bill Carlisle (1908), Little Jimmy Dickens (1920), John McEuen (1945) and Janie Fricke (1947) were all born on this date.
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