Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On December 21, 1968, Glen Campbell's album Wichita Lineman reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top LPs chart, taking over from Big Brother and the Holding Company. In 1950, Hank Williams cut "Cold, Cold Heart" at Castle Studio in Nashville. Freddie Hart and Lee Roy Parnell share this birthday.
Glen Campbell's album Wichita Lineman reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top LPs chart, taking over from Big Brother and the Holding Company. The record also hit No. 1 on the country albums chart.
Bass player Floyd "Lightnin'" Chance was born in Como, Mississippi. He played on classic records like Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart," The Everly Brothers' "Bye Bye Love" and Conway Twitty's "It's Only Make Believe." He died in 2005.
Freddie Hart was born in Loachapoka, Alabama. His song "Easy Loving" went to No. 1 in 1971 and was named CMA Song of the Year two years running, in 1971 and 1972. He died in 2018 at 91.
Guitar great Albert Lee was born in Lingen, Herefordshire, England. In 1976 he joined Emmylou Harris' Hot Band, and over the years he also played with Rosanne Cash, Dolly Parton, Ricky Skaggs and The Everly Brothers.
Lee Roy Parnell was born in Abilene, Texas. The slide guitar man blended country and blues, and three of his singles climbed to No. 2, including "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am" and "Tender Moment."
Charlie Rich's Behind Closed Doors was back at No. 1 on the country albums chart. That year the CMA named it Album of the Year, the title song won Single of the Year, and Rich was named Male Vocalist.
Hank Williams cut "Cold, Cold Heart" at Castle Studio in Nashville. Members of his Drifting Cowboys backed him on the session, with Chet Atkins also on hand.
The Electric Horseman, with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, opened in U.S. theaters. It was Willie Nelson's first movie role, and he sang five songs in the film, including "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys."
Session drummer Sammy Creason died in Nashville at 51. He kept the beat for Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, Rita Coolidge, Charlie Rich and Dottie West, among many others.
K.T. Oslin died in Nashville at 78, a week after she was found to have COVID-19. Known for "80's Ladies," she scored four No. 1 country hits, including "Hold Me" and "Come Next Monday."
Freddie Hart (1926) and Lee Roy Parnell (1956) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1968, Glen Campbell's album Wichita Lineman reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top LPs chart, taking over from Big Brother and the Holding Company. In 1973, Charlie Rich's Behind Closed Doors was back at No. 1 on the country albums chart.
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.