Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On December 5, 2010, Merle Haggard was saluted at the Kennedy Center Honors gala in Washington, D.C. Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow, Jamey Johnson and Kid Rock sang his songs in tribute. In 1957, Patsy Cline sang on the Ozark Jubilee, including a duet with Red Foley. Ty England and Gary Allan share this birthday.
Merle Haggard was saluted at the Kennedy Center Honors gala in Washington, D.C. Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow, Jamey Johnson and Kid Rock sang his songs in tribute.
Ty England was born in Oklahoma City. He played in Garth Brooks' band before going solo, and his first single, "Should've Asked Her Faster," went to No. 3 in 1995.
Gary Allan was born in La Mirada, California. His 2001 album Alright Guy gave him "Man to Man," his first No. 1 country hit.
Songwriter and producer David Hodges was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. An early member of Evanescence, he later helped write songs for Carrie Underwood, including "What Can I Say."
Patsy Cline sang on the Ozark Jubilee, including a duet with Red Foley. During the show, Foley handed her Billboard's award for Most Promising Country and Western Female Artist, plus a Music Vendor award for "Walkin' After Midnight."
Johnny Cash played Madison Square Garden in New York City. The show was taped, but fans had to wait until 2002 to hear it on the album Johnny Cash at Madison Square Garden.
The O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack came out. Packed with old-time music from Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch and more, it went on to win the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002.
Harold "Pappy" Daily, the Houston record man who co-founded Starday Records, died at 85. He guided the early career of George Jones and also worked with Melba Montgomery and Roger Miller.
Ty England (1963) and Gary Allan (1967) were all born on this date.
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