Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On December 8, 1991, Roy Acuff received the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. The King of Country Music was the first country act ever given the award. Sam Hunt and Marty Raybon share this birthday.
Roy Acuff received the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. The King of Country Music was the first country act ever given the award.
Jack Stapp was born in Nashville, Tennessee. The music business leader co-wrote "Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy" with Harry Stone and entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.
Floyd Tillman was born in Ryan, Oklahoma. His only No. 1 as a singer came in 1944 with "They Took the Stars Out of Heaven." He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1984.
Dick Glasser was born in Canton, Ohio. He wrote "Angels in the Sky." Later, while running MGM Records' country division in Nashville, he produced C.W. McCall's big hit "Convoy."
Marty Raybon was born in Greenville, Alabama. He sang lead for Shenandoah from 1985 to 1997. With his brother Tim, he scored the 1997 crossover hit "Butterfly Kisses" as the Raybon Brothers.
Sam Hunt was born in Cedartown, Georgia. The former college quarterback wrote songs for Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and Billy Currington. His own "Take Your Time" spent 11 weeks at No. 1 in 2015.
Marty Robbins died in Nashville at 57, days after a heart attack. Away from music, he loved racing and ran 35 NASCAR races, with six top-10 finishes.
Jack Stapp (1912), Floyd Tillman (1914), Dick Glasser (1933), Marty Raybon (1959) and Sam Hunt (1984) 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.