Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On February 17, 1998, the George Jones Show premiered on The Nashville Network with Jones as host. In 2001, Brad Paisley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry at 28. It’s also Bryan White’s birthday.
The George Jones Show premiered on The Nashville Network with Jones as host. Stars like Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Tim McGraw and Patty Loveless stopped by to visit and sing.
Johnny Bush, the "Country Caruso," was born in Houston, Texas. He wrote "Whiskey River," a hit for himself that became Willie Nelson's signature song. He died in San Antonio in 2020 at 85.
Banjo player Buck Trent was born on this day. He played in Porter Wagoner's Wagon Masters from 1962 to 1973 and picked on Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You." He died in 2023 at 85.
Singer and songwriter Jon Randall was born in Duncanville, Texas. He and Bill Anderson wrote "Whiskey Lullaby," which went to No. 3 as a duet by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss.
Bryan White was born in Lawton, Oklahoma. He landed six No. 1 country hits among 17 charted singles. His 1999 album How Lucky I Am included "God Gave Me You."
Brad Paisley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry at 28. He had first played the Opry stage less than two years earlier, in May 1999.
Dolly Parton released The Bargain Store, her 15th solo studio album. Some stations pulled the title song over one misread line, but Dolly's tune about a heart that's been through hard times still went to No. 1 that April.
"Tennessee Waltz" became an official state song of Tennessee. Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King wrote it, and King's band first released it in 1948. Patti Page's 1950 version sold millions.
Uncle Jimmy Thompson, the old-time fiddler who played on the very first WSM Barn Dance broadcast on November 28, 1925, died of pneumonia at his Laguardo, Tennessee, home. That radio show became the Grand Ole Opry.
Mindy McCready died at 37 in Heber Springs, Arkansas. The Florida native charted 12 country singles, including her No. 1 hit "Guys Do It All the Time" and "Ten Thousand Angels."
Songwriter Kyle Jacobs died at 49 in Nashville. He co-wrote Garth Brooks' "More Than a Memory," the first song ever to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's country singles chart. He was married to Kellie Pickler.
Bryan White (1974) was 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.