Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On February 20, 1991, Kathy Mattea won a Grammy for "Where've You Been" at the 33rd Grammy Awards. In 1954, Webb Pierce reached No. 1 with "Slowly," the first country chart-topper to feature pedal steel guitar. Jim Salestrom and Audra Mae share this birthday.
Kathy Mattea won a Grammy for "Where've You Been" at the 33rd Grammy Awards. Its writers, Don Henry and Jon Vezner, won Best Country Song. Vince Gill, The Kentucky Headhunters, and Chet Atkins with Mark Knopfler also won.
Merv Shiner was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. His "Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me" made the country top 10, and his "Peter Cottontail" sold millions. He died in Tampa, Florida, in 2023 at 102.
Jim Salestrom was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He sang lead for the band Timberline and then played in Dolly Parton's band from 1979 to 1991. He died in 2023 at 67.
Chris Thile was born in Oceanside, California. The Punch Brothers founder earned a 2006 Grammy nod for Best Country Instrumental Performance with "The Eleventh Reel."
Audra Mae was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The singer, a great-great-niece of Judy Garland, co-wrote Miranda Lambert's top 10 hit "Little Red Wagon."
Webb Pierce reached No. 1 with "Slowly," the first country chart-topper to feature pedal steel guitar. Bud Isaacs played that famous intro.
Billy Ray Cyrus held No. 1 on the country albums chart with Some Gave All, his first album. It carried his big hit "Achy Breaky Heart."
LeAnn Rimes and Big & Rich played the halftime show at the NBA All-Star Game at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Alan Jackson guest starred on Home Improvement, playing himself and singing "Mercury Blues" on the show's Tool Time set.
Source: tvmaze.comCountry Music Hall of Fame member Fred Foster died in Nashville at 87. He produced Roy Orbison's early hits like "Only the Lonely" and "Oh, Pretty Woman" and signed a young Dolly Parton to Monument Records.
Merv Shiner (1921), Jim Salestrom (1956), Chris Thile (1981) and Audra Mae (1984) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1954, Webb Pierce reached No. 1 with "Slowly," the first country chart-topper to feature pedal steel guitar. In 1993, Billy Ray Cyrus held No. 1 on the country albums chart with Some Gave All, his first album.
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.