Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On January 11, 2019, Mark Wills became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a few weeks after Vince Gill invited him. In 1967, Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded "Jackson," a song by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber. Naomi Judd and Robert Earl Keen share this birthday.
Mark Wills became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a few weeks after Vince Gill invited him. Fans know him for the No. 1 hits "Wish You Were Here" and "19 Somethin'."
Goldie Hill was born in Karnes City, Texas. Her song "I Let the Stars Get in My Eyes" reached No. 1 in 1953, making her an early female chart-topper in country music. She died in 2005 at 72.
Jody Payne was born in Garrard County, Kentucky. He played guitar in Willie Nelson's band, The Family, from 1973 until he retired in 2008. Payne died in 2013.
Naomi Judd was born Diana Ellen Judd in Ashland, Kentucky. With her daughter Wynonna she formed The Judds, who earned 20 top 10 country hits and five Grammy Awards. Naomi died in 2022 at 76.
Robert Earl Keen was born in Houston, Texas. The Texas songwriter has seen his songs recorded by George Strait, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith and The Highwaymen.
ERNEST, born Ernest Keith Smith, was born in Nashville, Tennessee. The singer and songwriter has written songs cut by Morgan Wallen, Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Chris Lane and Jelly Roll.
When Billboard launched its country albums chart, the first No. 1 was Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash. The collection gathered songs from his singles and an EP released from 1959 to 1963.
Reba McEntire held the top spot on Billboard's country singles chart with "Can't Even Get the Blues." It was the very first No. 1 of her career.
Taylor Swift's second album, Fearless, was No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart. It spent 35 weeks at the top of that chart and sold more than 3.2 million copies in 2009.
Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded "Jackson," a song by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber. Their version reached No. 2 on the country chart and won a 1968 Grammy for Best Country & Western Performance Duet, Trio or Group.
Glen Campbell cut "I Wanna Live" on this day at Capitol's studio in Hollywood. The song came out that March and gave him his first No. 1 country hit. He would go on to top that chart five times.
The Earl Scruggs Center opened in Shelby, North Carolina, inside the old Cleveland County Courthouse. The museum honors the banjo legend from nearby and the music of the South that shaped him.
Source: bluegrasstoday.comGuitarist Tommy Allsup died at 85 in Springfield, Missouri. In 1959 he lost a coin toss to Ritchie Valens for a seat on Buddy Holly's plane, which later crashed. He went on to play with Bob Wills, Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel, and he won a Grammy.
Goldie Hill (1933), Jody Payne (1936), Naomi Judd (1946) and Robert Earl Keen (1956) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1964, When Billboard launched its country albums chart, the first No. 1 was Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash. In 1983, Reba McEntire held the top spot on Billboard's country singles chart with "Can't Even Get the Blues."
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.