Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On January 24, 1954, Glenn Worf was born in Dayton, Ohio. In 1953, Hank Williams hit No. 1 on Billboard's country best sellers chart with "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." Glenn Worf and Ray Stevens share this birthday.
Glenn Worf was born in Dayton, Ohio. The Nashville bass player has worked on records for Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain, Keith Urban and Tammy Wynette, and he tours with Mark Knopfler.
Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw was born in Tiel Ridge, in Louisiana's Cameron Parish. The singer and songwriter is loved for lively tunes like "Louisiana Man" and "Diggy Liggy Lo."
Ray Stevens was born in Clarkdale, Georgia. He topped the pop charts with the novelty song "The Streak" in 1974. His 1975 version of "Misty" won a Grammy and became his top country hit at No. 3.
Becky Hobbs was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The singer, songwriter and piano player reached No. 10 in 1983 with "Let's Get Over Them Together," a duet with Moe Bandy.
Hank Williams hit No. 1 on Billboard's country best sellers chart with "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." It took the top spot from his own "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)." It was the last single released in his lifetime, and it topped the chart just weeks after he died.
Merle Haggard held the top spot on the Billboard country chart with "Sing Me Back Home." It was the third No. 1 hit of his career.
Chris Stapleton's debut album Traveller was back at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. The record had already won Album of the Year at the 2015 CMA Awards.
Kenny Rogers put out "Lucille" on United Artists. Roger Bowling and Hal Bynum wrote it. The song went to No. 1 on the country chart, reached No. 5 on the pop chart and also hit No. 1 in the UK.
Harold "Shot" Jackson died at 70. The steel guitar and Dobro man got his start with the Bailes Brothers on the Louisiana Hayride, later backed stars like Webb Pierce and Kitty Wells, and introduced Willie Nelson to his guitar Trigger.
Ray Stevens (1939), Becky Hobbs (1950) and Glenn Worf (1954) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1953, Hank Williams hit No. 1 on Billboard's country best sellers chart with "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." In 1968, Merle Haggard held the top spot on the Billboard country chart with "Sing Me Back Home."
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.