Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On January 5, 1999, Shania Twain's "You're Still the One" earned Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. In 1980, Kenny Rogers hit No. 1 on the country chart with "Coward of the County." Sam Phillips and Iris DeMent share this birthday.
Shania Twain's "You're Still the One" earned Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Her album Come On Over was up for Album of the Year, and the Dixie Chicks made the Best New Artist list.
Sam Phillips was born in Florence, Alabama. At Sun Records in Memphis he gave early breaks to Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and died in 2003.
Songwriter Verlon Thompson was born in Binger, Oklahoma. His songs have been cut by Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, Trisha Yearwood, Alan Jackson and Guy Clark.
Songwriter Mark Nesler was born in Beaumont, Texas. He wrote Tim McGraw's "Just to See You Smile" and Keith Urban's "You Look Good in My Shirt," plus songs for George Strait and Aaron Tippin.
Iris DeMent was born in Paragould, Arkansas. The singer and songwriter has earned two Grammy nominations.
Kenny Rogers hit No. 1 on the country chart with "Coward of the County." The story song stayed on top for three weeks.
Toby Keith's Shock'n Y'all was the No. 1 country album for a seventh week. The record stayed on top for the first seven weeks of 2004.
Patsy Cline began the recording work that became her first album, with Owen Bradley producing. The album's lead single, "Walkin' After Midnight," climbed to No. 2 on the country chart.
Dottie West recorded "Gettin' Married Has Made Us Strangers" at RCA Victor Studios in Nashville with Chet Atkins producing. It came out that March and reached No. 30 on the country chart.
Songwriter Phil Thomas died at 74. George Strait, Alabama and Randy Travis all recorded his songs, and he wrote "Colorado Kool-Aid" and "Me and the I.R.S." for Johnny Paycheck.
Source: musicrow.comLarry Collins, the guitar whiz of The Collins Kids with his sister Lorrie, died at 79 in Santa Clarita, California. Taught by Joe Maphis, he later co-wrote "Delta Dawn" and "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma."
Sam Phillips (1923) and Iris DeMent (1961) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1980, Kenny Rogers hit No. 1 on the country chart with "Coward of the County." In 2004, Toby Keith's Shock'n Y'all was the No. 1 country album for a seventh week.
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