Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On January 9, 1960, Patsy Cline became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In 2000, Shania Twain was named Favorite Female Musical Performer at the 26th People's Choice Awards. Crystal Gayle and Roy Head share this birthday.
Patsy Cline became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Her early records came out on Four Star Records, and "Walkin' After Midnight" gave her a breakthrough in 1957, reaching No. 2 on the country chart and No. 12 on pop.
Roy Head was born in Three Rivers, Texas. He is best remembered for "Treat Her Right," a 1965 smash that climbed to No. 2 on the pop chart. Head died in 2020 at 79.
Crystal Gayle was born Brenda Gail Webb in Paintsville, Kentucky. Her best-loved song is the 1977 hit "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," and she went on to score 18 No. 1 country songs. Fans also knew her for her floor-length hair.
Willie Nelson's double live album Willie and Family Live sat at No. 1 on Billboard's country albums chart. It was taped at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, in April 1978, with Emmylou Harris and Johnny Paycheck singing along on a few songs.
Taylor Swift's Red was the No. 1 album on Billboard's country albums chart. It later earned Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Best Country Album.
Shania Twain was named Favorite Female Musical Performer at the 26th People's Choice Awards. CBS aired the show from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California.
Hank Williams cut "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" at Castle Studio in Nashville, with Fred Rose producing. The song became his second No. 1 country hit after "Lovesick Blues" and held the top spot for five weeks.
Loretta Lynn recorded "Fist City" at Bradley's Barn in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. She wrote it as a warning to women chasing her husband while she was on the road. Released on Decca, it went to No. 1 on the country chart.
Glen Campbell finished recording Jimmy Webb's "Galveston" at Capitol Studios in Hollywood. Released that February, it topped the country chart and reached No. 4 on the Hot 100.
Miranda Lambert released "Over You," the second single from Four the Record. She wrote it with Blake Shelton, and it went to No. 1 on Hot Country Songs. The song later won Song of the Year at the 2012 CMA Awards.
Rascal Flatts released "Yours If You Want It," the lead single from their tenth studio album, Back to Us. It went on to reach No. 1 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart, the group's 14th and final No. 1 there.
Roy Head (1941) and Crystal Gayle (1951) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1979, Willie Nelson's double live album Willie and Family Live sat at No. 1 on Billboard's country albums chart. In 2013, Taylor Swift's Red was the No. 1 album on Billboard's country albums chart.
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.