Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On July 27, 1952, Hank Thompson's "The Wild Side of Life" was the No. 1 country song in America. In 1990, Garth Brooks had the No. 1 country song with "The Dance." Velma Smith and Bobbie Gentry share this birthday.
Hank Thompson's "The Wild Side of Life" was the No. 1 country song in America. It held the top spot for 15 straight weeks and sparked Kitty Wells' famous answer song, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels."
Henry "Homer" Haynes was born near Knoxville, Tennessee. As Homer of the comedy duo Homer and Jethro, he teamed with Kenneth "Jethro" Burns starting in 1936. Their spoof "The Battle of Kookamonga" won a Grammy in 1959.
Velma Smith was born in Epley Station, Kentucky. She was the only woman in the RCA Studio B "A-Team" of session players. Her rhythm guitar is heard on Eddy Arnold's "Make the World Go Away" and Jim Reeves' "I Love You Because."
Bobbie Gentry was born near Woodland in Chickasaw County, Mississippi. Her 1967 story song "Ode to Billie Joe" spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It helped her win three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist.
Garth Brooks had the No. 1 country song with "The Dance." Written by Tony Arata, it closed out his self-titled debut album and spent three weeks on top.
Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance" was the No. 1 country song. Sons of the Desert sang on the chorus. The song held the top spot for five weeks that summer.
Kenny Chesney released "Songs for the Saints," his 18th studio album. He said rebuilding after Hurricane Irma, which wrecked his home on St. John, inspired it. Proceeds went to storm relief, and it reached No. 1 on the country albums chart.
Lawton Williams, a singer and songwriter from Troy, Tennessee, died at 85 in Fort Worth, Texas. He wrote "Geisha Girl," a hit for Hank Locklin, and co-wrote "Color of the Blues" with George Jones.
D.L. Menard, known as the "Cajun Hank Williams," died at 85 in Scott, Louisiana. He met Hank Williams at the Teche Club in 1951. His album "Le Trio Cadien" earned a Grammy nomination in 1993.
Velma Smith (1927) and Bobbie Gentry (1942) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1952, Hank Thompson's "The Wild Side of Life" was the No. 1 country song in America. In 1990, Garth Brooks had the No. 1 country song with "The Dance."
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