Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On June 5, 2007, Porter Wagoner released Wagonmaster, his last album. In 1993, Toby Keith's very first single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," hit No. 1 on the country chart. Gail Davies and Mac Gayden share this birthday.
Porter Wagoner released Wagonmaster, his last album. Produced by Marty Stuart, it earned the best reviews of his career and included a cover of Johnny Cash's "Committed to Parkview."
Mac Gayden was born in Nashville, Tennessee. The guitarist and songwriter co-wrote "Everlasting Love" and played on records by Elvis Presley, Kris Kristofferson and Linda Ronstadt. He died in 2025 at 83.
Don Reid of the Statler Brothers was born in Staunton, Virginia. He sang lead for the group, whose No. 1 hits include "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine" in 1978 and "Elizabeth."
Source: bornglorious.comGail Davies was born in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. The daughter of singer Tex Dickerson, she became one of the first women in country music to produce her own records and had a string of hits in the 1970s and '80s.
Songwriter Brett James was born in Columbia, Missouri. He co-wrote Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel," which won the Grammy for Best Country Song. He died in a plane crash in North Carolina in 2025 at 57.
Toby Keith's very first single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," hit No. 1 on the country chart. It was the first of many chart-toppers for the Oklahoma singer.
Alan Jackson released Thirty Miles West, his 17th studio album. It was the first on his own Alan's Country Records label, run with EMI Nashville, and it went to No. 1 on the country albums chart.
Shania Twain kicked off her Rock This Country Tour in Seattle. It was her first tour in 11 years, since the Up! Tour.
The U.S. Postal Service released a Johnny Cash Forever stamp at a ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium. It used a photo from the 1963 session for Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash.
Source: about.usps.comConway Twitty died at 59 in Springfield, Missouri, after falling ill following a show in Branson. His 1958 hit "It's Only Make Believe" topped the pop chart, and he went on to become one of country's most successful hitmakers.
Don Bowman died at 75. The Texas comic and songwriter was the first host of American Country Countdown and the CMA's first Comedian of the Year. He co-wrote "Just to Satisfy You" with Waylon Jennings.
Mac Gayden (1941) and Gail Davies (1948) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1993, Toby Keith's very first single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," hit No. 1 on the country 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.