Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On March 10, 2023, Comedian and musician Gary Mule Deer became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, with Vince Gill doing the honors. In 1979, Soul star James Brown played the Grand Ole Opry as a guest of Porter Wagoner. Ralph Emery and Norman Blake share this birthday.
Comedian and musician Gary Mule Deer became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, with Vince Gill doing the honors. Over six decades he made more than 350 TV appearances, including many visits with Johnny Carson and David Letterman.
Kenneth "Jethro" Burns was born in Conasauga, Tennessee. The gifted mandolin player teamed with Henry "Homer" Haynes as the comedy music duo Homer and Jethro. The pair entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
Ralph Emery was born in McEwen, Tennessee. The Nashville disc jockey became a familiar face to fans as host of Pop! Goes the Country and later TNN's Nashville Now from 1983 to 1993. He joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
Norman Blake was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The acoustic picker spent years touring and recording with Johnny Cash and played in the house band on Cash's TV show. He also played on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack.
Record producer Rick Rubin was born in Long Beach, New York. He helped bring Johnny Cash back to the spotlight with the 1994 album American Recordings and later steered Cash toward his moving cover of "Hurt."
Daryle Singletary was born in Cairo, Georgia. The traditional country singer reached No. 2 with "I Let Her Lie" and "Amen Kind of Love" in the 1990s. He died in 2018 at 46.
Carrie Underwood was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She won American Idol in 2005 and became a country superstar. She was the first woman to win ACM Entertainer of the Year twice, in 2009 and 2010.
Waylon Jennings released Will the Wolf Survive, his first album for MCA Records. The album went all the way to No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.
Soul star James Brown played the Grand Ole Opry as a guest of Porter Wagoner. Backed by Wagoner's band, he sang "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Tennessee Waltz" along with his own hits. Some Opry regulars objected, but Brown called it a high point.
Source: augustagoodnews.comVince Gill married Christian music singer Amy Grant. The two have long made their home in Nashville and often share the stage.
The UK Country Airplay chart, the first radio chart in Britain built for one genre, revealed its first list. Conner Smith's "Creek Will Rise" landed at No. 1.
Bobbie Nelson, Willie Nelson's big sister, died in Austin, Texas, at 91. She played piano in his Family band for decades. Her grandmother started teaching her on a pump organ when she was 5.
Ralph Emery (1933), Norman Blake (1938), Daryle Singletary (1971) and Carrie Underwood (1983) were all born on this date.
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.