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On This Day in Country Music: May 14

Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.

What happened on May 14 in country music history?

On May 14, 1984, the 19th ACM Awards were held at Knott's Berry Farm in California. In 2021, the Grand Ole Opry welcomed a full house again for the first time since the March 2020 shutdown. Ketch Secor and Dustin Lynch share this birthday.

THE BIG MOMENT1984

The 19th ACM Awards were held at Knott's Berry Farm in California

The 19th ACM Awards were held at Knott's Berry Farm in California. Janie Fricke and Lee Greenwood won top vocalist honors, and Alabama took Album of the Year for The Closer You Get. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton won top duet.

Country Stars Born on May 14

1978

Ketch Secor

Ketch Secor was born in Denville Township, New Jersey. He helped start Old Crow Medicine Show and still leads the band, playing fiddle, banjo, harmonica and guitar.

1985

Dustin Lynch

Dustin Lynch was born in Tullahoma, Tennessee. His first single, "Cowboys and Angels," came out in 2012 and launched his career.

No. 1 Songs on This Date

1969

Merle Haggard had the No. 1 country song with "Hungry Eyes." The song looks back on hard times in the labor camps of the Great Depression, where Haggard's own folks had lived.

1972

Merle Haggard sat at No. 1 on the country chart with "Grandma Harp." It was the second single from his album Let Me Tell You About a Song.

1982

Willie Nelson topped the country chart with "Always on My Mind." Many singers had cut the song before him, including Brenda Lee and Elvis Presley, but Willie's tender take became the best known.

1987

Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris had the No. 1 country album with Trio. The record went platinum and won a Grammy for the three friends.

Grand Ole Opry Moments

2021

The Grand Ole Opry welcomed a full house again for the first time since the March 2020 shutdown. Lorrie Morgan and The Oak Ridge Boys were on the bill that night.

Source: opry.com
2022

Jamey Johnson became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Before his own hits, he helped write songs like George Strait's "Give It Away" and Trace Adkins' "Ladies Love Country Boys."

New Music on This Date

2013

George Strait released Love Is Everything, his 28th studio album. It went to No. 1 on the country albums chart, and in 2014 he took it on the road with The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.

Love, Family and Life Events

2011

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert were married in Boerne, Texas.

More Moments to Remember

2017

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum closed its Brad Paisley: Diary of a Player exhibit. Fans got to see his first guitar, a Sears Silvertone from his grandpa, plus awards and stage instruments.

Source: musicrow.com

Remembering the Ones We Lost

2019

Leon Rausch, known as "the voice" of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, died in Fort Worth, Texas, at 91. He sang lead for the band starting in 1958 and kept the music going for years after Wills passed.

Read our story ›

Quick Answers

Which country singers were born on May 14?

Ketch Secor (1978) and Dustin Lynch (1985) were all born on this date.

What was the No. 1 country song on this date?

It depends on the year. In 1969, Merle Haggard had the No. 1 country song with "Hungry Eyes." In 1987, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris had the No. 1 country album with Trio.

This Week in Country Music History

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