Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On May 16, 2024, Reba McEntire hosted the 59th ACM Awards in Frisco, Texas. In 1987, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris hit No. 1 on the country chart with "To Know Him Is to Love Him." Scott Reeves and Rick Trevino share this birthday.
Reba McEntire hosted the 59th ACM Awards in Frisco, Texas. Lainey Wilson won Entertainer and Female Artist of the Year. Chris Stapleton took Male Artist and Album of the Year for Higher. Luke Combs won Single of the Year for "Fast Car."
Scott Reeves was born in Santa Monica, California. Soap fans knew him as Ryan McNeil on The Young and the Restless. He later formed the duo Blue County with Aaron Benward and co-wrote Toby Keith's No. 1 hit "Made in America."
Rick Trevino was born in Texas. The Mexican American singer reached No. 1 on the country chart in 1997 with "Running Out of Reasons to Run."
Alabama's 40-Hour Week sat at No. 1 on the country albums chart in the middle of a 12-week run. The record gave the band three No. 1 singles, including "There's No Way" and the title song.
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris hit No. 1 on the country chart with "To Know Him Is to Love Him." The Phil Spector song came from their album Trio.
Tim McGraw held the No. 1 spot on the country chart with "Please Remember Me." Rodney Crowell and Will Jennings wrote the song, and Crowell first recorded it in 1995. McGraw's version stayed on top for five weeks.
Alabama released "Tennessee River," the song that gave the band its first No. 1 country hit. It kicked off a run of 21 straight chart toppers that lasted into 1987.
Morgan Wallen released I'm the Problem, his fourth studio album. It opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and held the spot for its first eight weeks, his third No. 1 album in a row.
Kenny Chesney sang in the East Room of the White House after the official dinner honoring Australian Prime Minister John Howard and his wife, Janette.
Source: georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.govKeith Urban sang "Little Bit of Everything" on the American Idol finale. He also joined runner-up Kree Harrison on "Where the Blacktop Ends," with Travis Barker and Randy Jackson playing along.
Brad Paisley opened his Country Nation World Tour at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey. Kraft cheese brands backed the 54-show run, and fans could pose in a cheese photo booth.
Banjo great Doug Dillard died in Nashville at 75. With The Dillards he played one of the Darling family boys on The Andy Griffith Show. He also played banjo on Glen Campbell's "Gentle on My Mind."
Emilio Navaira died at his home in New Braunfels, Texas, at 53. Known as the "Garth Brooks of Tejano," he also landed six songs on the Billboard country singles chart.
Record producer Richard Landis died in Nashville at 77. He produced Lorrie Morgan's War Paint album and worked on records by Eddie Rabbitt, Kenny Rogers, Vince Gill and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Scott Reeves (1966) and Rick Trevino (1971) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1985, Alabama's 40-Hour Week sat at No. 1 on the country albums chart in the middle of a 12-week run. In 1987, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris hit No. 1 on the country chart with "To Know Him Is to Love Him."
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