Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On May 18, 2008, Reba McEntire hosted the 43rd Academy of Country Music Awards. In 1986, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson rode together in a new version of "Stagecoach" that aired on CBS. Joe Bonsall and George Strait share this birthday.
Reba McEntire hosted the 43rd Academy of Country Music Awards. Kenny Chesney won Entertainer of the Year, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood took the top vocalist awards, and Miranda Lambert won Album of the Year for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum won the newcomer honors.
Leon Ashley was born in Georgia. He topped the country chart in 1967 with "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)," a song he wrote and put out on his own record label.
Joe Bonsall was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He sang tenor with The Oak Ridge Boys from 1973 to 2023. He died in 2024 at 76 from complications of ALS.
George Strait was born in Poteet, Texas. Called the King of Country, he has 60 No. 1 hits across the country charts, a world record for any artist.
David Nail was born in Kennett, Missouri. Fans know him for "Red Light" and "Turning Home," and his song "Let It Rain" became his first No. 1 hit in January 2012.
Tammy Wynette held the top spot on the UK singles chart with "Stand By Your Man." The song first came out in America in 1968, and British fans sent it to No. 1 for three weeks in the spring of 1975.
Source: officialcharts.comKenny Chesney sat at No. 1 on the country albums chart with "Here and Now," his 19th studio album. It also opened at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
Taylor Swift won Song of the Year at the 58th BMI Pop Awards in Beverly Hills for "Love Story." At 20, she was the youngest songwriter ever to take home that honor.
Source: bmi.comWillie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson rode together in a new version of "Stagecoach" that aired on CBS. June Carter Cash, John Carter Cash, Jessi Colter and John Schneider also had parts in the TV western.
Family, friends and fans said goodbye to June Carter Cash at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Larry Gatlin led the service, and The Oak Ridge Boys, Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow sang in her honor.
Source: baptistpress.comTravis Tritt's tour bus was caught up in a crash on Highway 22 leaving Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A wrong-way driver struck another vehicle, and two people lost their lives. No one on the bus was hurt.
Source: newschannel5.comSongwriter Elbert West died at 47. He helped write two No. 1 hits for Tracy Lawrence, "Sticks and Stones" and "Can't Break It to My Heart," and also wrote songs recorded by Tim McGraw and John Michael Montgomery.
Leon Ashley (1936), Joe Bonsall (1948), George Strait (1952) and David Nail (1979) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1975, Tammy Wynette held the top spot on the UK singles chart with "Stand By Your Man." In 2020, Kenny Chesney sat at No. 1 on the country albums chart with "Here and Now," his 19th studio album.
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.