Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On May 3, 1994, Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire hosted the 29th Academy of Country Music Awards. In 2024, T. Graham Brown became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, with Vince Gill doing the honors. Ella Langley and Eric Church share this birthday.
Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire hosted the 29th Academy of Country Music Awards. Vince Gill and Wynonna won the top vocalist awards, Faith Hill was named Top New Female Vocalist, and Jackson's A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love) won Album of the Year.
Dave Dudley was born in Spencer, Wisconsin. Truckers and fans remember him best for his 1963 hit "Six Days on the Road." He died in 2003.
Shane Minor, a singer and songwriter from Modesto, California, was born on this day. He co-wrote No. 1 hits for other stars, including Diamond Rio's "Beautiful Mess" and Kenny Chesney's "Live a Little."
Brad Martin, the singer behind the 2002 album Wings of a Honky-Tonk Angel, was born on this day. His single "Before I Knew Better" reached No. 15. He died in Nashville in 2022 at 48.
Eric Church was born in Granite Falls, North Carolina. His 2006 debut album, Sinners Like Me, gave him early chart hits with "How 'Bout You," "Two Pink Lines" and "Guys Like Me."
Ella Langley was born in Hope Hull, Alabama. In 2026 her song "Choosin' Texas" became the first by a woman to sit at No. 1 on the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts all at once. Her album Dandelion opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Morgan Wallen held the top spot on the Billboard 200 with One Thing at a Time. The album spent 19 weeks at No. 1 in all, and its single "Last Night" went to No. 1 on the Hot 100.
T. Graham Brown became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, with Vince Gill doing the honors. Brown has put more than 20 singles on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
Source: countrystandardtime.comKitty Wells recorded "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" at Castle Studio in Nashville, mostly for the $125 session fee. The song made her the first woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard country chart as a solo act.
Randy Travis released "Where That Came From." A 2013 stroke had taken much of his singing voice, so his team used AI built from his old recordings to bring it back. It became his first solo single to chart since 2005.
Reba McEntire, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires and John Prine played the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to raise money for Thistle Farms. The concert marked 20 years for the Nashville group, which helps women in recovery find work and a fresh start.
Source: rollingstone.comChely Wright shared publicly that she is gay, in a story reported by People magazine. Her memoir, Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer, came out the next day along with a new album.
Dollywood opened its gates in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The park had been known as Silver Dollar City Tennessee until Dolly Parton bought into it and put her name on it.
Patsy Montana died at 87 at her home in San Jacinto, California. Her 1935 song "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" made her the first woman in country music with a million-selling record.
Bluegrass banjo player Jim Mills died of a heart attack at 57. He played banjo in Ricky Skaggs' band Kentucky Thunder for 14 years and shared in six Grammy wins.
Dave Dudley (1928), Eric Church (1977) and Ella Langley (1999) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 2023, Morgan Wallen held the top spot on the Billboard 200 with One Thing at a Time.
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.