Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On May 4, 2010, Nashville was declared a federal disaster area on May 4, 2010, after the Cumberland River flood. In 1987, Randy Travis released Always & Forever, which went to No. 1 on the country albums chart. Randy Travis and Al Dexter share this birthday.
Nashville was declared a federal disaster area on May 4, 2010, after the Cumberland River flood. Several feet of water filled the Grand Ole Opry House, so the Opry moved its shows to the Ryman Auditorium and other spots around town.
Al Dexter was born Clarence Albert Poindexter in Jacksonville, Texas. His 1943 hit "Pistol Packin' Mama" helped carry honky-tonk music to a wide audience. He went into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
Songwriter Tim DuBois was born in Southwest City, Missouri. He wrote Jerry Reed's "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)" and Alabama's "Love in the First Degree." He later opened Arista Records' Nashville office.
Stella Parton was born in Sevierville, Tennessee. A younger sister of Dolly Parton, she made the country Top 10 in 1975 with "I Want to Hold You in My Dreams Tonight."
Singer, guitar man and trumpet player Don King was born in Fremont, Nebraska. He charted more than 15 country singles and went on the road with stars like Conway Twitty, Reba McEntire and Alabama.
Robert Ellis Orrall was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts. He co-wrote No. 1 hits for Shenandoah and Clay Walker and helped produce Taylor Swift's first album. His own country album, Flying Colors, gave him the single "Boom! It Was Over."
Randy Travis was born in Marshville, North Carolina. His album Storms of Life sold 3 million copies and helped lead country back to its traditional sound. He earned 16 No. 1 hits and joined the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
Hit songwriter Luke Laird was born in Hartstown, Pennsylvania. He has helped write more than 20 No. 1 songs, including Carrie Underwood's "So Small," Little Big Town's "Pontoon" and Eric Church's "Talladega."
Randy Travis released Always & Forever, which went to No. 1 on the country albums chart. Four of its songs hit No. 1, including "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "I Told You So."
Tim McGraw released A Place in the Sun on Curb Records. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and four singles, including "Please Remember Me" and "Something Like That," went to No. 1 on the country chart.
Martina McBride sang the national anthem at the 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. A horse named Orb won the race.
Source: churchilldowns.comLoretta Lynn suffered a stroke at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, not long after turning 85. She was cared for in a Nashville hospital, and her upcoming shows were put on hold.
Source: rfdtv.comAl Dexter (1905), Stella Parton (1949), Robert Ellis Orrall (1955) and Randy Travis (1959) 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.