Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On May 9, 1983, the 18th Academy of Country Music Awards were handed out, with Jerry Reed, John Schneider and Tammy Wynette as hosts. In 2020, Gwen Stefani made her Grand Ole Opry debut, singing "Nobody But You" with Blake Shelton from his Oklahoma farm. Hank Snow and Bobby Lewis share this birthday.
The 18th Academy of Country Music Awards were handed out, with Jerry Reed, John Schneider and Tammy Wynette as hosts. Ronnie Milsap won Top Male Vocalist, Alabama took Top Vocal Group, and Willie Nelson's Always on My Mind was Album of the Year.
Hank Snow was born in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia. He put more than 85 singles on the Billboard country charts, including "I'm Moving On" and "Hello Love," and he is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Bobby Lewis was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky. His biggest country hit, "How Long Has It Been," climbed to No. 6 in 1966.
Randy Howard was born in Macon, Georgia. The outlaw country singer died in June 2015 at age 65.
Shaboozey, born Collins Obinna Chibueze, was born in Woodbridge, Virginia. His 2024 country hit "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there 19 weeks.
Merle Haggard was sitting at No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart with "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde." The song held the top spot for two weeks.
Merle Haggard had the No. 1 country single with "Things Aren't Funny Anymore." The song spent one week at the top of the Billboard chart.
Gwen Stefani made her Grand Ole Opry debut, singing "Nobody But You" with Blake Shelton from his Oklahoma farm. Trace Adkins and Dustin Lynch played on the Opry House stage that night.
Source: wiov.comKenny Chesney married actress Renee Zellweger on the island of St. John. The two had met that January at a benefit for tsunami relief.
The members of Alabama filed a lawsuit against former drummer Mark Herndon in Fort Payne, Alabama. They said he had been overpaid $202,670 tied to their farewell tour.
Keith Whitley died at his home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. His last album, I Wonder Do You Think of Me, came out about three months later and gave fans two more No. 1 hits.
Stephen Bruton, guitarist and songwriter, died in Los Angeles at 60. He was a longtime member of Kris Kristofferson's band and helped write and play the music for the film Crazy Heart.
Johnny Gimble, one of the great Western swing fiddlers, died near his home in Dripping Springs, Texas, at 88. As a member of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, he entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
Little Richard, the rock and roll pioneer, died at his home in Tullahoma, Tennessee, at 87.
Johnny Rodriguez died in San Antonio, Texas, at 73. The Sabinal, Texas, native scored six No. 1 country hits, including "You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)" in 1973.
Hank Snow (1914), Bobby Lewis (1942) and Randy Howard (1950) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1968, Merle Haggard was sitting at No. 1 on the Billboard country singles chart with "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde." In 1974, Merle Haggard had the No. 1 country single with "Things Aren't Funny Anymore."
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