Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On November 1, 2012, Blake Shelton was named Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist at the CMA Awards in Nashville. In 2011, Miranda Lambert put out Four the Record, her fourth studio album. Bill Anderson and Keith Stegall share this birthday.
Blake Shelton was named Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist at the CMA Awards in Nashville. Miranda Lambert won Female Vocalist, Little Big Town's "Pontoon" took Single of the Year and Hunter Hayes was New Artist of the Year.
Bill Anderson was born James William Anderson III in Columbia, South Carolina. The singer and songwriter penned "City Lights" for Ray Price and earned seven No. 1 country hits of his own, including "Still."
Kinky Friedman was born in Chicago. The witty Texas country singer, songwriter and novelist died in June 2024 at 79.
John Williamson, one of Australia's best-loved country singers, was born in Kerang, Victoria. He has put out dozens of albums and won 28 Golden Guitar awards back home.
Keith Stegall was born in Wichita Falls, Texas. Best known as a record producer, he also landed 13 singles on the country chart as an artist, led by 1985's "Pretty Lady."
Lyle Lovett was born in Houston, Texas. The singer, songwriter and actor has won four Grammy Awards over his career.
Big Kenny, born William Kenneth Alphin, grew up on a farm near Culpeper, Virginia. He teamed with John Rich in Big & Rich and has written songs for Gretchen Wilson and Tim McGraw.
Rascal Flatts released "Bless the Broken Road" as a single. Their version stayed at No. 1 on the country chart for five weeks, and the song went on to win the Grammy for Best Country Song.
Miranda Lambert put out Four the Record, her fourth studio album. It went to No. 1 on the country albums chart and climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
Miranda Lambert released Wildcard, her seventh studio album. It opened at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart, and her Wildcard Tour got rolling the next January in Tupelo, Mississippi.
The Marty Stuart Show premiered on RFD-TV. Each week Marty and his band, the Fabulous Superlatives, served up classic country music, with WSM's Eddie Stubbs as emcee.
Shania Twain lost her mother and stepfather in a car wreck in northern Ontario. The young singer moved home to raise her younger siblings and paid the bills by singing at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville.
Bill Anderson (1937), Kinky Friedman (1944), Keith Stegall (1955) and Lyle Lovett (1957) 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.