Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On November 20, 2013, Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas, from the Duck Dynasty family, was the No. 1 country album. In 2013, Loretta Lynn received the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House. Josh Turner and Dierks Bentley share this birthday.
Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas, from the Duck Dynasty family, was the No. 1 country album. The holiday record mixed old favorites with new songs and brought in Luke Bryan, George Strait, Josh Turner and Alison Krauss.
Fiddler Eck Robertson was born in Delaney, Arkansas. In 1922 he and Henry Gilliland cut fiddle duets for Victor, likely the first commercial country music records ever made. He died in 1975.
Songwriter Curly Putman was born in Princeton, Alabama. He wrote "Green, Green Grass of Home," later sung by Porter Wagoner, Tom Jones and many more. With Bobby Braddock he also wrote "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today." He died in 2016 at 85.
Songwriter Roger Murrah was born in Athens, Alabama. His songs became hits for Alabama, Alan Jackson and Waylon Jennings, including "Don't Rock the Jukebox" and "High Cotton." He entered the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.
Dierks Bentley was born in Phoenix, Arizona. His first single, "What Was I Thinkin'," went to No. 1, and many more followed, like "Come a Little Closer," "Every Mile a Memory" and "Home."
Josh Turner was born in Hannah, South Carolina. The deep-voiced singer had a No. 1 with "Your Man," the title song of his 2006 album. His 2010 album Haywire gave him two more, "Why Don't We Just Dance" and "All Over Me."
Jimmie Allen's "Best Shot" climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. That made him the first Black artist to take a debut single all the way to the top of that chart.
Loretta Lynn received the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House. The Coal Miner's Daughter was one of 16 people honored at the ceremony.
Source: upi.comLoretta Lynn released "Rated 'X'," a song about how folks judged divorced women back then. Some found its plain talk bold for the time, but it climbed to No. 1, her sixth solo chart-topper.
Willie Nelson guested on The Glen Campbell Music Show. Willie sang "Always on My Mind," and he and Glen teamed up on "On the Road Again" and "Crazy." Roger Miller joined them for "Uncloudy Day."
Ty Herndon shared publicly that he is gay in an interview with People magazine. He said talks with Chely Wright, who came out in 2010, gave him the courage.
Dierks Bentley (1975) and Josh Turner (1977) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 2013, Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas, from the Duck Dynasty family, was the No. 1 country album. In 2018, Jimmie Allen's "Best Shot" climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
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.