Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On November 29, 1961, the Grand Ole Opry took its show to Carnegie Hall in New York for a benefit for the Musicians Aid Society. In 1994, Brooks & Dunn's first album, Brand New Man, was certified four times platinum. Merle Travis and Jody Miller share this birthday.
The Grand Ole Opry took its show to Carnegie Hall in New York for a benefit for the Musicians Aid Society. Patsy Cline, Marty Robbins, Jim Reeves, Faron Young and The Jordanaires were among the stars on the bill.
Merle Travis was born in Rosewood, Kentucky. He wrote "Sixteen Tons" about the hard life of coal miners, and his guitar style became known as Travis picking. He entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1977 and died in 1983.
Songwriter Mark James was born in Houston, Texas. He wrote "Suspicious Minds" for Elvis Presley and "Hooked on a Feeling" for B.J. Thomas. Willie Nelson's take on "Always on My Mind," which James co-wrote, won him two Grammys.
Jody Miller was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Her 1965 answer to "King of the Road," called "Queen of the House," went to No. 5 country and won her a Grammy. She died in 2022 at 80.
Merle Haggard held the top spot on the Billboard country chart with "Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)." It was the song's second week at No. 1.
Kenny Rogers' "Lady" was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, one of six weeks on top. Lionel Richie wrote and produced it, and it had led the country chart the week before.
Johnny Horton won the Grammy for Best Country & Western Performance for "The Battle of New Orleans." It was the first Grammy show ever shown on TV, held in both Los Angeles and New York.
Brooks & Dunn's first album, Brand New Man, was certified four times platinum. It was the first album by a country duo to reach that mark.
Source: k99.comSongwriter Billy Ray Reynolds died at 79 at his home in Olive, Mississippi. He played guitar in Waylon Jennings' band, the Waylors, and wrote "It'll Be Her" and John Conlee's "Working Man."
Source: musicrow.comMerle Travis (1917) and Jody Miller (1941) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1971, Merle Haggard held the top spot on the Billboard country chart with "Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)." In 1980, Kenny Rogers' "Lady" was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, one of six weeks on top.
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