Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On November 8, 2017, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood hosted the 51st CMA Awards for the 10th time. In 2023, Lainey Wilson was the big winner at the 57th CMA Awards in Nashville, taking Entertainer, Female Vocalist and Album for Bell Bottom Country. Harold Shedd and Donnie Fritts share this birthday.
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood hosted the 51st CMA Awards for the 10th time. Garth Brooks won Entertainer of the Year. Chris Stapleton took Male Vocalist and Album for From A Room: Volume 1, and Miranda Lambert won Female Vocalist. Willie Nelson and Glen Campbell won Musical Event for "Funny How Time Slips Away."
Patti Page was born in Oklahoma. Her 1950 recording of "Tennessee Waltz" became a giant hit and is now one of Tennessee's official state songs. She was the top-selling female singer of the 1950s and died in 2013 at 85.
Harold Shedd was born in Bremen, Georgia. The record producer and label executive is best known for his work with Alabama, and he also worked with Reba McEntire, Shania Twain and Toby Keith.
Donnie Fritts was born in Florence, Alabama. The songwriter and session player spent decades on keyboards in Kris Kristofferson's band and joined the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2008. He died in 2019 at 76.
Bucky Covington was born in Rockingham, North Carolina. He finished eighth on season five of American Idol. His self-titled 2007 debut album opened at No. 1 on Billboard's country albums chart, led by "A Different World."
Lauren Alaina was born in Rossville, Georgia. She finished second on season 10 of American Idol. Her 2011 debut album, Wildflower, reached No. 2 on the country albums chart and included "Georgia Peaches" and "Eighteen Inches."
Lainey Wilson was the big winner at the 57th CMA Awards in Nashville, taking Entertainer, Female Vocalist and Album for Bell Bottom Country. "Fast Car" won Single for Luke Combs and Song for its writer, Tracy Chapman, the first Black songwriter to win that award. Jelly Roll was named New Artist.
Patsy Cline cut "Walkin' After Midnight" at a Nashville session, one of four songs that day. She did not care for it at first and agreed to record it only if she could also cut "A Poor Man's Roses." It became her breakthrough hit.
The Dixie Chicks sent "Cowboy Take Me Away" to country radio as a single from their album Fly. Martie Maguire wrote it with Marcus Hummon, and it climbed to No. 1 in February 2000.
Charlie Dick, husband of Patsy Cline, died at his Nashville home at 81. The two married in 1957, a year after meeting at a dance in Winchester, Virginia. He spent the rest of his life helping keep her music alive for new fans.
Patti Page (1927), Harold Shedd (1931), Donnie Fritts (1942), Bucky Covington (1977) and Lauren Alaina (1994) 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.