Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On October 1, 2005, Dierks Bentley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In 1985, Ronnie Milsap was No. 1 on the country singles chart with "Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)." It’s also Bonnie Owens’ birthday.
Dierks Bentley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Years before, while working at TNN, he was barred from the Opry House grounds for going where he should not. That ban was lifted when his first album came out in 2003.
Bonnie Owens was born in Blanchard, Oklahoma. She was married first to Buck Owens and later to Merle Haggard. Her duets with Haggard gave their name to the 1966 album "Just Between the Two of Us," which reached No. 4 on the country chart.
Hit songwriter and producer Ross Copperman was born in Roanoke, Virginia. He has written or produced hits for Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Eli Young Band, and he has earned two Grammy nominations.
Olivia Newton-John held the top spot on the country album chart with "If You Love Me, Let Me Know." The album led the chart for eight weeks in all. Its title song climbed to No. 2, her best showing on the country singles chart.
Ronnie Milsap was No. 1 on the country singles chart with "Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)." The song stayed on top for two weeks and later won him a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
Farm Aid marked 10 years with a show at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young led the bill, joined by BlackHawk, John Conlee, Steve Earle and others. The benefit helps keep America's family farmers on their land.
Keith Urban walked away unhurt after laying down his motorcycle near his home in Australia. He said he swerved to miss an oncoming car while a photographer on another bike was trailing him.
Source: cbsnews.comA gunman opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas during Jason Aldean's closing set, taking 58 lives and wounding hundreds. Days later, Aldean honored the victims on "Saturday Night Live" and sang Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."
Source: time.comSongwriter Kenny Beard died at 58 in Lebanon, Tennessee. His first hit was John Conlee's "Doghouse," and he went on to write songs for Trace Adkins, Tracy Lawrence and Aaron Tippin.
Bonnie Owens (1929) was born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1974, Olivia Newton-John held the top spot on the country album chart with "If You Love Me, Let Me Know." In 1985, Ronnie Milsap was No. 1 on the country singles chart with "Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)."
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.