Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On October 11, 1976, Johnny Cash and Roy Clark hosted the CMA Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House. In 1982, Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind" swept Album, Single and Song of the Year at the 16th CMA Awards, hosted by Mac Davis and Barbara Mandrell. Dottie West and Todd Snider share this birthday.
Johnny Cash and Roy Clark hosted the CMA Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House. Wanted! The Outlaws won Album of the Year, Waylon and Willie took Vocal Duo, and Ronnie Milsap and Dolly Parton were the top vocalists. Mel Tillis was Entertainer of the Year.
Dottie West was born near McMinnville, Tennessee. Her 1964 song "Here Comes My Baby" made her the first female country artist to win a Grammy. She died in 1991 after a car wreck on her way to the Grand Ole Opry.
Gene Watson was born in Palestine, Texas. Fans know him for "Love in the Hot Afternoon" and "Farewell Party," and his "Fourteen Carat Mind" went all the way to No. 1.
Paulette Carlson was born in Minnesota. She started Highway 101 and sang lead as the band scored four No. 1 country hits and seven Top 10s.
Source: opry.comTodd Snider was born in Portland, Oregon. The storytelling songwriter mixed folk, blues and roots rock with a country heart. He died in Nashville in November 2025 at 59.
Hit songwriter Josh Kear was born in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He helped write Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" and Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now," which won him two Grammys, including Song of the Year.
Source: bornglorious.comBillboard revealed that Hot Country Songs would now count downloads and streams along with radio play. Under the new rules, Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" jumped to No. 1 and stayed there nine weeks, a record run for a female artist.
Source: musicrow.comWillie Nelson's "Always on My Mind" swept Album, Single and Song of the Year at the 16th CMA Awards, hosted by Mac Davis and Barbara Mandrell. Ricky Skaggs and Janie Fricke were named top vocalists, and Alabama won Entertainer of the Year.
Sun Records put out Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar, the Man in Black's first album. It gathered his early hits, including "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Cry! Cry! Cry!"
Blake Shelton announced he would leave NBC's The Voice after Season 23 in 2023. He had been a coach since the show began in 2011.
Source: kait8.comPolice in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, arrested a man after a gunshot shattered a window on Pat Green's tour bus while it was parked on the street. Nobody was reported hurt.
Source: cmt.comWestern swing singer Tex Williams died in Newhall, California, at 68. He is best remembered for the 1947 talking hit "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)," written with Merle Travis, which sat at No. 1 on the country chart for 16 weeks.
Bluegrass musician Benny Williams died at 76. Mainly a fiddler, he also sang and played guitar, banjo and mandolin. He worked with Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys and played guitar in Porter Wagoner's band, the Wagonmasters.
Dottie West (1932), Gene Watson (1943), Paulette Carlson (1952) and Todd Snider (1966) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 2012, Billboard revealed that Hot Country Songs would now count downloads and streams along with radio play.
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.