Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On October 17, 1998, the Wilkinsons, a family trio of a father, son and daughter, made their official Grand Ole Opry debut. In 2014, Vince Gill inducted Little Big Town into the Grand Ole Opry. Alan Jackson and Earl Thomas Conley share this birthday.
The Wilkinsons, a family trio of a father, son and daughter, made their official Grand Ole Opry debut. A year before, Vince Gill had invited them to sing with him on that stage, back when they still had no record deal.
Earl Thomas Conley was born in Portsmouth, Ohio. He scored 18 No. 1 country hits in the 1980s, and his album Don't Make It Easy for Me was the first in any genre to produce four No. 1 singles.
Alan Jackson was born in Newnan, Georgia. He has 35 No. 1 country hits, joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1991 and entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
Jameson Rodgers was born in Batesville, Mississippi. His first single, "Some Girls," went to No. 1 on country radio, and he co-wrote Chris Lane's No. 1 hit "I Don't Know About You."
Down from the Mountain, the live concert album by the O Brother, Where Art Thou? artists, won Album of the Year at the IBMA Awards in Louisville. Dan Tyminski, the voice of "Man of Constant Sorrow," was named Male Vocalist.
Source: www2.ljworld.comVince Gill inducted Little Big Town into the Grand Ole Opry. The harmony group is known for No. 1 hits like "Pontoon," "Girl Crush" and "Better Man."
Chris Young became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, with his friend Brad Paisley handing him the honor on stage. Young first caught the country world's ear when he won Nashville Star in 2006.
Source: musicrow.comJohnny Cash released American III: Solitary Man. It reached No. 11 on the country albums chart, and the title song won him a Grammy. He also covered Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" and U2's "One."
Naomi Judd announced she was retiring from The Judds because of hepatitis C. The mother and daughter set a farewell tour for 1991, and Wynonna went on to a solo career.
Source: aol.comTennessee Ernie Ford died at 72 in Reston, Virginia. He passed 36 years to the day after his famous "Sixteen Tons" was released, a song that hit No. 1 on both the country and pop charts.
Tommy Durden died at 79 in Houghton Lake, Michigan. He co-wrote Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" and played steel guitar for Tex Ritter and Johnny Cash.
Bashful Brother Oswald, born Beecher Ray Kirby, died at 90 at his home in Madison, Tennessee. His Dobro was a big part of Roy Acuff's sound for more than 50 years on the Grand Ole Opry.
Bob Kingsley, the warm, familiar voice of country radio, died at 80 at his home in Weatherford, Texas. He hosted American Country Countdown for years and later Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40.
Earl Thomas Conley (1941), Alan Jackson (1958) and Jameson Rodgers (1987) 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.