Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On October 18, 1968, Glen Campbell took home Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year at the second CMA Awards at the Ryman Auditorium. In 1971, George Jones and Tammy Wynette put out We Go Together, their first studio album as a duo. Riley Green and Josh Gracin share this birthday.
Glen Campbell took home Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year at the second CMA Awards at the Ryman Auditorium. Tammy Wynette was named top female vocalist, and Johnny Cash's At Folsom Prison won Album of the Year.
Josh Gracin was born on this day and grew up in Westland, Michigan. The former U.S. Marine finished fourth on American Idol's second season, then scored a No. 1 country hit in 2004 with "Nothin' to Lose."
Riley Green was born in Jacksonville, Alabama. His song "There Was This Girl" went to No. 1 on country radio, and fans also love "I Wish Grandpas Never Died" and "Different 'Round Here" with Luke Combs.
Bobbie Gentry's first album, Ode to Billie Joe, sat at No. 1 on Billboard's album chart. It was the record that finally knocked The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band off the top after 15 weeks.
Dolly Parton had the No. 1 country album with A Holly Dolly Christmas, her 47th solo studio album. It was her eighth album to reach the top of that chart.
George Jones and Tammy Wynette put out We Go Together, their first studio album as a duo. It was also George's first album for Epic with producer Billy Sherrill, and it climbed to No. 3 on the country albums chart.
Alabama released "Forever's as Far as I'll Go," the third single from Pass It On Down. The love song went to No. 1 on the country chart, giving the band its 29th chart-topper.
Hank Williams wed Billie Jean Jones before a justice of the peace in Minden, Louisiana. The very next day, the couple said their vows again in front of big paying crowds at the New Orleans Civic Auditorium.
Josh Gracin (1980) and Riley Green (1988) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1967, Bobbie Gentry's first album, Ode to Billie Joe, sat at No. 1 on Billboard's album chart. In 2020, Dolly Parton had the No. 1 country album with A Holly Dolly Christmas, her 47th solo studio album.
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.