Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On October 25, 2017, Kenny Rogers said goodbye to Nashville with the All In for the Gambler concert at Bridgestone Arena. In 2003, Bluegrass great Del McCoury became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Minnie Pearl and Chely Wright share this birthday.
Kenny Rogers said goodbye to Nashville with the All In for the Gambler concert at Bridgestone Arena. Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Reba McEntire, The Judds, The Oak Ridge Boys and Chris Stapleton were among the friends who came to sing with him.
Minnie Pearl was born in Centerville, Tennessee. Her "How-DEE!" and the hat with the price tag still hanging on it were Grand Ole Opry fixtures for over half a century. She was on Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991 and died in 1996 at 83.
Chely Wright was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She cracked the Top 40 in 1997 with "Shut Up and Drive." Two years later, "Single White Female" became her first No. 1 song.
Bluegrass great Del McCoury became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Back in 1963, he sang and played guitar in Bill Monroe's band, the Blue Grass Boys.
Source: bluegrasstoday.comCraig Morgan was welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry, with John Conlee doing the honors. The Army veteran, known for "That's What I Love About Sunday," won a USO Merit Award in 2006 for his work with the troops.
Alabama's 1984 album Roll On was reissued. All four of its singles had gone to No. 1, including "Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)" and "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)."
Lonestar sent "Smile" to country radio as the third single from Lonely Grill. Written by Keith Follese and Chris Lindsey, it climbed to No. 1 on the country chart.
Johnny Cash nearly fell while reaching for a dropped guitar pick during a concert in Flint, Michigan. He then told the crowd he had Parkinson's disease. Doctors later gave him a different diagnosis.
Source: wgrd.comRoger Miller died of cancer at 56 in Los Angeles. The Texas-born singer and songwriter gave us "King of the Road" and "Dang Me," both No. 1 country hits, plus the playful "England Swings."
Joe Sun died in Palm Bay, Florida, at 76. His first single, "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You," reached No. 14 in 1978, and he put 14 songs on the country chart in all.
Source: musicrow.comMinnie Pearl (1912) and Chely Wright (1970) 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.