Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On October 8, 1990, George Strait was crowned Entertainer of the Year at the 24th CMA Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire and Randy Travis. In 1979, Willie Nelson was named Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards in Nashville. It’s also Susan Raye’s birthday.
George Strait was crowned Entertainer of the Year at the 24th CMA Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire and Randy Travis. Clint Black and Kathy Mattea won the top vocalist awards, and Garth Brooks' "The Dance" took Music Video of the Year.
Harry "Haywire Mac" McClintock was born on this day. He said he was born in 1882 in Knoxville, Tennessee, though old census records point to Ohio in 1884. His song "Big Rock Candy Mountain" found new fans in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Source: knoxvillehistoryproject.orgPete Drake, one of Nashville's most wanted pedal steel players, was born in Augusta, Georgia. His steel guitar rings out on Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man," Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden" and Charlie Rich's "Behind Closed Doors." He died in 1988 at 55.
Susan Raye was born in Eugene, Oregon. Buck Owens brought her to Bakersfield, and the two cut a string of hit duets. On her own she scored seven Top 10 country hits, including "L.A. International Airport."
Sonny James held the top spot on the country chart with his take on Ivory Joe Hunter's "Since I Met You Baby." The song stayed at No. 1 for three weeks that October.
Tim McGraw's "I Like It, I Love It" sat at No. 1 on the country chart. The lead single from All I Want was his third chart-topper and held the top spot for five weeks that fall.
Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" was closing out the longest run in Hot Country Songs history. It spent 34 straight weeks at No. 1, smashing the old mark of 24 weeks set by Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise."
Luke Combs' version of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" was No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. A month later, Chapman won Song of the Year at the CMA Awards, the first Black songwriter ever to win a CMA trophy.
Willie Nelson was named Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards in Nashville. Kenny Rogers took Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for The Gambler, Barbara Mandrell won Female Vocalist, and the Charlie Daniels Band won for "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."
Anne Murray won Album of the Year for A Little Good News at the 18th CMA Awards. Reba McEntire was named Female Vocalist, Lee Greenwood took Male Vocalist, and "Wind Beneath My Wings" won Song of the Year. Alabama was Entertainer of the Year.
Rascal Flatts became members of the Grand Ole Opry during the show's 86th birthday celebration. Opry legend Little Jimmy Dickens welcomed the trio in.
Source: rascalflatts.comSusan Raye (1944) was born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1995, Tim McGraw's "I Like It, I Love It" sat at No. 1 on the country chart. In 2023, Luke Combs' version of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" was No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
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.