Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On September 17, 1977, Reba McEntire made her first Grand Ole Opry appearance. In 2013, Old Crow Medicine Show became members of the Grand Ole Opry in a ceremony at the Opry House in Nashville. Hank Williams and Steve Sanders share this birthday.
Reba McEntire made her first Grand Ole Opry appearance. A gate guard nearly kept her out, and her set was cut to one song, "Invitation to the Blues." Her family drove 1,400 miles round trip from Oklahoma to see it.
Hank Williams was born Hiram Williams in Mount Olive, Alabama. He is counted among the most important country artists who ever lived, and his songs still fill honky-tonks today. He died in 1953 at just 29.
Songwriter Dewayne Blackwell was born. He wrote "Friends in Low Places" for Garth Brooks, David Frizzell's "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home" and the Fleetwoods' "Mr. Blue." He died in 2021.
Steve Sanders was born in Richland, Georgia. A gospel singer from age 5, he joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1982 and sang baritone with the group from 1987 to 1995 after William Lee Golden left.
Country singer and Marine veteran Stephen Cochran was born in Pikeville, Kentucky. In 2009 the VA made him a face of its research work, and his song "Hope" helped reach veterans in need.
Lynn Anderson had the No. 1 country album with You're My Man, her fourth studio album. It ruled the chart for seven weeks that late summer and fall.
Willie Nelson had the No. 1 country album with Always on My Mind. It spent 22 weeks at No. 1, more than any other album of his career.
Alan Jackson's album A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love) closed out a five-week run at No. 1 on Billboard's country albums chart. It was his first album to top that chart, and it gave fans the No. 1 hit "Chattahoochee."
Florida Georgia Line's third studio album, Dig Your Roots, was No. 1 on Billboard's country albums chart. It held the top spot for two weeks.
Luke Combs held the No. 1 spot on Billboard's country albums chart with What You See Is What You Get, his second album. It kept coming back to the top that fall.
Rascal Flatts got their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was the 2,480th star handed out in the recording category, and it sits on Hollywood Boulevard.
Old Crow Medicine Show became members of the Grand Ole Opry in a ceremony at the Opry House in Nashville. Marty Stuart had invited the string band to join a month earlier. Their 2014 album Remedy later won a Grammy for Best Folk Album.
Jeannie Seely marked 55 years as a Grand Ole Opry member. "Miss Country Soul" was honored that night for more Opry shows than anyone in history, over 5,000 in all.
Source: musicrow.comGeorge Jones released "Why Baby Why" on Starday Records. After several singles that went nowhere, this one gave him his first chart hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard country chart.
Farm Aid 2000 filled the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Virginia. The yearly benefit show raises money to help America's family farmers stay on their land.
Marvin Rainwater died in Minneapolis at 88. The Kansas-born singer and songwriter mixed country with rockabilly, and his hit "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" climbed to No. 3 on the country chart.
George Hamilton IV died in Nashville at 77, a few days after a heart attack. Known as the International Ambassador of Country Music, he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and had a four-week No. 1 with "Abilene" in 1963.
Hank Williams (1923) and Steve Sanders (1952) were all born on this date.
It depends on the year. In 1982, Willie Nelson had the No. 1 country album with Always on My Mind. In 1993, Alan Jackson's album A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love) closed out a five-week run at No. 1 on Billboard's country albums 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.