Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On September 19, 1987, Farm Aid III came to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, to raise money for America's family farmers. In 1963, the Jimmy Dean Show premiered on ABC. Trisha Yearwood and Chase Rice share this birthday.
Farm Aid III came to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, to raise money for America's family farmers. Willie Nelson led the cause, and the lineup included Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett and John Denver.
Don Harron was born in Toronto, Ontario. Hee Haw fans knew him as Charlie Farquharson, the backwoods newsman of station KORN. He died in 2015 at 90.
Jeff Bates was born in Bunker Hill, Mississippi. Signed to RCA, he reached the country top 10 with "The Love Song" and also scored with "Long, Slow Kisses."
Trisha Yearwood was born in Monticello, Georgia. Her very first single, "She's in Love with the Boy," went to No. 1, and her 1997 version of "How Do I Live" reached No. 2 on the country chart.
Chase Rice was born in Ormond Beach, Florida. Before his own hits, he helped write "Cruise" for Florida Georgia Line. His song "Eyes on You" became his first No. 1 on country radio in 2019.
Nate Smith was born in Paradise, California. Fans know him for "Whiskey on You" and "World on Fire," two songs that both climbed to No. 1 on country radio.
Tim McGraw put out All I Want, his third album, on Curb Records. It gave fans five singles, starting with "I Like It, I Love It" and later "She Never Lets It Go to Her Heart."
The Jimmy Dean Show premiered on ABC. The hour-long weekly variety show brought on country guests like Buck Owens and George Jones. It also gave Jim Henson's Muppet Rowlf the Dog a regular national spot.
The Oak Ridge Boys announced their American Made: Farewell Tour, marking 50 years of the group. The tour opened the very next day in Branson, Missouri.
Source: musicrow.comRed Foley died in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at 58, after playing two Grand Ole Opry shows that day. His 1951 recording of "Peace in the Valley" was one of the first gospel records to sell a million copies. He also hosted Ozark Jubilee on TV.
Gram Parsons died in Joshua Tree, California, at just 26. The Florida native helped blend country and rock with The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Slim Dusty, Australia's most beloved country singer, died at 76. Born David Gordon Kirkpatrick, he made more than 100 albums. His song "A Pub with No Beer" was the first Australian single to go gold.
Skeeter Davis died in Nashville at 72. Her signature song, "The End of the World," sold over a million copies. She helped open doors for women singing solo in country music, and both Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton named her as an influence.
Don Harron (1924), Jeff Bates (1963), Trisha Yearwood (1964), Chase Rice (1985) and Nate Smith (1985) 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.