Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On September 23, 1998, Vince Gill hosted the 32nd CMA Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House. In 2007, Linda Ronstadt was inducted into the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Phoenix. Ray Charles and Willie Watson share this birthday.
Vince Gill hosted the 32nd CMA Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House. Steve Wariner's "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" won both Single and Song of the Year. Trisha Yearwood was named Female Vocalist, and Faith Hill's "This Kiss" took Music Video of the Year.
Ray Charles was born in Albany, Georgia. His 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music brought country songs to a whole new audience. His version of Don Gibson's "I Can't Stop Loving You" spent five weeks at No. 1 on the pop chart.
Songwriter Pat Alger was born in LaGrange, Georgia. He wrote Garth Brooks No. 1s like "Unanswered Prayers" and "The Thunder Rolls," plus Hal Ketchum's "Small Town Saturday Night." In 1991 the Nashville Songwriters Association International named him Songwriter of the Year.
Actress and singer Mary Kay Place was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She won an Emmy playing would-be country star Loretta Haggers on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. In character, she sang "Baby Boy," which climbed to No. 3 on the country chart.
Willie Watson was born in Watkins Glen, New York. He helped start Old Crow Medicine Show and later played The Kid in the Coen brothers' film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, singing "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings."
Linda Ronstadt was inducted into the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Phoenix. Country great Buck Owens and Stevie Nicks were honored the same night.
Source: phoenixnewtimes.comBob Wills and His Texas Playboys began their first recording sessions in Dallas. Years later, Wills' song "Ida Red" helped inspire Chuck Berry's first rock and roll hit, "Maybellene."
Hank Williams went into Castle Studio in Nashville for what turned out to be his final recording session. That day he cut "Kaw-Liga," "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Take These Chains from My Heart."
Dolly Parton recorded "Dumb Blonde" in Nashville. Monument Records put it out that November, and it became her first song on the Billboard country singles chart, peaking at No. 24. She cut it again in 2018 with Miranda Lambert for the Dumplin' soundtrack.
Faith Hill released "Wild One," which became her first No. 1 on the Billboard country chart and stayed there four weeks in 1994. Pat Bunch, Jaime Kyle and Will Rambeaux wrote the song.
Johnny Cash's A Concert Behind Prison Walls finally came out. It was taped in 1974 at the Tennessee State Prison in Nashville with the Tennessee Three, plus guests Linda Ronstadt, Roy Clark and Foster Brooks.
Kenny Chesney released The Big Revival, his 16th studio album. It opened at No. 1 on Top Country Albums, and all four singles, including "American Kids" and "Wild Child," reached No. 1 on Country Airplay.
Singing cowboy Jimmy Wakely died at 68 in Mission Hills, California. He made records, B-Western movies and radio shows, and even had his own comic book. His 1949 duet with Margaret Whiting, "Slippin' Around," hit No. 1 on both the country and pop charts.
W.S. "Fluke" Holland died at 85 at his home in Jackson, Tennessee. He drummed on Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" at Sun Records, then spent years behind Johnny Cash in the Tennessee Three.
Ray Charles (1930) and Willie Watson (1979) 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.