Your daily look at this day in country history, from classic Opry nights to the newest No. 1 hits.
On September 28, 1991, Reba McEntire hosted the 25th CMA Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House. In 2006, the Grascals were named Entertainer of the Year at the 17th International Bluegrass Music Awards. Tommy Collins and Mandy Barnett share this birthday.
Reba McEntire hosted the 25th CMA Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House. Garth Brooks won Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year for No Fences. Tanya Tucker and Vince Gill took the top vocalist awards.
Tommy Collins was born in Bethany, Oklahoma. He helped shape the Bakersfield sound and scored 1950s hits like "It Tickles." He also wrote No. 1 songs for Merle Haggard, including "Carolyn."
Songwriter and producer Glenn Sutton was born in Hodge, Louisiana. He co-wrote Tammy Wynette hits like "I Don't Wanna Play House" and produced Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden."
Songwriter Billy Montana was born in Voorheesville, New York. He wrote Garth Brooks' "More Than a Memory," the first song to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's country chart, and Sara Evans' "Suds in the Bucket."
Country singer Matt King was born in Asheville, North Carolina. His 1998 single "A Woman's Tears" made the country chart.
Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town was born in Gary, Indiana. She is one of the founding members of the group known for its rich four-part harmony.
Songwriter Aimee Mayo was born in Gadsden, Alabama. She co-wrote Lonestar's "Amazed" and was named BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2000.
Mandy Barnett was born on this day and grew up in Crossville, Tennessee. She played Patsy Cline in Always... Patsy Cline at the Ryman Auditorium, a role she did close to 500 times.
The Grascals were named Entertainer of the Year at the 17th International Bluegrass Music Awards. The show took place at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
Source: umgf.comDottie West cut "Before the Ring on Your Finger Turns Green" in Nashville with Chet Atkins producing. Felice and Boudleaux Bryant wrote the song, and it reached No. 22 on the country chart.
Garth Brooks released Garth Brooks in... the Life of Chris Gaines, singing as a made-up rock star. It was meant to lead into a movie called The Lamb that never got made. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Rascal Flatts released Feels Like Today, their third studio album. It went to No. 1 on the country albums chart and gave fans "Bless the Broken Road."
Dierks Bentley led his yearly Miles & Music for Kids motorcycle ride and concert in Nashville, with Chris Young, Kip Moore, Randy Houser and Jon Pardi. The day raised about $335,000 for Vanderbilt's children's hospital.
Source: tasteofcountry.comAt his Chase Center show in San Francisco, Eric Church spotted a sign from 10-year-old Makenna Wallace asking him to sponsor her school jog-a-thon. He gave $10,000 to her school.
Source: tasteofcountry.comAlan Jackson shared on the Today show that he has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a nerve condition. He said it had been affecting him for years and can make it hard to keep his balance on stage.
Kris Kristofferson died at 88 at his home in Hawaii. He wrote classics like "Me and Bobby McGee" and "For the Good Times," rode with The Highwaymen, and won a Golden Globe for A Star Is Born.
Tommy Collins (1930) and Mandy Barnett (1975) 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.