2005   An Okie Gets His Due

Merle Haggard's classic "Okie From Muskogee" ranks #1 when CMT presents "20 Greatest City Songs."

Haggard later said he wrote the song after he became disheartened watching Vietnam War protests and incorporated that emotion and viewpoint into song. "When I was in prison, I knew what it was like to have freedom taken away. Freedom is everything. During Vietnam, there were all kinds of protests. Here were these [servicemen] going over there and dying for a cause — we don't even know what it was really all about. And here are these young kids, that were free, bitching about it. There's something wrong with that and with [disparaging] those poor guys." He states that he wrote the song to support the troops.

"Okie from Muskogee" was named the Country Music Association Single of the Year in 1970. Other songs on the top 20 included "Galveston" and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Glen Campbell and George Strait's "Amarillo By Morning."

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    2009

    Reba McEntire’s album Keep On Loving You sold 96,000 copies its first week of release to debut at the top of both the Country Albums chart and the Top 200 all formats chart. It was Reba’s second career debut at the top of the Top 200, following 2007′s Duets.

    The album, Reba's first solo album in six years, contained the singles "Strange," which is the highest-debuting single of McEntire's career, peaking at #11, "Consider Me Gone," which reached #1 and the title track which climbed to #7.

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    2003

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    1998

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    1997

    Kenny Rogers’ Greatest Hits album was certified multi-platinum for sales of 12 million copies. It has since received Diamond certification, signifying 10 million albums sold.

    The album contained hits released between 1977 and 1980 and also contained two new songs, "Love The World Away" and "Long Arm Of The Law."

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    1990

    Garth Brooks’ second album, No Fences, was released. Hits included The Thunder Rolls, Friends In Low Places and Unanswered Prayers. The album has gone on to be Brooks' best selling album, selling more than 17 million copies world wide.

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    Birthdays

    Jeff Cook (Alabama) is 65.

    Singer/songwriter JEFFREY STEELE (Boy Howdy) is 53.

    Guitarist Matthew Basford (Yankee Grey) is 52.

    Colt Ford is 45.

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