Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]
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."
- 1
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.
- 2
2003
Keith Urban "Golden Road" album is awarded platinum status. The album contains the singles "Somebody Like You", "Raining on Sunday", "Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me" and "You'll Think of Me"
- 3
1998
Confederate Railroad’s self-titled debut was certified double platinum. The album peaked at #7 and contained the singles "She Took It Like a Man", "Jesus and Mama", "Queen of Memphis", "When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back", "Trashy Women" and "She Never Cried."
- 4
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."
- 5
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.
- 6
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.