Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]
2002 Dixie Chick Bights Off A Little More Than She Can Chew
In an interview with Los Angeles Daily News writer Fred Shuster, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines tees off on Toby Keith's "Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue", saying the song is "ignorant" and that "it makes country music sound ignorant. You've got to have some tact. Anyone could write a song with lyrics like 'let's go kick some Iraqi ass."
Whether you love it or hate it, Toby Keith definitely struck a nerve with his 2002 chart-topping single, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)." When Natalie Maines expressed her opinion during the interview, it began a series of public exchanges between her and Keith.
It was an unprecedented comment in a music community known for displaying unity and friendship. Keith then responded to Maines' criticism during a Dec. 14, 2002 interview, in which he said, "I'm a songwriter. She's not. She can say my song is ignorant, then it's ignorant for her to say that because she's not a songwriter."
The pair battled as songwriters until August of 2003, when Keith called a "truce," after watching a band member lose a two-year-old daughter to cancer. “A few days after I found she didn’t have long to live,” he said, “I saw a picture on the cover of Country Weekly with a picture of me and Natalie and it said, ‘Fight to the Death’ or something. It seemed so insignificant. I said, ‘Enough is enough."
The final shot in the feud was actually fired by the Dixie Chicks when they released their 2006 album Taking The Long Way. The album featured the Maines co-authored "Not Ready To Make Nice", the band's overview and response to both the Keith feud and the controversy which arose when Maines offered her opinion of then president Bush during a concert in London.The song won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. In 2009, it was named to Billboard magazine's Top 100 Songs of the Decade.
2011
The Oak Ridge Boys are inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Their big night includes a performance that features "Bobbie Sue," "Elvira" and an a capella rendition of "Amazing Grace."
William Lee Golden, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, and Duane Allen were invited to join the prestigious lineup of Opry members by Little Jimmy Dickens, and welcomed by former President George W. Bush.2009
Kenny Chesney launches his own, independent music music channel, NoShoesRadio.com, featuring music across genres. The Channel also debuts on Sirius XM satellite radio.
Steve Wariner performed for U.S. troops stationed at the Rose Barracks Army Post in Vilsect, Germany.
2004
Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan launch their first "joint" concert tour, playing minor league ball parks. The tour kicks-off with a stop at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY.
2003
John Mellancamp and Kenny Chesney join forces to record an episode of 'CMT Crossroads' in Nashville. The two would rip through versions of "Young," "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A." and "Folsom Prison Blues." Radney Foster would act as the program's host.
1993
Wynonna's self-titled debut album was certified triple platinum by the RIAA. The album included the hits "No One Else On Earth," "I Saw The Light" and "She Is His Only Need."
1955
Hank Snow, Lefty Frizzell, Eddie Dean, Freddie Hart and The Collins Kids perform the first-ever country concert at the Hollywood Bowl. They performed with The Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra.
Blake Shelton was not in attendance.
1942
Songwriter Bob Morrison is born in Biloxi, MS. Morrison would go on to write Johnny Lee's "Lookin' For Love," Kenny Roger's "She Decorated My Life" and Conway Twitty's "Don't Call Him A Cowboy" among other hits.