A Historic Day At The CMAs – Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]

Alabama’s Randy Owen was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The Highwaymen album by Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson was certified platinum.

Reba McEntire takes the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year award, joining Dan Seals as double-winners at the 20th annual event at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. Her other win is her third straight for Female Vocalist of the Year, while Seals takes Single of the Year for “Bop” and Vocal Duo of the Year with Marie Osmond.

George Strait was named Male Vocalist of the Year and Randy Travis wins the Horizon Award. The Judds take home Vocal Group of the Year, Album of the Year goes to Ronnie Milsap for Lost In The Fifties Tonight and “On The Other Hand” earns Song of the Year honors for writers Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz. The Video of the Year went to George Jones’ “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes.”

Johnny Cash, Connie B. Gay and the Sons Of The Pioneers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Grand Ole Opry legend Minnie Pearl was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

John Denver won two Country Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year and Song of the Year for “Back Home Again.” Waylon Jennings was named Male Vocalist and Dolly Parton Female Vocalist of the Year, while Roy Clark and Buck Trent were named Instrumental Group and Johnny Gimble Instrumentalist of the Year. The Statler Brothers were named Vocal Group and Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty the Vocal Duo of the Year. Ronnie Milsap won the Album of the Year for A Legend In My Time, while Freddie Fender’s “Before The Next Teardrop Falls” was named Single of the Year.

The Entertainer of the Year presentation will be ever remembered because presenter Charlie Rich set fire to the envelope on stage as he names Denver the winner of the award.

Dolly Parton replaced Norma Jean on the syndicated Porter Wagoner Show.

Four of the top ten songs on the country chart belonged to Lefty Frizzell ("I Want to Be with You Always" #8, "Always Late (With Your Kisses)" #1, "Mom and Dad's Waltz" #6 and "Travellin' Blues" #10)

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2012 – Jason Aldean – “Take A Little Ride”

2007 – Brad Paisley – “Online”

2001 – Alan Jackson – "Where I Come From"

1990 – Garth Brooks – “Friends In Low Places”

1984 – Ricky Skaggs – "Uncle Pen"

1979 – T.G. Sheppard – “Last Cheater’s Waltz”

1973 – Johnny Rodriquez – “Ridin’ My Thumb To Mexico”

1962 – Marty Robbins – “Devil Woman”

1958 – The Everly Brothers – “Bird Dog”

1951 – Lefty Frizzell – “Always Late With Your Kisses”

1945 – Tex Ritter – ”You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often”

2012 – Little Big Town – Tornado

2007 – Rascal Flatts – Still Feels Good

2001 – Martina McBride – Greatest Hits

1990 – Garth Brooks – No Fences

1984 – Willie Nelson – City Of New Orleans

1979 – Waylon Jennings – Greatest Hits

1973 – Conway Twitty – You’ve Never Been This Far Before

Singer Lacy J. Dalton is 68

Singer Marie Osmond is 55

Singer/Songwriter Rhett Akins is 45