An Awards First – Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]

Kenny Chesney was ranked second best selling artist of the decade and third best grossing artist of the decade by Pollstar magazine.

Carrie Underwood's "Cowboy Casanova" goes gold

Singer James Otto undergoes shoulder surgery for a torn rotator cuff and bone spurs.

Reba McEntire earned her 19th platinum certification when her album 30 #1s hit the one million mark in sales. The album featured 30 #1 hits and two new singles, "You're Gonna Be (Always Loved by Me)" (#33) and "Love Needs a Holiday" (#60). It has since been certified 2x platinum by the RIAA.

Former Major League pitcher Tug McGraw, father of Tim McGraw, died in Nashville of brain cancer.

Mary Chapin Carpenter receives four Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year for "He Thinks He'll Keep Her".  John Michael Montgomery's "I Swear" is in the running for Song of the Year.

Mindy McCready’s former manager filed a lawsuit against her for 20 percent of her earnings, claiming the singer filed bankruptcy to get out of paying what she owed her for landing her a record deal.

Marty Robbins was admitted to a Nashville hospital after suffering his second heart attack. Robbins would recover, but would succumb on December 8, 1982 to his third heart attack in 13 years.

SINGLES

2013 – Justin Moore – “Til My Last Day”

2008 – Taylor Swift – “Our Song”

2002 – Alan Jackson – “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)?”

1991 – George Strait – “I’ve Come To Expect It From You”

1985 – George Strait – “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind”

1980 – Kenny Rogers – “Coward Of The County”

1974 – Merle Haggard – “If We Make It Through December”

1963 – Marty Robbins – “Ruby Ann”

1959 – Ray Price – “City Lights”

1957 – Marty Robbins – “Singing The Blues”

1952 – Pee Wee King – “Slow Poke”

1946 – Bob Wills – “Silver Dew On The Blue Grass Tonight”

ALBUMS

2013 – Taylor Swift - Red

2008 – The Eagles – Long Road Out Of Eden

2002 – Garth Brooks – Scarecrow

1991 – Clint Black – Put Yourself In My Shoes

1985 – Exile – Kentucky Hearts

1980 – Kenny Rogers – Kenny

1974 – Charlie Rich – Behind Closed Doors

Singer/songwriter Mark Nesler ("Just To See You Smile", "You Look Good In My Shirt") is 54.

Sun Records founder Sam Phillips was born on this date in 1923 in Florence, Alabama. He signs and produces such acts as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, entering the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Phillips died of respiratory failure at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee on July 30, 2003, only one day before the original Sun Studio was designated a National Historic Landmark and just weeks before the death of his former colleague, Johnny Cash, on Sept 12^th.

William Lee Golden (The Oak Ridge Boys) and wife Brenda celebrate their 25^th anniversary.