“Hillibilly” City Music Hall – Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]
1947 Country Was Going Country Wide
New York’s Carnegie Hall hosted its first country concert with Ernest Tubb and Roy Acuff as headliners, featuring Minnie Pearl, George D. Hay and Rosalie Allen. Tickets ranged from $1.20-$3.60.
This was the first of a two night stand and demand for tickets was so great that many fans had to be turned away. The show stands to this day as a signal of how much country music's popularity had increased across the United States, due in part to Tubbs & Acuff and radio programs like The Grand Ole Opry and The Midnight Jamboree. Just a few years before, it would have been unthinkable to have such "rural" music play in such an urban venue.
2010
Dierks Bentley raised $50,000 with his Miles & Music For Kids charity motorcycle ride and concert in Washington, starting the trek in Tacoma and ending in a downpour at the Puyallup Fair.
2006
Willie Nelson and several members of his band were charged with misdemeanor drug possession in Louisiana after police pulled Willie’s tour bus over for a routine inspection on Interstate 10 near Breaux Bridge. After smelling a suspicious odor inside they discovered 1.5 pounds of marijuana and 2/10 of a pound of psychedelic mushrooms.
2004
Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart" takes top honors in the CMT special '40 Greatest Done Me Wrong Songs.'
Also included on the list: Toby Keith's "How Do You Like Me Now?," (#4) "Whoever's In New England" by Reba McEntire (#18) and "Picture" by Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow (#27).
1992
Clint Black’s album The Hard Way was certified gold and platinum. Hits included "Burn One Down" (#4), "When My Ship Comes In" (#1) and "We Tell Ourselves" (#2).
1989
Willie Nelson’s Pretty Paper album was certified platinum. Nelson released the single "Pretty Paper" as in 1964. Sixteen years later, Willie Nelson re-recorded the song and made it the title track on his own Christmas album.
1981
More than 25 years after earning his first hit, George Jones finally scores his first gold album, with "I Am What I Am." The album featured the singles "He Stopped Loving Her Today" (#1) "I'm Not Ready Yet" (#2) and "If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will)" (#8).
The album would go platinum in 1983.