Into The Sunset - Today In Country Music History

January 19th, 2013

George Strait launches the Cowboy Rides Away Tour, his last official concert trek, at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Martina McBride opens the show. The tour was divided into two legs: 21 concerts in 2013 and 27 concerts in 2014, for a total of 48 concerts, all in the United States. All 48 concerts were sold out.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images for George Strait

Appearing in arenas with six stadium dates included, Strait performed many of his most popular songs, including "Here for a Good Time", "Ocean Front Property", "Run", "Troubadour", "I Saw God Today", "The Chair", and "I Can Still Make Cheyenne". His encores included "All My Ex's Live in Texas" and "Folsum Prison Blues",

Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for George Strait

and he closed each show with one of his earliest hit songs, "The Cowboy Rides Away".

The final concert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which featured special guests Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack, Sheryl Crow and Asleep at the Wheel, drew 104,793 fans—the largest attendance at a single-show concert in the United States. The concert also set a record for the largest gross at a single-show country concert, $18,194,374.

A live album recorded from the final concert in Arlington titled The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium was released on September 16, 2014, with a dvd of the concert being released on November 10th, 2014.

2009
Garth Brooks sings "We Shall Be Free" on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during an inaugural event for Barack Obama. Also appearing: James Taylor, Jennifer Nettles, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Sheryl Crow.
2006
Keith Urban's Be Here album goes triple-platinum. The album featured five released singles: "Days Go By" (#1), "Making Memories of Us" (#1), "Better Life" (#1), "You're My Better Half" (#2) and "Tonight I Wanna Cry" (#2). "Live to Love Another Day" charted at #48 without being officially released as a single.
The album has since been certified 4x platinum by the RIAA.
photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images News
photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images News
2001
Inaugural celebrations for president George W. Bush in Washington, D.C., include performances by Lorrie Morgan, Sammy Kershaw, Lee Ann Womack and Brooks & Dunn, who sing "Only In America".
photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images Entertainment
photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images Entertainment
1989
Lee Greenwood sings "God Bless The U.S.A." at the opening inaugural ceremonies for president George H.W. Bush.
#1 On This Date
SINGLES
2014 – Florida-Georgia Line – “Stay”
2003 – Mark Wills – “19 Something”
1997 – Kevin Sharp – “Nobody Knows”
1992 – Collin Raye – “Love, Me”
1986 – Kenny Rogers – “Morning Desire”
1975 – Billy “Crash” Craddock – “Ruby Baby”
1969 – Johnny Cash – “Daddy Sang Bass”
1964 – Buck Owens – “Love’s Gonna Live Here”
1960 – Marty Robbins – “El Paso”
1947 – Merle Travis – “Divorce Me C.O.D.”

ALBUMS
2014 – Luke Bryan – Crash My Party
2003 – Dixie Chicks – Home
1997 – LeAnn Rimes – Blue
1992 – Garth Brooks – Ropin’ The Wind
1986 – Kenny Rogers – The Heart Of The Matter
1975 – Billy Swan – I Can Help
1969 – Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman
1964 – Ray Price – Night Life
Birthdays
Singer Bobby Goldsboro is 74
Singer Mark Collie is 59

Filed Under: Today In Country Music History

Categories: Country Music News, History

Into The Sunset – Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]