Dwight Yoakam

December 31st, 1952 Hank Williams is pronounced dead at Oak Hill General Hospital in Oak Hill, West Virginia, after passing away in the back seat of a Cadillac, en route to a show in Canton, Ohio.

October 23, 1997 Barbara Mandrell gave her final performance at the Grand Ole Opry house before retiring from country music.

October 22, 1990 Tim McGraw signs his first contract with Curb Records.

October 21, 1967 The Music City News presents its first annual awards at Ernest Tubb's Record Shop. Merle Haggard wins Favorite Male Artist, and Loretta Lynn wins Favorite Female Artist.

October 15, 1969 Johnny Cash wins a record-setting five times during the third annual Country Music Association awards at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

Dwight Yoakam had quite the scare recently. While on a flight with eight other people, the airplane started to smoke and had to make an emergency landing!

Today's KLAW Classic first hit the country music world in 1973 performed by Buck Owens.

There are few joys in country music quite like listening to Dwight Yoakam sing. The legend's voice is strong enough to build a town around, yet he shows vulnerability in the smallest -- but most important -- ways. It's the little upticks at the end of his phrases, or the uncomfortable grit in dire ballads that invite fans to happily drown in his sorrow. '3 Pears' is an album long overdue. Yoakam p

Dwight Yoakam showed everyone he still has what it takes to be one of country music’s most notable stars with his performance this week on ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.’ On Wednesday (Aug. 15), Yoakam gave his fans and peers a first taste of what they can expect from his forthcoming studio album, ’3 Pears,’ with a flawless performance of his song ‘Nothing But Love.’

For the past few years, I’ve noticed more and more country stars have transitioned into movie roles one way or another. One good example is Tim McGraw who played a country music manager in “Country Strong.” Trace Adkins is another perfect example of “country stars gone Hollywood.”

Dwight Yoakam was slated to play the part of the villain in the upcoming film ‘The Lone Ranger,’ but he has just walked away from the role due to conflicts in his schedule. The film — which has a celebrity cast of Johnny Depp as the American Indian Tonto, Armie Hammer as the Lone Ranger and Tom Wilkinson as the evil railroad tycoon Latham Cole — will still go on without him.

Dwight Yoakam has a new album coming out next year -- and it'll mark a return to his longtime home, Warner Music, after a decade spent recording for other labels. "Dwight Yoakam is country music. His voice is immediately recognizable and his artistry is iconic," said label president John Esposito while announcing the signing. "When I heard his current music, I was blown away. I thin