'The King' Gets Stamped - Today In Country Music History

January 8th, 1993

Elvis Presley receives tribute with a 29-cent U.S. postage stamp, his '50s-era likeness selected in a poll of citizens. Some consumers purposely mail letters to fake addresses so they can get their mail back, stamped with "Return To Sender"

In 1992, the American public voted on a matter of vital national importance: young Elvis or old Elvis?

Allowing the public to select the artwork for the Elvis Presley stamp was an unprecedented move by the U.S. Postal Service. The choice was between two equally superb but thematically distinct portraits: a watercolor of the

youthful Elvis by Mark Stutzman, or a more mature Elvis painted by John Berkey.

Pre-addressed ballots were distributed in post offices around the country and in the April 13, 1992, edition of People magazine. America spoke, returning nearly 1.2 million ballots to the Postal Service, and the choice was clear: More than 75 percent of voters preferred young Elvis. The stamp was dedicated at Graceland just a few moments after midnight on January 8, 1993—Elvis’s 58th birthday.

Across the country, reaction to the voting process was boisterous and opinionated. Members of Congress debated the worthiness of Elvis as a stamp, newspaper editorialists made lofty pronouncements, and presidential candidate Bill Clinton publicly voiced his support for the younger Elvis. Meanwhile, comedians and cartoonists used the opportunity to poke fun at the Postal Service, the 1992 presidential candidates, and even Elvis himself.

A decade later, the Elvis stamp is still one of the most talked-about stamps ever issued by the Postal Service — and the most popular U.S. commemorative stamp of all time.

2007
Craig Morgan collects the first gold album of his career, for My Kind Of Livin'. The album featured 3 singles: “That’s What I Love About Sundays” (#1), “Redneck Yacht Club” (#2) and “I Got You” (#12).
Morgan originally wrote “I Got You” for Keith Urban, but decided to release it as his own single.
2004
Toby Keith became the first country artist in history to have two hits in the Top Ten simultaneously: “I Love This Bar” (#4) and “American Soldier” (#7).
1998
Shania Twain’s album Come On Over was certified triple platinum. The album featured 12 singles world-wide, including “Love Gets Me Everytime” (#1), “From This Moment On” (#4) and the title track (#6). The album has sold over 40 million copies worldwide.
1992
Vince Gill's Pocket Full Of Gold turns platinum. It features the singles "Pocket Full of Gold" (#7), "Liza Jane" (#7), "Look at Us" (#4) and "Take Your Memory with You" (#2).
1982
Johnny Cash became the first living person in Hendersonville, Tennessee, to have a stretch of road named after them. It’s called the Johnny Cash Parkway.
1980
Kenny Rogers and songs he recorded grab seven Grammy nominations, with "The Gambler" up for Record of the Year.
Rogers' producer, Larry Butler, is also nominated, for Producer of the Year.
#1 On This Date
SINGLES
2011 – Tim McGraw – “Felt Good On My Lips”
2005 – Blake Shelton – “Some Beach”
2000 – Faith Hill – “Breathe”
1994 – Faith Hill – “Wild One”
1983 – Reba McEntire – “Can’t Even Get The Blues”
1977 – Billy “Crash” Craddock – “Broken Down In Tiny Pieces”
1972 – Jerry Lee Lewis – “Would You Take Another Chance On Me/Me and Bobby McGee”
1966 – Red Sovine – “Giddyup Go”
1955 – Carl Smith – “Loose Talk”
1949 – Eddy Arnold – “A Heart Full Of Love (For A Handful Of Kisses)”
1944 – Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters – “Pistol Packin’ Mama”
ALBUMS
2011 – Taylor Swift – Speak Now
2005 – Shania Twain – Greatest Hits
2000 – Shania Twain – Come On Over
1994 – Common Thread: The Songs Of The Eagles
1983 – Alabama – Mountain Music
1977 – Conway Twitty – Greatest Hits Vol. II
1972 – Charley Pride – Heart Songs
1966 – Eddy Arnold – My World
Birthdays
Country Gospel singer Cristy Lane is 75

Guitarist Luther Perkins is born on this date in 1928 in Tennessee. The guitarist plays an essential role in defining Johnny Cash's "boom-chicka-boom" rockabilly sound, beginning in 1955. Perkins is lauded in the title of Cash's Top 10 1959 single "Luther Played The Boogie."
Perkins died in 1968, the victim of a fire in his home in Henderson, KY. The fire was determined to have started when Perkins fell asleep h0lding a lit cigarette.

Elvis Presley is born at home in East Tupelo, Mississippi in 1935. Before emerging as the "King of Rock & Roll," Presley makes inroads in country, where he returns during his latter years.
Presley passed away August 16, 1977. Final cause of his death was determined to be cardiac arrhythmia, mysteriously a condition that can be determined only in someone who is still alive.
He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998
Anniversaries
Eric Church and wife Katherine celebrate their 7^th anniversary.