The Outlaws Released – Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]

Sugarland appears on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." Kristen Hall is absent, a sign of her departure, which the group announces within days.

Martina McBride’s album Martina was certified platinum. The album featured four singles:  "This One's for the Girls" (#3), "In My Daughter's Eyes" (#4), "How Far" (#12) and "God's Will" (#16).

"This One's for the Girls", which featured backing vocals from Faith Hill, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, and McBride's two daughters, was McBride's first and only Number One hit on the Adult Contemporary charts. One year later the album would be certified double platinum.

Johnny Paycheck was released from prison after serving two years of a seven year sentence resulting from a 1985 barroom shooting in Ohio.

SINGLES

2013 – Zac Brown Band – “Goodbye In Your Eyes”

2008 – Taylor Swift – “Our Song”

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

1991 – Garth Brooks – “Unanswered Prayers”

1985 – Eddie Rabbit – “The Best Year of My Life”

1980 – Kenny Rogers – “Coward Of The County”

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

1963 – Carl Butler and Pearl – “Don’t Let Me Cross Over”

1959 – Ray Price – “City Lights”

1957 – Marty Robbins – “Singing The Blues”

1952 – Pee Wee King – “Slow Poke”

1946 – Bob Wills – “White Cross on Okinawa”

ALBUMS

2013 – Taylor Swift - Red

2008 – Taylor Swift – Taylor Swift

2002 – O Brother Where Art Thou? Soundtrack

1991 – Clint Black – Put Yourself In My Shoes

1985 – Exile – Kentucky Hearts

1980 – Kenny Rogers – Kenny

1974 – Charlie Rich – Behind Closed Doors

Singer William Lee Golden (The Oak Ridge Boys) is 76

Singer Ricky Van Shelton is 63

Singer Keith Anderson is 46

Singer Maurice "Tex" Ritter was born in 1905 near Murvaul, Texas. A successful silver-screen cowboy, he builds a music career on top of his acting, with the theme to "High Noon" and several recitations. He joins the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1964. In 1974, Ritter passed away after a heart attack in Nashville, ten days before his 69th birthday.

Singer Ray Price is born in 1926 in Peach, Texas. Nicknamed the "Cherokee Cowboy," he is instrumental in the growth of the country shuffle and the use of recorded strings. His legacy includes "Crazy Arms", "For The Good Times" and "I've Got A New Heartache" and a plaque in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Price died at his home in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, on December 16, 2013 of pancreatic cancer.