Off To A Good Start - Today in Country Music History

October 20, 1967

The first Country Music Association Awards were held. The show was hosted by Sonny James and Bobbie Gentry.

Eddy Arnold was named Entertainer of the Year, and Jack Greene won 3 awards, Male Vocalist of the Year as well as Album of the Year for There Goes My Everything and Single of the Year for the title track. "There Goes My Everything" also garnered Song of the Year honors for writer Dallas Fraizer. Loretta Lynn was named Female Vocalist of the Year, The Buckaroos Instrumental Group and Chet Atkins the Instrumentalist of the Year. The Stoneman Family was named Vocal Group and Don Bowman Comedian of the Year.

photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images Entertainment
photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images Entertainment
2011
The Eli Young Band earns its first platinum single for "Crazy Girl"
1962
LeRoy Van Dyke joined the Grand Ole Opry.
#1 On This Date
Singles
2012 – Jason Aldean – “Take A Little Ride”
2007 – Toby Keith – “Love Me If You Can”
2001 – Alan Jackson – “Where I Come From”
1990 – Garth Brooks – “Friends In Low Places”
1984 – Conway Twitty – “I Don’t Know A Thing About Love”
1979 – Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band – "All The Gold In California"
1973 – Johnny Rodriguez – “Ridin’ My Thumb To Mexico”
1962 – Marty Robins – “Devil Woman”
1958 – Ray Price – “City Lights”
1951 – Lefty Frizzell – “Always Late (With Your Kisses)”
1945 – Tex Ritter – “You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often”

Albums
2012 – Little Big Town – Tornado
2007 – Rascal Flatts – Still Feels Good
2001 – Martina McBride – Greatest Hits
1990 – Garth Brooks – No Fences
1984 – Willie Nelson – City of New Orleans
1979 – Waylon Jennings – Greatest Hits
1973 – Conway Twitty – You’ve Never Been This Far Before
Birthdays
Jimi Westbrook (Little Big Town) is 44
photo by: Mike Flokis/Getty Images Entertainment
photo by: Mike Flokis/Getty Images Entertainment
Anniversaries
Clint Black and Lisa Hartman-Black celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary. They were married in a private ceremony in Texas in 1991.
Kelly Clarkson marries Brandon Blackstock in Tennessee in 2013

Off To A Good Start – Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]