1946
Al Dexter was at #1 on the US Country singles chart with “Guitar Polka”. The track spent a total of 16 weeks on Billboard’s list as the “Most Played Juke Box Folk Record” in 1946.
1971
Sammi Smith was at #1 on the Country charts with her version of the Kris Kristofferson song “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” Kristofferson said that he got the inspiration for the song from an Esquire magazine interview with Frank Sinatra. When asked what he believed in, Frank replied, “Booze, broads, or a bible…whatever helps me make it through the night.” Other cover versions of the song appeared on early 1970s albums by Lynn Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Olivia Newton-John, Skeeter Davis, Tammy Wynette, and Dottie West.
1980
Country music winners at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards included; Best Country Vocal Performance, Female – Emmylou Harris for Blue Kentucky Girl, Best Country Vocal Performance, Male – Kenny Rogers for “The Gambler”, Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group – The Charlie Daniels Band for “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, Best Country Instrumental Performance – Doc Watson & Merle Watson for “Big Sandy/Leather Britches” and Best Country Song – Debbie Hupp & Bob Morrison (songwriters) for “You Decorated My Life” performed by Kenny Rogers.
1989
Dwight Yoakam was at #1 on the Country charts with “I Sang Dixie” the second single from his album Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room.
2002
Country music winners at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards were held at Staples Center, Los Angeles included; Best Female Country Vocal Performance – Dolly Parton for “Shine”, Best Male Country Vocal Performance – Ralph Stanley for “O Death”, Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal – Alison Krauss & Union Station for “The Lucky One” and Best Country Song – Robert Lee Castleman (songwriter) for “The Lucky One” performed by Alison Krauss & Union Station.
2002
Alan Jackson was at #1 on the US Country music album chart with his tenth studio album Drive. The album produced Jackson’s highest-debuting single on the Hot Country Songs charts in the #1 “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”, a ballad written in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. “Drive (For Daddy Gene)”, “Work in Progress”, and “That’d Be Alright” were also released as singles, peaking at #1, #3, and #2, respectively.
2013
Chuck Goff, Toby Keith’s bass player of 25 years was killed in a two-car collision in Oklahoma. The accident occurred at near Slaughterville, Okla. One vehicle was found on top of the other vehicle. The other driver was not injured
