This Day in Country Music History, February 28
2015
Florida Georgia Line plays in Europe for the first time during the Country 2 Country Festival at Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden. The night’s lineup also features Luke Bryan, Brandy Clark and Lee Ann Womack
2012
The Band Perry realizes a quadruple-platinum single for “If I Die Young”
2007
Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts secure three nominations apiece to lead the field as the finalists are announced for the CMT Music Awards
1998
Garth Brooks serves as both host and musical guest, performing “Two Pina Coladas” on the NBC show “Saturday Night Live”
1996
Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High On That Mountain” wins two trophies–Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance–during the 38th annual Grammy awards at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium
1993
Travis Tritt gets his first acting role in the TV movie “Rio Diablo,” alongside Naomi Judd and Kenny Rogers
1984
Anne Murray’s “A Little Good News” wins Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, during the 26th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
1977
Jason Aldean is born in Macon, Georgia. Beginning in 2005, he mixes country, rock and–on occasion–rap in such hits as “Hicktown,” “Burnin’ It Down” and “Dirt Road Anthem,” winning Male Vocalist of the Year from the Academy of Country Music three years in a row. He also nabs the ACM’s Entertainer trophy in 2016
1966
Roger Miller, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens are double-winners at the inaugural Academy of Country & Western Music awards, held at the Palladium in Hollywood. Miller is named Man of the Year and Top Songwriter
1940
Singer/songwriter Joe South is born in Atlanta, Georgia. A pop hitmaker responsible for “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” and “Games People Play,” he also writes Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden,” “Fool Me” and “How Can I Unlove You”
