2015 Event The Japanese Diet enacts a defense policy allowing the nation's troops to aid allies in conflicts that also threaten Japan; Prime Minister Shinzo Abe supports the law, but it is opposed by many who wish to maintain the country's pacifist constitution 2015 Event Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledges that the country is aiding the forces of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad with military expertise and equipment; Putin states that troops may also be sent in the future to help fight against ISIL 2015 Event Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasizes that the country's recent nuclear agreement with the West does not change its opposition to the U.S. and to American policies in the Middle East 2015 Event Debt rating company Moody's downgrades Greece to a Caa3 rating after the country misses its $1.6 billion payment to the IMF; Greek citizens will vote July 5th on whether to accept austerity conditions in exchange for bailout funds 2015 Event The Greek Parliament votes in favor of holding a referendum on July 5th regarding whether the country should accept reforms in exchange for continued bailouts; current bailouts expire on June 30th, the day that a $1.8 billion debt payment is due 2015 Event Myanmar President Thein Sein implements a population control law requiring women to wait three years between children; critics believe the law can be used to oppress women as well as minority religion and ethnic populations in the country 2015 Event Aid response to the Nepal earthquake has been hindered due to runway damage at the country's main airport in Kathmandu, requiring airport closure to large jets; the death toll from the disaster has risen to over 7,000 2015 Event Pakistan reinstates the death penalty for all crimes, extending a previous reinstatement only for terrorism cases; the country has had a moratorium on capital punishment since 2008 but lifted it after terrorist attacks in December 2014 2015 Event A federal U.S. judge orders a halt to an executive order issued by President Barack Obama that allows approximately 5 million illegal immigrants to remain in the country; Obama expects to overcome this hurdle to implement the order as planned 2014 Event Somalia and North Korea tie for the most corrupt country in the world according to this year's ranking on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2014 Event Sierra Leone has expanded the regions of the country subject to quarantine as the Ebola virus continues to spread; over 7,000 people in the nation have been infected and over 1,500 have died to date 2014 Event U.S. President Barack Obama announces plans to delay deportation of about 4 million undocumented immigrants who have lived in the country for at least 5 years and have children who are legal residents or U.S. citizens 2014 Event Germany commemorates the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall with a balloon-release ceremony and celebrations throughout the country; the wall had been built through Berlin to separate communist East Germany from West Germany 2014 Event A 2-year-old girl is the first case of Ebola in Mali; the girl was brought to the country from Guinea after her mother's death 2014 Event The International Olympic Committee will recognize the Olympic committee of Kosovo despite the country's lack of U.N. membership, setting an unusual precedent and raising protests from Serbia; Kosovo broke away from Serbia in 2008 2014 Event Former Haitian leader Jean Claude 'Baby Doc' Duvalier dies of a heart attack at age 63; known for an oppressive regime, he fled the country in 1986 but returned in 2011, pleading not guilty to charges of corruption and human rights violations 2014 Event American freelance videographer Ashoka Mukpo tests positive for Ebola while working in Liberia; the cameraman has been working in the country for the past three years but became symptomatic the day after beginning an assignment for NBC News 2014 Event Afghan officials have signed a pact with the U.S. to maintain troops in the country beyond the end of 2014 and provide Afghanistan with funding; former Afghan President Hamid Karzai would not sign the agreement due to his opposition to U.S. presence 2014 Event India has successfully launched a space probe into orbit around Mars on its first attempt, making it the first Asian country to orbit the planet; at $74 million, the spacecraft cost about 11% of the U.S. Maven, which reached Mars orbit two days prior 2014 Event The U.S. Treasury is issuing rules to hinder companies from moving their headquarters outside the country to save on taxes; the rules may impact pending deals, such as Burger King's plan to move to Canada after merging with Tim Horton's 2014 Event 24-year-old Matthew Miller, one of three Americans currently held in North Korea, has been convicted of unlawful entry into the country for the purpose of spying; he has been sentenced to six years of hard labor 2014 Event The British government raises its terror threat level to 'severe' due to concern over the number of participants in Middle Eastern conflicts who have been traveling to and from the U.K. and who may seek to instigate terrorist actions inside the country 2014 Event Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko dissolves the country's Supreme Council, which has been stymied by pro-separatist members; new elections will be held on October 26th 2014 Event India's central bank states that domestic credit cards must complete extra validation when used to buy local goods or services; some businesses have avoided the rule by using foreign payment systems, resulting in cash flows out of the country 2014 Event The Islamic State captures the Iraqi town of Sinjar, home to the country's Yazidi religious minority population; residents fled in advance of the extremists, who have demanded that non-Muslim residents convert to Islam or face death 2014 Event Incumbent Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is re-elected; the leader plans to continue peace talks with rebels in an effort to bring ongoing violence in the country to an end 2014 Event Petro Poroshenko is inaugurated as the new Ukrainian president; Poroshenko took a firm stand on keeping Ukraine united and suggested plans to ease tensions in the eastern part of the country, including an offer of amnesty for separatists 2014 Event Spain will increase spending in an $8.2 billion program aimed to stimulate economic growth; the country has been working to overcome an unemployment rate of 25%, but recent reports have shown an encouraging decline in jobless claims 2014 Event Businessman Petro Poroshenko wins the Ukraine's presidential election; election turnout was strong despite the nation's internal conflicts with separatist groups, who kept many voting locations closed in the eastern part of the country 2014 Event Italian officials announce that many of the country's public assets will be sold in an effort to reduce the country's debt; plans to sell part of the nation's air traffic control and postal services have already been approved 2014 Event African leaders meet in Paris to discuss ways to fight Boko Haram, the Islamist group that kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls over a month ago in Nigeria; the country's president, Goodluck Jonathan, has been seen as slow to respond to the situation 2014 Event Slovakia sets a new precedent by electing Andrej Kiska, a millionaire, as president; Mr. Kiska is the first president without ties to the Communist party to be elected since 1993, when the country was formed out of the breakup of Czechoslovakia 2014 Event Russia makes assurances that the country will not invade Ukraine in its efforts to resolve the dispute over its annexation of Crimea 2014 Event Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra will begin selling the e2o, an electric car, in Bhutan for about $11,300; vehicle exhaust is causing air pollution problems in Bhutan that threaten the country's tourist-dependent economy 2014 Event GE is focusing on development of wind power in Japan, seeing an opportunity for the nation to expand its renewable energy portfolio after Fukushima; GE has designed a wind turbine capable of weathering the country's distinct weather challenges 2014 Event The Brazilian government plans to cut its spending by almost $19 billion this year in an effort to reduce the country's debt and inflation growth; economists have revised current year GDP and next year's growth forecast downward in recent weeks 2014 Event Italy's Democratic leader Matteo Renzi calls for a new government and for the country's Prime Minister, Enrico Letta, to resign 2014 Event As part of a political transition, Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and representatives from the country's main political parties agree to transform Yemen into a six-region federation 2014 Event Switzerland votes to put a quota on the number of immigrants to the country from the European Union; 50.4% of voters approved of the measure 2014 Event Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announces plans to raise the price of gas to 17 cents from 6 cents; the country's annual gas subsidy's cost $12 billion, too much to bear when facing 50 percent inflation and dwindled cash reserves 2014 Event Amidst massive security including 160,000 soldiers and over 200,000 policemen, Egyptians go to the polls to vote on a draft constitution which would strengthen the military-backed leadership of the country 2013 Event The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is re-designated as a terrorist organization as part of a measure by the The Egyptian government to stop terrorists, and anyone financing the bombings and other terrorist acts that have occurred in their country 2013 Event Chilean voters elect President Michelle Bachelet in the country's presidential election; Bachelet served as the first female Chilean president in 2006 2013 Event Angola's Ministry of Justice and Human Rights deny the country has banned Islam and is dismantling mosques in an effort to stop the spread of Muslim extremism; they claim mosques are closed because Islam has not gone through the process of approval or legalization 2013 Event Amidst criticism for its lack of help in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, China's 'Peace Ark', a 14,000-ton navy hospital ship, is sent to the Philippines to help its relief efforts'; the country also sent an emergency medical team and a disaster relief team from the Chinese Red Cross 2013 Event The Philippines receives a $500 million emergency loan from the World Bank to help the country recover and rebuild in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan 2013 Event Vietnam evacuates 600,00 citizens as Typhoon Haiyan heads towards the country 2013 Event Tajikistan voters head to the polls to participate in the country's presidential election 2013 Event An 7.3-magnitude earthquake off of Japan's east coast prompts the country's emergency agencies to issue a tsunami warning 2013 Event Rwandan President Paul Kagame achieves a landslide victory in the country's parliamentary election 2013 Event Indonesia's Mount Sinabung explodes, causing nearly 6,000 people in the country's North Sumatra province to flee 2013 Event In Greenland. a canyon over 800km long is discovered up to 800m deep in different places below the ice sheet covering the country; the canyon is longer than Arizona's Grand Canyon; it was carved out by a river over four million years ago 2013 Event New Zealand's first same-sex marriages take place since the country's parliament passed the Marriage Equality Bill in April 2013 Event At the Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York, American golfer Jason Dufner wins the 2013 PGA Championship 2013 Event The Pakistani electorate vote for Mamnoon Hussain as the country's 12th President 2013 Event The oldest European remains of a white man are discovered in Australia; the Manning River Skull may belong to a man born in 1650, predating the country's history that Captain James Cook was the first to land on Australia's east coast in 1770 2013 Event The Shenzhou 10 spacecraft returns to Earth after China's crew complete's its 15-day mission, completing the country's fifth manned spaceflight 2013 Event Australia's government plans to hold a referendum to recognize local government in its constitution; the referendum will coincide with the country's federal election taking place September 14, 2013 2013 Event Iceland's center-right opposition party is set to return to power after the country's parliamentary election results are finalized 2013 Event The defense ministry of China accuses the United States of increasing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region by increasing its military presence and supporting Vietnam, Japan and the Philippines in long-term territorial disputes with the country 2013 Event In Beijing, China, a seven-year old girl is confirmed as the first person in the country to catch the Influenza A virus subtype H7N9 bird flu 2013 Event Malawi President Joyce Banda accuses singer Madonna of 'bullying state officials' after exaggerating the contributions of her charity and complaining about her treatment during a recent visit to the country 2013 Event France's former President, Nicolas Sarkozy is investigated over claims of illegal donations made by Liliane Bettencourt of L'Oreal, the country's richest woman 2013 Event In Greenland, the Siumut party wins the parliamentary election, setting up Aleqa Hammond to become the country's first female Prime Minister 2013 Event In China, Premier Wen Jiabao addresses the National People's Congress announcing the country's 2013 goal of a 7.5% growth rate in GDP 2013 Event Canada's Security Intelligence Service believes the presence of Al-Qaeda affiliated groups in the country may lead to possible attacks 2013 Event Egypt's government announces the country will hold parliamentary elections in April, 2013 2013 Event Estonia becomes the first country in the world to establish a national electric car charging network , with cars charging in less than 30 minutes 2013 Event In Bolivar, Venezuela, the country's government opens a granite processing plant, estimating it will provide 25% of the nation's granite requirements 2013 Event British catering firm Compass Group and Whitbread, one of the country's largest hotel chains, find horse DNA in products sold as "beef" 2013 Event Parliamentary elections are held in Monaco, with the the Horizon Monaco alliance winning 50.3% of the vote, securing 20 of 24 seats in the country's National Council 2013 Event For the first time since launching Google Maps, Google extends its data coverage of North Korea, filling in previously blank areas on most of the country with detailed maps that identify landmarks 2013 Event Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron, lays out his intention to renegotiate terms with the EU, and subsequent plan to offer a referendum on his country's withdrawal from the EU if a new deal is agreed 2013 Event U.S. Republican Chuck Hagel is nominated to be the country's next Secretary of Defense by President Barack Obama; John O. Brennan is nominated to be the next CIA Director 2013 Event Actor Gerard Depardieu is granted citizenship by Russian President, Vladimir Putin; Depardieu renounced his French citizenship due to the country's high taxes 2012 Event The United Kingdom plans to create new private and public sector universities; these will be the first universities the country has created in decades 2012 Event In Dublin, an estimated crowd of 10,000 protesters demonstrated against austerity and called for a general strike to shut down the country 2012 Event For the second time in four months, New Zealand's Mount Tongariro volano erupts; the volcano is located on the country's North Island 2012 Event Burmese President Thein Sein and National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi meet U.S. President Barack Obama, the country's first visit from a sitting U.S. President 2012 Event Venezuelans go to the polls to vote in the country's presidential election; President Hugo Chavez competes against Henrique Capriles Radonski of the opposing Justice First party 2012 Event Protestors in Iran clash with riot police during their demonstration against the collapse of the rial, the country's currency 2012 Event Japanese automakers announce plans to cut output in China; they announce plans to suspend operations in the country until after National Day 2012 Event The Pakistani government accuses the Save the Children NGO as being linked to a fake vaccination program used in the hunt for Osama bin Laden; Pakistan orders foreign nationals working for the organization to leave the country within four weeks 2012 Event A report on the nuclear program of Iran released by the IAEA, highlights concern over Iran's nuclear program as the country reportedly has doubled its number of centrifuges as the Fordow facility 2012 Event China's President, Hu Jintao, officially receives Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, who came to the country for cooperation talks and in-depth discussion 2012 Event Australians in the country's Northern Territory elect the Country Liberal Party 2012 Event As part of ongoing political reforms in Myanmar, the country announces it will end media censorship 2012 Event An Egyptian lawyer, Mohamed Salem, files a lawsuit over the country's President Morsi removing Hussein Tantawi, former commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, and Sami Anan, former Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces 2012 Event Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's President, signs a controversial law concerning the status of 18 languages as regional and minority languages; the law allows officials in Russian-speaking regions of the country to use Russian in documents and at public events 2012 Event After a century of silence, Mount Tongariro in New Zealand erupts, spreading volcanic ash across the country's central North Island and affecting airports 2012 Event A truth commission created by Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff convenes to investigate the country's military dictatorship 2012 Event The Egan-Jones Ratings Company projects Italy has a one-year default probability of 22%, downgrading the country to CCC+ from B+ 2012 Event In Egypt, protesters throw tomatoes and shoes at U.S. Secretary of State's motorcade during her first visit to the country since President Mohamed Mursi was elected 2012 Event Vano Merabishvili is appointed as the new Prime Minister of Georgia by the country's President, Mikheil Saakashvili 2012 Event In India, a nationwide strike against rising gas prices closes shops and interrupts public transport across the country 2012 Event Voters in Lesotho, a landlocked country completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa, go to the polls for a general election 2012 Event India puts an end to a plan to re-introduce cheetahs to the country with shipments from Africa 2012 Event The last nuclear reactor in Japan is shut down, leaving the country without nuclear power since 1970 2012 Event The decision of the Economic Community of West African States to deploy troops to the country is rejected by Mali coup leader Amadou Haya Sanogo 2012 Event Following political reforms in Myanmar, Australia relaxes sanctions on the country, including by-elections earlier this month where opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi's party won more than a dozen seats 2012 Event Mali swears in Dioncounda Traore, an interim president, marking the country's transition back to civilian rule following last month's coup 2012 Event Eli Young Band wins song of the year for 'Crazy Girl' and Taylor Swift wins 'Entertainer of the Year' at the 2012 Academy of Country Music awards 2012 Event Sweden's media reports the country is helping Saudi Arabia plan the construction of a weapons factory 2012 Event The U.S. Congress passes legislation to expand the use of drone aircraft in the country 2012 Event Romania's Prime Minister Emil Boc and his entire cabinet resign due to major social and political unrest in the country 2012 Event Iran initiates new military exercises as tensions rise over the country's nuclear program 2012 Event fter three years in exile, Madagascar's President, Marc Ravalomanana announces he will return to the country 2012 Event According to Israel's military chief, the country is preparing for a increase of Syrian refugees into Golan Heights 2012 Event Jamaica's new Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller announces the country will become a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth II as head of state 2011 Event Iran refuses to return the RQ-170 Sentinel that Iran captured after it crash landed in the country; Iran reports they are extracting data from the aircraft 2011 Event Canada declares that because its country would face large penalties for treaty violations, it is withdrawing itself from the Kyoto Protocol 2011 Event In Peru, protests over a mining project persist in four provinces, causing the country to declare a state of emergency 2011 Event Italian President Giorgio Napolitano nominates Mario Monti to be the country's new Prime Minister 2011 Event In Italy, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi resigns, as an emergency government takes his place to deal with the country's economic crisis 2011 Event Wales conducts a survey of businesspeople and consumers showing support for the country to have its own top-level domain name 2011 Event The oil spill from MV Rena, the ship stranded off the coast of Tauranga, New Zealand, becomes the country's worst environmental disaster 2011 Event The price of gold reaches a new record after Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez announces plans to nationalize his country's gold industry 2011 Event Over half of the country of Peru enters a state of emergency as a result of unusually cold weather 2011 Event Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announces the country's plan to launch a manned shuttle into space by 2019 2011 Event The Nigerian senate reschedules elections by changing the country's constitution 2011 Event The U.S. heat wave has led to 24 deaths across the country 2011 Event Due to a range of safety concerns, all Tiger Airways flights in Australia are grounded until July 9th by the country's Civil Aviation Safety Authority 2011 Event Malta becomes the last country in the European Union to legalize divorce 2011 Event North Korea attests it has detained Jun Young Su, a U.S. citizen; they plan to charge him with 'committing a crime' against their country 2011 Event The Academy of Country Music Awards 2010 selects Taylor Swift winner of the 2010 Entertainer of the Year award 2011 Event The U.S. Census conducted April 1, 2010 reveals that New York city is the country's most populated city, with 8,175,133 residents 2011 Event Saudi Arabia bans all protests after demonstrations have taken place east of the country 2011 Event Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh orders the country's security forces to protect protesters 2011 Event In an effort to disprove claims that he has fled the country, Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi appears on television and claims to remain head of the revolution 2011 Event Anti-government protesters in Yemen call for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down from his regime; Ali has ruled the country since 1978 2010 Event Italy's plan to ban plastic bags goes into effect; the country was using 20 billion plastic bags a year - about 300 per person 2010 Event In China, a 2,400 ear-old pot of soup is discovered near the country's ancient capital of Xi'an 2010 Event The U.S. announces it will provide an additional $500 million to aid Pakistan to help rebuilding efforts after major floods ravaged the country 2010 Event The 2010 Country Music Awards are held in Nashville, Tennessee; American singer Brad Paisley wins Entertainer of the Year 2010 Event China's largest fair, Canton Fair, opens and is closely watched as it is the barometer of the country's trade and economic development 2010 Event In China, 23 elder members of the Communist Party of China call for ending the country's restrictions on free speech 2010 Event Uganda's Wildlife Authority announces that some animals in the country's national parks and game reserves have doubled in population since 1999 2010 Event After a series of delays, Iran agrees to release U.S. hiker Sarah Shourd, arrested in 2009; she is released on bail and permitted to leave the country 2010 Event Saudi Arabia agrees to address security fears with Blackberry; the country determines it will not ban Blackberry instant messaging 2010 Event Google's internet content provider license is renewed by China; the company is allowed to continue operating in the country 2010 Event Roza Otunbayeva, interim leader of Kyrgyzstan, estimates the death toll from the country's worst ethnic battle in decades could be as many as 2,000 people 2010 Event China's Premier, Wen Jiabao visits migrant workers at a Beijing construction site and declares the need for better treatment of the country's migrant workers 2010 Event The 2010 Kyrgyzstani riots continue as President Kurmanbek Bakiyev reportedly flees the country, the government steps down and protesters control the parliament building 2010 Event China begins text message surveillance, blocking customers from the country's two largest operators for lewd messages 2009 Event Slovenia agrees to allow Russia's South Stream gas pipeline to Europe pass through their country 2005 Event South Africa is the 5th country to recognize same-sex marriages 2005 Event Canada becomes the 4th country to permit same-sex marriage 2005 Event Spain becomes the 3rd country to permit same-sex marriage 2003 Event China sends Yang Liwei into orbit, the third country to have successfully sent a person into space 2003 Death Johnny Cash, country singer, "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk the Line", dies at 71 1999 Death Boxcar Willie, born Lecil Travis Martin, guitarist, American hobo music singer, sang country, gospel music, dies from leukemia, in Branson, Missouri, at age 67 1998 Event 32nd TNN Music City News Country Awards 1998 Death Grandpa Jones, country comic/banjo wizard, 'Hee Haw', dies at 84 1998 Event President Bill Clinton says he would never resign, 'I would never walk away from the of this country and the trust they've placed in me', during a press conference 1997 Death John Denver, country star (Country Boy), dies in plain crash at 53 1997 Event 31st Music City News Country Awards: Alan Jackson and LeAnn Rimes 1997 Event 32nd Academy of Country Music Awards: LeAnn Rines and Brooks and Dunn 1997 Event 5 sue Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, because his smoking has violated the country's constitution guaranteeing a wholesome life 1996 Death Faron Young, country singer and actor (Hidden Guns), commits suicide at 64 1996 Death Wilf Carter, country singer, dies at 91 1996 Death Harvey Vernon, actor (Jasper-Carter Country), dies at 69 1996 Event 30th Country Music Association Award: Brooks and Dunn win 1996 Event 30th Music City News Country Awards: Alan Jackson 1996 Event 31st Academy of Country Music Awards: Shania Twain 1996 Event Matabeleland beat Mashonaland Country Dist to win Logan Cup 1996 Death Minnie Pearl, country comedienne (Grand Ole Opry), dies at 84 1995 Death Country Dan Dick Montana McLain, singer, dies at 40 1995 Event 29th Country Music Association Award: Krauss Jackson win 1995 Death Dave Bowen, born in Maesteg, Glamorgan, Wales, Welsh football player, manager, captain, led country to win 1958 World Cup finals, dies at 67 1995 Death Charlie Rich, country singer (Lonely Weekends), dies at 62 1995 Event "Month in the Country" closes at Roundabout Theater New York City after 79 performances 1995 Event 29th Music City News Country Awards: Alan Jackson and Reba McEntire 1995 Event 30th Academy of Country Music Awards: Reba McEntire wins 1995 Event "Month in the Country" opens at Roundabout Theater New York City for 79 performances 1994 Death Jan Wiegel, director/producer (Uninhabitable Country), dies at 64 1994 Event Horse Racing Breeders' Cup Champs: Barathea, Cherokee Run, Concern, Flanders, One Dreamer, Tikkanen, Timber Country 1994 Event 28th Country Music Association Award 1994 Event Country singer George Jones undergoes triple bypass surgery 1994 Event 28th Music City News Country Awards: Alan Jackson and Ray Stevens 1994 Event Country singer Trisha Yearwood (29) weds Robert Reynolds (32) 1994 Event 29th Academy of Country Music Awards: Garth Brooks wins 1993 Event Germany unemployment hits country record of 3.5 million 1993 Event 27th Country Music Association Award: Vince Gill wins 1993 Event Actress Julia Roberts and country singer Lyle Lovett wed 1993 Event 27th Music City News Country Awards: Alan Jackson and Vince Gill 1993 Death Conway Twitty, country star (Linda on My Mind), dies in surgery at 59 1993 Event 28th Academy of Country Music Awards: Garth Brooks wins 1993 Death Troy Caldwell, country musician (Marshall Tucker Band), dies at 45 1992 Death Ray Acuff, country singer (Wahbash Cannonball), dies 1992 Death Roy Acuff, country musician, 'Hee Haw', dies 1992 Death Roger Miller, country singer (King of the Road), dies at 56 1992 Event 26th Country Music Association Award: Garth Brooks wins 1992 Birthday Taylor Maine Pearl Brooks, daughter of country singer Garth Brooks 1992 Event 26th Music City News Country Awards: Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks 1992 Event Country singer Tammy Wynette hospitalized with bile duct infection 1992 Event 27th Academy of Country Music Awards: Garth Brooks 1992 Event Country singer Doug Stone, 35, undergoes quadruple bypass surgery 1992 Death Hank Penny, country music singer, dies at 73 of heart failure 1992 Event Country singer Lee Greenwood weds Miss Tennessee 1989 (Kimberly Payne) 1991 Event "Star Trek VI-Undiscovered Country" premieres 1991 Event Actress Lisa Hartman weds country singer Clint Black 1991 Death Tennessee Ernie Ford, country singer, dies of liver disease at 72 1991 Death Tennessee Ernie Ford, country singer (16 Tons), dies at 72 1991 Event 25th Country Music Association Award: 1991 Birthday Beau Grayson, son of country singer Tanya Tucker 1991 Death Dottie West, country singer (Here Comes my Baby), dies at 58 in a car 1991 Event 25th Music City News Country Awards: Ricky Van Shelton 1991 Event "Our Country's Good" closes at Nederlander Theater New York City after 48 performances 1991 Event "Our Country's Good" opens at Nederlander Theater New York City for 48 performances 1991 Event 26th Academy of Country Music Awards: Garth Brooks 1991 Death Webb Pierce, U.S. country singer (Bye Bye Love), dies of cancer at 64 1990 Event 24th Country Music Association Award: George Strait wins 1990 Event 24th Music City News Country Awards: R Van Shelton and Patty Loveless 1990 Event 25th Academy of Country Music Awards: Clint Black and Kathy Mattea win 1989 Event 23rd Country Music Association Award: George Strait, Kathy Mattea wins 1989 Event 23rd Music City News Country Awards: R Van Shelton and Randy Travis 1989 Event Country singer Rebe McEntire weds her manager Narvel Blackstone 1989 Event General Manuel Noriega's government nullifies country's elections, which the opposition had won by a 3-1 margin 1989 Death Keith Whitley, country singer (Don't Close Your Eyes), dies at 33 1989 Event 24th Academy of Country Music Awards: Hank Williams, Jr., Alabama 1989 Death Kenneth "Jethro" Burns, country singer (Homer and Jethro), dies at 69 1988 Event Benazir Bhutto named 1st female Prime Minister of a Moslem country, Pakistan 1988 Event 22nd Country Music Association Award: Highway 101, K T Oslin win 1988 Event Timberlake Westenbaker's "Our Country's Good," premieres in London 1988 Event 88th U.S. Golf Open: Curtis Strange shoots a 278 at Country Club Mass 1988 Event 22nd Music City News Country Awards: Randy Travis and Statler Brothers 1988 Event 23rd Academy of Country Music Awards: Randy Travis and Hank Williams, Jr. 1987 Death James Arthur Baldwin, writer (Another Country), dies at 63 1987 Event 21st Country Music Association Award: Hank William, Jr. wins 1987 Death O B McClinton, U.S. country singer (Man needs a woman), dies at 47 1987 Event WHN-AM in New York City changes call letters to WFAN (now WEVD) replacing WHN's country music, WYNY-FM adopts country music format 1987 Event 21st Music City News Country Awards: Randy Travis 1987 Event 22nd Academy of Country Music Awards: Randy Travis and Hank Williams Jr 1986 Death Carmol Taylor, country songwriter, dies at 53 of cancer 1986 Event 20th Country Music Association Award: 1986 Event 20th Music City News Country Awards: Statler Brothers and Loretta Lynn 1986 Event Country Singer Garth Brooks marries Sandy 1986 Event 21st Academy of Country Music Awards: G Strait, Alabama, R McEntire 1986 Event Activist Anatoly Scharansky released by U.S.S.R., leaves country 1985 Event 19th Country Music Association Award: Ricky Skaggs wins 1985 Event Rock and country musicians participate in FarmAid in Champaign, Ill 1985 Event 19th Music City News Country Awards: Statler Brothers, B Mandrell 1985 Event 20th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama and Judds win 1984 Event 18th Country Music Association Award: Alabama wins 1984 Event Country singer Barbara Mandrell is badly injured in a car accident 1984 Event 18th Music City News Country Awards: Statler Brothers 1984 Event 19th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama 1983 Death "Alvin" Junior Samples, country singer (Hee Haw), dies at 56 1983 Event U.S. invades Grenada, a country 1/2,000 its population (U.S. Wins!) 1983 Death Merle Travis, country singer, dies at 75 1983 Event 17th Country Music Association Award: Alabama wins 1983 Event 17th Music City News Country Awards: Marty Robbins and Roy Acuff 1983 Event 18th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama and Willie Nelson 1983 Event Reagan certifies El Salvador human-rights abuses have decreased making country eligible for U.S. military aid 1982 Death Marty Robbins, country singer, dies at 57 1982 Event 16th Country Music Association Award: Willie Nelson and Ricky Skagg 1982 Death Jimmy Wakely, country western singer, dies of heart failure at 68 1982 Birthday Leann Rimes, country singer, Blue, Holiday in Your Heart 1982 Event "Play Me a Country Song" opens and closes at Virginia Theater New York City 1982 Event 16th Music City News Country Awards: Barbara Mandrell 1982 Event 17th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama, Barbara Mandrell 1981 Event According to South Africa, Ciskei gains independence Not recognized as an independent country outside South Africa 1981 Event 15th Country Music Association Award: 1981 Event 15th Music City News Country Awards: Mandrell Sisters 1981 Event 16th Academy of Country Music Awards: Barbara Mandrell and George Jones 1981 Death Bob "The Bear" Hite, singer (Canned Heat-Goin' up the Country), dies 1981 Event Greece is 10th country to join European Economic Community 1980 Event 14th Country Music Association Award 1980 Birthday Stephanie Michelle Steele, Abilene, Texas, country singer 1980 Event 14th Music City News Country Awards: Statler Brothers and Loretta Lynn 1980 Event 15th Academy of Country Music Awards: Barbara Mandrell wins 1979 Event John Paul II becomes 1st pope to visit a communist country (Poland) 1979 Event 14th Academy of Country Music Awards: Kenny Rogers and Barbara Mandrell 1978 Death Maybelle Carter, country singer (Johnny Cash Show), dies at 69 1978 Event 12th Country Music Association Award 1978 Death Sandy Denny, country singer, dies at 37 1977 Death Paul Hardy, Belgian designer, Italian Country, dies at 69 1977 Event 11th Country Music Association Award: Ronnie Milsap wins 1977 Death Charles Carson, actor (Cry the Beloved Country), dies at 87 1976 Event 10th Country Music Association Award: Mel Tillis wins 1976 Event Elections in Vietnam for a National Assembly to reunite the country 1976 Death Lin Yutang, Chinese writer, 'My Country and My People' 1976 Event Argentine President Isabel Peron deposed by country's military 1976 Event CW McCall CB song "Convoy" hit #1 on the country music charts 1975 Birthday Mindy McCready, country/western singer 1975 Event 9th Country Music Association Award: John Denver wins 1975 Birthday Mandy Barnett, country singer, Maybe, Rainy Days 1975 Event "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," by John Denver hits #1 1974 Event Wings (Country Hams) release "Walking in the Park with Eloise" 1974 Event 8th Country Music Association Award: Charlie Rich 1974 Birthday Natalie Maines, born in Lubbock, Texas, singer, songwriter, the Dixie Chicks, alternative country band, Grammy-Award winning album, 'Taking the Long Way' 1974 Birthday Kerwin Waldroup, born in Country Club Hills, Illinois, professional football player, defensive end for the Detroit Lions 1974 Death Tex Ritter, country singer (5 Star Jubilee), dies at 67 1973 Death Stringbean, country singer/comedian/banjoist (Hee Haw), dies at 58 1973 Event 7th Country Music Association Award: Roy Clark wins 1973 Event John and Yoko form a new country with no laws or boundaries, called Nutopia, its national anthem is silence 1972 Death Elton Britt, country singer (Sat Night Jamboree), dies at 54 1971 Birthday Pete Vordenberg, Rota Spain, U.S. cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1971 Event 5th Country Music Association Award: Charlie Pride wins 1971 Birthday Alison Krauss, born in Decatur, Illinois, country singer, 2 Highways 1970 Event 4th Country Music Association Award: Merle Haggard wins 1970 Birthday Nina Kemppel, Anchorage Alaska, cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1970 Birthday Emily Lloyd, born in London, England, actress, Wish You Were Here, In Country 1970 Birthday Luke Bodensteiner, Iowa City Iowa, cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1970 Birthday Kerrin Petty, Townshend Vt, cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1969 Birthday Laura Wilson, Utica, New York, cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1969 Event Sweden (1st Western country) recognizes North Vietnam 1969 Birthday Nikki Nelson, Topaz Lake Nev, country singer, Highway 101-Cry Cry Cry 1968 Birthday Shelby Lynne, Quantico, Virginia, country singer, If I Could Bottle This Up 1968 Death Red Foley, country singer (Mr Smith Goes to Washington), dies at 58 1968 Birthday Kenny Chesney, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, country music artist, over 30 hits, 13 albums certified gold or higher by RIAA, albums include, 'When the Sun Goes Down' 1968 Event Country's 1st 911 phone system went into service in Haleyville, Ala 1968 Birthday Tracy Lawrence, Atlanta, Texas, country singer, Sticks and Stones 1967 Birthday Faith Hill, born in Ridgeland, Mississippi, singer, country music, sold 40 million records, hits include, 'This Kiss', appeared in 'The Stepford Wives', married to Tim McGraw 1967 Event 2nd Academy of Country Music Awards 1966 Birthday Tracy Byrd, born in Vidor, Texas, Tracy Lynn Byrd, country singer, musician, known for Number One Billboard hit single 'Holdin' Heaven', recorded nine studio albums, 30 hit singles, 11 top ten hits 1966 Birthday Bai Ling, born in Chengdu, China, American actress, appeared in films, 'The Crow', 'The Beautiful Country', 'Shanghai Baby' 1966 Birthday Ronna Reeves, born in Big Spring, Texas, female country music singer, albums titled, 'Only the Heart', 'The More I Learn', 'What Comes Naturally' 1966 Birthday Martina McBride, born in Sharon, Kansas, singer, country music genre, songwriter, successful songs include, 'Happy Girl', 'A Broken Wing', 'Wrong Again', dubbed the, 'Celine Dion of Country Music' 1966 Birthday Zola Budd, born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, track and field long distance runner, trained and raced barefoot, politically controversial figure, two-time Women's 5000 meters world record holder, two-time World Cross Country Championships winner 1966 Birthday Laura McCabe, cross country skier, 1994 Olympics 1966 Birthday John David Cullum, actor in 1776, Sweet Country, Day After 1966 Birthday Jose Maria Olazabal, born in Fuenterrabia, Gipuzkoa, Basque country, Spain, professional golfer, 6 PGA Tour wins, 23 European Tour wins, 2 Japan Golf Tour wins 1966 Birthday Deana Carter, born in Nashville, Texas, Deana Kay Carter, country singer, famous for multi-platinum debut album 'Did I Shave My Legs for This?', albums include fourteen singles, three reached number one on the Billboard country charts, including 'Strawberry Wine' 1965 Birthday Ben Husaby, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1965 Birthday Marty Brown, born in Owensboro, Kentucky, country singer, Wildest Dreams 1965 Death Ira Louvin, country singer (Louvin Brothers), dies at 41 1965 Birthday Yahya Jammeh, born in Kanilai, Gambia, politician, President of Gambia, controlled the country as a result of a bloodless military coup, elected September 1996 1965 Birthday Dorcas Wonsavage, Madison Wis, cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1965 Death T S Eliot, poet (Washed Country), dies in London at 76 1964 Birthday Trisha Yearwood, Monticello Georgia, country singer, Sweetest Gift 1964 Death Jim Reeves, U.S. country singer, dies in air crash at 39 1964 Event Supreme Court rules unconstitutional to deprive naturalized citizens of citizenship if they return to home country for more than 3 years 1964 Birthday Clinton Gregory, born in Martinsville, Virginia, singer, songwriter, recording artist, fiddler, country and bluegrass genres, recorded seven studio albums, chartered 11 Billboard Hot country Singles and Tracks, including Play, Ruby, Play, which reached no. 25 on the charts 1964 Birthday Skip Ewing, Redlands California, country vocalist, Coast of Colorado 1963 Event Merle Haggard 1st appearance on country chart with "Sing a Sad Song" 1963 Birthday Leslie Thompson, Burlington, Vermont, cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1963 Birthday Mark Chesnutt, born in Beaumont, Texas, country singer, Too Cold at Home 1963 Birthday Ingrid Butts, born in Denver, Colorado, cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1963 Event 63rd U.S. Golf Open: Julius Boros shoots a 293 at The Country Club Mass 1963 Death Hawkshaw Hawkins, country singer (Ozark Jubilee), dies at 41 1963 Death Patsy Cline, country singer (Crazy), dies in a plane crash at 30 1963 Birthday Travis Tritt, Marietta, Georgia, country vocalist, Country Club 1962 Birthday Christy Forester, Lookout Mt, Georgia, country singer, Forester Sister-Men 1962 Birthday Billy Dean, born in Quincy, Florida, country singer, Billy the Kid 1962 Event Uganda became a self-governing country 1962 Birthday Garth Brooks, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, country vocalist, No Fences 1962 Birthday Clint Black, born in Long Branch, New Jersey, country vocalist, A Better Man 1962 Birthday Trace Adkins, born in Springhill, Louisiana, country music singer, successful album 'Songs About Me' was certified double multi-platinum 1961 Event Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John" is 1st country song to get a gold record 1961 Event Jimmy Dean's Big Bad John album is country music 1st million $ seller 1961 Birthday k.d. lang, Kathy Dawn, Consort Alberta, country singer 1961 Birthday K. D. Lang, Consort, Alberta, country singer 1961 Birthday Billy Ray Cyrus, Flatwoods, Kentucky, country singer, Achy Breaky Heart 1961 Birthday Toby Keith, born in Clinton, Oklahoma, country singer, hit singles include, 'Should've Been a Cowboy', 'How Do You Like Me Now?', toured with the USO 1961 Birthday Todd Boonstra, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1961 Birthday Davis Daniel, born in Arlington Heights Illinois, country singer 1961 Birthday Iris DeMent, Paragould Ar, country singer, Our Town 1960 Death Johnny Horton, country singer, dies at 33 1960 Birthday Kim Forester, Lookout Mt, Georgia, country singer, Forester Sister-Men 1960 Birthday John Aalberg, Orland Norway, U.S. cross country skier 1994 Olympics 1960 Birthday Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard, Apopka, Florida, country singer, Betty's Bein' Bad 1960 Event Country of Katanga forms in Africa 1960 Event U.S. is 1st country to use the birth control pill legally 1960 Birthday Lionel Cartwright, Ohio, country vocalist, I Watched it on the Radio 1959 Birthday Billy Montana, Country/Western performer, No Yesterday, Angelia 1959 Birthday Lorrie Morgan, born in Nashville, Tennessee, country singer, Out of Your Shoes 1959 Birthday Kathy Mattea, country singer, Love at the Five and Dime 1959 Birthday Rupert Everett, actor, Princess Daisy, Another Country 1959 Birthday Randy Travis, Marshville, North Carolina, country singer, Diggin' Up Bones 1959 Birthday Dave Innis, born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, country singer, Restless Heart-Wheels 1959 Birthday Larry Stewart, born in Paducah, Kentucky, country singer, Restless Heart-Wheels 1958 Birthday Joe Diffie, Tulsa, Oklahoma, country singer/guitarist, Home 1958 Birthday Alan Jackson, born in Newnan, Georgia, country singer, Here in the Real World 1958 Birthday Tanya Tucker, Seminole, Texas, country singer and actress, Follow that Car 1958 Birthday Marty Stuart, Philadelphia, country singer, Hillbilly Rock 1958 Birthday Shelly West, born in Cleveland, Ohio, country singer, Red Hot, West by West 1958 Birthday William Stuart Adamson, born in Manchester, rock guitarist, Big Country 1958 Birthday Sammy Kershaw, Kaplan, Louisiana, country vocalist, Cadillac Style 1958 Birthday Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Princeton, New Jersey, country vocalist, This Shirt 1957 Birthday "Curley" Joe Smyth, country singer, Betty's Bein' Bad 1957 Birthday Holly Dunn, born in San Antonio, Texas, country singer, Daddy's Hands 1957 Birthday Pam Tillis, born in Plant City, Florida, singer, country music genre, daughter of Mel Tillis, album, 'Put Yourself in My Place' certified gold by the RIAA 1957 Birthday Cactus Moser, Montrose, Colorado, country singer, Highway 101-Cry Cry Cry 1957 Birthday Vince Gill, born in Norman, Oklahoma, country singer, When I Call Your Name 1957 Birthday Irlene Mandrell, born in Corpus Christi, Texas, country singer, Mandrell Sisters 1956 Birthday Lee Roy Parnell, Abilene Texas, country singer, Oughta be a Law 1956 Birthday Sylvia, Kokomo Indiana, country singer, Nobody 1956 Birthday Billy Smith, Reidsville, North Carolina, country singer, Billy and Terry Smith 1956 Birthday Lyle Lovett, born in Klein, Texas, country singer, God Will, Joshua Judges Ruth 1956 Birthday Dwight Yoakam, born in Pikeville, Kentucky, country singer, Honky Tonk Man 1956 Birthday June Forester, Chattanooga, Tennessee, country singer, Forester Sister-Men 1956 Birthday Joan Allen, Illinois, actress, Peggy Sue Got Married, Tucker, In Country 1956 Birthday Thomas Wassberg, born in Sweden, 15K/50K cross country skier 1980 Olympics gold 1956 Birthday Charly McClain, born in Jackson, Tennessee, country singer, Radio Heart 1956 Birthday Mark Collie, Waynesboro, Tennessee, country singer, Another Old Soldier 1955 Birthday Tish Hinojosa, San Antonia, Texas, country singer, Something in the Rain 1955 Event Johnny Cash debuts Top 10 country song "Cry! Cry! Cry!" 1955 Birthday Carlene Carter, born in Nashville, Tennessee, country singer, I Fell in Love 1955 Birthday Kevin Welch, California, country songwriter/actor, Thing Called Love 1955 Birthday Marja-Liisa Hamalainen, Finnish cross country skier, 3 Gold Medals 1984 Olympics, 4 Bronze Medals 1984, 1988, 1994 Olympics 1955 Birthday Jimmy Lowe, born in Nashville, Tennessee, country singer, Pirates of Ms-Fred Jake 1955 Birthday "Country" Jem Finer, English banjo player, Pogues-Straight to Hell 1955 Birthday Keith Whitley, Sandy Hook, Kentucky, country singer, Don't Close Your Eyes 1955 Birthday Rosanne Cash, born in Memphis, Tennessee, country singer, Seven Year Ache, I Wonder 1955 Birthday Mark Herndon, Springfield, Massachusetts, country drummer, Alabama-Take Me Down 1955 Birthday Reba McEntire, born in McAlester, Oklahoma, country singer, Can't Even Get the Blues 1955 Birthday Dean Dillon, born in Lake City, Tennessee, country singer, Chair 1955 Birthday Paul Overstreet, born in Van Cleave, Mississippi, country singer, Daddy's Come Around 1955 Birthday Clive Aslet, British editor, Country Life 1955 Birthday Steve Earle, born in San Antonio, Texas, country singer, Guitar Town 1955 Birthday Kathy Forester, Lookout Mt, Georgia, country singer, Forester Sister-Men 1954 Birthday Steve Wariner, Noblesville Indiana, country singer, Small Town Girl 1954 Birthday John Anderson, born in Apopka, Florida, country singer and actor, Lone Wolf McQuade 1954 Birthday Paul Gregg, country singer, Restless Heart-Wheels 1954 Birthday Danielle Alexander, Ft. Worth, Texas, country music pianist 1954 Birthday T Graham Brown, Arabi, Georgia, country singer, Come as you Were 1954 Birthday Greg Jennings, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, country singer, Restless Heart-Wheels 1954 Birthday Ricky Skaggs, born in Cordell, Kentucky, country singer, Heartbroke, Toy Hearts 1954 Birthday Louise Mandrell, born in Corpus Christi, Texas, country singer, Mandrell Sisters 1954 Birthday Ava Barber, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, country singer, Lawrence Welk Show 1954 Birthday James Henderson, country singer, Black Oak Arkansas 1954 Birthday Rob Crosby, born in Sumter, South Carolina, country singer, She's a Natural 1954 Birthday Jann Browne, country singer, Mexican Wind 1953 Birthday Deborah Allen, born in Memphis, Tennessee, country singer, Jim Stafford Show 1953 Birthday Hal Ketchum, born in Greenwich, New York, country singer, Small Town Saturday Night 1953 Birthday Michael Bonagura, born in Newark, New Jersey, country singer, Baille and Boys-Oh Heart 1953 Birthday Lucinda Williams, born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, singer, songwriter, wrote Grammy-Award-winning song, 'Passionate Kisses', recorded by Mary Chapin Carpenter, successful album, 'Car Wheels on a Gravel Road', combined country, blues, rock, Americana genres 1953 Death Hank Williams, country singer (Cold Cold Heart), dies at 29 1952 Birthday Pat Severs, Camden, South Carolina, country singer, Pirates of Miss-Fred Jake 1952 Birthday Steve Sanders, Richland, Georgia, country singer, Oak Ridge Boys-Elvira 1952 Birthday Rudy Gatlin, Olney, Texas, country singer, Gatlin Bros-Broken Lady 1952 Birthday Ulrich Wehling, born in East Germany, cross country, Gold Medal 1972, 1976, 1980 Olympics 1952 Event Betsy Rawls wins LPGA Cross Country Weathervane Golf Tournament 1952 Birthday George Strait, Pearsall, Texas, country singer, All My Exes Live in Texas 1952 Event German "Country" Bathe-Wurttemberg forms 1952 Birthday Jim Scholten, Midland, Michigan, country singer, Betty's Bein' Bad 1952 Birthday Raisa Smetanina, U.S.S.R., cross country skier, Gold Medal 1976, 1980, 1992 Olympics 1952 Birthday Teddy Gentry, Fort Payne, Alabama, country music star, Alabama - Mountain Music 1952 Birthday Ricky Van Shelton, country musician 1952 Birthday Ricky Van Shelton, Grit, Virginia, country singer, Wild-Eyed Dream 1951 Birthday Frank Beard, U.S. country rock drummer, ZZ Topp 1951 Birthday Ivar Formo, born in Norway, 50K cross country skier 1976 Olympics gold 1951 Birthday Dwight Twilley, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, country singer, Twilley Don't Mind 1951 Birthday Judy Rodman, Riverside California, country singer, Girls Ride Horses Too 1951 Birthday John Dittrich, born in Union, New Jersey, country singer, Restless Heart-Wheels 1951 Birthday Steve Gatlin, born in Olney, Texas, country singer, Gatlin Bros-Broken Lady 1951 Birthday Ray Benson, born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, country singer, House of Blue Lights 1951 Birthday Kathy Baillie, Morristown, New Jersey, country vocalist, Baille Boys-Oh Heart 1951 Birthday Yakov Smirnoff, born in Russia, comedian, It's a wonderful country 1951 Birthday Crystal Gayle, born in Kentucky, country singer, Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue 1950 Event Clifford Odet's "Country Girl," premieres in New York City 1950 Birthday Thomas Aldrich, country drummer, Black Oak Arkansas 1950 Birthday Rodney Crowell, born in Houston, Texas, country singer, She's Crazy for Leavin' 1950 Birthday Ronnie McDowell, born in Fountain Head, Tennessee, country singer, King is Gone 1950 Birthday Steve Hill, country vocalist, A Winning Hand 1950 Birthday David Lynn Jones, Bexar, Arkansas, country singer, Bonnie Jean 1949 Birthday Randy Owen, Fort Payne, Alabama, country music star, Alabama - Mountain Music 1949 Birthday Bonnie Raitt, born in Burbank, California, country singer, Green Light, The Glow 1949 Birthday Jack Daniels, Choctaw Oklahoma, country singer, Highway 101-Cry Cry Cry 1949 Birthday Martin Delray, Texarkana Ar, country singer, Get Rhythm, 1949 Birthday Jeff Cook, Fort Payne, Alabama, country guitar/vocalist, Alabama - Mountain Music 1949 Birthday Kene Holliday, born in New York City, actor, Tyler-Matlock, Carter Country 1949 Birthday Hank Williams, Jr., born in Shreveport, Louisiana, country singer, Honky Tonk 1949 Birthday Timothy Cordy, British director, Town and Country Planning Association 1949 Birthday Stanley Knight, country artist, Black Oak Arkansas-High on the Hog 1949 Birthday Marshall Chapman, Spartanburg, South Carolina, country singer 1948 Birthday Gary Morris, Ft. Worth, Texas, country singer and actor, Colbys 1948 Birthday Ricki Lee Reynolds, country singer, Black Oak Arkansas 1948 Birthday Chris LeDoux, Biloxi Mississippi, country singer, Ridin' for a Fall 1948 Birthday Gail Davies, born in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, country singer, Blue Heartache 1948 Birthday Joe Bonsall, Philadelphia, country singer, Oak Ridge Boys-Elvira 1948 Birthday Larry Gatlin, Seminole, Texas, country singer, Gatlin Bros-Broken Lady 1948 Birthday Paul Davis, born in Meridian, Michigan, country/rock vocalist, I Go Crazy 1948 Event 1st country music TV show, Midwestern Hayride, premieres on WLW Cin 1947 Birthday Lynn Anderson, ND, country singer, I Never Promised you a Rose Garden 1947 Birthday Mary Kay Place, Tulsa Oklahoma, actress/country singer, Mary Hartman! 1947 Birthday Rex Allen, Jr., Chicago, country singer, Nashville on the Road 1947 Birthday Jessi Colter, Miriam Johnson, Phoenix, country singer, I'm Not Lisa 1947 Birthday Mike Reid, Altoona Penn, country singer, Walk on Faith 1947 Birthday Emmylou Harris, born in Birmingham, Alabama, country singer, Together Again 1947 Birthday Tony Butler, rock bassist, Big Country-It's a Big Country, Wonderland 1947 Birthday Joe Ely, Amarillo, Texas, country vocalist, Honky Tonk Masquerade 1947 Birthday Jimmy Ibbotson, Penn, country singer, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 1946 Birthday Adriaan van Dis, Dutch TV host/writer, Promised Country 1946 Event German "Country" Nedersaksen forms 1946 Birthday Anne Murray, Springhill Nova Scotia, country singer, Snowbird 1946 Birthday Lacy J Dalton, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, country singer, Crazy Blue Eyes 1946 Birthday John Prine, Maywood, Illinois, country singer, Hello in There 1946 Birthday Jo-el Sonnier, Rayne, Louisiana, country singer, Louisiana 1946 Birthday John Conlee, Versailles, Kentucky, country singer, Common Man 1946 Birthday Dolly Rebecca Parton, Sevierville, Tennessee, country singer, Dolly, 9 to 5 1945 Birthday Donna Fargo, North Carolina, country singer, Happiest Girl in Whole USA 1945 Birthday Don Reid, Virginia, country singer, Statler Bros-Flowers on the Wall 1945 Birthday Gary Stewart, Latcher County, Kentucky, country singer, She's Actin' Single 1945 Birthday Misty Morgan, country keyboardist, duo with Jack Blanchard 1945 Birthday Stefan Grossman, born in New York City, country blues singer, Yazoo Basin Boogie 1945 Birthday Michael Martin Murphey, born in Dallas, Texas, country singer, Wildfire 1944 Birthday Eddie Rabbitt, Brooklyn, country singer, I Love a Rainy Night 1944 Birthday Kinky Friedman, Palestine, Texas, country rocker 1944 Birthday Eddy Raven, Lafayette, Louisiana, country singer, Right Hand Man 1944 Birthday Michael Johnson, born in Alamosa, Colorado, pop, guitarist, country, pop music, known for song, 'Bluer Than Blue' 1944 Birthday Guich Koock, born in Austin, Texas, actor, Harley Puckett-Carter Country 1944 Event Country singer Jimmie Davis becomes governor of Louisiana 1944 Birthday Moe Bandy, Meridian Ms, country vocalist, Just Good Ol' Boys 1944 Birthday Ronnie Milsap, born in Robbinsville, North Carolina, country singer, Legend in My Time 1943 Birthday John Denver, New Mexico, singer, 'Rocky Mountain High', 'Thank God He's a Country Boy' 1943 Birthday Gene Watson, Palestine, Texas, country singer, Heartaches, Love and Stuff 1943 Birthday [Susan] Tuesday Weld, New York City, actress, Dobie Gillis, Wild in Country 1943 Birthday Sammi Smith, born in Orange County, California, born Jewel Faye Smith, musician, songwriter, famous hit 'Help Me Make It Through the Night' written by Kris Kristofferson, part of 1970's 'outlaw country' movement 1943 Event Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes 1st U.S. President to visit a foreign country during wartime 1943 Event 1st president of a black country to visit U.S. (Edwin Barclay, Liberia) 1943 Birthday Duane Allen, born in Taylortown, Texas, country singer, Oak Ridge Boys-Elvira 1943 Birthday Richard Sterban, Camden, New Jersey, country singer, Oak Ridge Boys-Elvira 1943 Birthday Bob "Bear" Hite, California, vocalist, Canned Heat-Going Up the Country 1943 Event 1st U.S. President to visit a foreign country in wartime-FDR leaves for Casablanca, Morocco 1942 Birthday Earl Cate, Arkansas, country singers, Cate Bros-Fire on the Tracks 1942 Birthday Ernie Cate, Arkansas, country singers, Cate Bros-Fire on the Tracks 1942 Birthday Tammy Wynette, Redbay Alabama, country singer, Stand by your Man 1942 Birthday Billy Joe Royal, born in Valdosta, Georgia, country singer, Down in the Boondocks 1942 Birthday Jerry Jeff Walker, born in Oneonta, New York, country singer, Mr. Bojangles 1942 Birthday Slim Whitman, yoddler/country singer, Home on the Range 1942 Birthday Country Joe McDonald, California, rock guitarist and vocalist, & the Fish 1941 Birthday Helen Cornelius, Hannibal, Missouri, country singer, Nashville on the Road 1941 Birthday Doug Sahm, born in San Antonio, Texas, country singer, Texas Tornadoes-Dinero 1941 Birthday Guy Clark, Rockport, Texas, country singer, Heartbroke 1941 Birthday Earl Thomas Conley, Portsmouth, Ohio, country singer, Too Many Times 1941 Birthday Don Rich, Olympia Wash, guitarist/country singer, Hee Haw 1941 Birthday Bobby Hebb, born in Nashville, Tennessee, country singer and songwriter, Sunny 1941 Birthday K. T. Oslin, Crossett, country singer, 80's Ladies 1941 Event WPAT radio in New Jersey begins broadcasting (country music format) 1941 Birthday Franco Nones, Italy, 30K cross country skier, Gold Medal 1968 Olympics 1941 Birthday Sandy Denny, country singer, Fairport Convention-If You Gotta Go 1940 Birthday Ed Bruce, born in Keiser, Arkansas, country singer, Texas 1940 Birthday Lee Greenwood, country singer, God Bless the USA 1940 Birthday O. B. McClinton, Burnett, country singer, Keep your arms around me 1940 Birthday Johnny Russell, country singer 1940 Birthday Cristy Lane, U.S., country/gospel singer 1939 Birthday Claudia Boyarskikh, U.S.S.R., 5K/10K cross country 1964 Olympic gold 1939 Birthday David Allan Coe, country musician, Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy 1939 Birthday Don Williams, Floydada Texas, country singer, I Believe in You 1939 Event Billboard Magazine introduces hillbilly (country) music chart 1939 Birthday Toini Gustafson, born in Sweden, 5K/10K cross country skier, Gold Medal 1968 Olympics 1938 Birthday Duane Eddy, born in Phoenix, Arizona, country singer, Peter Gunn, Cannonball 1938 Birthday Charley Pride, born in Sledge, Mississippi, country singer, Sweet Country 1938 Event Artur Seyss-Inquart replaces Kurt von Schuschnigg as Chancellor of Austria; German troops also entered the country 1938 Birthday Lew DeWitt, born in Virginia, country singer, Statler Brothers-Flowers on the Wall 1938 Birthday Narvel Felts, country singer 1937 Birthday John Hartford, born in New York City, country singer, Gentle on My Mind 1937 Birthday Bill Anderson, country singer, Still, From This Pen 1937 Birthday Wanda Jackson, Maud Oklahoma, country singer, Let's Have a Party 1937 Birthday George Thoma, born in West Germany, cross country ski jumper 1960 Olympics gold 1937 Birthday Waylon Jennings, country singer/guitarist, Ramblin' Man 1937 Birthday Freddie Fender, born in Mexico, country singer, Feelings 1937 Birthday Merle Haggard, Bakersfield, California, country singer, Death Valley Days 1937 Birthday Billie Jo Spears, country singer 1936 Birthday Tom T. Hall, Olive Hill, Kentucky, country singer and writer, Harper Valley PTA 1936 Birthday Roger Whittaker, born in Nairobi, Kenya, country singer, Durham Town 1936 Birthday Mickey Gilley, born in Ferriday, Louisiana, country singer, Urban Cowboy 1936 Birthday Andrew Pine, Jennings, Florida, actor, V, WEB, Wide Country 1936 Death Dame Clara Butt, alto singer (Country of Hope and Glory), dies at 62 1936 Birthday Roger Miller, born in Ft. Worth, Texas, country singer, King of the Road, Dang Me 1935 Birthday David Houston, born in Bossier City, Louisiana, singer, country music, recorded hit 'Almost Pursuaded', and 'With One Exception', 'My Elusive Dreams' with Tammy Wynette 1935 Event 5th Ryder Cup: U.S., 9-3 at Ridgewood Country Club, New Jersey 1935 Birthday Jerry Lee Lewis, born in Feriday, Louisiana, country singer, Whole Lotta Shakin' 1935 Birthday Justin Tubb, born in San Antonio, Texas, country singer, Grand Ole Opry 1935 Birthday Bobby Bare, born in Irontown, Ohio, country singer, Detroit City 1935 Birthday Johnny Bush, country singer 1935 Event Iceland becomes 1st country to legalize abortion 1935 Birthday William Lee Gloden, Brewton Al, country singer, Oak Ridge Boys 1934 Birthday Vern Gosdin, Woodland Al, country singer, Set 'em Up Joe 1934 Birthday Jim "Ed" Brown, born in Sparkman, Arkansas, country singer, Nashville on the Road 1934 Birthday Bobby Lord, Sanford, Florida, country singer, Ozark Jubilee 1933 Birthday Jean Shepard, Pauls Valley Oklahoma, country singer, Ozark Jubilee 1933 Birthday Barbara Carson, born in Memphis, Tennessee, actress, Comedy Tonight, Carter Country 1933 Birthday Ian Tyson, born in British Columbia, Canada, singer, songwriter, guitarist, song 'Four Strong Winds' chosen as greatest Canadian song of all time, in Canada's Country Music Hall of Fame 1933 Birthday Conway Twitty, born in Mississippi, country singer, Hello Darlin' 1933 Death Jimmie Rodgers, country singer, dies at 35 1933 Birthday Willie Nelson, born in Abbott, Texas, country singer, On the Road Again 1933 Birthday Roy Clark, born in Meherrin, Virginia, country singer, Hee Haw 1933 Birthday Goldie Hill, Karnes County, Texas, country singer, Grand Ole Opry 1932 Birthday Dottie West, born in Nashville, Tennessee, country singer, Here Comes My Baby 1932 Birthday Dottie West, country singer 1932 Birthday Patsy Cline, born in Winchester, Virginia, country singer, Crazy 1932 Birthday Porter Wagoner, country singer, discovered Dolly Parton, Y'All Come 1932 Birthday Mel Tillis, born in Tampa, Florida, country singer, Who's Julie, M-M-Mel 1932 Birthday Johnny Cash, born in Kingsland, Arkansas, country singer, "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk the Line" 1932 Birthday Faron Young, country singer and actor, Hidden Guns, Daniel Boone 1932 Birthday Rick Hall, country/R&B singer 1931 Birthday Boxcar Willie, born in Red Oak, Texas, born Lecil Travis Martin, guitarist, American hobo music singer, sang country, gospel music 1931 Birthday Kenny Price, Florence, Kentucky, country singer, Midwestern Hayride, Hee Haw 1930 Birthday Sonja Ruthstrom, Swed, cross country relay skier 1960 Olympics gold 1930 Event 1st vehicular tunnel to a foreign country, Detroit - Windsor, opens 1930 Birthday Tommy Collins, Leonard Sipes, country singer, Don't Growl 1930 Birthday Doyle Holly, comedian/country performer, Buckaroos 1930 Birthday Derek Waring, actor, Barnacle Bill, Arthur-Heart of the Country 1930 Birthday Liz Anderson, born in Roseau, Minnesota, country music singer, songwriter, Grammy Award nominee, wrote hits for Merle Haggard 1929 Birthday Leroy Van Dyke, Spring Fork, Missouri, country singer, Walk on By 1929 Birthday Buck Owens, born in Sherman, Texas, country singer, Hee Haw 1929 Birthday Lee Hazelwood, born in Oklahoma, country singer and songwriter, Summer Wine, Jackson 1929 Birthday June Carter Cash, born in Maces Spring, Virginia, country singer, Johnny Cash Show 1929 Event Vatican City, world's smallest country, made an enclave of Rome 1929 Birthday Hallgeir Brenden, Norway, 15K/18K cross country, Gold Medal 1952, 1956 Olympics 1929 Birthday Billy Walker, born in Ralls, Texas, country singer, Ozark Jubilee 1928 Birthday Michael Blakemore, British theater director, Country Life 1928 Birthday Dave Bowen, born in Maesteg, Glamorgan, Wales, Welsh football player, manager, captain, led country to win 1958 World Cup finals 1927 Birthday Ferlin Husky, country singer, Born to Lose, Gone 1927 Birthday Mose Allison, Tippo Mississippi, jazz artist, Black Country Suite 1927 Birthday Charlie Louvin, Rainsville Ala, country singer, Louvin Brothers 1927 Birthday Harvey Vernon, born in Flint, Michigan, actor, Jasper-Carter Country 1927 Birthday Cecil Bodker, born in Fredericia, Denmark, writer, won Mildred L. Batchelder Award for her book titled, The Leopard, considered the most outstanding book originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, then published in the United States 1927 Birthday Carl Smith, born in Maynardville, Tennessee, country singer, Grand Ole Opry 1927 Birthday Claude Laydu, actress, Diary of a Country Priest 1927 Birthday Ralph Stanley, country singer 1926 Birthday Jerry Clower, Amite County Mississippi, country comedian, Nashville on Road 1926 Birthday Webb Pierce, born in West Monroe, Louisiana, country singer, Ozark Jubilee 1926 Birthday "Alvin" Junior Samples, born in Cummings, Georgia, country singer, Hee Haw 1926 Birthday Ray Price, country singer, Good Times 1925 Birthday Jimmy Dickens, Bolt, West Virginia, country singer, Grand Ole Opry 1925 Event French occupation force begins evacuating country 1925 Birthday Marvin Rainwater, born in Wichita, Kansas, country singer, Ozark Jubilee 1925 Birthday Veikko Hakulinen, Finland, 30K/50K cross country skier, Gold Medals 1952, 1956, 1960 Olympics, Silver Medals 1956, 1960 Olympics, Bronze Medal 1960 Olympics 1924 Birthday Siiri Rantanen, Finland, cross country skier 1956 Olympics gold 1924 Birthday Jim Reeves, U.S. country singer and actor, Gun Fury, Kimberley Jim 1924 Birthday Lola Albright, born in Akron, Ohio, actress, Delta Country, Kid Galahad 1924 Birthday Ira Louvin, born in Rainsville, Alabama, country singer, Louvin Brothers 1924 Death Lionel Monckton, English composer (Country Girl), dies at 62 1923 Birthday Hank Williams, country singer, Cold, Cold Heart, Hey Good Lookin' 1923 Event Recording of 1st country music hit (Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane) 1923 Birthday Kenneth "Jethro" Burns, country singer, Homer and Jethro 1923 Event Lithuania seizes and annexes country of Memel 1922 Event WOI (Ames, Iowa) country's 1st licensed educational radio station 1921 Birthday Hawkshaw Hawkins, Huntington, West Virginia, country singer, Ozark Jubilee 1921 Birthday Alain Mimoun O'Kacha, Algerian/French cross country, Gold Medal 1956 Olympics 1920 Birthday Lydia Wideman, Finland, 10K cross country skier 1952 Olympics gold 1920 Birthday Jethro Burnsburns, country singer, Homer and Jethro 1919 Birthday Kitty Wells, born in Nashville, Tennessee, country singer, Grand Ole Opry 1919 Birthday Tennessee Ernie Ford, Bristol, Tennessee, country vocalist/actor, pea picker 1918 Birthday Eddy Arnold, born in Tennessee, best-selling, longest-running, country music singer, helped create Nashville sound 1917 Event U.S. becomes 13th country to declare war on Austria during World War I 1917 Birthday Simon Slattvik, Norway, cross country ski jumper 1952 Olympics gold 1917 Birthday Elton Britt, Marshall, Arkansas, country singer, Sat Night Jamboree 1914 Birthday Jim Boyd, country/western performer 1914 Event Lord Kitchner says "Your country needs you," poster spreads over UK 1914 Birthday Hank Snow, Nova Scotia, Canada, country singer, I Went to Your Wedding 1914 Birthday Pee Wee King, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, country vocalist, Pee Wee King Song 1914 Birthday Jimmy Wakely, Mineola, Arkansas, country vocalist, 5 Star Jubilee 1914 Birthday Lester Flatt, country musician, Flatt and Scruggs 1913 Event President Wilson says U.S. will never attack another country 1913 Birthday Grandpa [Louis M] Jones, Niagra, Kentucky, country musician, Hee-Haw 1913 Event 19th U.S. Golf Open: Francis Ouimet shoots a 304 at The Country Club MA 1913 Event New country of Albania, forms 1913 Birthday Mary Durack, born in Adelaide, Australia, poet, author, historian, wrote Kings in Grass Castles and Keep Him My Country 1912 Birthday Lawrence Durrell, Indian/British writer, Private Country 1911 Birthday Bill Monroe, Rosine, Kentucky, country singer, Blue Moon of Kentucky 1910 Birthday Jacquetta Hawker, English archaeologist/author, A Country 1910 Birthday Red Foley, born in Blue Lick, Kentucky, country singer, Mr Smith Goes to Washington 1909 Birthday Maybelle Carter, born in Nickelsville, Virginia, country singer, Johnny Cash Show 1908 Birthday Oddbjorn Hagen, Norway, cross country jumper 1936 Olympics gold 1907 Birthday Merle Travis, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, country singer, 16 Tons 1907 Event Finland is 1st European country to give women the right to vote 1906 Event Roosevelt becomes 1st U.S. President to visit a foreign country (Panama) 1906 Birthday Tex Ritter, Texas, country singer, 5 Star Jubilee, Wayward Wind 1905 Birthday Andre Christiaens, Flemish writer, Unfindable Country 1904 Birthday Wilf Carter, country singer 1903 Death Wilhelm von Polenz, German author (Country of Zukunft), dies 1903 Birthday Roy Acuff, born in Maynardville, Tennessee, country musician, 'Hee Haw' 1903 Birthday Alan Paton, South Africa, writer, Cry, the Beloved Country 1902 Event Denmark is 1st country to adopt fingerprinting to identify criminals 1899 Birthday Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Texas, actor, Hoedown, Country Fair, Blackmail 1897 Birthday Jimmie Rodgers, Mendoza Mississippi, country singer/singing brakeman 1896 Event London Country Councils' Muzzling Order becomes effective 1895 Birthday Lin Yutang, born in China, writer, 'My Country and My People' 1893 Event New Zealand is 1st country to grant all its women the right to vote 1893 Birthday Frank Carlson, born in Cloud Country, Kansas, Governor of Kansas 1947 - 1950, Representative and Senator-R-Kansas 1889 Birthday Uncle Art Satherly, entertainer, 1968 Academy of Country Music Award 1888 Birthday Georges Bernanos, France, novelist, Diary of a Country Priest 1886 Death Conrad Busken Huet, writer (Country of Rubens) 1885 Birthday Charles Carson, born in London, England, actor, Cry the Beloved Country 1873 Birthday Clara Butt, Southwick Sussex, contralto, Country of Hope and Glory 1865 Birthday George C Pearce, actor, Country Kid, British Agent, Valiant 1864 Event 1st export of goods from Burrard Inlet, BC to a foreign country 1857 Birthday Henrik Pontoppidan, born in Denmark, writer, Promised Country, Nobel 1917 1849 Birthday Sarah Orne Jewett, born in Maine, author, Country of the Pointed Firs 1846 Event Oregon country divided between U.S. and Britain at 49th parallel 1845 Event George Abernethy becomes 1st governor of Oregon Country 1843 Event Committee of 9 appointed to establish civil government in Oregon Country 1843 Event U.S. and British settlers in Oregon Country choose government committee 1834 Event Provisional government forms in Oregon Country 1826 Birthday Conrad Busken Huet, Dutch vicar/literary, Country of Rubens 1824 Event Freed American slaves forms country of Liberia 1822 Birthday Edward Everett Hale, U.S., clergyman/author, Man without a Country 1819 Event Spain renounces claims to Oregon Country, Florida (Adams-Onis Treaty) 1818 Event U.S. and Britain agree to joint control of Oregon country 1816 Event France decrees Bonaparte family excluded from the country forever 1811 Event Venezuela, 1st South American country to gain independence from Spain 1811 Birthday George Caleb Bingham, U.S., politician/painter, Country Election 1793 Event France becomes 1st country to use the metric system 1784 Birthday John McLoughlin, Hudson's Bay Co pioneer in Oregon Country 1755 Birthday Nathan Hale, hanged patriot, had but one life to give for his country 1751 Event 1st publication of Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard" 1733 Event England passes Molasses Act, putting high tariffs on rum and molasses imported to the colonies from a country other than British possessions 1716 Birthday Thomas Gray, English poet, Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard 1716 Death William Wycherley, dramatist (The Country Wife), dies at about 75 1518 Birthday Elizabeth Talbot, countess of Shrewsbury/builder of country houses 1215 Event English barons serve ultimatum on king John without Country 1202 Event King Philip II throws out John without Country, from France 1061 Event Halley's Comet sparks English monk to predict country'll be destroyed
