2009 - Steel Magnolia is introduced on the season premiere of CMT's competition "Can You Duet." Judges for the season include Big Kenny, Naomi Judd and Big Machine executive Scott Borchetta.

2007 - The Academy of Country Music presents the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award to Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Don Williams and songwriter Harlan Howard at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville. Buck Owens receives the Jim Reeves International Award.

 

2005 - Gretchen Wilson receives the key to the city of Pocahontas, Illinois, when she returns to her hometown to cut the ribbon on a new ball field concession stand she donated to the community. The event takes place at the recently renamed Gretchen Wilson Park.

1997 - Merle Haggard, George Jones and Johnny Paycheck perform together in concert for the first time for the closing day of Fan Fair, at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville. They team for "Yesterday's Wine".

 

1995 - MCA releases George Jones & Tammy Wynette's "One" album, their first duet collection in 15 years.

 

1980 - Drummer Chris Thompson born in Bend, Oregon. He provides the backbeat for the Texas-based Eli Young Band, which earns a Top 15 hit with the 2008 single "Always The Love Songs".

 

1979 - Chuck Wicks born in Dover, Delaware. Introduced on the 2007 FOX-TV show "Nashville," he becomes the first Delaware-born singer to reach country's Top 15 with "Stealing Cinderella".

 

1967 - Singer and guitarist Dan Tyminski born in Vermont. He joins Alison Krauss' Union Station, performing on "When You Say Nothing At All," and singing lead on The Soggy Bottom Boys' "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow".

 

1945 - Anne Murray born in Springhill, Nova Scotia. Her warm, easy-going vocals snare a number of pop-slanted successes from 1970-1986, including "Snowbird," "You Needed Me," "Shadows In The Moonlight" and "Now And Forever (Me And You)".

 

1924 - Chet Atkins born in Luttrell, Tennessee. The consummate guitarist, he develops a successful career as an instrumentalist, but also runs RCA Records' country division and helps create the Nashville Sound, entering the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973.

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