2009 - Sugarland performs "Silent Night" with Jennifer Hudson on a Christmas edition of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Tim McGraw joins Alicia Keys on John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)".

 

2002 - "These Days" propels Rascal Flatts to its first #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.

 

2002 - Brad Paisley's "I Wish You'd Stay" video premieres on CMT's "Most Wanted Live".

 

2000 - Two country artists are nominated in each of the three musical categories for the People's Choice Awards: Garth Brooks and George Strait, male nominees; Shania Twain and Faith Hill, female; and The Dixie Chicks and Alabama, band.

 

1996 - Mark Wills marries Kelly Mangus near Atlanta, Georgia.

 

1995 - Martina McBride joins the Grand Ole Opry during the taping of a CBS-TV special, "Grand Ole Opry 70th Anniversary Celebration," at the Opry House.

 

1990 - Garth Brooks receives the first of many multi-platinum certifications, as the "No Fences" album goes double-platinum.

 

1975 - Mindy McCready born in Fort Myers, Florida. Her sassy, confident approach nets late-1990s hits with "Ten Thousand Angels" and "Guys Do It All The Time," but she falls into a publicly reported downward spiral a decade later.

 

1974 - John Denver's "Back Home Again" resides at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.

 

1937 - Record executive and producer Jimmy Bowen born in Santa Rita, New Mexico. A controversial figure, he works for MCA, Elektra and Capitol, producing hits for George Strait, Reba McEntire, Eddie Rabbitt and Hank Williams Jr., among others.

 

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