KICKS 105 THE COUNTRY LEADER » willie nelson

Thousands Brave the Rain to Enjoy Willie Nelson + More at 2013 Taste of Country Festival – Day 1 Pictures

Taste of Country Staff — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:20:54 +0000

Heavy rain showers didn't stop country music fans who'd come from all over to see Willie Nelson on Thursday night. Thousands packed Hunter Mountain in New York for the inaugural Taste of Country Music Festival. Ponchos, umbrellas, cold beverages and great country music kept fans in good spirits while the LoCash Cowboys, Parmalee and Nelson took the stage.

Willie's Takes Georgia to Number One This Day in Country Music – June 10th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:07:03 +0000

1978 – Willie Nelson’s remake of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia On My Mind” tops the Billboard country chart. 2012 – Wynonna Judd marries Highway 101 drummer Cactus Moser at her home in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. 2009 – Alan Jackson gives a free concert at Nashville’s Cadillac Ranch to celebrate two decades since signing his [...]

Family Scandal Gets Jerry Lee Booted From Britain This Day in Country Music – May 22nd (Video)

Sean Ericson — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:08:58 +0000

1958 – Jerry Lee Lewis arrives in London, where he admits he’s married his teenage cousin, Myra. He’s booed offstage and forced to cancel 34 of his 37 scheduled concerts. 2012 – Pistol Annies’ Angaleena Presley marries tour manager Jordan Powell in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 2011 – Reba McEntire, Jean Shepard and songwriter [...]

Back To Basics Music is Best This Day in Country Music – May 21st (Video)

Sean Ericson — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:04:46 +0000

1977 – Waylon Jennings’ “Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love)” begins a six-week run at #1 on the Billboard country chart. 2012 – Gloriana is featured on ABC-TV’s “The Bachelorette” performing “(Kissed You) Good Night” as contestant Emily Maynard enjoys a first date. 2008 – Capitol releases Darius Rucker’s first country [...]

Willie Nelson Gives Big to Devastated West, Texas Area Following Explosion

Christina Vinson — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:30:43 +0000

Willie Nelson has made a lasting and memorable contribution to country music, solidifying his status as an icon. At 80, he continues to make himself known — not only in music, but also as a kind heart. The singer recently turned his birthday bash into a benefit for the victims of last month’s West, Texas fertilizer [...]

Carrie Welcomed Into The Opry This Day in Country Music – May 10th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:03:45 +0000

2008 – Carrie Underwood is inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, introduced by Garth Brooks. She performs “Last Name,” “All-American Girl” and “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” the latter with backing vocals by Vince Gill. 2007 – Sugarland’s “Everyday America” video makes its debut on CMT. 2005 – Capitol releases Dierks Bentley’s “Modern Day [...]

#1 Is On Willie's Mind This Day In Country Music – May 8th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:17:12 +0000

1982 – Willie Nelson’s “Always On My Mind” reaches #1 on the Billboard country chart. 2012 – Lady Antebellum performs “Wanted You More” on the season finale of NBC’s “The Voice.” One of Blake Shelton’s team members, Jermaine Paul, is voted the winner. 2005 – Mindy McCready is taken to a Nashville hospital after [...]

Garth Sets Records This Day in Country Music – April 24th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:35:05 +0000

1991 – Garth Brooks wins a record six times in the 26th annual Academy Of Country Music awards on NBC. His haul includes Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist; Album (“No Fences”); Single Record (“Friends In Low Places”); and Song and Video (“The Dance”). 2012 – Curb releases Lee Brice’s “Hard To Love” [...]

Willie Nelson Using Birthday Concert to Benefit West, Texas Victims

Christina Vinson — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:00:12 +0000

There are many country music artists who are reeling from the recent tragic explosion in West, Texas at the West Fertilizer Co. It hits especially close to home for the iconic Willie Nelson, as the accident happened in a town six miles south of his hometown of Abbott, Texas. The legend taking action and turning his 80th birthday celebration into a benefit concert for the West Volunteer Fire Department.

Back To Back Gilley This Day in Country Music – March 8th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:57:35 +0000

1936 – Mickey Gilley born in Natchez, Mississippi. A piano-playing cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis and Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, he becomes a ballad singer during the Urban Cowboy era, in which his club, Gilley’s, plays a central role. 2011 – RCA releases the Sara Evans album “Stronger”. 2007 – Carrie Underwood sings “Wasted” during [...]

The Hag's First #1 This Day in Country Music – March 4th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:00:05 +0000

1967 – Merle Haggard goes to #1 on the Billboard chart for the first time… with “The Fugitive”. 2010 – Rascal Flatts has a guest role on CBS-TV’s “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” The script has bass player Jay DeMarcus electrocuted in the opening scene as the band plays “Unstoppable”. 2008 – Arista releases Alan [...]

The Red Headed Stranger Arrives in Austin This Day in Country Music – February 19th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:00:09 +0000

1987 – Willie Nelson’s movie “Red Headed Stranger” premieres in Austin. Among those attending: Morgan Fairchild, Floyd Tillman and football coach Darrell Royal. Here is a classic performance of one of the most popular songs from that movie! 2006 – Carrie Underwood performs at halftime of the NBA All-Star Game, a 122-120 victory for the [...]

A Double Shot For Willie This Day in Country Music – February 15th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:10:34 +0000

1979 – Willie Nelson wins two trophies during the 21st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles: Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for “Georgia On My Mind”; and Best Country Vocal Duo or Group–shared with Waylon Jennings–for “Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys”. 2012 – Contestant Skylar Laine gets compared to Reba [...]

Willie Nelson Sets Release Date for New 'Let's Face the Music and Dance' Album

Cory Stromblad — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:00:04 +0000

Willie Nelson is almost 80, but the country superstar will stay as relevant as ever with the release of 'Let's Face the Music and Dance,' a collection of one of the prolific entertainer's favorites. The project will include classics from a wide range of genres, including songs by Irving Berlin, Carl Perkins, Django Reinhardt and Spade Cooley.

Blake Pulls a Double This Day in Country Music – January 9th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:31:56 +0000

2012 – Blake Shelton nets gold and platinum. The single was “God Gave Me You”. Nice intro for Miranda in this video. 2009 – Valory releases Justin Moore’s “Small Town USA” to radio. The song references Hank Williams Jr., David Allan Coe and “Sweet Home Alabama”. 2007 – Rascal Flatts’ “Life Is A Highway” [...]

Willie Shot at County Line This Day in Country Music – December 26th (video)

Sean Ericson — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:06:40 +0000

2001 – Willie Nelson and Lee Ann Womack shoot the video to “Mendocino County Line” in Austin, Texas. 2007 – Capitol releases Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This” to radio. 1996 – Johnny Cash is hailed on CBS-TV’s “The Kennedy Center Honors,” featuring Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson and Lyle Lovett. 1992 – Vince [...]

Toby is Yout Daddy, This Day in Country Music – December 21st (video)

Sean Ericson — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:26:29 +0000

2002 – “Who’s Your Daddy?” lands Toby Keith at #1 on the Billboard country chart. 2001 – Josh Turner makes his Grand Ole Opry debut, performing “Long Black Train”. 1985 – George Strait’s “The Chair” sits at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart. 1984 – Singer-songwriter Eric Gunderson born. He becomes an [...]

LBT Vistit The LWC This Day in Country Music – November 28th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:03:44 +0000

2006 – Little Big Town’s Kimberly Roads marries Stephen Schlapman on a Caribbean island. Witnessing the moment are her bandmates: Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook–who married each other six months earlier–and Phillip Sweet. 2011 – Big Machine releases Taylor Swift’s “Ours” to radio. 2005 – Lee Ann Womack collects a gold album for “There’s [...]

Willie "Busted" Again, This Day in Country Music (Video)

Sean Ericson — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:03:46 +0000

2010 – Willie Nelson is arrested in Sierra Blanca, Texas, for possession of six ounces of marijuana. He is released after posting $2,500 bond. 2011- Jennifer Nettles marries Justin Miller in east Tennessee with Sugarland partner Kristian Bush in attendance. 2009 – Billy Currington sings “People Are Crazy” on a train float in the [...]

Country Takes The Big Screen… Again. This Day in Country Music – November 8th (Video)

Sean Ericson — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:58:04 +0000

2010 – The movie “Country Strong,” starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw, premieres at Nashville’s Green Hills 16 theaters, drawing Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, Dierks Bentley, Mark Collie, Jerrod Niemann and Little Big Town. 2009 – Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels, Ernest Tubb, Kid Rock and Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess–founder of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge–are inducted into [...]