Willie Does it for 10 Years Straight This Day in Country Music – August 13th (Video)

Most artists record success by the number of “weeks” on the chart.  Not Willie Nelson.

1988 – Willie Nelson becomes the first artist ever to have an album spend 10 years on the Billboard country chart as “Stardust” logs its 520th week.

2011 – As Sugarland prepares to take the stage, a wind gust collapses the stage at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis. Seven people eventually die and another 45 are treated for injuries.

2009 – Toby Keith’s “American Ride” video debuts on CMT.com.

2002 – The Dixie Chicks give a private show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, playing their album “Home” in its entirety in sequential order. In the audience: Marty Stuart, Ty Herndon, Little Big Town and Tim O’Brien.

1994 – John Michael Montgomery nabs a #1 country single in Billboard with “Be My Baby Tonight”.

1991 – Arista releases Brooks & Dunn’s debut album, “Brand New Man”.

1988 – Keith Whitley collects his first #1 country single in Billboard with “Don’t Close Your Eyes”.

1978 – Drummer Mike Melancon born in Ecurces, Quebec. He provides a foundation for the Alberta-based band Emerson Drive, which makes its entry into American consciousness with the 2002 single “I Should Be Sleeping”.

1973 – Andy Griggs born in Monroe, Louisiana. Influenced by Waylon Jennings and Bob Seger, his 1999 debut album nets hits with the Pure Prairie League-like “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely” and the sensitive “She’s More”.

1967 – Producer Michael Knox born. He oversees Jason Aldean’s hits, plus such titles as Trace Adkins’ “This Ain’t No Love Song” and Josh Thompson’s “Beer On The Table”.

1966 – The David Houston classic “Almost Persuaded” goes to #1 on the Billboard country chart.

1924 – Vernon Dalhart records “The Wreck Of The Old ’97″ and “The Prisoner’s Song.” The two sides comprise the first million-selling single in country music history.