Idol Hits A Home Run This Day in Country Music

2009 - Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis duet on "I Told You So" ...and Brad Paisley sings "Then" from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles during FOX-TV's "American Idol".

2006 - Kenny Chesney begins a three-week ride at #1 in Billboard with "Living In Fast Forward," written by David Lee Murphy.

2003 - The Dixie Chicks' "Home" album is certified for shipments of 6 million copies.

2000 - Toby Keith begins a five-week stay at #1 in Billboard with "How Do You Like Me Now?!".

1996 - Arista releases Brooks & Dunn's "My Maria".

1989 - Ricky Van Shelton's remake of "From A Jack To A King" aces the Billboard country chart.

1985 - Kris Kristofferson is inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York.

1974 - Jaron Lowenstein is born in Tucker, Georgia. With his twin, he's part of the pop duo Evan & Jaron before earning a country hit with "Pray For You" in 2010 under the name Jaron And The Long Road To Love.

1974 - Phillip Sweet is born in Pocahontas, Arkansas. He joins Little Big Town, a quartet whose strong harmonies are essential to its signature hits, "Boondocks," "Little White Church," "Tornado" and "Pontoon".

1964 - Keyboard player Scott Saunders is born in Fort Worth, Texas. He joins the Waco band Sons Of The Desert, whose 1997 debut album nets hits with "Whatever Comes First" and "Leaving October".

1938 - Charley Pride is born in Sledge, Mississippi. After pursuing a career in baseball, he becomes the first African-American to have consistent success as a country singer, notching more than 50 hit records on his way to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Information provided by: RolandNote.com