2010 - Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles hosts the ABC special "CMA Country Christmas" with Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker and Little Big Town.

 

2007 - Gary Allan earns a gold album for his "Greatest Hits".

 

2006 - Trick Pony performs at the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas. The show marks Heidi Newfield's final tour stop as a member of the trio.

 

2001 - Lee Ann Womack kicks off a unique Christmas tour in Sewell, New Jersey, performing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

 

1997 - Little Jimmy Dickens retires from touring, performing on the road for what he says will be the last time in Lexington, South Carolina.

 

1994 - "The Tractors" becomes the first album to go platinum for a country act that's never gone on tour.

 

1994 - Brooks & Dunn's "Brand New Man" becomes the first album by a country duo certified quadruple-platinum, while their "Hard Workin' Man" album goes triple-platinum.

 

1961 - The Grand Ole Opry comes to Carnegie Hall, with Patsy Cline, Grandpa Jones, Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl, Marty Robbins, Jim Reeves, Faron Young and The Jordanaires. The show benefits the Musicians' Aid Society. In the crowd: Jimmy Dean and comic Jack Benny.

 

1959 - "The Battle Of New Orleans" wins Song of the Year for composer Jimmy Driftwood and Best Country & Western Performance for Johnny Horton at the second annual Grammy Awards.

 

1917 - Merle Travis born in Rosewood, Kentucky. He becomes an influential guitarist, records several late-1940s hits, and writes "Sixteen Tons" and "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" on his way to membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

 

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