Neal McCoy Is A-Ok In Afghanistan This Day In Country Music – December 30th

2010 - Trace Adkins sings the national anthem and Ashton Shepherd performs "God Bless America" at the Music City Bowl at Nashville's LP Field. The North Carolina Tar Heels beat the Tennessee Volunteers, 30-27, in double overtime.

2004 - Boston Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon marries Michelle Mangan at the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Damon walks down the aisle to the strains of Brooks & Dunn's "Brand New Man".

2001 - Neal McCoy joins Wayne Newton and comedian Drew Carey in performing for American troops at the Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan, part of the USO's Deliver America Tour.

1984 - Gary Morris' run in a New York production of the opera "La Boheme" ends after 2-1/2 months.

1962 - Brenda Lee suffers a minor eye injury and has her hair singed when she tries unsuccessfully to rescue her poodle, CeeCee, from a house fire in Nashville. Lee's nine-room home, valued at $37,000 is destroyed along with $25,000 worth of clothing.

1956 - Suzy Bogguss born in Aledo, Illinois. She earns respect for her easy-going vocal skills and adept song selection in the 1990s, gaining thoughtful hits with "Outbound Plane," "Just Like The Weather," "Aces" and "Letting Go".

1950 - Lefty Frizzell makes his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, singing "If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time" and "I Love You A Thousand Ways".

1944 - Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys appear on the Grand Ole Opry, causing a stir when Monte Mountjoy's drum set is moved onto the stage at the last minute. Drums were previously not allowed. Their first number is "New San Antonio Rose".

1937 - John Hartford born in New York. The multi-instrumentalist works primarily in bluegrass throughout his career, though he writes Glen Campbell's "Gentle On My Mind".

1931 - Skeeter Davis born in Dry Ridge, Kentucky. She earns her first hit in 1953 with Betty Jack Davis (they are unrelated), who dies in a car accident. Skeeter goes on to Grand Ole Opry membership and a solo career that peaks with 1962's "The End Of The World".