April 19th: On this day

1940
Born on this day in Nashville, Tennessee, was Bobby Russell, singer and songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he charted five singles on the Hot Country Songs charts. "Little Green Apples" won Russell the 1969 Grammy Award for Song of the Year and the Grammy Award for Best Country Song.

1969
Glen Campbell was at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with the Jimmy Webb song "Galveston", which also made #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song describes a soldier waiting to go into battle who thinks of the woman he loves and his hometown of Galveston, Texas: "I still hear your sea waves crashing/as I watch the cannons flashing/ I clean my gun/And dream of Galveston." In 2003, this song ranked #8 in CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.

1980
For the first time in chart history, the top 5 positions on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart were held (or co-held) by female artists. "It's Like We Never Said Goodbye" by Crystal Gayle, "A Lesson in Leavin'" by Dottie West, "Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again" by Debby Boone, "Beneath Still Waters" by Emmylou Harris and "Two Story House" by Tammy Wynette (Duet with George Jones).

1984
Born on this day in Center Ridge, Arkansas was singer, guitarist, and songwriter Matt Stell. His 2019 single "Prayed for You" was a #1 US Country Airplay hit.

1993
Under the heading Unchained Melodies, USA Today printed a report about 2,800 never before released tapes that were discovered at a Nashville auction. The tapes, dating between 1953 and 1971, were rumoured to contain material by Bob Dylan, Johhny Cash, Roy Orbison, Tammy Wynette, Charlie Rich and other artists. Sony Music later filed a lawsuit preventing the tapes being released, claiming they belong to them.

1995
The Eagles played the first of two shows at Nashville's Starwood Amphitheatre. The celebrity-packed audience included; Reba McEntire, Clay Walker, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Doug Supernaw, Steve Winwood, Lorrie Morgan and Diamond Rio's Brian Prout.

2007
News sources confirmed that actor Jeff Bridges had signed a recording contract with jazz music label Blue Note Records. He was set to work with producer T-Bone Burnett and would release his debut album in 2011. Bridges previously won an Oscar for his portrayal of a country music singer-songwriter.

2014
Country singer Kevin Sharp passed away at his mother's California home after a long-running and high-profile battle with cancer, he died from complications from surgery. He was 43. Sharp made his debut on the country music scene in 1997 with a cover of R&B artist Tony Rich's single "Nobody Knows", a cover which topped the Billboard country charts for four weeks.

2015
Winners at this years 50th Annual ACM Awards included: Luke Bryan, who won Entertainer of the year, Jason Aldean won Male Vocalist of the year, Miranda Lambert won Female vocalist of the year and Album of the year for Platinum, as well as Song of the year for "Automatic". Vocal Duo winners were Florida Georgia Line, and New Artist of the year went to Cole Swindell.