September 7th: On this day
1949
"Lovesick Blues" by Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys was at #1 on the US singles chart. The song first appeared in the 1922 musical Oh, Ernest and was recorded by Emmet Miller in 1928 and later by country music singer Rex Griffin.
1950
Born on this day was American country music songwriter Mark Sanders. He has written 15 #1 hits, including the famous Lee Ann Womack single "I Hope You Dance", co-written with Tia Sillers. Sanders' first songwriting credits included tracks on Garth Brooks' 1990 album No Fences. He also wrote singles for Diamond Rio, Tracy Lawrence, and John Anderson.
1956
Born on this day in Van Nuys, Los Angeles was songwriter Diane Warren. She has won a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, three consecutive Billboard Music Awards for Songwriter of the Year, and has been nominated for eleven Academy Awards. Warren has written songs for many Country artists including: LeAnn Rimes, Travis Tritt, Trisha Yearwood, Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill.
1961
George Jones scored his second Country #1 single with "Tender Years." The song spent seven non consecutive weeks at #1 and a total of 32 weeks on the Country chart.
1977
Crystal Gayle was at #1 on the US Country chart with "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". The song was written by Richard Leigh and first appeared on Gayle's 1977 album, We Must Believe in Magic. The song became Gayle's first, (and biggest), crossover pop hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks, and won the singer a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. In 1999, the song was recognized by ASCAP as one of the ten most-performed songs of the 20th century.
1985
Rosanne Cash was at #1 on the Billboard country chart with I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me, a song she wrote with her then-husband Rodney Crowell. Her fourth Country #1 later won a Grammy Award.
1991
Dottie West's funeral was held at Nashville's Christ Church. West was honored by her granddaughters with an original song paying tribute to her, which was played at the funeral. Steve Wariner sang "Amazing Grace" during the services. Kenny Rogers eulogized her in a speech: "When she sang about pain, she felt pain; when she sang about love, she felt love; when she sang about beauty, she felt that beauty. While some performers sang words, she sang emotions." West was then buried at Mount View Cemetery in her hometown of McMinnville.
1992
A Lot about Livin' (and a Little 'bout Love) the third studio album by Alan Jackson was at #1 on the Country chart. The album peaked at #13 on the US Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top Country Albums, becoming Alan Jackson's first #1 country album.
2003
The Farm Aid 03, benefit concert took place at the Germain Amphitheater, Columbus, Ohio. Held to raise money for family farmers in the US, the concerts were organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Artists who appeared included: Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Emmylou Harris, Hootie & the Blowfish, Los Lonely Boys, Sheryl Crow, Brooks & Dunn, Titty Bingo, Trick Pony, Billy Bob Thornton and Daniel Lanois.
2004
Alan Jackson released his twelfth studio album What I Do which gave him his seventh US Country chart topper.
2022
Morgan Wallen was at No.1 on the County Music chart with Dangerous: The Double Album. The album also spent a total of ten weeks at No.1 on the Billboard 200 and ended up becoming the best-selling album for the first half of 2021.
2023
Zach Bryan was arrested by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for obstruction after getting into an argument with a highway patrol officer in Vinita, Oklahoma. He was later released on bail.