June 18th: On this day

1944
Born on this day in Jasper, Alabama was singer Sandy Posey. She had her first hit with "Born a Woman", which reached #12 on the Hot 100 in August 1966. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. Posey died from complications of dementia at her home in Lebanon, Tennessee, on July 20, 2024, at the age of 80.

1955
Faron Young's signature hit, "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young," peaked at #1 on the Billboard country chart. The song idea came to Joe Allison while watching a gangster movie starring John Derek. Allison explained, "All through this picture he said, 'I want to die young and leave a good-looking corpse.'

1969
Glen Campbell was at #1 on the Billboard country album chart with Galveston. The singers thirteenth studio album spent 11 weeks at #1 and 26 weeks on the chart. The album features session drummer Hal Blaine who has played on 50 #1 hits and worked with numerous artists including Elvis Presley, John Denver, The Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters, and The Beach Boys.

1976
Born on this day in Ada, Oklahoma, was Blake Shelton, country music artist. In 2001, he made his debut with the single "Austin" released from his self-titled debut album, which went on to spend five weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country charts. Shelton is married to fellow country singer Miranda Lambert, whom he met at the CMT's 100 Greatest Duets Concert.

1976
Born on this day in Walnut Creek, California, was songwriter, record producer and record label executive Michael James Ryan Busbee (known professionally as busboy). He worked with Keith Urban, Jon Bellion, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, and Lady Antebellum. Busbee was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2017 for his work on Maren Morris' debut single, "My Church." He died on September 28, 2019 from brain cancer age 43.

1984
Rhinestone starring Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone, premiered at Nashville's Roy Acuff Theater. The Dolly Parton-composed soundtrack produced two Top Ten country singles: "God Won't Get You" and the chart-topping "Tennessee Homesick Blues". Parton stated in her memoirs, My Life and Other Unfinished Business, that she regards the soundtrack album as some of her best work.

1986
Born on this day in Milton, Delaware was singer and songwriter Jimmie Allen. His 2018 single "Best Shot" taken from his debut album Mercury Lane. was a #1 Airplay hit.

1995
Country legend Johnny Cash performed his famous concert at the Glen Campbell Museum in Nashville. It was one of his last major performances before his health began to decline.

1997
George Strait was at #1 on the Country chart with Carrying Your Love With Me. The album produced four singles for Strait on the Billboard country charts. "One Night at a Time", the title track, and "Round About Way."

2000
Chad Brock was at #1 on the Country chart with "Yes!" the second single from his album of the same name. The track enjoyed three weeks at the top of the chart.

2004
Ray Charles’ funeral was held at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. Willie Nelson sang “Georgia On My Mind” and Glen Campbell sang "Where Could I Go But to the Lord". Guest attending included, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Clint Eastwood, Janie Fricke, Bill Clinton and Little Richard.

2007
It was reported that Country singer Johnny Rodriguez had been arrested on drugs charges after police stopped the singer west of Oklahoma City on a complaint of speeding. Officers then found what they believed to be bags of marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and an open container of beer in Rodriguez's pickup truck. He was released on $6,500 bail.

2015
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard were at #1 on the Country album chart with Django & Jimmie. The sixth and final album collaboration between Nelson and Haggard and Haggard's final album prior to his death in April 2016. The song "Django and Jimmie" is a tribute to musicians Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rodgers.

2023
Luke Combs was at #1 on the Country Airplay chart with his version of the Tracy Chapman song "Fast Car". This made Chapman the first black woman to score a country #1 with a solo composition. At the 57th Annual Country Music Association Awards in November 2023, Chapman notably became the first Black woman or Black songwriter to ever win a CMA Award, winning Song of the Year. Combs' version uses most of Chapman's original lyrics, including the line "I work in the market as a checkout girl".