September 28th: On this day

1930
Born on this day was American country music singer and songwriter Tommy Collins. Active primarily during the 1950s through the 1970s, Collins was instrumental in helping create the Bakersfield sound of the country music genre. He enjoyed a string of hits during the mid-1950s including "It Tickles" and "Watcha Gonna Do Now". He died March 14, 2000, at his home in Ashland City, Tennessee.

1937
Born on this day, was Glenn Sutton, country music songwriter and producer. Born Royce Glenn Sutton in Hodge, Louisiana, he was one of two chief architects of the countrypolitan sound (the other being Sutton's frequent songwriting partner Billy Sherrill). He co-wrote Tammy Wynette's first major hit single, "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad," along with Tammy's #1 record, "I Don't Wanna Play House." He was equally well known as a producer, particular for his former wife Lynn Anderson. Glenn produced her most famous single, "Rose Garden," which hit #1 on the country charts and #3 on the pop charts.

1937

1959
Born on this day in Voorheesville, New York, was Billy Montana, singer-songwriter. His songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks, ("More Than a Memory"), Sara Evans, ("Suds in the Bucket"), Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Sister Hazel and Kenny Rogers, among others.

1965
Dottie West recorded "Before the Ring on Your Finger Turns Green" at RCA Victor Studios Nashville. Written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and produced by Chet Atkins it was released in November 1965 as the first single from the singers thrid album album Suffer Time. It became West's seventh charting single and sixth top 40 single on the Country charts.

1966
Born on this day in Asheville, North Carolina, was country singer-songwriter Matt King who scored the 1998 hit "A Woman's Tears".

1969
Born on this day, in Gary, Indiana, was Karen Fairchild, singer, songwriter with Little Big Town, who have charted over 12 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and scored the 2010 #1 album The Reason Why.

1971
Born on this day, was Aimee Mayo, American songwriter, primarily known for writing country hits for artists such as Lonestar, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Kellie Pickler. Mayo was named BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2000. "Amazed," recorded by Lonestar that same year, is her most popular song to date.

1975
Born on this day, American country music singer Amanda Barnett. Barnett has held the titular role in the musical Always… Patsy Cline, a musical based on the life of Patsy Cline, which opened in 1994 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. She has performed the role in nearly 500 performances over a 20-year period.

1991
The 25th Country Music Association Awards, was held at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, Tennessee hosted by Reba McEntire. Garth Brooks won Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year for No Fences Single of The Year for "Friends In Low Places" and Music Video of the Year for The Thunder Rolls. Female Vocalist of the Year went to Tanya Tucker, Vince Gill won Male Vocalist of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year went to Kentucky HeadHunters and The Judds won Vocal Duo of the Year.

1999
Greatest Hits, also titled Garth Brooks in.... The Life of Chris Gaines, was released in the US. It was part of the alter ego project of Garth Brooks, in which Brooks assumed the fictitious persona of alternative rock artist Chris Gaines. Originally, the album was intended to be the soundtrack for a movie called The Lamb that was to have stared Brooks as a rock star recalling the different periods of his life. This album was purposely released a year in advance from the scheduled film release date to pique interest in Brooks performing rock instead of country. The Lamb, however, was never filmed due to financial and management problems.

2004
Rascal Flatts released their third studio album Feels Like Today which became their second US #1 Country album. The album produced its title track as a single along with "Bless the Broken Road", "Fast Cars and Freedom", and "Skin (Sarabeth)".

2006
The Grascals claimed the Entertainer of the Year trophy at the 17th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

2014
Dierks Bentley raised $335,000 for charity with his annual Miles & Music For Kids motorcycle ride and concert in Nashville. The lineup also featured Chris Young, Kip Moore, Randy Houser and Jon Pardi.

2019
When 10-year-old Makenna Wallace took a sign to hold up during the Eric Church concert at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Church responds to her request for a donation for a new school playground by pledging $10,000 from the stage.

2021
Alan Jackson reveals that he was diagnosed with a degenerative nerve condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in 2011. It affects the muscles in his arms and legs, which causes him to stumble on stage at times.

2024
Kris Kristofferson died at his home in Maui at the age of 88. The musician, actor, and writer, was known for such hits as 'Me and Bobby McGee', 'For the Good Times', 'Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down', and 'Help Me Make It Through the Night'. In 1985, Kristofferson joined fellow country artists Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash in forming the country music supergroup The Highwaymen. As an actor, Kristofferson was known for his roles in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) and A Star Is Born (1976) (which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor).