May 18th: On this day

1936
Born on this day in Covington, Georgia was Leon Ashley who is known mainly for his #1 hit "Laura (What's He Got That I Ain't Got)", which topped the country singles charts in September 1967. Ashley made chart history as the first country artist to have a #1 hit with a song he wrote, published and sang. Ashley died on Oct 20th 2013.

1948
Born on this day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was Joseph Bonsall, Jr., singer with The Oak Ridge Boys who scored the 1978 US Country #1 "I'll Be True To You."

1952
Born on this day in Poteet, Texas, was George Strait, country music singer, actor, and producer. Strait who is referred to as the "King of Country," is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style. Strait holds the world record for more #1 hit singles than any other artist in the history of music on any chart or in any genre, having recorded 60 #1 hit singles.

1975
Five times married country singer, Tammy Wynette was at #1 on the UK singles chart with "Stand By Your Man." Originally recorded and released as a single in 1968 in the USA, it proved to be the most successful record of Wynette's career and is one of the most covered songs in the history of country music.

1979
Born on this day in Kennett, Missouri, was David Nail country music singer, songwriter. His 2009 album release I'm About to Come Alive produced three singles: the title track, "Red Light", and "Turning Home"; the latter two reached Top 20. His second studio album, The Sound of a Million Dreams, was released in November 2011; "Let It Rain" hit #1 in January 2012.

1986
Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings appeared in a CBS-TV remake of the western movie Stagecoach along with June Carter, John Carter Cash, John Schneider, Jessi Colter, David Allan Coe and Billy Swan

2003
The funeral for June Carter Cash was held at the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. A wheelchair-bound Johnny Cash sat in the front row, along with Hank Williams Jr., Tom T. Hall, Kris Kristofferson, Rodney Crowell, Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, Trisha Yearwood and Ricky Skaggs. Emmylou Harris, Larry Gatlin, The Oak Ridge Boys and Sheryl Crow all performed at the memorial.

2007
Kellie Pickler's father was arrested in Albemarle, North Carolina on a felony count of obtaining property under false pretense and three felony counts of larceny of a motor vehicle. Clyde "Bo" Pickler Jr., was accused of stealing abandoned and disabled vehicles and illegally selling them to scrap yards. Bond was set at $26,000.

2008
Winners at the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Reba McEntire included: Entertainer of the Year - Kenny Chesney, Top Male Vocalist - Brad Paisley, Top Female Vocalist - Carrie Underwood, Top New Female Vocalist - Taylor Swift, Top New Duo or Vocal Group - Lady Antebellum and Album of the Year went to Miranda Lambert for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend."

2008
Taylor Swift released "Should've Said No" as the fifth and final single from her self-titled debut studio album. The track became her second #1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

2010
The 58th Annual BMI Pop Awards were held in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California. Among the award winners was Taylor Swift for Most Performed Pop Song and Song of the Year.

2015
American country music artist Elbert West died aged 47. Initially a session songwriter in Nashville, West saw his first chart success in the 1990s as a co-writer on singles for country singer Tracy Lawrence, including the #1's "Sticks and Stones" and "Can't Break It to My Heart". West co-wrote album tracks for other artists, including tracks for Tim McGraw and John Michael Montgomery.

2020
Kenny Chesney was at #1 on the Country chart with his nineteenth studio album Here and Now, Chesney's 16th top 10 album.