November 9th: On this day

1895
Born on this day in Attica, Indiana, George D. Hay, the founder of the original Grand Ole Opry radio program on WSM-AM in Nashville, Tennessee, from which the country music stage show of the same name evolved. The show was originally named WSM Barn Dance, and Hay billed himself as "The Solemn Old Judge."

1956
Born on this day was British session keyboardist, record producer, songwriter, Kevin Savigar. He has contributed to a wide range of recordings for artists such as Bob Dylan, George Harrison, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson and Randy Newman.

1968
Marty Robbins was at #1 on the Country chart with "I Walk Alone", Robbins' thirteenth #1. At least four other country artists recorded "I Walk Alone" for albums released in 1969: Loretta Lynn's Your Squaw Is on the Warpath, Kitty Wells' Guilty Street, David Houston's Where Love Used to Live, and Willie Nelson's My Own Peculiar Way.

1974
Guests on this week's edition of the TV show Pop! Goes the Country included Dolly Parton, Johnny Paycheck and David Houston. The weekly half-hour syndicated variety country series ran from 1974 through 1982 for a total of 234 episodes and was recorded at the Grand Ole Opry House. The show featured performances by and interviews with country music singers, both established celebrities and up and coming singers and musicians.

1984
Born on this day in Kernersville, North Carolina was singer and songwriter Chris Lane. His "I Don't Know About You" was a #1 country airplay hit in 2019.

1999
Faith Hill released Breathe, her fourth studio album. Breathe is one of the most successful country/pop albums to date and has been certified 8× Platinum for shipping eight million copies in the US. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, a first for the country artist.

2004
The 38th Country Music Association Awards, Ceremony was held. Hosted by Brooks & Dunn, this was the final ceremony to be held in the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. Winners included: Kenny Chesney who won Entertainer of the Year and Album of The Year for When The Sun Goes Down. Female Vocalist of the Year went to Martina McBride, Keith Urban won Male Vocalist of the Year. Vocal Group of the Year went to Rascal Flatts. Single of The Year went to Tim McGraw for “Live Like You Were Dying”. Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss won Music Video of the Year and Music Event of the Year for “Whiskey Lullaby”.

2005
After 27 years as host of "American Country Countdown," radio personality Bob Kingsley stepped down, after his production company and ABC Radio Networks (which distributes the show) fail to come to terms in renegotiating a distribution agreement. Kix Brooks, one half of the superstar duo Brooks & Dunn, was named the new host and was slated to take over January 21, 2006.

2008
It was announced that Merle Haggard had been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in May of this year and had undergone surgery during which part of one of his lungs was removed.

2010
Columbia Records released Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn a tribute album compiled by various artists that is dedicated to country music icon Loretta Lynn. The album features a duet on "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" by Alan Jackson and Martina McBride, and Gretchen Wilson's cover of "Don't Come Home A' Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)." Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Sheryl Crow and Lee Ann Womack also feature on the album.

2011
The 45th Country Music Association Awards, Annual Ceremony was held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee co-hosted for the fourth consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. The night's top prize, entertainer of the year, went to Taylor Swift, which was her only victory of the evening. She became only the second female artist to ever win the honor twice, after Barbara Mandrell won it in 1980 and 1981. Jason Aldean won Album of The Year for My Kinda Party, Blake Shelton won Male Vocalist of the Year and Miranda Lambert won Female Vocalist of the Year. "You and Tequila" by Kenny Chesney won Music Video of the Year.

2022
Winners at the The 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards held in Nashville, Tennessee: Album of The Year went to Growin' Upby Luke Combs, Song of The Year "Buy Dirt", Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins and Matt Jenkins and Lainey Wilson won Female Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year. The Global Country Artist Award went to Ilse DeLange.

2023
Tracy Chapman's 35-year-old song "Fast Car" was named both song and single of the year at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville. The awards recognised a cover version by Luke Combs, which reached #2 in the US. But they also marked a long overdue milestone: Chapman is the first black songwriter to win 'song of the year' in the ceremony's 57-year history.