Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Tues., Dec. 18)

Wilf Carter ("Montana Slim") was born in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1904.

Justin Tubb recorded the top-10 single "I Gotta Go Get My Baby" for Decca in 1954.

Pee Wee King began a weekly show over Chicago television station WBBM, also in 1954.

Tracy Byrd was born in Vidor, Texas, in 1966.

Rockabilly pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and his wife, Myra -- who was also his cousin -- were divorced in 1971. Their 1958 wedding -- when she was just 13 years old -- caused a scandal, when in fact the only thing illegal about the marriage was the fact that Lewis was not yet divorced from his previous wife when they wed.

COUNTRY MUSIC TRIVIA

Q: What artist recorded "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me," "Now That I Found You," "Better Things To Do" and "A Little Gasoline"?

A: Terri Clark, who returns to the Opry stage during Opry at the Ryman Jan. 11-12.

MUSIC AND MORE

CRS NEW FACES

Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Cyndi Thomson and Darryl Worley are scheduled to appear at the 2002 New Faces Show during the 33rd Annual Country Radio Seminar on March 2, 2002. Artists are selected by last year's seminar registrants. New Faces artists must have had at least one Top 25 single during the qualifying period and no more than two albums in Billboard's country Top 50.

CYRUS HELPS NYC

Billy Ray Cyrus and his fan club, The Spirit, are helping the widows and children of the seven firefighters from Ladder Company 101 in Brooklyn, N.Y., who lost their lives in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Cyrus's "Some Gave All" debut album is being featured on T-shirts and photos to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the CD and all profits will be donated to the Ladder 101 Richards Street Heroes Fund. An early holiday gift -- a check from the fan club -- is being sent to Ladder 101 in anticipation of future sales of the CD. (Fans can order on line at brc.com; however, you must be a member of the fan club to purchase.)

BRENDA LEE IN HALL OF FAME

Brenda Lee will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony in New York City on March 18. The 17th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be televised on VH-1 on March 20 (at 9 p.m. EST). Lee is the only female among the 2002 inductees, who also include Isaac Hayes, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Gene Pitney, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Jim Stewart and Chet Atkins.

Brenda will release her autobiography, Little Miss Dynamite: The Life and Times of Brenda Lee, in March 2002 as well.

OPRY LIVE IN CANADA

Grand Ole Opry Live is headed to Canada. Along with CMT Most Wanted Live, Opry Live will begin airing on Jan. 5 and will reach 63 million households in North America.

JACKSON STRAIT

Opry member Alan Jackson's highly anticipated new album, Drive, will be in stores on Jan. 15. The CD will include the hit single "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" and a duet with George Strait titled "Designated Drinker."

Coming Soon To The Opry Stage:

Dec. 21: Dale Watson, Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely, Phil Vassar, Ricky Skaggs, Clark Family Experience

Dec. 22: Dale Watson, Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely, Phil Vassar, Ricky Skaggs, Clark Family Experience, Linda Davis, Sonya Isaacs

Dec. 28: Marty Stuart, Emmylou Harris, Riders in the Sky, Hal Ketchum, BR549, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury Band

Dec. 29: Marty Stuart, Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, Riders in the Sky, Hal Ketchum, BR549, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent

Jan. 4-5: T. Bubba Bechtol, Andy Griggs, Blake Shelton, The Wilkinsons, Collin Raye

Jan. 11-12: Mark Wills, Terri Clark, Joe Diffie

Jan. 18: Phil Vassar, T Bubba Bechtol

Jan. 19: Phil Vassar, T Bubba Bechtol, Andy Griggs

Jan. 25: Rhonda Vincent

Jan. 26: Del McCoury Band, Rhonda Vincent

(For Opry tickets, log on to opry.com or call 615-889-3060 or TicketMaster at 615-255-9600. Artists and schedule subject to change.)

By Opryland USA in Nashville and UPI