Country Music News

THIS WEEKEND IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(June 28)

George Morgan born in Waverly, Tenn. (1924)

Marty Robbins' "El Paso City" went to No. 1 (1976)

Daniel Decatur Emmett, credited with composing "Dixie," "Old Dan Tucker," and other minstrel songs, died in Mt. Vernon, Ohio (1904)

(June 29)

George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today" went to No. 1 (1980)

The first official "Merle Travis Day" held in Muhlenberg, Ky. (1956)

Ernest Tubb recorded the Top 10 single "You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry" (1950)

(June 30)

Ronnie Milsap debuted on the charts with "I Hate You" (1973)

Vern Gosdin charted his first No.1 single "I Can Tell By The Way You Dance" (1984)

R.W. Blackwood and Bill Lyles of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet killed (1954) in a fatal plane crash in Clanton, Ala.

Alabama's "My Home's In Alabama" album certified platinum (1982)

OF MUSIC AND MORE

GUITARIST DYKES WILL REMEMBER CHET

When he appears this Saturday night on CMT's Grand Ole Opry Live, guitarist Doyle Dykes will do a medley of songs in honor of Chet Atkins, who died a year ago on June 30, 2001. Also appearing on the televised portion of the Opry will be Jimmy Dickens, Brad Martin, Connie Smith and Sonya Isaacs.

LOVETT NOT ANGRY AT BULL

Lyle Lovett says the bull that pinned him and shattered his leg in March "was just doing his job, protecting his territory." Lovett will tour with Bonnie Raitt beginning July 26. He told the Dallas Morning News he is wearing a wire frame to support the leg, walking on crutches and taking weekly therapy. He recorded recently with the Chieftains in Austin, Texas.

HANK JR. APPEARS IN KID ROCK CLIP

Hank Williams Jr., Pamela Anderson and The General Lee -- the 1969 Dodge Charger from The Dukes of Hazzard -- make guest appearances in Kid Rock's new video, "You Never Met a Motherf---ker Quite Like Me." Hank Jr.'s appearance is the latest in a growing list of collaborations between the rocking' country singer and the rocking' rap artist. The two also worked together on Hank Jr.'s latest CD, on the Academy of Country Music Awards and on CMT Crossroads.

SHANIA'S NEW ALBUM LATER THIS YEAR

Mercury Records has confirmed that Shania Twain will release a new album before the end of the year. Twain has been working on the project with her producer and husband, Robert "Mutt" Lange, in their Switzerland home studio. The album is expected to be out this fall. It still doesn't have a title.

BILLBOARD'S TIMOTHY WHITE DEAD AT 50

Respected music journalist and Billboard Editor in Chief Timothy White died of an apparent heart attack Thursday at Billboard's New York offices. Billboard Bulletin said White had returned to the office following lunch with a friend when he collapsed. He was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. White was 50. He joined Billboard in January 1991 after working for The Associated Press, Crawdaddy and Rolling Stone. His books include "Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley"; "The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience"; and "Long Ago and Far Away: James Taylor, His Life and Music." In his "Music to my Ears" column, White occasionally wrote about country artists, among them Jamie O'Neal, Alison Krauss, Lorrie Morgan and BR549.