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Country Music News

By DICK KELSEY, United Press International
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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Fri., July 5)

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Elvis Presley cut his first sessions for Sun Records in 1954.

Webb Pierce recorded "Falling Back to You" in 1958.

Merle Haggard's No. 1 single "Workin' Man Blues" charted in 1969.


MORE COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY FOR THIS WEEKEND

(Sat., July 6)

Bill Haley born in 1925.

Roy Rogers died in 1998 at age 86.

Tammy Wynette wed George Richey in 1978.


(Sun., July 7)


Johnny Cash joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1956.

Eddy Arnold launched his TV show on NBC in 1953.

Jimmie Rodgers recorded "I'm Lonesome Too" in 1930.


MUSIC AND MORE


Blake Shelton did a little time in prison recently, not to pay his debt to society but to shoot a music video, "Ol' Red."

He gave up his cowboy attire to don inmate duds and grew a scraggly beard for the session at the former Tennessee State Prison in Nashville. One of the scenes was shot on Death Row.

Shelton said he doesn't think he's a very good actor but felt comfortable shooting the video, advising other country singers who want to act to do what he did before the shoot: "Drink two beers."

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The beard, by the way, may stay. Shelton said he ran into brown-haired songstress Cyndi Thomson, who told him she thought it looked good. "If Cyndi Thomson likes it, I'd have to say it's going to stay," Shelton said.


CHICKS PLUCK ANOTHER DIAMOND AWARD

The Dixie Chicks this week picked up their second diamond award from the Recording Industry Association of America to mark the sale of 10 million copies of their second album, "Fly."

The Chicks become the only female group and the only country act ever to win back-to-back diamond awards.

The trio's first diamond came after their debut album, "Wide Open Spaces," reached the 10-million milestone.

The Dixie Chicks' third album, "Home," is due for release Aug. 27.


KEITH RACES AGAINST MUSIC PIRATES

Toby Keith's new album, "Unleashed," was to have been released next month but the label has scheduled a July 23 release date.

Keith said the move-up was designed to stay ahead of music pirates, who illegally obtain and distribute copyrighted

songs before the official release date.

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