Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Friday, March 21)

Guitar maker Clarence "Leo" Fender dies, 1991.

Anne Murray is inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, 1993.

Flatt & Scruggs record "Life Of Trouble," 1962.

(Saturday, March 22)

James House born in Sacramento, Calif., 1955.

Uncle Dave Macon dies in Murfreesboro, Tenn., 1952.

Hank Williams Jr. makes stage debut in Swainsboro, Ga., at age 8, 1958.

Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Nearer the Cross" album goes gold, 1962.

K.T. Oslin's "80's Ladies" album goes gold, 1988.

Dwight Yoakam's "Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room" goes platinum, 1995.

(Sunday, March 23)

David Grisman born in Passaic, N.J., 1945.

Emmylou Harris' "Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town" album goes gold, 1988 .

Hank and Audrey Williams record "The Pale Horse And His Rider," 1951.

Merle Haggard records the Top 5 single, "Jesus, Take Ahold," 1969.

MUSIC AND MORE

WORLEY'S PRO-WAR SONG SHOOTS UP CHART

As the United States geared up for its full attack on Iraq, Darryl Worley's patriotic single "Have You Forgotten?" jumped from No. 9 to No. 2 on Billboard's country singles chart.

Worley wrote the song after he visited Afghanistan last December to salute the U.S. military and immortalize the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

"Brokenheartsville" by Joe Nichols took over No. 1 while the Dixie Chicks' "Travelin' Soldier" fell from the top spot to No. 3, largely because of reduced airplay sparked by Natalie Maines' remark about President Bush.

S.C. LAWMAKERS ASK CHICKS TO PERFORM FOR TROOPS

The South Carolina House has registered its reaction to the remark by the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines about President Bush.

The lawmakers passed a measure seeking an apology for Natalie's comment during a London concert that she's "ashamed" Bush is from their home state of Texas.

The bill calls on the group to put on a free concert for South Carolina troops and their families, according to a Columbia newspaper, The State.

South Carolina is home for thousands of U.S. troops, many of whom are in the Middle East to fight the Iraq war.

WYNONNA APPEARS ON 'NASHVILLE STAR'

Wynonna is set to make a guest appearance on USA Network's "Nashville Star" show Saturday night, one of several country artists lined up for the talent-search series.

She'll join Trace Adkins and Jo Dee Messina in performing in the show's May 3 finale. Brad Paisley is scheduled for the April 5 episode, according to a news release.

Clint Black, the show's creative consultant and producer of the winner's CD, has appeared on the first two episodes and will be on later shows as well. Last week the first of 12 competitors to be eliminated was Anne Louise Blythe.