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TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Thursday, May 8)

Rick Nelson born in Teaneck, N.J., 1940.

Jack Blanchard born in Buffalo, N.Y., 1942.

Billy Burnette born in Memphis, Tenn., 1953.

Reba McEntire's "I Don't Want To Be a One Night Stand" debuts on the charts, 1976.

Clint Black's "A Good Run Of Bad Luck" hits No. 1, 1994.

MUSIC AND MORE

COUNTRY STARS SUPPORT ST. JUDE'S

Country music superstars are signing up to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital online fundraising auction later this month.

Toby Keith has donated a 10-night Caribbean cruise and Alabama has given up an autographed Epiphone electric guitar commemorating their current farewell tour, St. Jude's says on the auction Web site, countrycares.org.

Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Emerson Drive and Sheryl Crow also have contributed items for the auction, which coincides with the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 21.

JO DEE OPENS 'LIFETIME' AWARDS SHOW

Country star Jo Dee Messina is scheduled to open the "Lifetime Achievement Awards: Women Changing The World" with her performance of "Dare To Dream" on Thursday in New York.

The 90-minute awards show will be videotaped to premiere on Lifetime Television May 22.

The awards salute six women nominated by Lifetime viewers who have made a "dramatic and positive impact on the world," according to a release on Messina's Web site, jodeemessina.com.

Messina and pop singer Cyndi Lauper will perform a duet to close the show.