Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Fri., Jan. 4)

Lorene Mann was born in Huntland, Tenn., in 1937.

Steel guitarist Jay Dee Maness was born in Loma Linda, Calif., in 1945.

More than 20,000 mourners attended the Montgomery, Ala., funeral of Hank Williams Sr. in 1953.

Elvis Presley in 1954 recorded two demo records -- "Casual Love Affair" and "I'll Never Stand In Your Way" -- at a public studio in Memphis operated by Sun Records owner Sam Phillips. That same day, Presley met Phillips, his future producer, for the first time.

Kathy Forester of the Forester Sisters was born in Lookout Mountain, Ga., in 1955.

Tennessee Ernie Ford's daytime TV variety show debuted, also in 1955.

Patty Loveless was born in 1957.

Deana Carter was born in Nashville in 1966.

George Jones and Dolly Parton joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1969.

Former Opry member Annie Lou Dill died in 1982.

Merle Haggard was named the 18th winner of the American Music Awards "Award of Merit" in 1991.

Asleep at the Wheel and Emmylou Harris were among the artists receiving multiple nominations for the 42nd annual Grammy Awards in 2000.

MORE COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY FOR THIS WEEKEND

(Sat., Jan.5)

Sam Phillips, founder of the legendary Sun Records, was born in 1923.

Webb Pierce's first No.1 single, "Wondering," made its chart debut in 1952.

Johnnie & Jack made their last appearance on the Louisiana Hayride, also in 1952.

Verlon Thompson was born in Ardmore, Okla., in 1954.

Elvis Presley recorded "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1956. The song -- written by Mae Axton, Hoyt's mother -- was a No.1 hit four months later.

Iris Dement was born in Paragould, Ark., in 1961.

Marty Robbins was admitted to Nashville's St. Thomas Hospital after suffering a heart attack in 1981.

(Sun., Jan.6)

Promoter Hap Peebles was born in Anthony, Kan., in 1913.

Earl Scruggs was born in 1924.

Autry Inman was born in Florence, Ala., in 1929.

Bobby Lord was born in Sanford, Fla., in 1934.

Joey "Cow Polka" Miskulin of the Riders in the Sky was born in Chicago in 1949.

Jett Williams, Hank Williams Sr.'s daughter, was born in Montgomery, Ala., in 1953.

In 1957, Elvis Presley made his final appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." He performed seven songs -- including "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel" and "Heartbreak Hotel."

Diana Trask married Tom Ewen in 1961.

Dottie West's home was destroyed by fire in 1969.

Keith Coleman, fiddler with Bob Wills' Texas Playboys, died in 1977.

Rosanne Cash's "Seven Year Ache" album was certified gold in 1983.

Alabama's "The Touch" album was certified both gold and platinum in 1987.

Fiddler Robert "Chubby" Wise died in 1996.

MUSIC AND MORE

'CMT MOST WANTED LIVE'

"CMT Most Wanted Live" is getting new co-hosts. They are CMT personalities Katie Cook and Greg Martin, who will assume hosting duties beginning this Saturday, the online news provider country.com reports. They replace Lance Smith and news anchor Amber Mogg who've been with the live daily show from its premiere in May. Smith will replace Cook as host of CMT's "Top Twenty Countdown" and will be part of other CMT special presentations.

The reshuffling is part of a larger overhaul of "CMT Most Wanted Live" that will give the show a slightly different look, feel and time slot. The show will air Tuesday to Saturday from 7-8 p.m. ET/PT. The Saturday edition will feature live reports from Cook backstage at the Grand Ole Opry and will lead into CMT's weekly Opry telecast, also hosted by Cook.

Following a long run at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the show moves Saturday to its new home at The Gibson Bluegrass Showcase at Opry Mills, located across from the Grand Ole Opry House.

Brad Paisley will perform acoustically on Saturday's show, and Alan Jackson will make a guest appearance Jan. 12.