Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY (Fri. Jan. 11) Advertisement Tommy Duncan was born in Hillsboro, Texas, in 1911. Goldie Hill was born in Karnes City, Texas, in 1933. Naomi Judd was born in Ashland, Ky., in 1946. Teddy Wilburn entered the U. S. Army in 1952. Robert Earl Keen, Jr. was born in Houston in 1956. "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash became the first country album to top the U.S. pop album chart in 1964. Kenny Rogers' "Heart of the Matter" album was certified gold in 1986. Garth Brooks was named Favorite Male Musical Performer, and Reba McEntire tied with pop singer Whitney Houston for Favorite Female Musical Performer at the 24th annual People's Choice Awards in 1998. Garth Brooks was among the big winners at the 26th annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles in 1999. Advertisement MORE COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY FOR THIS WEEKEND (Sat., Jan. 12) Woodward Maurice "Tex" Ritter was born in Panola County, Texas, in 1905. Ray Price was born in Perryville, Texas, in 1926. Oak Ridge Boys' William Lee Golden was born in Brewton, Ala., in 1939. Ricky Van Shelton was born in Danville, Va., in 1952. LaWanda Lindsey was born in Tampa, Fla., in 1953. Paul Warren -- fiddler for Flatt & Scruggs, among others -- died at age 59 in 1978. (Sun., Jan. 13) Jenny Lou Carson was born in Decatur, Ill., in 1915. WLW's Midwestern Hayride aired its first program from Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1948. Eddy Arnold's No.1 single "There's Been a Change in Me" debuted on the charts in 1951. Trace Adkins was born in Springhill, La., in 1962. Ed Bruce debuted on the chart with "Walker's Woods" in 1967. Tammy Wynette was released from a Pittsburgh hospital after successful treatment of a bile duct infection in 1994. MUSIC AND MORE THE STATLER BROS. TO RETIRE FROM TOURING The Statler Brothers will retire from touring at the end of this year. The online news provider country.com quotes a brief statement released from the Statlers' office in Staunton, Va., saying the group will conclude their concert schedule Nov. 1, 2002. "The reasons cited for their decision to retire," the statement continues, "were simply to free themselves of a rigid travel schedule and to spend more time at their Shenandoah Valley homes." Advertisement A spokeswoman for the group says it has not yet been determined where the final Statlers concert will be held. They will release a gospel album this spring. The quartet has been performing and recording together since 1961, first as the Kingsmen, then, beginning in 1964, as the Statler Brothers. The current members of the act are brothers Harold and Don Reid, Phil Balsley and Jimmy Fortune. CONCERT LINE-UP FOR HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW & RODEO The Dixie Chicks and Alan Jackson are among the country artists who'll play the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at the Reliant Astrodome in Houston. The other country artists include Clay Walker, Pat Green, Lyle Lovett, Martina McBride, Brooks & Dunn, Phil Vassar, Jamie O'Neal. Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek, Willie Nelson, Lee Ann Womack, Kenny Chesney, Clint Black with Lisa Hartman Black, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, and Charley Pride, according to country.com. Bob Dylan will also make his first Rodeo appearance on Feb. 20. The Chicks will open the Rodeo on Feb. 12 and George Strait will play the last show, on March 3. That also marks the last country concert in the Astrodome, which will be demolished later this year to be replaced by a new arena. Advertisement MORE NEWS -- Just a bit more than a year after its release, the soundtrack for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" has been certified quadruple platinum, for shipments of 4 million copies. Named album of the year by the Country Music Association, the title is up for album of the year at next month's Grammys. The "Down From the Mountain" tour -- featuring some of the artists from the soundtrack -- kicks off Jan. 25 in Lexington, Ky. -- Toby Keith will be part of a one-hour, Olympic-related special airing Jan. 19 on NBC (at 10 p.m. ET/PT). Hosted by Bob Costas, "All-Star Olympic Salute: Countdown to Salt Lake City" will feature Keith performing "My List." -- Hank Williams Jr. will perform "American Can Survive" during halftime of the Pittsburgh Steelers' playoff game Jan. 20 in Pittsburgh. Hank Jr. first sang his patriotic, re-worked version of "A Country Boy Can Survive" during the Country Freedom Concert Oct. 21 in Nashville.
