Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY (Wed., April 3) Advertisement Don Gibson was born in 1928. Billy Joe Royal was born in 1942. The "Louisiana Hayride" country music variety show on KWKH Radio in Shreveport, La., aired for the first time in 1948. Elvis Presley made his first appearance on TV's popular "Milton Berle Show" in 1956 -- singing "Heartbreak Hotel," "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Money, Honey" live from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hancock. Earl Taylor appeared at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1959. The Statler Brothers made their recording debut with "The Wreck Of The Old '97" in 1964. Nashville bass player Jack Drake died in 1972. Emmylou Harris played her first concert with The Hot Band in San Francisco in 1975. President Reagan presented Minnie Pearl with the American Cancer Society's annual Courage Award for her personal fight against cancer in 1987. Advertisement Dolly Parton's new movie "Straight Talk" premiered nationwide in 1992. Red Allen died in 1993 at age 63. MUSIC AND MORE DID MARTY PARTY TOO HARDY? Marty Stuart faces drunk driving charges after being arrested early Tuesday in Hendersonville, Tenn. CMT.com reports the singer had been spotted in a store, intoxicated, and was subsequently pulled over by police while behind the wheel of a 1989 Cadillac. He was charged with one count of DUI and one count of violation of the implied consent law. Stuart, 43, has a court date April 23. REBA DOES THE ACMs CMT.com says Reba McEntire will host the 37th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards May 22 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. She's also committed to hosting the show in 2003. McEntire has won 10 ACM awards -- including entertainer of the year in 1994 -- but she's not nominated in any category this year. The ACM awards will air on CBS (at 8 p.m. ET/PT). GARTH BROOKS TO BE HONORED BY SONGWRITERS Garth Brooks will be honored by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He'll be presented with the Hitmaker Award at this year's induction ceremony June 13 at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, Allstar News reports. Others being honored this year include Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow, Michael Jackson, Nicolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, recent Oscar winner Randy Newman and Sting. Advertisement DOLLY PARTON, CLINT BLACK Dolly Parton and Clint Black will appear at upcoming benefit concerts in Minneapolis and Pittsburgh, respectively. Parton will perform at a May 17 event to benefit the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Billboard.com reports. The event, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, will also help establish the Families of Promise fundraising effort formed to help low- and moderate-income families. Both funds are administered by the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation. Black, meanwhile, will headline the July 13 Dollar Bank Jamboree at Pittsburgh's Bank State Park. The free concert is part of a day-long event that includes the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania's annual Three Rivers Fishing Classic as well as family-oriented games and activities. Last year's event featured Phil Vassar and Wynonna. Past years have features such artists as Sawyer Brown and John Michael Montgomery.
