Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Friday, Aug. 23)

Eddy Arnold's No. 1 single "I'll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms)" charted, 1947.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans lost 3-year-old daughter to complications from mumps, 1952.

"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" by Kitty Wells became the first No. 1 country hit by a woman, 1952.

(Saturday, Aug. 24)

"Harper Valley P.T.A." entered the country charts, 1968.

Waylon Jennings arrested on cocaine charges, 1977.

Hank Snow recorded "Hello Love," 1973.

(Sunday, Aug. 25)

Billy Ray Cyrus born in Flatwoods, Ky., 1961.

Jo Dee Messina born in Holliston, Mass., 1970.

Olivia Newton-John debuted on the charts with "Let Me Be There," 1973.

"The Devil Went Down To Georgia" topped country, rock charts, 1979.

MUSIC AND MORE

NICKEL CREEK ALBUM DEBUTS AT NO. 2

Bluegrass trio Nickel Creek's second album, "This Side," has debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Country album chart behind longtime No. 1 "Unleashed" by Toby Keith.

Equally impressive is Nickel Creek's No. 18 debut on the Billboard 200, which charts multiple genres of music.

"This Side" knocked Kenny Chesney's "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" and the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack each down a notch to No. 3 and No. 4, while Alan Jackson's "Drive" remained in the fifth position.

TRACY BYRD'S 'TEN ROUNDS' BREAKS TOP FIVE

Tracy Byrd provided the most notable change in the Billboard Country Singles and Tracks chart this week with "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo" jumping from No. 8 to No. 5.

"The Good Stuff" by Kenny Chesney held onto the top spot, followed by the Dixie Chicks' "Long Time Gone," Tim Graw's "Unbroken" and "I Miss My Friend" by Darryl Worley.

FAITH HILL ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Superstar Faith Hill is the scheduled musical guest for NBC's Saturday Night Live broadcast on Oct. 12.

The appearance is to promote the release of her fifth album, "Cry," on Oct. 15. She'll probably perform the title track, which debuted at No. 32 on Billboard's singles chart last week.

"Cry" is Hill's first album since "Breathe" was released in 1999.