Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY (Thursday, Sept. 19) Advertisement Bill Medley born in Santa Ana, Calif., 1940. Trisha Yearwood born in Monticello, Ga., 1964. Red Foley died in Fort Wayne, Ind., 1968. Elvis Presley boarded a plane for Germany to begin serving his term in the Army, 1958. Linda Ronstadt's "Simple Dreams" album certified gold, 1977. Travis Tritt's "Country Club" LP certified gold, 1990. MUSIC AND MORE CHIEFTAINS MARK BIG 4-0 WITH NEW ALBUM Irish traditional band The Chieftains are marking their 40th anniversary with the release of a new album this week. "Down the Old Plank Road" merges the Chieftains' Irish sound with American roots music with help from some of the heaviest hitters in bluegrass and country -- Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Alison Krauss, Lyle Lovett, Earl Scruggs, the Del McCoury Band and others. The Chieftains and some of the album contributors plan to film a concert in Nashville on Sept. 30. SUZY'S NEW 'HITS' ALBUM IN STORES Suzy Bogguss' "20 Greatest Hits" album was released on Tuesday, featuring two of her previous songs that have since become identified with other artists. Advertisement "Cold Day in July" was done by the Dixie Chick for their "Fly" album in 1999 and Alison Krauss recorded "Forget About It" as the title track for her 1999 album. Other tracks include "Drive South," "Aces," "Letting Go," "Outbound Plane" and "Hey Cinderella." TRACY BYRD FINALLY NAMES NEW SON Two weeks after a new son was born to Tracy Byrd and wife Michelle, the name of the child has become known. The happy couple has decided to call their son Jared James -- "J.J." for short. This is the little boy that Tracy said was a "tank," for tipping the scales at 9 pounds, 1 ounce after he was born in Beaumont, Texas, on Sept. 3.
