Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Friday, Nov. 15)

C.W. McCall of "Convoy" fame, born William Fries in Audubon, Iowa, 1929.

Jack Ingram born in Houston, 1970.

Gospel songwriter Albert Brumley ("I'll Fly Away") died at 72, 1977.

Elvis Presley's first movie, "Love Me Tender," opens in New York, 1956.

(Saturday, Nov. 16)

The first hillbilly hit, Wendall Hall's "It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo," released, 1923.

Songwriter-musician Larry Cordle ("Murder on Music Row") born in Cordell, Ky., 1949.

Johnny Cash makes chart debut with "Cry, Cry, Cry," 1955.

Patsy Cline recorded "I Fall to Pieces," 1960.

Last performance by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys at the Will Rogers Auditorium in Fort Worth, Texas, 1986.

Dwight Yoakam's album "Just Lookin' for a Hit" goes platinum, 1994.

George Strait's album "Strait Out of the Box" goes platinum, 1995.

(Sunday, Nov. 17)

Gordon Lightfoot born in Orilla, Ontario, 1938.

"Opry House Matinee," starring Ernest Tubb and Eddy Arnold, debuts on the Mutual Network, 1945.

Marty Robbins' "Singing the Blues" began 13 consecutive weeks at No. 1, 1956.

Glen Campbell's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Gentle on My Mind" are certified gold, 1968.

The Johnson Mountain Boys perform at Carnegie Hall, 1990.

MUSIC AND MORE

ALAN'S 'DRIVE' SKYROCKETS ON CHARTS

Alan Jackson's big night at the CMA awards helped fuel a huge jump on the charts by his best-album award winner, "Drive."

The recording shot up to No. 23 from the 94th position on the all-genre Billboard 200 and from No. 12 to No. 6 on Billboard's country albums chart.

Last week Jackson won the CMA best-album award for "Drive," as well as entertainer and male vocalist of the year. He also won song and single of the year awards for "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)."

Female vocalist of the year Martina McBride saw her "Greatest Hits" album rise to No. 58 from 83rd place on the Billboard 200.

NEW ALBUMS DEBUT HIGH ON CHARTS

In the week following the nationally televised CMA awards show, country music stars' new albums scored well on the charts.

Alison Krauss and Union Station's new "Live" album debuted at No. 36 on the multi-genre chart and at No. 9 on the country chart.

Alan Jackson's "Let It Be Christmas" debuted at No. 10 on the country chart, with "On A Mission" by Trick Pony at No. 13 and Johnny Cash's "American IV: The Man Comes Around" at No. 14.

No. 18 is "Stars & Guitars" by Willie Nelson & Friends while Mark Wills' "Greatest Hits" came in at No. 19.

URBAN SONG STILL NO. 1

Keith Urban's "Somebody Like You" is No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart for the sixth consecutive week.

The song is the lead single from "Golden Road," the Australian's album released five weeks ago.

CMA Horizon Award winner Rascal Flatts' "These Days" rose a notch to No. 2, while the Dixie Chicks, Vocal Group of the Year, saw "Landslide" slip to No. 3.

George Strait's "She'll Leave You With A Smile" took the fourth position while "My Town" by Montgomery Gentry stayed at No. 5.

CHICKS' NEW MOM SAYS DONATE TO MAKE-A-WISH

As Dixie Chick Emily Robison and husband Charlie spend their first week with their new son, they ask that no gifts be sent. The proud parents request that anyone wishing to send a gift instead make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation -- wish.org.

Last Monday night the couple welcomed Charles Augustus Robison, who tipped the scales at 8 pounds, 13 ounces.