Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY (Thursday, March 27) Advertisement Tex Williams records Capitol Records' first million-seller, "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! That Cigarette," 1947. Eddy Arnold's Top 5 single, "What A Fool I Was," is charted, 1948. Johnnie & Jack record their first chart single, "Poison Love," 1950. Red Foley records first million-selling gospel song, "Peace In The Valley," 1951. Brenda Lee debuts on country charts with "One Step At A Time" at age 12, 1957. Elvis Presley records "Burnin' Love," 1972. Alabama's "Greatest Hits Volume 2" is certified gold, 1992. Wynonna earns her first No. 1 single as a soloist with "She Is His Only Need," 1992. MUSIC AND MORE DIXIE CHICKS WATCH 'HOME' SALES PLUNGE Fallout from Natalie Maines' comment about President Bush seems to be having an ill effect on sales of the trio's album, "Home." In the first full week after Maines told a London concert audience she's "ashamed" Bush is from the group's home state of Texas, sales of the album dropped 42 percent to 72,000, Billboard said, citing figures from Nielsen SoundScan. "Home" slid from No. 4 to No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard 200 but stayed atop the country album chart for a 17th week. The album has sold more than 5 million copies in the United States. Advertisement BILL ANDERSON FACES ASSAULT CHARGE Country artist Bill Anderson is charged with aggravated assault in connection with a scrape with his girlfriend in the garage of their Nashville-area home. Anderson, 65, and Deborah Marlin, 40, were arguing when Anderson allegedly tried to run over her with his vehicle, CMT.com reports. Court documents say Marlin claimed she was knocked down by the car's open door after Anderson put the vehicle in gear, and that she grabbed his glasses to break her fall. Then he shoved her, the papers said. Anderson, who is free on $1,500 bond, said in a statement the charge is "wrong and personally very harmful," and predicted he will be vindicated in court. WILLIE'S 70TH B-DAY BASH TAKING SHAPE Even more artists have signed up to pay tribute to Willie Nelson to mark his 70th birthday at an April 9 show that's being taped for a television special. Eric Clapton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Norah Jones, and Sheryl Crow will be at the Beacon Theater in New York to join a long list of performers -- from Ray Charles and Merle Haggard to Shania Twain and ZZ Top. Advertisement The two-hour special will be broadcast on USA Network several times through the Memorial Day weekend. Nelson turns 70 on April 30.
