Aug 8, 1921
Webb Pierce is born in West Monroe, Louisiana. He gains a reputation for a nasal twang and garish stage persona, but becomes one of the biggest honky-tonk stars of the 1950s, reaching the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001
Aug 8, 1932
Mel Tillis is born in Pahokee, Florida. After finding success by writing Bobby Bare’s “Detroit City,” Patsy Cline’s “So Wrong” and Webb Pierce’s “I Ain’t Never,” among others, he turns his stutter into a comedic twist and develops a successful career as an artist, earning a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame
Aug 8, 1944
Michael Johnson is born in Alamosa, Colorado. Though better known for his 1978 pop hit “Bluer Than Blue,” the smooth-voiced singer shifts into country during the 1980s, finding success with “Give Me Wings” and “The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder”
Aug 8, 1949
Singer and actor Keith Carradine is born in San Mateo, California. He writes and sings “I’m Easy,” the most successful song from the satirical country music movie “Nashville,” winning an Oscar award for his efforts
Aug 8, 1950
Jamie O’Hara is born in Toledo, Ohio. He and Kieran Kane form The O’Kanes, a 1980s duo built on strong hooks and spare arrangements. He also writes The Judds’ “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Old Days),” Gary Allan’s “Man To Man” and John Conlee’s “As Long As I’m Rockin’ With You”
Aug 8, 1964
Dottie West and The Osborne Brothers join the Grand Ole Opry. The Osbornes deliver “Ruby (Are You Mad)”
Aug 8, 1975
Hank Williams Jr. has a near-fatal accident while climbing Ajax Mountain in Montana. His head hits several jutting rocks as he falls 500 feet. It takes six hours for medics to reach him and deliver him to Missoula Community Hospital
Aug 8, 1975
Robert Altman’s movie, “Nashville,” premieres at Nashville’s 100 Oaks Theater. The country parody earns him an Oscar nomination for Best Director. Appearing on screen: fiddler Vassar Clements and songwriters Merle Kilgore and Jonnie Barnett
Aug 8, 1980
MCA releases Don Williams’ “I Believe In You” album
Aug 8, 1987
Reba McEntire ascends to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “One Promise Too Late”
Aug 8, 1989
Columbia releases Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “Never Had It So Good”
Aug 8, 1995
Mercury releases Terri Clark’s self-titled debut album
Aug 8, 2013
Jack Clement dies of cancer in Nashville. He wrote hits for Jim Reeves and Johnny Cash, produced Charley Pride and Waylon Jennings, and owned several recording studios. His passing comes just months before he is officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
Aug 8, 2017
Glen Campbell dies in Nashville following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. A deft guitarist and smooth vocalist, he earned numerous crossover hits–including “Wichita Lineman,” “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Southern Nights” and “By The Time I Get To Phoenix”–while earning a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame
