OCTOBER 9

1937: The “Renfro Valley Barn Dance” debuted on Cincinnati radio station WLW. It remained a staple of midwest radio for the next 20 years, featuring such performers as Red Foley, Homer & Jethro, Whitey Ford and The Coon Creek Girls.

1940: John Lennon was born at Oxford Street Maternity Hospital in Liverpool, England. Several Beatles songs would eventually be remade as country hits, including “Something,” “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party” and “I Feel Fine.”

1948: Pop singer/songwriter Jackson Browne was born in Heidelberg, West Germany. An original member of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, he co-wrote “Take It Easy,” which became the first hit for The Eagles.

1964: Guitarist Gary Bennett was born in Las Vegas, NV. He became one of two lead singers in BR549, a traditionally-grounded band that grew out of Nashville’s lower Broadway in the mid-1990s to become critical favorites and Grammy nominees.

1967: Dolly Parton and her uncle, Bill Owens, established Owepar, a publishing company that owns the copyrights to their songs.

1971: The Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame inducted 19 new members, including Jenny Lou Carson, Wilf Carter, Zeke Clements, Jimmie Davis, The Delmore Brothers, Al Dexter, Vaughn Horton, Bradley Kincaid, Bill Monroe, Bob Nolan, Tex Ritter, Tim Spencer and Jimmy Wakely.

1973: Elvis Presley and Priscilla were granted a divorce in Santa Monica. He paid $725,000 cash, plus $6,000 monthly for 10 years and $4,000 monthly in child support.

1977: The Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame inducted Kris Kristofferson, Woody Guthrie, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash.

1978: Grandpa Jones joined the Country Music Hall Of Fame during the 12th annual Country Music Association awards, held at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Johnny Cash hosted the event for the fifth time.

1978: Dolly Parton’s dress split as she walked off with the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year award during the 12th annual ceremony at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.

1981: Epic released Merle Haggard’s album “Big City.”

1982: Merle Haggard & George Jones took a Willie Nelson song, “Yesterday’s Wine,” to #1 on the Billboard country chart.

1989: Hank Thompson, songwriter/bass player Cliffie Stone and music publisher Jack Stapp entered the Country Music Hall of Fame during the 23rd annual Country Music Association awards at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House.

1989: Hank Williams Jr.’s duet with Hank Sr. on “There’s A Tear In My Beer” won two honors during the 23rd annual Country Music Association awards at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House: Vocal Event and Music Video of the Year, directed by Ethan Russell.

1992: Arista released Alan Jackson’s album “A Lot About Livin’ (And A Little ‘Bout Love).”

1993: Vince Gill’s “One More Last Chance” topped the Billboard country singles chart.

1994: Reba McEntire starred in the CBS-TV movie “Is There Life Out There?” based on her hit single of the same name.