This Date in Country Music History

• 2022 – Jelly Roll released his single “Son of a Sinner”
• 2021 – Warner Music Nashville signed Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley to a solo deal
• 2018 – Scotty McCreery scored a #1 album with Seasons Change
• 2011 – Mel McDaniel died of lung cancer in Hendersonville, TN
• 2009 – Keith Urban released his album Defying Gravity
• 2009 – Rodney Atkins released his album It’s America
• 2008 – Jimmy Wayne released his single “Do You Believe Me Now”
• 2008 – Kenny Chesney released his single “Better As A Memory”
• 2006 – Jake Owen made his Grand Ole Opry debut
• 1962 – Patsy Cline topped the charts with “She’s Got You”

HCM Content

• 2023 – HCM Daily Country Music News – March 31st, 2023
• 2023 – Today’s New Music – March 31st, 2023
• 2022 – HCM Daily News – March 31st, 2022
• 2021 – Today’s New Music – March 31st, 2021
• 2020 – HCM Daily News – March 31st, 2020
• 2015 – This Week’s New Music – March 31st, 2015
• Today’s Birthdays – March 31st

This Date in Country Music History

• 2024 – Dierks Bentley released his song “American Girl”
• 2018 – Cole Swindell released his single “Break Up In The End”
• 2012 – Carrie Underwood released her single “Good Girl”
• 2012 – Toby Keith‘s album Clancy’s Tavern was certified gold
• 2012 – Luke Bryan‘s single “I Don’t Want This Night to End” was certified platinum
• 2011 – Thompson Square‘s single “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” was certified gold
• 2010 – Sarah Buxton released her self-titled debut album
• 2010 – Don Williams, Jimmy Dean, and Ferlin Husky were announced as part of the Country Music Hall of Fame’s newest class of inductees
• 2010 – Josh Thompson released his debut album, Way Out Here
• 2009 – The Zac Brown Band‘s single “Chicken Fried” was certified gold
• 2009 – Randy Houser released his single “Boots On”
• 2000 – Sara Evans‘ album No Place That Far became her first gold album
• 2000 – Lonestar scored their first double-platinum album with Lonely Grill
• 1996 – George Strait‘s 4-disc boxed set Straight Out of the Box was certified triple platinum
• 1993 – Brooks & Dunn released their album Hard Workin’ Man
• 1988 – Hank Williams Jr‘s album Born to Boogie was certified platinum
• 1985 – Mel McDaniel topped the charts with “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On”
• 1959 – Johnny Cash scored a #1 hit with “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town”
• 1957 – Porter Wagoner joined the Grand Ole Opry

HCM Content

• 2024 – HCM Daily Country Music News – February 23rd, 2024
• 2023 – HCM Daily Country Music News – February 23rd, 2023
• 2022 – HCM Daily News – February 23rd, 2022
• 2015 – Top 5 Country Albums – February 23rd, 2015
• 2015 – This Week’s Top 5 Songs – February 23rd, 2015
• 2015 – Top 5 Most Added Songs at Radio – February 23rd, 2015
• Today’s Birthdays – February 23rd

Today’s Photo Flashback

• Easton Corbin – 2/23/12 – Round Up in Davie, FL

This Date in Country Music History

• 2019 – Mark Wills was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry
• 2011 – Steel Magnolia released their self-titled debut album
• 2003 – Mark Wills topped the charts for the first of 6 weeks with “19 Somethin'”
• 1997 – Wade Hayes made his Grand Ole Opry debut
• 1997 – Kevin Sharp scored a #1 hit with “Nobody Knows”
• 1988 – George Strait released his single “Famous Last Words of a Fool”
• 1986 – Mel McDaniel became a member of the Grand Ole Opry

HCM Content

• 2024 – HCM Daily Country Music News – January 11th, 2024
• 2023 – HCM Daily Country Music News – January 11th, 2023
• 2022 – HCM Daily News – January 11th, 2022
• Today’s Birthdays – January 11th

This Date in Country Music History

• 2019 – Whiskey Myers scored a #1 album with their self-titled album Whiskey Myers
• 2019 – Blake Shelton officiates the wedding of Trace Adkins & Victoria Pratt
• 2018 – Jimmie Allen released his debut album Mercury Lane
• 2018 – Chris Lane’s duet with Tori Kelly, “Take Back Home Girl” was certified platinum
• 2010 – Darius Rucker released his album Charleson, SC 1966
• 2010 – The Band Perry released their self-titled debut album
• 1997 – The legendary John Denver died in a plane crash
• 1996 – Trisha Yearwood scored a #1 hit with “Believe Me Baby (I Lied)”
• 1993 – Faith Hill released her debut album Take Me As I Am
• 1991 – Ricky Van Shelton topped the charts with “Keep It Between The Lines”
• 1987 – Randy Travis wins CMA Awards for Male Vocalist, Album, and Single of the Year
• 1985 – Marie Osmond and Dan Seals topped the charts with their duet “Meet Me In Montana”
• 1984 – Mel McDaniel released his single “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On”
• 1981 – Barbara Mandrell won CMA Awards for Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year
• 1978 – Don Williams released his single “Tulsa Time”

HCM Content

• 2023 – HCM Daily Country Music News – October 12th, 2023
• 2022 – HCM Daily Country Music News – October 12th, 2022
• 2021 – HCM Daily News – October 12th, 2021
• Today’s Birthdays – October 12th

photo by Karyn Rae

Artist Name: Hope Dunbar
Hometown: Utica, Nebraska

What project(s) are you currently working on? 

Well, first I’m releasing “Sweetheartland” out into the world, I’m writing a lot of new music with my Monday songwriting group friends, and I’m also writing a screenplay, just for fun to see if I can do it.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know? 

I have loved and been passionate about music since as long as I can remember. I was the girl looking in the mirror singing into my hairbrush like a microphone from the get-go. I sang in choirs, I took voice lessons, I loved music but never thought of it as a career until the world of songwriting was revealed to me in my late 20s. Once I started writing songs, I became very single-minded in my focus and determination. It’s a career and it’s also a vocation. I’m a songwriter, and I’ll be writing songs from now until forever.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living? 

I would love to be a travel guide. I’m a total boss when it comes to traveling the world. I can speak Spanish and German, I love new things, and I love introducing people to this magical, beautiful world. Hire me. We’ll have so much fun.

What is your favorite downtime activity? 

Right now it’s “Cobra Kai.” But I also love being outdoors, I love sitting in hot tubs, I love digging into big, deep, weird conversations.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush? 

A tall guy with a salt and pepper beard and gentle eyes revealing a certain world-weariness in a flannel shirt. Hubba hubba. (*Dream duet partner answer)

Who is your favorite sports team(s)? 

I’m a fan of teams working together and feeling like they did their best, so, I guess I’m a fan of all of them.

What is the last movie that you watched? 

“The Photograph” it’s a film out of India and so subtle and so beautiful. I loved it.

What is the last album you listened to? 

Thad Cockrell’s “If In Case You Feel the Same”

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

“Trace” by Son Volt

What is the greatest country song of all time? 

Yipes. In the pantheon of priceless music created over the past 60 years by legendary monsters of songwriting? I’m gonna say “Louisiana Saturday Night” by Mel McDaniels. When you think about it, that song is everything AND “a possum in a sack.”

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road? 

Because I live in a rural place, I love visiting the wondrous, puzzling playground that is New York City.

What is your favorite meal? 

Macho Nachos

Who is your dream duet partner? 

Glen Hansard (*see biggest celebrity crush)

Who would you like to go on tour with? 

The Chicks

What is your ultimate career goal(s)? 

Keep making records.