January 30 in Country History: Milestones, Hits, and Notable Events
Jan. 30 is a day filled with unforgettable milestones and events shaping the genre. On this day in country music, we witnessed chart-topping hits and major industry changes. In this guide, we’ll uncover the powerful moments from January 30 in country history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Jan. 30 has been home to some major breakthroughs in country music:
- 1961: Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces” was released; her first #1 hit on the Country Charts and her first pop crossover hit.
- 1972: Kris Kristofferson received five Grammy nominations for “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” “Me and Bobby McGee”, and “For the Good Times.”
- 1988: Kathy Mattea gets her first #1 country single on the Billboard with “Goin’ Gone”.
- 2002: Alan Jackson’s “Drive” album debuted at #1 on the Canadian album charts, in front of Canada’s own rock band Nickelback.
- 2013: Blake Shelton goes platinum for his album “Red River Blue”.
Cultural Milestones
There have been some significant country music milestones on January 30:
- 1938: Norma Jean was born in Wellston, Oklahoma. She went on to have 13 country singles in Billboard’s Country Top 40 from 1963-1968, record 20 albums for RCA Victor, and receive two Grammy nominations.
- 1958: Merle Haggard was found guilty of second-degree burglary and served two years and nine months at San Quentin. He wrote the song “Mama Tried” about his time in prison.
- 1970: Tammy Cochran, an American country music artist, is born in Austinburg, Ohio. She went on to release “Angels In Waiting,” in 2001, a song written about brothers who passed away from cystic fibrosis.
- 1994: The Judds performed “Love Can Build A Bridge” during Super Bowl XXVIII halftime, joining Clint Black, Travis Tritt, and Tanya Tucker in front of millions of viewers.
- 2000: Faith Hill performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, marking another moment for country music.
- 2001: “Stuff” magazine published a list of the “2001 Sexiest Women” and included Shania Twain and LeAnn Rimes.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Several notable country music events on January 30 include:
- 1985: Randy Travis records four songs in his first recording session with Warner Bros, including “Rustler’s Rhapsody,” “On The Other Hand,” and “Prairie Rose”.
- 2004: CMT premieres Keith Urban’s music video for “You’ll Think Of Me”.
- 2011: Dierks Bentley recorded “Am I The Only One” at Echo Mountain Studios, Asheville.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Jan. 30 has been a day for important industry shifts that reflect the genre’s growth and changing dynamics:
- 1981: Kenny Rogers won four American Music Awards in 1981, including Favorite Country Single for “Coward of the County”. This reflected the increasing popularity and commercial impact of the country music industry.
Jan. 30 marks significant moments of achievement and change in country music history. For those looking to explore more of the genre’s rich history, dive into these classic songs or take a trip down memory lane with some timeless country legends.