This Day in Country History: February 5

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 2001: Montgomery Gentry released "She Couldn't Change Me" as the first single from their breakthrough album, Carrying On. The single would peak at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
• 2013: Tim McGraw releases his 12th studio album, Two Lanes of Freedom. The record reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and went to No. 2 on the Billboard 200. 
• 2016: Dan + Shay released the lead single, "From the Ground Up," from their second studio album, Obsessed. The track debuted at No. 37 on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart and peaked at number one in August. 
• 2019: Hayes Carll made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Carll received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Song for "Chances Are" at the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards.  
• 2021: Dan + Shay release their pop-infused single, "Glad You Exist." The upbeat track peaked at No. 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the US Billboard Country Airplay charts. 
• 2023: At the 65th GRAMMY Awards, Willie Nelson took home Best Country Solo Performance for his song "Live Forever" and for Best Country Album for A Beautiful Time. The  Best Country Duo/Group Performance went to Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde for their "Never Wanted To Be That Girl."

Cultural Milestones

• 2020: Shania Twain walked the runway with other celebrities for The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Annual Red Dress Collection. Twain wore a sparkly red floor-length ball gown for the event, then performed "That Don't Impress Me Much" in a red jumpsuit. 
• 2020: Little Big Town ranks No. 1 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart with their ninth studio album, Nightfall. The album also peaked at number one on the UK Country Albums chart. 
• 2023: Willie Nelson takes home the first country music award at the 65th GRAMMY Awards for Best Country Solo Performance for his cover of  Billy Joe Shaver's "Live Forever." The singer-songwriter won the Best Country Album award the same night for "A Beautiful Time."
• 2025: Old Dominion played two shows at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville as part of their 7 for 7 Ryman Residency. Brothers Osborne joined Old Dominion for the song "Rum." Proceeds from this show went to various charities, including St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and the Opry Trust Fund.

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 1962: The first of two initial recording sessions for Ray Charles' groundbreaking album, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, occurs at Capitol Studios in New York. Its lead single, "I Can't Stop Loving You," received massive airplay on country radio stations and won Charles an award at the 5th Annual GRAMMY Awards the next year.
• 2000: The Dixie Chicks score a number-one hit single as their "Cowboy Take Me Away" moves to the top of the US Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart. 
• 2018: During a Jason Aldean concert at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame, the audience was thrilled when Jason Aldean joined Garth Brooks on stage. They sang Aldean's "My Kinda Party" and Brooks's "Friends in Low Places."
• 2018: Brett Young's "In Case You Didn't Know" received a 3x Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which had gotten a Diamond certification on March 19, 2024. In addition, Thomas Rhett's "Marry Me" received a Gold certification on this same date.

Industry Changes and Challenges

• 2016: A new species of spider discovered in California is named after Country legend Johnny Cash. The tarantula, named Aphonopelma johnnycashi, was one of 14 new species found near Folsom Prison in California, for which Cash also wrote a famous song.
• 2024: Toby Keith dies at 62 after battling stomach cancer. The prolific star released 21 studio albums over his career, with five topping the Billboard 200 Albums chart.