This Day in Country History: March 17
March 17 has seen big hits and grand performances in country music history. From tribute shows to canceled festivals, this was an important day for the industry.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Legends and upcoming artists performed and released debut albums on March 17:
- 2018: During his ground-breaking Country Music Freaks Tour, Blake Shelton performed at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Other country artists, including Brett Eldredge, Carly Pearce, and Trace Adkins, also appeared.
- 2023: Bailey Zimmerman released his full-length debut album “Religious.” His song “Fall in Love” became a hit sensation, and in 2023, he won New Male Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Cultural Milestones
On March 17, major country stars played a tribute show, and Keith Urban played during his Las Vegas residency:
- 2023: Randy Travis, Joe Nichols, Aaron Lewis, Charlie Starr, and Dillon Carmichael performed at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the “Still Playin” Possum: Music & Memories of George Jones” tribute show. Country legend George Jones died in 2013.
- 2023: Keith Urban performed as part of his electrifying Las Vegas residency at the Zappos Theater. He sang and played his electric guitar with renditions of hit songs such as “Somebody Like You,” “Somewhere in My Car,” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
- 2023: Kane Brown took his Drunk or Dreaming Tour to the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. This rising country star has massive social media influence, with over 6 million Facebook followers and more than 3 million Instagram followers.
Notable Recordings and Performances
We nod our heads to the following performances:
- 2018: During the Breakers Tour, Little Big Town played at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Special guests Kasey Musgrave and Midland joined the band for this show.
- 2024: As part of her “Devil I Know” tour, singer/songwriter Ashley McBryde performed at The Magnolia in El Cajon, California, treating the crowd to an intimate night of her country music.
Industry Changes and Challenges
March 17 saw its share of hardships:
- 1996: Singer/songwriter Terry Stafford died from liver problems at the age of 54. He is best known for singing “Suspicion,” initially recorded by Elvis Presley, and for writing “Amarillo By Morning,” made famous by George Strait in 1974.
- 2020: Many musicians could not perform live with venues closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, country singer Luke Combs streamed a 10-minute concert from his garage, showing his commitment to his fans and music, even during challenging times.
- 2020: Due to COVID restrictions, the Country Music Association announced the cancellation of CMA Fest held in Nashville, Tennessee. This event, one of the biggest country music festivals in the world, has been running for over 50 years, and this was the first time they had to cancel. It didn’t return until 2022.
Country music keeps evolving with new artists and blended genres, but fans embrace the mix of old roots with contemporary sounds. March 17 was a notable day for the country music industry.
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