This Day in Country History: April 11
Spring is in full bloom on April 11, marking a significant day in country music history. The Country Music Awards dominated this day, with winners including Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean,…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 09: Cody Johnson performs onstage at The 56th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Spring is in full bloom on April 11, marking a significant day in country music history. The Country Music Awards dominated this day, with winners including Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, and Miranda Lambert. The state of Arkansas signed a law to honor country singer Johnny Cash and civil rights leader Daisy Bates with statues at the U.S. Capitol, while COVID-19 meant that Farm Aid had to go virtual in 2020.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
The annual Country Music Awards never disappoint, and 2022 was no exception, with lots of winners, including:
- 2022: Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean won the top award for Video of the Year and Collaborative Video of the Year with the song "If I Didn't Love You."
- 2022: Cody Johnson also brought home two awards, one for Male Video of the Year with "Til You Can't" and the CMT Digital-First Award for “Dear Rodeo" for his performance on CMT's "Campfire Sessions."
- 2022: Additional awards won this night include Miranda Lambert for Female Video of the Year for "If I Was a Cowboy," while Breakthrough Video of the Year went to Parker McCollum for “To Be Loved by You."
Cultural Milestones
Cultural milestones with surprise appearances, statues, and exceptional performances on April 11 include:
- 2017: Country great Blake Shelton made an unannounced performance at the Grand Ole Opry, delighting guests and fans. He sang "Honey Bee" and "Ol' Red."
- 2015: Award-winning country star Miranda Lambert performed at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, with guest stars Justin Moore, Ashley Monroe, and Jukebox Mafia. As well as being a famous country music star, Lambert has raised millions of dollars for pet shelters through her MuttNation foundation.
- 2019: As an honor to the late Johnny Cash, the Cash family and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed a bill to have statues of the Man in Black and civil rights leader Daisy Bates placed at the U.S. Capitol.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Country music has faced changes and challenges on April 11, including:
- 2003: Legendary music executive Tony Brown, who worked in Nashville and produced records and albums for Reba McEntire, Wynonna Judd, and Trisha Yearwood, was seriously injured after falling down a flight of stairs. He underwent brain surgery and made a full recovery.
- 2020: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Farm Aid went virtual and was called At Home with Farm Aid. The founding members of Farm Aid — Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews — performed solo from their homes.
- 2023: Country singer and songwriter Eddie Miller died on April 11. Miller was instrumental in forming the Academy of Country Music and the Nashville Songwriters Association. He also wrote songs for the likes of Eddy Arnold and Patsy Cline.
It's always interesting to look at the events that shaped country music, such as the Country Music Awards. April 11 saw impacts from COVID-19 as well as awesome shows and performances we still talk about.
