This Day in Country History: April 14
April 14 was a notable day in country music history. There were big winners at the Academy of Country Music awards, including Randy Travis and Reba McEntire. The legendary Loretta…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 10: (L-R) Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town perform on stage during day three of CMA Fest 2023 at Nissan Stadium on June 10, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
April 14 was a notable day in country music history. There were big winners at the Academy of Country Music awards, including Randy Travis and Reba McEntire. The legendary Loretta Lynn was born on April 14, and Rusty Young, one of the great country music keyboardists, died on this day.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
On April 14, 1986, the ACM Awards had big winners, including:
- 1986: George Strait won Top Male Vocalist and Album of the Year for Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind. Randy Travis won Top New Male Vocalist, and country music band Alabama won Entertainer of the Year.
- 1986: Reba McEntire won Top Female Vocalist, Judy Rodman won for Top New Female Vocalist, and The Judds won Top Vocal Duo.
- 1986: Other winners included Kitty Wells for the Pioneer Award, The Highwaymen for Single Record of the Year for "Highwayman," and George Jones for Country Music Video of the Year with "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes."
Cultural Milestones
Loretta Lynn, one of the greatest female country music stars we've ever seen, was born on April 14:
- 1932: Country music queen Loretta Lynn, with hits including "Coal Miner's Daughter" and "After the Fire Is Gone," was born on April 14, 1932, in Kentucky. Lynn was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988, and in 2004, she won a Grammy for Best Country Album for Van Lear Rose.
- 2004: Country icon Dolly Parton received the Living Legend Medal from the Library of Congress. This prestigious award is given to people who have made contributions to America's cultural, scientific, and social heritage.
Notable Recordings and Performances
April 14 saw these three notable performances:
- 2010: Carrie Underwood played the Jack Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing, Michigan, as a stop on her Play On Tour.
- 2012: Country legend Ray Price performed at the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts for the Northeast Texas Community College Foundation. Proceeds from this show went toward revitalizing the Whatley Center.
- 2023: Country group Little Big Town played the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Georgia. This was a stop for their Friends of Mine Tour.
Industry Changes and Challenges
From losing a great star, to country musicians delving into cooking shows and restaurants, April 14 has seen some interesting changes and challenges, including:
- 2012: Singer Trisha Yearwood premiered her cooking show Trisha's Southern Kitchen on the Food Network.
- 2021: Keyboard player extraordinaire and founding member of the country-rock band Poco, Rusty Young, died of a heart attack. Poco was known for songs such as "Crazy Love" and " Heart of the Night."
The ACM awards are always a bright spot for country music artists, and it's exciting to see so many big names win awards. Female country legends such as Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton continue to inspire up-and-coming artists with their dedication to their craft.
