This Day in Country History: August 22
On Aug. 22, there was a heartwarming exhibit for Loretta Lynn at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and performers such as Kacey Musgraves honored her. Jason Aldean…
On Aug. 22, there was a heartwarming exhibit for Loretta Lynn at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and performers such as Kacey Musgraves honored her. Jason Aldean unveiled his role as a brand ambassador, and the country music world lost two influential songwriters.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Aug. 22 is associated with many breakthrough hits and milestones, such as:
- 2009: "You Belong With Me," the hit song by former country star and now pop superstar Taylor Swift, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 16 weeks on the chart.
- 2016: Jason Aldean became the brand ambassador for Field & Stream. The sports channel ESPN aired an ad of Aldean and his father, Barry, celebrating their outdoor traditions.
Cultural Milestones
These country music artists had a cultural impact on Aug. 22:
- 1957: Country music singer Holly Dunn was born in San Antonio, Texas. Dunn moved to Nashville and scored a record deal in 1985. She's known for the songs "Daddy's Hands" and "Are You Ever Gonna Love Me."
- 2017: Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark, and Margo Price performed at the opening of Loretta Lynn: Blue Kentucky Girl, an exhibit dedicated to Loretta Lynn at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Lynn, the singer of "Coal Miner's Daughter," won three GRAMMYs and was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Notable Recordings and Performances
On Aug. 22, country music fans enjoyed these unforgettable performances:
- 2011: Connie Smith, the singer of "If It Ain't Love (Let's Leave It Alone)" and "Here Comes My Baby Back Again," performed at the Ford Theater as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's 2011 Artist-in-Residence.
- 2021: On the final day of Barefoot Country Music Fest in Wildwood, New Jersey, fans enjoyed seeing Zac Brown Band, Colt Ford, and Mitchell Tenpenny as headliners. Corbette Jackson and Lindsay Ell also took the stage at this music festival.
Industry Changes and Challenges
A couple of well-known industry figures died on Aug. 22, including:
- 2011: Songwriter Jerry Leiber died at the age of 78. He wrote several hit songs for artists such as Brenda Lee, Elvis Presley, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Cash, and June Carter Cash.
- 2022: Buddy Holly and The Crickets drummer Jerry Allison died at the age of 82. Allison was the co-writer of hits such as "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue."
Aug. 22 has witnessed several country music performances over the years. On this day, Connie Smith started a residency at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Some artists performed to honor Loretta Lynn, and others headlined the final day of Barefoot Country Music Fest. In addition, Taylor Swift had a big hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
