This Day in Country History: October 14
Oct. 14, 2006 was an important day for Taylor Swift. When Eric Church was fired from touring with Rascal Flatts, she took over, helping to launch her career. Oct. 14…
Oct. 14, 2006 was an important day for Taylor Swift. When Eric Church was fired from touring with Rascal Flatts, she took over, helping to launch her career. Oct. 14 also saw the Zac Brown Band raising money for a charity and two fun country music festivals.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
There were big milestones for country music on Oct. 14, including:
- 2006: Eric Church was the opening act for Rascal Flatts during their Me and My Gang Tour. During a show at Madison Square Garden in New York, Church played over his allotted time after repeated warnings at previous shows, and Rascal Flatts kicked him off their tour. A young country singer called Taylor Swift was offered the opening act, and the rest is history.
- 2016: GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends, in collaboration with The Recording Academy and Great Performances, aired on Oct. 14. Performers for this night of celebration included Krist Kristofferson, JD Souther, Martina McBride, and Shelby Lynne.
Cultural Milestones
From a fundraiser to inductions into a prestigious organization, these were cultural milestones on Oct. 14:
- 2017: The Zac Brown Band raised a record-breaking 1.7 million dollars for Camp Southern Ground at a benefit concert held at the Southern Ground Amphitheater in Fayetteville, Georgia. This organization serves children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders with educational and social skills programs.
- 2019: Songwriters/Singers Dwight Yoakam, Larry Gatlin, and Sharon Vaughn were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame for their contributions to the Nashville country music scene.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Country music festivals on Oct. 14 included:
- 2023: Big names headlined the GoldenSky festival held in Sacramento, California, on Oct. 14. Jon Pardi, Maren Morris, Jordan Davis, Niko Moon, Wynonna Judd, and Ingrid Andress all thrilled the audience.
- 2022: Willie Nelson fans traveled to Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, for the annual Outlaw Music Festival. The fans also enjoyed live performances by The Avett Brothers, Jamestown Revival, Larkin Poe, and Particle Kid.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Weather and auto accidents had an impact on Oct. 14:
- 2012: Due to extreme weather and high wind warnings, Dierks Bentley had to cancel his annual Miles & Music for Kids charity event in Nashville. Instead, he held an impromptu show at the Hard Rock Cafe for fans who traveled to see him.
- 2019: Kane Brown announced that he was canceling his sold-out concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, to be held on Oct. 18, because his long-time drummer and friend, Kenny Dixon, was killed in an auto accident.
Touring and performing have their challenges. From Kane Brown losing his drummer to Dierks Bentley having to cancel his charity event, artists and fans had to be flexible on Oct. 14. Taylor Swift had an important career step on this date, getting Eric Church's position to open for Rascal Flatts.
