This Day in Country History: November 28
A lot of fabulous performances have occurred on Nov. 28 over the years, with holiday specials, the GRAMMY Awards, and a benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Harvey. In 1964,…
A lot of fabulous performances have occurred on Nov. 28 over the years, with holiday specials, the GRAMMY Awards, and a benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Harvey. In 1964, Willie Nelson made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and in 2016, tourists visiting Dollywood were evacuated due to a raging wildfire. Here are the standout moments from this day in country history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Nov. 28 has seen artists achieve important awards and milestones:
- 2017: At the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards, under the country music category, Maren Morris won Best Solo Performance for "My Church," Pentatonix and Dolly Parton won Best Duo/Group Performance for "Jolene," and Sturgill Simpson won Best Album for "A Sailor's Guide to Earth."
- 2018: Dan + Shay's hit song "Tequila" received a 2x Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. It later went on to be certified 8x Platinum on June 22, 2023.
Cultural Milestones
From Willie Nelson's Grand Ole Opry debut to a benefit concert for hurricane relief, these were cultural milestones for Nov. 28:
- 1964: Willie Nelson made his Grand Ole Opry debut. This legendary outlaw cowboy singer has 12 GRAMMY Awards, several Country Music Association Awards, and a Kennedy Center Honor. Nelson is best known for songs like "On the Road Again" and for being a founding member of Farm Aid.
- 2017: Lyle Lovett, Clint Black, and Don Henley from the Eagles performed a benefit concert to raise money for victims of Hurricane Harvey. This hurricane hit South Texas on Aug. 25, flooding Houston and local communities.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Nov. 28 has seen some magical Christmas specials with performances by country stars:
- 2016: Jennifer Nettles from the band Sugarland hosted the CMA Country Christmas TV special that aired on ABC. It was taped live at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville and featured performances by Kacey Musgraves, Brett Eldredge, and Kelsea Ballerini.
- 2018: During the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in New York City's Rockefeller Center, Brett Eldredge, Martina McBride, Pentatonix, and more performed for the NBC TV special. This holiday special celebrated the 89th annual lighting of the tree.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Challenges faced by artists and venues on Nov. 28 include:
- 2016: A wildfire ripped through the communities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in Tennessee. Hundreds of tourists and locals were evacuated from the area, including from Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park. Fortunately, no one at Dollywood was injured, and the theme park did not sustain damage.
- 2019: During a halftime show at a Thanksgiving Day football game in Detroit where Brothers Osborne were performing, the power went out. Fortunately, the electricity was restored quickly, and the show resumed. The Bears won 24-20 against the Detroit Lions in this game.
The end of November sees the wrap-up of Thanksgiving celebrations and the start of Christmas and other winter festivities, as we saw with tree lighting ceremonies and Christmas specials on Nov. 28. This date has also presented challenges for artists such as the Brothers Osborne, who lost power during a halftime show.
