January 23rd: On this day

1940
Born on this day in Moorhead, Mississippi, was Johnny Russell country singer, songwriter, and comedian best known for his song "Act Naturally", which was made famous by Buck Owens, who recorded it in 1963, and The Beatles in 1965. His songs have been recorded by Burl Ives, Jim Reeves, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt. He died on July 3 2001.

1956
Born on this day in Dayton, Ohio, was singer-songwriter Harley Allen who penned Alan Jackson's "Between The Devil And Me" and John Michael Montgomery's "The Little Girl", as well as songs for Garth Brooks, Don Williams, Linda Ronstadt and George Jones. Allen died of lung cancer on March 30, 2011 at his home in Brentwood, Tennessee.

1963
The theme song for The Beverly Hillbillies TV show "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" by Jerry Scoggins, who was accompanied by bluegrass musicians Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs was at #1 on the US Country charts. During the original run of The Beverly Hillbillies, special lyrics were written and inserted into the closing theme, advertising regular sponsors such as Kellogg's cereals and Winston cigarettes.

1976
C.W. McCall was at #1 on the Country chart with the novelty song, "Convoy". The song itself was largely responsible for starting a nationwide citizens' band radio craze. The song "Black Bear Road" in turn popularized the now-infamous road itself, along with its "You don't HAVE to be crazy to drive this road - but it helps" sign.

1978
Born on this day in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, was Josh Thompson who scored a 2009 hit with "Beer On The Table," from his debut album Way Out Here. Thompson has also written songs for Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Justin Moore, Brad Paisley, Brett Young, Morgan Wallen and Darius Rucker.

1981
Alabama released "Old Flame" which became the group's third #1 single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The track was the third in a string of 21 consecutive #1 singles in as many releases, a string that spanned from 1980 through 1987.

2010
Taylor Swift was at #1 on the country chart with Fearless. The album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and Best Country Album. Swift's Album of the Year win made her the youngest person ever at the age of 20 to receive that award.

2015
Jason Aldean was at #1 on the Country album chart with his sixth studio album Old Boots, New Dirt, his second album to reach #1. Four singles were released from the album; "Burnin' It Down", (reached the top of the US Hot Country Songs chart), "Just Gettin' Started", "Tonight Looks Good on You" and "Gonna Know We Were Here".

2018
Lari White the country music artist and actress died age 52 after a battle with peritoneal cancer. Three of her singles having reached Top Ten: "That's My Baby" and "That's How You Know (When You're In Love)" and "Now I Know." She also appeared in the hit 2000 film Cast Away.

2023
Gabby Barrett's "Pick Me Up", Lainey Wilson's "Heart Like a Truck" and Carly Pearce's "What He Didn't Do", all reach #4, #8 and #10 respectively at US Country Radio (as measured by Mediabase). This marks the first time since 2020 that three solo women have charted in the top ten simultaneously.

2024
Margo Smith died age 84 from complications of a stroke she suffered two days earlier. The singer scored two US #1 Country hits in the 1970s, "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While." She was also considered a "world class yodeler".