This Day in Country History: April 1
It may be April Fool’s Day, but these memorable milestones, events, and performances are no joke. From major award wins to big celebrations, April 1 marks a significant day in…
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It may be April Fool's Day, but these memorable milestones, events, and performances are no joke. From major award wins to big celebrations, April 1 marks a significant day in country music history.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
April 1 saw big winners at the 47th Academy of Country Music Awards, including:
- 2012: Country star turned pop queen Taylor Swift won her second consecutive Entertainer of the Year.
- 2012: Miranda Lambert won Female Vocalist of the Year, and superstar Blake Shelton won Male Vocalist of the Year. Lambert also received the Album of the Year award for Four the Record.
- 2012: Other notable winners at the ACM Awards included Lady Antebellum (now known as Lady A) for Vocal Group of the Year, Scotty McCreery for New Artist of the Year, and Thompson Square for Vocal Duo of the Year.
Cultural Milestones
From the opening of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to a birthday celebration for Loretta Lynn, there were fabulous milestones on April 1, including:
- 1967: The iconic Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee. The first inductees included Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Hank Williams, who were titans in the country music world.
- 1984: Superstars Johnny Sash and George Jones gave stellar performances at the opening of the Jones Country Music Park in Colmesneil, Texas. This rustic outdoor venue still holds country music shows.
- 2017: Country music legend Loretta Lynn celebrated her 87th birthday with an all-star concert at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. While she was actually born on April 14, she celebrated early with stars such as Alan Jackson, Brandi Carlile, Garth Brooks, and Little Big Town.
Industry Changes and Challenges
The music industry saw its share of changes and challenges on this day, including:
- 1990: Country legend Willie Nelson's tour bus was hit by another vehicle on a snowy road in Canada. While no one on Nelson's bus was seriously injured, the driver of the other car was killed.
- 2019: Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame for her tremendous work. However, many of her accolades, including this one, have since been rescinded because she is an American-born citizen and not Canadian.
- 2020: Country music legend Dolly Parton donated $1 million toward Vanderbilt University's research into a coronavirus vaccine.
April 1 has witnessed everything from controversy to generous donations, with various country music artists expressing gratitude and goodwill.
Yvette DeLaCruzWriter
