This Day in Country History: February 20
The 1991 GRAMMY Awards show, held on February 20, had winners Kathy Mattea and Vince Gill. Keith Urban performed at the Country Radio Seminar’s annual Universal Music Group luncheon on…
The 1991 GRAMMY Awards show, held on February 20, had winners Kathy Mattea and Vince Gill. Keith Urban performed at the Country Radio Seminar's annual Universal Music Group luncheon on this day in 2020. The historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville reopened with a show by The Band Perry after replacing its 50-year-old wooden stage, and significant record certifications were given on February 20.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones:
Keith Urban, Kathy Mattea, and Vince Gill had major milestones on February 20.
- 1991: Country music GRAMMY Award winners included Kathy Mattea's winning Best Country Song for "Where've You Been," and Vince Gill, who won Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "When I Call Your Name."
- 2016: Chris Lane made his Grand Ole Opry debut singing “Fix.”
- 2020: At the Country Radio Seminar's annual Universal Music Group luncheon and showcase held at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, Keith Urban charmed the audience with a new, danceable song titled "God Whispered Your Name," which has a message about how love can have a spiritual side for a higher connection.
- 2022: Chris Stapleton's "You Should Probably Leave" was No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
- 2024: Beyoncé became the first black woman to reach No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart with "Texas Hold 'Em." It remained on top for 10 consecutive weeks.
Cultural Milestones
The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville is a country music icon, and it had a band play there on February 20 after being closed for renovations.
- 1951: Kathie Baillie, lead singer and guitarist for Baillie & the Boys, was born.
- 1956: Singer-songwriter James Salestrom was born. He was the lead singer of Timberline and performed in Dolly Parton's band.
- 1974: Cher files for divorce from her husband, Sonny. The divorce would not be finalized until June of 1975.
- 1981: Musician Chris Thile, from Punch Brothers, was born. He was nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Country Instrumental Performance for "The Eleventh Reel" in 2006.
- 1984: Singer-songwriter Audra Mae was born. She co-wrote "Little Red Wagon," which was sung by Miranda Lambert.
- 1996: Alan Jackson appeared on Home Improvement. He sang "Mercury Blues" on the fictional handyman show, Tool Time.
- 2012: At 50 years old, the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville decided to replace its wooden stage. The first act to perform on the stage was The Band Perry, who played on Feb. 20.
- 2017: Country music television hosts Charlie Chase and Lorianne Crook received the Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award at the Grand Ole Opry. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood were at this event to help welcome and honor Cook and Chase.
- 2019: Fred Foster, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, passed away. He produced Roy Orbison's biggest hits, including "Only the Lonely" and "Oh, Pretty Woman".
Notable Recordings and Performances
Album certifications and a Las Vegas residency dominated notable performances and events on February 20, including:
- 2003: George Strait's album, The Road Less Traveled, received a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on this day. In addition, the Chicks, previously known as The Dixie Chicks, debut album, Wide Open Spaces, received a 12x Platinum certification from the RIAA.
- 2011: Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, and Dierks Bentley performed before the Daytona 500.
- 2016: Rascal Flatts performed at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of their nine-night residency, which started on February 17. This was the second time the band held a residency in Las Vegas, which they titled Rascal Flatts Rhyman and Roots.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Two deaths of major Nashville icons were industry changes for February 20.
- 2005: Nashville songwriter Larry Kingston died on this day, three days after he had a heart attack. Kingston was known for writing songs like "Pittsburgh Stealers," by The Kendalls, and "Thank God and Greyhound (She's Gone)," recorded by Roy Clark.
- 2019: Fred Foster, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, passed away. He produced Roy Orbison's biggest hits, including "Only the Lonely" and "Oh, Pretty Woman."
Fans enjoy seeing Rascal Flatts perform live, and that's why they had their second residency at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, with February 20 being one of their performance dates. The country music industry said goodbye to two legends on February 20. Even though Larry Kingston and Fred Foster are gone, their influence on modern songwriters still lives on.
