Let’s hop in our metaphorical time machine and take a trip down memory lane.
On July 16, 1986 Dolly Parton would officially open her very own theme park called Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. At the parks open, it had over 3,000 employees on its payroll, making Dollywood the largest employer in the entire Pigeon Forge community. Dollywood is full of incredible amusement park rides and games; as well as featuring traditional crafts and music of the Smoky Mountains area. Dollywood is still open and going strong today; Ms. Dolly herself has even been known to drop in from time to time to check on things and say hi to the lucky guests.
On July 16, 1990 the US Country charts were being topped by the one and only Garth Brooks. Brooks was at number one with his song ‘The Dance’. ‘The Dance’ was written by a friend of Brooks’, Tony Arata. The song would become a key track on Brooks’ self titled debut album. So much so that ‘The Dance’ is now considered, by many, to be Garth Brooks’ signature song.
On July 16, 2006 Kenny Chesney would put on a record setting country concert in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Chesney held a show at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, that grossed four million dollars. At the time, that broke the record for highest grossing country concert of all time. Other artist performing that night included: Dierks Bentley, Big and Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Carrie Underwood.
On July 16, 2012 Kitty Wells sadly passed away at the age of 92. Wells died from complications after having a stroke. Wells joined the country music scene in 1952 with her hit ‘It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels’. She became the first female country singer to top the US Country chart with that song. Wells continued success in to the mid 1960’s inspired a long list of female country singers who rose to fame in the 1960’s.