Let’s hop in our metaphorical time machine and take a trip down memory lane.
On May 6th, 1974 country music was thrust into the mainstream when Merle Haggard appeared on the cover on ‘Time Magazine’. The country music icon was on the cover and featured in a story about his life and rise to fame. The story made a major point of Haggard starting his life as a thief, and spending time in jail, before rising to stardom. ‘Time Magazine’ called the late great Merle Haggard a “pure, proud and prominent link between country’s past and present,”.
Photo Credit: Time Magazine
The 20th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards were held on May 6th, 1985; and were hosted by Glen Campbell, Janie Frickie, and Loretta Lynn. The ceremony took place at Knott’s Berry Farm, in Buena Park, California. Top winners from the night included: Reba McEntire as Top Female Vocalist of the Year, George Strait as Top Male Vocalist of the Year, Alabama as Top Vocal Group, and Top New Male Vocalist of the Year went to Vince Gill.
It’s no big secret that in 2003 the Dixie Chicks found themselves in hot water due to some controversial comments Dixie Chicks member Natalie Maines had made about President George W. Bush and the Iraq War. During the backlash from Maines’ comments, on May 6th, 2003, a pair of disc jockeys in Colorado also found themselves in trouble with their radio station. The two DJs were suspended by the Colorado station for playing music from the, at the time, controversial Dixie Chicks.
-Cody Chustz