This Day in Country History: July 26
July 26 was a busy day in country music history. Its landmarks and milestones include music festivals, record certifications, and a generous, heartwarming donation to the Country Music Hall of…
July 26 was a busy day in country music history. Its landmarks and milestones include music festivals, record certifications, and a generous, heartwarming donation to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
This date in history has seen some major milestones, including:
- 2013: Brad Paisley's single "Beat This Summer" received a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.
- 2016: Members of the singing Scott Family, including Hillary Scott from the country music band Lady A, made their collective debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry on July 26. The Scott Family is known for singing gospel harmonies.
Cultural Milestones
July 26 milestones with an impact on the cultural scene of country music included:
- 1990: The Alabama Music Hall of Fame opened on July 26 with the help of the Muscle Shoals Music Association. While this organization had been inducting artists since 1985, such as Nat "King" Cole and Sonny James, it wasn't until 1990 that the hall was constructed and opened to the public.
- 2010: The iconic Brenda Lee donated priceless memorabilia to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as part of its permanent collection. She gave the museum a host of items, including stage costumes, show posters, awards, and magazine cover stories, that highlighted her long career in the country music industry.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Summertime is perfect for outdoor concerts, so it's no surprise that multiple country music festivals have taken place on July 26, such as:
- 2024: The 2024 Night in the Country Music Festival in Yerington, Nevada, took place from July 25 to July 27. Country singer Riley Green headlined the second day of this popular festival, with additional performances from Chase Rice, Erin Kinsey, and Travis Denning.
- 2024: Jon Pardi, 49 Winchester, and Stephen Wilson Jr. thrilled fans on the second day of another three-day country music festival, the Headwaters Country Jam in Cardwell, Montana.
Industry Changes and Challenges
This date in history has also seen some challenges, including:
- 2009: Always the gentleman, Tim McGraw stopped his concert at the Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, California, because he saw a male audience member abusing a woman in the audience. McGraw stopped the show, admonishing the man not to treat a lady like that and to get out.
- 2019: The band Alabama had to cancel its 50th Anniversary Tour show in Columbus, Georgia, on this date due to one of the band members' ongoing health challenges. Luckily for the band and its fans, the show was rescheduled for later that same year.
Music fans look forward to concerts and music festivals, and they were not disappointed on July 26. The country music industry has also marked milestone achievements, generous donations, cross-genre debuts, and a few challenges on this day in history.
