Today in Country Music History...July 4, 2017

 

2015	Dierks Bentley performs "Drunk On A Plane" and "Riser" during the "Macy's Fourth Of July Fireworks Spectacular" on NBC. The annual holiday special also features Kelly Clarkson, Meghan Trainor, James Taylor and Brad Paisley's renditions of "River Bank" and "Crushin' It"
2012	Brad Paisley performs a USO show for the military, and for president Barack Obama, on the south lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., closing his set with "Welcome To The Future"
2010	Toby Keith performs "God Love Her," "How Do You Like Me Now?!" and "American Soldier" from the Charles River Esplanade in Boston on the CBS special "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular"
1992	Wynonna's "I Saw The Light" tops the Billboard country chart
1986	Lee Greenwood performs "God Bless The U.S.A." in the New York Harbor as the Queen Elizabeth II arrives from England to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty
1985	Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic in Austin features the first live assembly of the Highwaymen: Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. Also in the lineup are Neil Young, Hank Snow and June Carter Cash
1981	Barbara Mandrell's "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool," featuring a guest appearance by George Jones, goes to #1 on the Billboard country chart
1976	Johnny Cash celebrates the Bicentennial by ringing a replica of the Liberty Bell 200 times in Washington, D.C. Also participating in the event are vice president Nelson Rockefeller and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
1973	Willie Nelson holds his first Fourth of July Picnic in Dripping Springs, Texas
1949	Drummer/record producer James Stroud is born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He plays on hits by Eddie Rabbitt, Conway Twitty and Eddy Raven, and produces Clint Black, Chris Young, Clay Walker, Toby Keith and Tim McGraw, among others