This Day in Country History: January 21
Being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry is a monumental occurrence for a country music star or band, and both Crystal Gayle and Lady A were inducted on Jan. 21….
Being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry is a monumental occurrence for a country music star or band, and both Crystal Gayle and Lady A were inducted on Jan. 21. Dog lovers enjoyed seeing celebrities walk a runway with dogs up for adoption at an event hosted by Kellie Pickler, and Carrie Underwood and her husband welcomed a son on Jan. 21, 2019.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Two big stars were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Jan. 21, including:
- 2017: The "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" singer Crystal Gayle was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Gayle comes from a music background, with her older sister Loretta Lynn also being a member of the Opry and a superstar as well.
- 2021: Darius Rucker invited the group Lady A to join the Grand Ole Opry. Rucker made the invitation when Lady A was performing and filming for the TV special, Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music. The group was inducted on the same day.
Cultural Milestones
Benefits that occurred on Jan. 21 included:
- 2012: The "Red High Heels" singer Kellie Pickler hosted the 2nd Annual Hollywoof Unleashed charity event at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville on January 20. Celebrities walked adoptable dogs down a runway, hoping to find their forever home at this dog-friendly event.
- 2020: Rodney Atkins, known for the popular hit "Caught Up in the Country," performed for the fundraiser, Charity for the Kids, benefitting the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina. LOCASH and Haley & Michaels also performed for this event.
Notable Recordings and Performances
From Dierks Bentley to BRELAND, these were notable performances for Jan. 21:
- 2017: Dierks Bentley played Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. This was Bentley's first time headlining this important venue, and he had opening acts Jon Pardi and Cole Swindell helping to entertain the audience.
- 2023: The "My Truck" singer, BRELAND, sang the national anthem at halftime during an NFL halftime show. This was a playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants.
Industry Changes and Challenges
A two-show cancellation and a new baby were industry changes for Jan. 21.
- 2016: Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood announced they had to cancel two Baltimore, Md., World Tour concerts due to the forecast of a massive snowstorm. The shows were rescheduled for Jan. 31 at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.
- 2019: Carrie Underwood and her husband, Mike Fisher, welcomed their son, Jacob Bryan Fisher. Just nine months earlier, Underwood had a fall that required dozens of stitches on her face and surgery for her broken wrist.
Touring has its challenges for musical acts, and Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood found that the weather can impact their shows. Dierks Bentley had a big night headlining the Bridgestone Arena, and BRELAND had the opportunity to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at an NFL halftime show in 2023.
