This Day in Country History: June 1
June 1 saw lots of fun country music festivals, some interesting milestones, and notable performances that helped influence the country music industry. This day also saw the passing of two…
June 1 saw lots of fun country music festivals, some interesting milestones, and notable performances that helped influence the country music industry. This day also saw the passing of two legends who had a huge impact on the genre and other country music stars.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
From George Strait to Cassadee Pope, this day has hosted several milestones:
- 2013: On June 1, the legendary country singer George Strait, known for "All My Ex's Live in Texas," performed one of his last concerts. While Strait still makes music, he decided to stop playing live, and his show at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, wrapped up the first leg of his farewell tour.
- 2014: A very young Cassadee Pope sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series FedEx 400 at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware, while the Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard presented their colors.
Cultural Milestones
Women country music artists have always been strong in the industry, writing and singing songs that influenced culture and paved the way for future and aspiring women country music performers and songwriters:
- 1981: Prolific songwriter and country/folk singer Brandi Carlile was born on June 1 in Ravensdale, Washington. Carlile is a multiple GRAMMY Award-winning artist, and her 2018 album By the Way, I Forgive You was nominated for Best Americana Album.
- 2020: PBS aired the show Iconic Women of Country as a tribute to 14 legendary women artists, including Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, and Minnie Pearl. All these women country music stars have had a major influence on the industry and many artists who follow in their footsteps.
Notable Recordings and Performances
June 1 has hosted lots of country music festivals, including:
- 2024: At the high-energy Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach, Florida, headliners included Cody Johnson, Billy Currington, Peytan Porter, and Priscilla Block.
- 2024: Another fun country music festival on June 1 was the BackCountry Festival in Gardnerville, Nevada. Headliners on this day included Justin Moore, Uncle Lucius, Evan Honer, and Kat Hasty.
- 2024: Big names performing on June 1 at the Railbird Music Festival in Lexington, Kentucky, including Noah Kahan, the Turnpike Troubadours, Wynonna Judd, and Brittney Spencer.
- 2024: The In the Pines music festival in Bristol on the Tennessee/Virginia state lines had country music stars such as Dwight Yoakam, Paul Cauthen, Wyatt Flores, and Elle King.
Industry Changes and Challenges
When musical legends die, the industry mourns their passing:
- 2020: Famous guitarist Jimmy Capps died on June 1. Capps was a prolific studio guitarist, a member of the Grand Ole Opry house band, and inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame.
- 2023: GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter Cynthia Weil died in Beverly Hills, California. She was known for writing hits such as "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," "Looking Through the Eyes of Love," and Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again."
June 1 was a significant day in the country music industry. The PBS show Iconic Women of Country was an honorable way to show respect for these groundbreaking women musical artists, and fans had loads of fun at the many musical festivals held on this day.
