This Day in Country History: June 5
June 5 saw benefit concerts, the passing of a musical great, and performances played to empty houses due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The Country Music Awards show is always a…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 16: (L-R) Honorees Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay attend the 2019 CMT Artist of the Year at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on October 16, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
June 5 saw benefit concerts, the passing of a musical great, and performances played to empty houses due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The Country Music Awards show is always a highlight, and Carrie Underwood brought home two trophies at the 2019 event.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
While the CMT Awards dominated June 5, 2019, Luke Combs received significant certifications for his music as well:
- 2019: Luke Combs, known for songs such as "Fast Car" and "The Kind of Love We Make," received a Gold certification for "Houston, We Got a Problem" and a Platinum certification for "Hurricane" from the Recording Industry Association of America.
- 2019: Winners at the CMT Awards included Carrie Underwood's “Cry Pretty” for Video of the Year, Kane Brown's Male Video of the Year, “Lose It,” and Carrie Underwood's “Love Wins,” which won Female Video of the Year.
- 2019: Additional winners at the CMT Awards included Dan + Shay's “Speechless,” which won Duo Video of the Year, the Zac Brown Band, who won Group Video of the Year for “Someone I Used to Know,” and Ashley McBryde, who won Breakthrough Video of the Year for “Girl Goin' Nowhere.”
Cultural Milestones
Benefit concerts on June 5 that helped raise money for others included:
- 2018: Morgan Wallen, Jake Owen, and Jillian Jacqueline were headliners at the 14th Annual Stars For Second Harvest Benefit at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. This benefit showcased acoustic versions of the country music stars who played that night and raised over $180,000 for the food bank.
- 2021: On Saturday, June 5, the "Marry the Girl" singer Easton Corbin headlined the famous Cattlemen's Ball in Nebraska. This annual ball is a charity event that raises money for cancer research with plenty of food, activities, and country music.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Hats off to these notable performances from June 5:
- 2017: Dierks Bentley sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Bentley is known for his fun songs such as "Drunk on a Plane" and "Somewhere on a Beach."
- 2018: Country music band Midland performed at the Cannery Ballroom in Nashville. This was a benefit for Musicians On Call, whose mission is to bring live and recorded music to bedridden patients in various healthcare settings.
- 2019: Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives performed at the Late Night Jam, held at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Dierks Bentley and string band Old Crow Medicine Show also performed that night.
Industry Changes and Challenges
The passing of a country music legend always has an impact on fans and the industry, and the COVID-19 pandemic created many challenges for everyone:
- 1993: The legendary rhinestone cowboy Conway Twitty died suddenly at the age of 59 while on tour. Twitty had numerous No. 1 country hits and dedicated fans. His death hit the country music industry hard.
- 2020: During the restrictions placed on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sturgill Simpson played the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to an empty audience. The concert was live-streamed and raised money for The Equity Alliance, Special Forces Foundation, and MusiCares.
June 5 was a big day in the country music world. From awards shows to benefit concerts, country music artists continue to influence and positively impact society.
