This Day in Country History: August 31
Aug. 31 has been an eventful day in country music history. On this day, Luke Bryan proved he’s a country music superstar and set a concert attendance record at Soldier…
Aug. 31 has been an eventful day in country music history. On this day, Luke Bryan proved he's a country music superstar and set a concert attendance record at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Zac Brown got married, and a major music festival was cancelled due to storm damage.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Aug. 31 is associated with several breakthrough hits and milestones, such as:
- 2014: Superstar Luke Bryan broke records after four sold-out nights at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, with his final night on August 31. With over 225,000 fans attending the shows at this historic ball field, Bryan set an all-time record for a country music concert at this venue.
- 2016: Organizers for the 50th Annual Country Music Awards (CMA) announced the list of nominations on August 31. The nominees were Eric Church, Maren Morris, and Chris Stapleton.
Cultural Milestones
On Aug. 31, country music artists celebrated the Grand Ole Opry and said farewell to Aretha Franklin:
- 2015: Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, The Band Perry, Brad Paisley, and Brett Eldredge performed live at the Grand Ole Opry for the documentary, American Saturday Night: Live from the Grand Ole Opry. This documentary was made to celebrate the Grand Ole Opry's 90th anniversary.
- 2018: Faith Hill performed a moving rendition of "What a Friend We Have In Jesus" at Aretha Franklin's funeral, which was held at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Michigan. Hill was backed by a gospel choir, and she encouraged attendees to sing with her.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Some unforgettable performances that took place on Aug. 31 include:
- 2014: Luke Bryan finished the last of four sold-out concerts at Soldier Field in Chicago. Around 225,000 fans attended this final show at the historic ball field, and Bryan set a record for stadium attendance at a country music concert.
- 2014: At the second annual Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach, Florida, fans were thrilled to see megastar Blake Shelton, along with other big names such as Cassadee Pope and Neal McCoy. Kirstie Lovelady and Blackjack Billy also took the stage at this country music festival.
- 2019: Fans traveled to the mountains of Buena Vista, Colorado, for Seven Peaks Music Festival. On Aug. 31, Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, and Mitchell Tenpenny headlined the festival, and artists such as Ryan Hurd and Caylee Hammack also performed.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Aug. 31 has had its share of industry changes and challenges, including:
- 2021: Organizers of the eclectic Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, which is held in Manchester, Tennessee, announced that they were cancelling the event due to damage sustained from Hurricane Ida. The Grand Ole Opry ensemble, Jason Isbell, and Niko Moon were all scheduled to perform.
- 2023: The "Toes" singer Zac Brown married Kelly Yazdi on this day. However, four months later, they divorced, and in May 2024, Brown filed a restraining order against Yazdi.
On the last day of August, fans enjoyed seeing their favorite artists play at country music festivals. Faith Hill gave a powerful performance at Aretha Franklin's funeral, and country music stars shot live concert sequences to celebrate the Grand Ole Opry's 90th anniversary.
