This Day in Country History: September 20
Sept. 20 has been a big day in country music history. Thomas Rhett headlined at Madison Square Garden for the first time, Dolly Parton entertained audience members at a theatrical…
Sept. 20 has been a big day in country music history. Thomas Rhett headlined at Madison Square Garden for the first time, Dolly Parton entertained audience members at a theatrical performance, and major stars performed at a gala fundraiser for the opening of a new wildlife museum and attraction.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Breakthroughs and milestones for Sept. 20 include:
- 2018: The wildly successful Carrie Underwood received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. Underwood was the winner of season four of American Idol in 2005, and since then, she's had eight GRAMMY Award wins and 16 GRAMMY nominations.
- 2019: Thomas Rhett headlined the historic Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sept. 20. Rhett's performance at this iconic venue was a stop for his Very Hot Summer tour. He closed his tour on Oct. 12 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
Cultural Milestones
There have been some significant milestones on this day:
- 2017: Dierks Bentley, Chris Jansen, Craig Morgan, and others performed at the grand opening gala of the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. This attraction, founded by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, helps raise awareness for the conservation of wildlife, and the gala raised funds to help support the new museum.
- 2017: Big names took the stage at the Nashville Songwriters Association 50 Years of Songs concert held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Kris Kristofferson, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and Billy Ray Cyrus all performed at this legendary event.
Notable Recordings and Performances
A couple of fun music festivals have taken place on Sept. 20:
- 2024: Fans traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, to attend the mixed-genre Bourbon & Beyond music festival. Performers on the second day of this festival included Chris Isaak, The Red Clay Strays, and Chatham County Line.
- 2024: Nashville, Tennessee, is the home to the Americanafest music festival, and on Sept. 20, 2024, the audience enjoyed performances by artists such as Abbie Gardner, Caitlyn Smith, and Jason Scott & The High Heat. Robert Earl Keen, The Talbott Brothers, and Dave Alvin and The Guilty Ones also took the stage.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Country music artists have experienced some challenges on Sept. 20, including:
- 2008: During the premiere of the theatrical production of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5, there was a technical glitch that delayed the Sept. 20 show at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Parton was in the venue for the debut performance and entertained the rest of the audience, including celebrities such as Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Jason Alexander.
- 2014: Aaron Lewis, the former rocker turned country star, was forced to cancel his show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after the plane he was riding in veered off the runway during takeoff. Investigators deemed the plane unsafe for travel, and Lewis was unable to make it to the concert.
Touring has its challenges when things go wrong, as Aaron Lewis experienced on Sept. 20. Carrie Underwood got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with American Idol judge Simon Cowell present on this day, and fans danced and sang to their favorite artists at concerts and festivals.
