This Day in Country History: October 2
Oct. 2 is a significant day in country music history. On this day, the legendary Gene Autry passed away, a vigil was held for the victims of the Route 91…
Oct. 2 is a significant day in country music history. On this day, the legendary Gene Autry passed away, a vigil was held for the victims of the Route 91 Harvest music festival shooting, and HARDY and his crew were involved in a tour bus accident. Dolly Parton and Carrie Underwood had sold-out shows on this day.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Milestones associated with Oct. 2 include:
- 2003: The 14th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards took place in Louisville, Kentucky, where The Del McCoury Band won Entertainer of the Year for the eighth time.
- 2018: Stephanie Urbina Jones made her remarkable Grand Ole Opry debut. She performed songs such as "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" and "Jolene" alongside a mariachi band. Urbina Jones released an album, Tularosa, with a honky-tonk, mariachi-inspired theme.
Cultural Milestones
Country musicians came together on Oct. 2, including:
- 2017: On Oct. 1, 2017, over 50 people were killed in a mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, during a Jason Aldean performance. On Oct. 2, country music stars held a vigil for the victims of this horrific attack. Keith Urban sang Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."
- 2020: Chris Young held a virtual concert benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. This was part of the virtual Great Futures Gala, which helped raise funds for access to virtual schoolwork and healthy food for Tennessee's children.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Hats off to these notable country music performances that took place on Oct. 2:
- 2016: Dolly Parton closed out The Pure & Simple Tour at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. Parton entertained the sold-out audience with stories about her songs and life. After a short break, she continued her tour on Nov. 15 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
- 2019: Carrie Underwood performed to a sold-out crowd at the prestigious Madison Square Garden in New York City as part of her Cry Pretty Tour 360. Underwood sold out other shows on this tour, including one at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Industry Changes and Challenges
On Oct. 2, these challenging events affected the music industry:
- 1998: Gene Autry, also known as the Singing Cowboy, died at the age of 91. When Autry was in his 20s, he signed with Columbia Records and had his first hit, “That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine."
- 2022: Singer HARDY and his crew were involved in a tour bus crash after HARDY's appearance at Country Thunder Bristol the day before. The accident wasn't fatal, but HARDY and his crew sustained serious injuries.
On Oct. 2, some sad events took place, such as the death of Gene Autry. Country music stars and the community came together at a vigil for mass shooting victims, and two megastars performed for sold-out crowds.
