This Day in Country History: August 2
On this day, Shania Twain was nominated as an inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. There was also a significant exhibit about Nashville songwriters at the Country Music…
On this day, Shania Twain was nominated as an inductee into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. There was also a significant exhibit about Nashville songwriters at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum that closed on Aug. 2. This day has seen notable performances, a show cancellation for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, and an injury to Tyler Farr when he was accidentally tackled by a security guard.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Milestones for the country music industry for Aug. 2 include:
- 2019: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibition dedicated to two of Nashville's most prominent songwriters We Could: The Songwriting Artistry of Boudleaux and Felice Bryant closed. This songwriting duo wrote over 6,000 songs across different genres, with notable singles such as Roy Orbison's "Love Hurts" and Jim Reeves' "Blue Boy."
- 2022: Shania Twain, Steve Wariner, and Hillary Lindsay were named among the 2022 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees. Twain is one of the most influential female country music artists of all time and was recognized for her extraordinary songwriting talent.
Cultural Milestones
A young country star appeared at a rock music festival and baseball was honored on Aug. 2:
- 2008: A young Dierks Bentley took the stage at the eclectic Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, Illinois, on Aug. 2. Bentley wanted to win fans over at this rock-oriented music festival, even though many of them wore T-shirts with the phrase "Who in the Hell is Dierks Bentley?!" written on them.
- 2014: The "Somebody's Heartbreak" singer Hunter Hayes joined performers celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. This event took place at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Notable performances on Aug. 2 have included a music festival and the national anthem at a baseball game:
- 2014: The "Ladies Love Country Boys" singer Trace Adkins sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Boston's Fenway Park before a Red Sox vs. Yankees baseball game.
- 2018: At the WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, fans were excited to see Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, and Dan + Shay as headliners at this country music festival.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Touring musical artists have faced challenges due to medical issues or other interesting events on Aug. 2:
- 2017: Fans were disappointed when Faith Hill and Tim McGraw had to cancel a show in North Little Rock, Arkansas, as part of their Soul2Soul tour after doctors ordered Faith Hill to take two days of vocal rest.
- 2018: Tyler Farr had an interesting encounter before his show at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, Minnesota. A security guard tackled him, thinking the country music singer was an overzealous fan. While Farr was not seriously hurt, he took a trip to the emergency room to be treated for a head bump and sprained ankle.
August started with a bang in the country music industry with the WE Fest starring Carrie Underwood, songwriter honors, and Hunter Hayes performing at a memorable 75th Anniversary of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on Aug. 2.
