Dwight Yoakam Joins Ellen’s “Coming Out,” Willie Nelson Born-Today In Country History

The Music and Memories of April 30

1997- Country Music fan Ellen "comes out" on her ABC television show.  The episode features Country Music legend Dwight Yoakam, playing the role of a grocery store clerk.  Country singer turned pop star, k.d. Lang also appears on the groundbreaking show with Billy Bob Thorton, Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore.

1994- Faith Hill shoots to No. 1 with the Janis Joplin remake, 'A Piece Of My Heart.'

1988- The husband and wife team of Rosanne Cash and Rodney Crowell are at No. 1 with 'It's Such A Small World.'

1981- George Jones and the hit 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' are big winners at the ACM Awards.  George gets Top Male Vocalist while the Bobby Braddock-Curly Putnam penned tune grabs single and song of the year.  The ACM awards are given out, based on chart success from the previous year.

Birthdays

Carolyn Dawn Johnson, 1971.  Carolyn writes 'Single White Female' for Chely Wright and scores her own hits with 2001's 'Complicated' and 'Georgia.'

Willie Nelson, 1933.  Starting out writing hits like 'Crazy' and 'Hello Walls,' he eventually places his own songs at No. 1 with 'Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain' and 'On The Road Again.' One of Country Music's great humanitarians, In 1993 he's awarded membership into the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

Johnny Horton, 1925.  Johnny marches up the charts with 'The Battle Of New Orleans' 'North To Alaska' and  'Sink The Bismark.'  Johnny dies in a car crash at age 35.