Gretchen Wilson Turns Red To Gold, Kenny Chesney Plays Free Concert – Today In Country Music History [VIDEO]

Kenny Chesney surprised the crowd at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge with a free show on this date in 2008 (with CMA Musician Of The Year, Mac MacAnally!), Gretchen Wilson's Red Neck struck gold in 2004 and Merle Haggard told the world he was a proud Okie in 1969.

Here's the list for Today In Country Music History for 10 November, 2011.

• Kenny Chesney delivered a surprise free show with The Wailers at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Nashville in 2008 with guests Kid Rock and Mac McAnally.

• Dolly Parton was awarded a National Medal of Arts in a ceremony with president George W. Bush at the White House in 2005.

• "Redneck Woman" became Gretchen Wilson's first gold single in 2004.

• Tim McGraw's single "Angry All The Time" hit Number One in 2001.

• Joe Diffie scored his first Number One single with "Home" in 1990.

• John Schneider's first Number One single, "I've Been Around Enough To Know," tops the Billboard chart in 1984.

• Fourteen-year-old Marie Osmond earned a Number One country single with "Paper Roses" in 1973.

• Merle Haggard recorded his live album Okie From Muskogee in 1969.

• Marty Robbins took the Number One position on Billboard's country singles chart with "Singing The Blues" in 1956.

Here's a flashback to last nights CMA performance with Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter.

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Dave D.