Annie Zaleski

"We knew we really liked each other, but we weren’t sure about it, so we were just friends for about a year, and then we realized we really loved each other ..."

During the week of Feb. 20, 1954, Pierce started his 17-week reign atop the 'Billboard' Best Sellers in Stores country chart with "Slowly."

Tae Dye of Maddie & Tae and Josh Kerr initially found common ground the way many musicians do: via their songwriting.

The New Jersey native dominated the genre charts in the late 1980s and into the '90s, thanks to a streak of records that featured insightful reflections on love, politics and the human condition.

During the week of Feb. 15, 2014, "Drink a Beer" began its five-week reign atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Not all first releases have been hot sellers -- even albums by artists who would soon come to define and influence country music.

On Feb. 2, 1993, Nelson finally settled his long-outstanding debt to the IRS.

On Jan. 30, 2000, Hill had the distinct honor of opening Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta by singing the National Anthem.

On Jan. 4, 1969, Parton was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

Lynch, who moved to Nashville at age 18 to be a professional songwriter, struck platinum with his debut single, 2012's "Cowboys and Angels."