ROSS SIMPSON

On this day in 1917, the U.S. Congress approved a declaration of war
on Germany and entered World War I on the Allied side.

Americans Robert Peary and Matthew Henson claimed to be the
first men to reach the North Pole on this day in 1909.

The first modern Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece on this
day in 1896.

Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) the country
singer was born in Oildale, California.

Tammy Wynette (Virginia Wynette Pugh) (May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998)

After years of medical problems which resulted in^[ numerous hospitalizations, roughly 15 major operations and an addiction to pain medication, country
singer Tammy Wynette died on April 6, 1998 at the age of 55 while sleeping
on her couch. Wynette’s doctor from Pennsylvania said she died of a blood
clot in her lung. Despite her persistent illnesses, she continued to perform
until shortly before her death and had other performances scheduled.

Wynette was called the "First Lady of Country Music", and her best-known
song, "Stand by Your Man", is one of the best-selling hit singles by a woman
in the history of country music. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, she
charted 20 number-one songs. Along with Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton,
Tammy is credited with having defined the role of women in country music
during the 1970s.

      TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1964, Pan Am flight 101 was greeted by over 5,000
Beatles fans as it arrived at New York’s JFK airport, bringing The
Beatles to the U.S. for the first time.

Ramzi Yousef, a Pakistani national who planned and carried out
the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center that killed six people
and injured 1,000 others, was arrested on this day in 1995.

Hussein bin Talal (November 14, 1935 – February 7, 1999)

Hussein was King of Jordan from the abdication of his father,
King Talal, on 11 August 1952, until his death from cancer in
1999.

Charles John Huffam Dickens (February 7, 1812 – June 9, 1870)

Charles Dickens was a prolific and highly influential 19th century British
author, who penned such acclaimed works as ‘Oliver Twist,’ ‘A Christmas
Carol,’ ‘David Copperfield’ and ‘Great Expectations.’

singer/songwriter Troyal Garth Brooks is 56 years old today.

According to the RIAA, Garth Brooks is the best-selling solo albums artist
in the U.S. with 148 million domestic units sold, ahead of Elvis Presley, and
is second only to the Beatles in total album sales overall. He is also one of 
the world’s best-selling artists of all time, having sold more than 170 million records. Brooks was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame October
21, 2012. He was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011. 

CAMILLE BOHANNON

Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean after passing through the South American strait on this day in 1520.

The strait was named after him. He was the first European to sail the Pacific from the east.

Ferdinand Magellan  (1480 – April 27, 1521)

Margaret Thatcher resigned as prime minister of Britain
on this day in 1990.

1979

Jeffrey Dahmer, a convicted serial killer, was clubbed
to death in a Wisconsin prison by a fellow inmate on
this day in 1994.

On this day in 1925, “The Grand Ole Opry” made its radio debut
on station WSM, Nashville under the name "WSM Barn Dance".

Lonnie Melvin "Mel" Tillis (August 8, 1932 – November 19, 2017)

(Fox News) – Country music singer Mel Tillis, whose six-decade career included
hits such as “I Ain’t Never” and “Coca Cola Cowboy,” died today (Sunday).   

His publicist said Tillis passed away at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala,
Fla. He was previously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville
Songwriters Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry. Former President Barack Obama
awarded Tillis the National Medal of Arts in 2012 (below).

Mel Tillis was among eight recipients
of President Obama’s National Medal
of the Arts in 2012.  

CAMILLE BOHANNON

The Battle of Antietam took place during the American Civil War on this day in
1862. More than 23,000 men were killed, wounded, or missing. The Rebel
advance was ended with heavy losses to both armies.

The Constitution of the United States of America was signed by delegates at
the Constitutional Convention on this day in 1787.

Hiram King "Hank" Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953)

Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers
and songwriters of the 20th century. Williams recorded 35 singles, five
released posthumously, that reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Country
& Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked number one, three posthumously.

Hank Williams on the fiddle with Big Bill Lister on guitar

"M*A*S*H" premiered on CBS-TV on this day in 1972.

The series ended on February 28, 1983, with the finale,
showcased  as a television film, titled "Goodbye, Farewell
and Amen",  becoming the most-watched and highest-rated
single television episode in U.S. television history at the time.