Coming up this week on WIDE OPEN COUNTRY…

The date was Sunday, June 4th, 2000 and Country Music fans have flooded Orchard Park for the concert event of the year.  GEORGE STRAIT has rolled into stadium for the George Strait Music Festival featuring King George, MARTINA McBRIDE, LEE ANN WOMACK, ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL, and more.  But two artists make headlines in a way that no one could have predicted…

To this day, no one knows exactly what happened but late in the afternoon superstar TIM McGRAW finishes his set with wife FAITH HILL (who did not perform) in attendance.  As he is being escorted from the stage, McGraw and his road manager witness friend and fellow tourmate KENNY CHESNEY being pulled off a mounted deputy’s horse in the artist area backstage.  Tim and his manager attempt to break up the altercation which quickly escalates.  Chesney is arrested for disorderly conduct...McGraw is charged with second-degree assault, obstructing governmental administration, menacing and resisting arrest.  Both are released on bail and an 11-month media circus erupts over the incident.  Both are eventually acquitted and in a statement following the trial McGraw says “The people of Buffalo have been wonderful to us, we have nothing against them.”  Chesney added, “The truth prevailed.  We’ll be back.”

Both have been back to Western NY time and time again...Tim and Faith bring their tour to Downtown Buffalo October 26th.

47th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards - Show
Credit: Ethan Miller, Getty Images
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45 years ago today The Opryland USA country music theme park opens in Nashville.  “The Home of American Music” featured live music performances and amusement park rides and averaged 2.5 million visitors a year through the 80’s.

On this date in 1989, REBA McINTIRE married her manager and former steel guitar player Narvel Blackstock near Caesars in Lake Tahoe.  The power couple form Starstruck Entertainment to help manage Reba’s career.  This year you can Reba at The Colosseum at Caesars in Vegas through December.

June 3rd 1990, the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame induct The CARTER FAMILY and JOHNNY CASH at a ceremony and The Berkley Carterette Hotel in Ashbury Park, NY.

Happy Birthday to Australian born singer JAMIE O’NEAL.  The Sydney native was born on this date in 1968.  Jamie landed two #1 songs in 2000 with her debut album including “There Is No Arizona” and “When I Think About Angels” and was named the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Female.

The Saturday we will also celebrate #1 anniversary hits by acts such as STEVE WARINER, CLINT BLACK, The STATLER BROTHERS, and DONNA FARGO.

Don’t miss WIDE OPEN COUNTRY, brought to you by JOE BASIL COMMERCIAL TRUCKS in Depew, Saturday mornings from 6-9am on Country 106.5 WYRK!

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