Sep 9, 1996

Bill Monroe dies at Northcrest Medical Center in Springfield, Tennessee, five months after suffering a stroke. Acknowledged as the "Father of Bluegrass," he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1939 and entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970

Sep 11, 1996

More than 2,000 people attend a memorial service for Bill Monroe at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, with performances by Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless and Connie Smith

Sep 13, 1996

LeAnn Rimes sings "Blue" in her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, along with "I Wanna Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart" and "Blue Moon Of Kentucky"

Sep 14, 1996

Hank Snow makes what proves to be his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry

Sep 18, 1996

Barbara Mandrell shoots a new commercial in Nashville for SunSweet prunes, for whom she's already a spokeswoman

Sep 20, 1996

Little Jimmy Dickens returns to the Grand Ole Opry following a two-month absence with vocal problems

Sep 21, 1996

Hank Williams III makes his Grand Ole Opry debut, clad in a western shirt that had previously been worn by his legendary grandfather. He sings the Hank classics "Moanin' The Blues" and "Lovesick Blues"

Sep 21, 1996

"Bless The Broken Road" songwriter Marcus Hummon sings the national anthem before the Vanderbilt football game against Ole Miss at Dudley Field in Nashville. The Rebels beat the hometown Commodores, 20-9

Sep 23, 1996

George Strait records "Carrying Your Love With Me" at Nashville's Emerald Sound

Sep 25, 1996

George Strait records a new version of the Vern Gosdin hit "Today My World Slipped Away" at Emerald Sound Studios in Nashville