Jan 29, 1997

Alan Jackson leads the pack with seven nominations in the fan-voted TNN/Music City News awards, announced at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon. Vince Gill picks up six, and Billy Ray Cyrus grabs seven

Jan 30, 1997

Sally Sweet Foley, the last of the late Red Foley's three wives, dies at Hendersonville Hospital in Tennessee

Jan 30, 1997

Johnny Wright has hip replacement surgery in Nashville

Feb 3, 1997

Johnny Wright is released from a Nashville hospital, four days after having hip replacement surgery

Feb 4, 1997

The Tennessean reports RCA Records has dropped Ty England from its roster

Feb 9, 1997

Joe Diffie holds his annual Country Steps In For First Steps concert at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House. His guests include: Ty England, Ricochet, Ty Herndon and actor Wilford Brimley

Feb 10, 1997

Sheryl Crow performs at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, where she brings Emmylou Harris and The Wallflowers on stage for the final four songs, including a version of The Band's "The Weight"

Feb 11, 1997

Frances Stephens dies in Nashville. She was the mother of Ray Stevens

Feb 12, 1997

Diamond Rio performs "Meet In The Middle" during opening ceremonies for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Nashville Arena

Feb 14, 1997

Ty and Shanna England have their third child, Levi Wyatt England, in Nashville