Today in country music July 25.

On this day in 2011, Dolly Parton told The Daily Herald that even on the road, she writes songs daily, and has boxes, drawers and suitcases overflowing with her music and lyrics... She said, "everything is a song for me."

Today in 2000, Kenny Rogers' album She Rides Wild Horses was certified for shipments of one million copies, giving him at least one platinum album in each of four straight decades.

On this day in 1977, Alabama made their very first appearance on the charts with "I Wanna Be With You Tonight."

And on this day the late Keith Whitley was honored with a gold album for the first time, for Don't Close Your Eyes in 1989.

"Don't Close Your Eyes" was the third single released from Keith Whitley’s 1987 album of the same name. It peaked at number-one in the United States, and #2 in Canada. Additionally, it was Billboard's number-one country single of the year 1988. The song was covered by Alan Jackson for Keith Whitley's 1995 tribute album, and by Kellie Pickler for the deluxe edition of her 2008 self-titled second album.

The album Don't Close Your Eyes was released in 1988 by RCA Records. The album includes the singles "Would These Arms Be in Your Way" and "Some Old Side Road," followed by three straight Number One country hits in "Don't Close Your Eyes," "When You Say Nothing at All" and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain." Also included is a cover of Lefty Frizzell's 1973 single "I Never Go Around Mirrors."

It features the original recording of the song "Lucky Dog", which was later recorded, with a slightly longer arrangement, by singer-songwriter Mark Collie on his 1991 album Born and Raised in Black and White. Alison Krauss covered "When You Say Nothing at All" on a Keith Whitley tribute album in 1995, taking her version to #3 on the country charts. Irish singer Ronan Keating later had a #1 single in the United Kingdom and Ireland with a 1999 cover of the same song. Vern Gosdin and Emmylou Harris sing back-up on several tracks.

It peaked at #8 on the Top Country Albums chart, and was certified gold by the RIAA.