This Day in Top 40 History: August 28

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1971: "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver peaked at No. 2 on the charts. The song, which is widely considered Denver's breakthrough hit, was kept in the No. 2 spot by "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?" by the Bee Gees.
• 2001: Mary J. Blige launched her fifth studio effort, No More Drama. In addition to hitting No. 2 in the U.S., this album sold more than 290,000 copies in its opening week. Its most successful single was “Family Affair,” which ruled Billboard's Hot 100 for six weeks. The title track reached the Top 20 on the chart, too, peaking at No. 15. 
• 2015: The Weeknd issued his sophomore studio LP, Beauty Behind the Madness, featuring Labrinth, Lana Del Rey, and Ed Sheeran as guests. The record topped the Billboard 200 and spent over 400 weeks on the chart. Two singles from it, “Can't Feel My Face” and “The Hills,” hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100. 
• 2015: Halsey's debut studio album, BADLANDS, came out. Peaking at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200, this record received positive reviews from critics, owing to its cohesiveness and emotional authenticity. It delivered notable hits such as “Hold Me Down,” “New Americana,” and “Colors.” However, none of them reached the Top 40 on the Hot 100. 
• 2020: Katy Perry released Smile, her sixth album. In an interesting twist, the pop star released the album in tandem with the video game Katy's Quest.

Cultural Milestones

• 1964: Bob Dylan supplied marijuana to The Beatles after a show in New York. It was the first time Dylan had met the group, and the first time the group met marijuana — Dylan was shocked they hadn't enjoyed the substance before. Many consider this event to have been a turning point in the band's journey.
• 1965: Shania Twain was born Eileen Regina Edwards in Ontario, Canada. With over 100 million records sold, she's among the best-selling Top 40 acts. Her other feats include having three consecutive records, The Woman in Me, Come On Over, and Up! earn a Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Additionally, Twain is a five-time GRAMMY winner with seven chart-toppers on Billboard's hot country songs chart. 
• 1981: Jake Owen was born in Florida's Winter Haven. As of this writing, Owen has scored 12 Top 10 hits on the hot country songs chart,  including the chart-toppers “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and “Alone With You.” Owen has also won an Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award and a Country Music Association (CMA) Award. 
• 1988: A new pop princess entered the scene. Kylie Minogue's debut album, Kylie, became the biggest-selling album by a female artist in the U.K.
• 2021: Billie Eilish reached No. 1 with her sophomore album, Happier Than Ever. It topped charts around the world and received an astonishing seven GRAMMY Award nominations.

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 1984: The Jacksons' reunion tour became the most successful tour of all time, selling over a million tickets. This record is now held by none other than Taylor Swift.
• 2003: During the opening performance for the MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna and Britney Spears shared a passionate kiss. Later, Madonna also kissed Christina Aguilera, but the camera quickly cut away from them to show Justin Timberlake's shocked reaction.
• 2010: To support their No. 1 record 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day took their tour of the same name to the Comfort Dental Amphitheater in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Their 36-song setlist for this show featured some of their highest-charting hits, including “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “Holiday.” According to sources, the 21st Century Breakdown Tour spanned 110+ shows across the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Europe.
• 2018: While on the Aubrey & The Three Migos Live! Tour, Drake lit up the stage, performing “Started From the Bottom,” “In My Feelings,” and “God's Plan.” This trek, which Migos co-headlined, eventually grossed over $70 million. Additionally, it featured more than 40 shows and supporting acts such as Cardi B, “Circles” hitmaker Post Malone, and Meek Mill. 

Industry Changes and Challenges

• 1966: After playing a show at Dodger Stadium, The Beatles had planned to make a getaway in an armored truck, but they found the exit gate locked and had to reverse to the Dodger dugout. They ended up being stuck there for hours, waiting for the crowds of fans to disperse.
• 1970: A security guard received a tip that Elvis Presley would be harmed during his four-week residency at a Las Vegas hotel. While the threats were taken seriously, Presley completed the run of shows unscathed.
• 2005: Art Garfunkel, known for classics such as “All I Know” and “I Only Have Eyes for You,” was taken into custody for marijuana possession. This was his second drug-related arrest in nearly two years. He faced a fine of $200. 
• 2009: Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein died at 36. According to sources, his cause of death was an accidental drug overdose. Goldstein was best known as a member of Crazy Town, whose “Butterfly” ruled the Hot 100 for two weeks.
• 2009: After 18 years, Oasis announced that they would be disbanding. Noel Gallagher posted the announcement on the band's website, and the band remained apart until reuniting in 2025.