This Day in Top 40 History: September 9

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1971: "Imagine" by John Lennon was released in the United States. People regularly use the song, an everlasting hit, in somber moments to remind the public to have hope amidst hardship.
• 1986: Cameo's 13th studio effort, Word Up!, came out, featuring two U.S. Top 40 singles, the title track and “Candy.” This album reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200. On the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart, however, it spent up to five weeks at No. 1. The record also earned a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after selling more than a million copies.
• 1996: R.E.M. dropped their 10th studio LP, New Adventures in Hi-Fi. This set would peak at No. 1 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart and stall at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. None of its tracks broke into the Top 40 on the Hot 100. Even so, the album delivered three U.K. Top 40 singles, “Bittersweet Me,” “Electrolite,” and “E-Bow the Letter,” which featured guest vocals from Patti Smith. 
• 2003: Long before he became Taylor Swift's ex, John Mayer released his second album, Heavier Things. The album launched at No. 1 and featured one of his most memorable hits, "Daughters."
• 2011: Ed Sheeran's debut album, +, was released. Selling a little over 100,000 copies in its opening week, this record peaked at No. 5 and No. 1 in the U.S. and the U.K., respectively. Additionally, it spawned “The A Team,” which reached No. 3 on the U.K. Singles Chart and No. 16 on the Hot 100. More U.K. Top 40 singles from this project were “Lego House,” “You Need Me, I Don't Need You,” and “Drunk.”
• 2014: Vance Joy released Dream Your Life Away, his debut album. The album did well in alternative and indie music circles, and his single "Riptide" became a worldwide hit.

Cultural Milestones

• 2007: At the MTV Video Music Awards, Kid Rock and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee got into a heated conflict during Alicia Keys' performance. Keys, the classy act she is, continued performing despite the disruption.
• 2007: Also at the 2007 VMAs, Britney Spears gave a confused-looking performance of a new single, "Gimme More." This performance was one in a series of incidents that highlighted Spears' mental health struggles at the time.
• 2007: Taylor Swift released "Our Song," the third single from her self-titled debut album. The song was a smash hit, earning Swift her first No. 1 on the country charts and peaking at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 1956: Elvis Presley made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and nearly 85% of TV viewers tuned in. He performed "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," and "Ready Teddy."
• 2014: Kings of Leon played “Radioactive” and “Use Somebody” at Aaron's Amphitheater at Lakewood in Atlanta, Georgia. This concert was part of their Mechanical Bull Tour, a trek that supported their No. 2 album of the same name and featured over 60 performances across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
• 2022: To support her chart-topping sophomore album, Happier Than Ever, Billie Eilish took her tour of the same name to the Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. She played a 26-song setlist that included crowd-pleasers such as “everything i wanted,” “you should see me in a crown,” “lovely,” and “Happier Than Ever.” Notably, Happier Than Ever, The World Tour visited North America, Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Latin America. According to sources, it grossed more than $127 million after over 75 shows. 
• 2023: Lady Gaga performed for the second night of her Jazz & Piano residency in Las Vegas. She sang many classic jazz songs, as well as a few of her hits, including "Born This Way" and "Paparazzi."
• 2024: Kacey Musgraves' Deeper Well World Tour stopped at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, where she sang “Follow Your Arrow,” “Rainbow,” “Too Good to be True,” and other tracks. This trek, which featured more than 40 shows across North America and Europe, supported her sixth studio LP, Deeper Well, which landed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. 

Industry Changes and Challenges

• 1996: Only four days before turning 85, Bill Monroe, also known as the “Father of Bluegrass,” passed away in Springfield, Tenneessee. His career spanned over six decades, a period that saw him score hits such as “Scotland” and “Gotta Travel On,” both of which broke into the Top 40 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart.
• 2004: Ernie Ball died in San Luis Obispo, California. He was 74. Ball revolutionized the music industry, developing musical instruments, such as lighter-gauge guitar strings, which were sold in thousands of stores worldwide and used by many Top 40 acts. Some of them were  Metallica, The Rolling Stones, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix. 
• 2019: The first episode of Kelly Clarkson's daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, debuted on TV. Every episode of the show opens with "Kellyoke," where Clarkson showcases her vocal ability by covering a popular song.
• 2024: After the astonishing success of Cowboy Carter and the country single "TEXAS HOLD 'EM," fans were shocked when Beyoncé was not nominated for any Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. The snubs can't hide the fact that Beyoncé dominated the country charts all year long, making history as the first Black woman to do so.