Brandon Beal 

Tyler native and hip hop artist Brandon Beal’s song “Twerk It Like Miley” was released in Denmark on this date in 2014 and became a No. 1 hit there and more than a dozen other countries.

 The song references a video by pop singer Miley Cyrus shaking her booty and features vocals by Danish singer Christopher.

As a performer, songwriter and music producer, Beal has worked with Snoop Dogg and Flo Rida, among others. 

In the Spotlight

— 2017: Ellen DeGeneres, who grew up in Atlanta, is a guest on “Today.”

— 2017: Laci Kay, who spent her preschool years in Whitehouse, appears in ”Broken Angels.”

— 2017: Terrell native Jamie Foxx appears on “Entertainment Tonight.”

— 2015: Terrell native Jamie Foxx is a guest on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and appears on “Entertainment Tonight.”

— 2012: ZZ Top, with Frankston native Frank Beard (the drummer), appear on “The 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony” telecast.

— 2006: Shea Whigham, who attended Tyler Junior College, appears in “First Snow,” which debuts at the Tribeca Film Festival.

— 2005: Marshall native George Foreman is a guest on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”

— 2002: Paris native Beverly Leech has a guest role on “Six Feet Under.”

— 2001: Atlanta native Tracy Lawrence’s “Unforgiven” peaks at No. 35 on the Billboard country singles chart.

— 2000: Jacksonville native Tommy Hollis has a guest role on “Now and Again.”

— 1999: At the Academy of Country Music Awards:

• ”Please Remember Me,” a song co-written by Will Jennings, who grew up in Tyler, and Rodney Crowell, who attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, is up for Song of the Year; 
• Tyler native Johnny Gimble is a nominee for Fiddle Player of the Year;
• Troup native Paul Leim is a nominee for Percussionist of the Year.  

— 1993: Texarkana native Ross Perot is a guest on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

— 1992: Anjanette Comer, a native of Navarro County, appears in the TV Movie “Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo.”

— 1990: Linden native Don Henley scores a No. 3 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with “The Heart of the Matter.”

— 1988: Tommy Tune, who attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, appears on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

— 1985: Nacogdoches native Tony Frank stars in an episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”

— 1984: The Oak Ridge Boys, featuring Lamar County native Duane Allen, score a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with “I Guess it Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes.”

— 1981: Tony Frank, who was born in Nacogdoches, and Irma Hall, a graduate of Texas College in Tyler, are in the TV movie “Broken Promises.”

— 1969:  Classical pianist Van Cliburn, who grew up in Kilgore, is a guest on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”