Country music artist Lee Ann Womack, who graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1984, speaks during a Jacksonville ISD "Evening With Our Stars" event.  

At the Academy of Country Music Awards on this date in 2002, Lee Ann Womack and Willie Nelson won Vocal Event of the Year for their duet “Mendocino County Line” 

Womack, a native of Jacksonville, also was a finalist for Top Female Vocalist.

Troup native Paul Leim was a finalist for Percussionist of the Year.

 In the Spotlight

— 2016: At the Billboard Music Awards:

• MercyMe, a band once based in Greenville, is a nominee for Top Christian Artist and Top Christian Song (“Flawless”)
• Grand Saline native Chris Tomlin, is a nominee for Top Christian Artist and Top Christian Album (“Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship”)

— 2013: Lindale native Miranda Lambert appears on “Inside Edition.” 

— 2012: Nathan Burgess, of Tyler, appears in the video “Black Cobra.”

— 2012: Paris native Beverly Leech is seen in the movie “Life’s a Beach.”

— 2011: At Billboard Music Awards:

• Grand Saline native Chris Tomlin wins Top Christian Artist and Top Christian Song (“Our God”)
• Lindale native Miranda Lambert is a nominee for Top Country Song (“The House that Built Me”)
• MercyMe, a group once based in Greenville, is a nominee for Top Christian Artist and Top Christian Album (“The Generous Mr. Lovewell”) and Top Christian Song (“All of Creation”)

— 2010: MercyMe, a group once based in Greenville, hits No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart with “The Generous Mr. Lovewell.” 

— 2009: Marshall native George Foreman appears as himself in “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.”

— 2004: Jacksonville native Lee Ann Womack’s album “Greatest Hits” peaks at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and her single “The Wrong Girl” is No. 24 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

— 1999: Irma P. Hall, a graduate of Texas College in Tyler, is featured in the TV movie “A Lesson Before Dying” starring Don Cheadle.

— 1998: Longview native Kenn Whitaker has a role in “Bulworth.”

— 1993: “Greatest Hits: Songs from an Aging Sex Bomb” by K.T. Oslin, who attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, peaks at  No. 31 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

— 1989: Nacogdoches native Tony Frank has a guest role on “Gideon Oliver.”

— 1982 Palestine native Gene Watson’s “Speak Softly You’re Talking to My Heart” peaks at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. 

–1976: Richard Bradford, who was born in Tyler, is seen in “The Missouri Breaks” starring Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson.

— 1975: Gilmer native Johnny Mathis is a guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

— 1961: Wood County native Ray Price has the No. 13 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with “The Twenty-Fourth Hour.”

— 1959: Honey Grove native Bill Erwin appears in a guest role on “Tombstone Territory.”

— 1937: Panola County native Tex Ritter and his horse, White Flash, star in “Sing, Cowboy, Sing.”