January 1:
This Southeast Asian sultanate gains its full independence from Great Britain.
Malaysia
Brunei
Indonesia
Brunei
Though his last name means "pertaining to a city", this "Defying Gravity" singer is a country superstar.
Keith Urban
Dierks Bentley
Jason Aldean
Keith Urban
Juno
Rhea
Isis
Hera
Hera
"Frasier"
Seattle
Portland
Vancouver
Seattle
"In 1849, thousands arrived (here) to pan for gold, and once that didn't work out, to panhandle for gold".
Colorado
Washington
California
California
January 24:
Apple introduces this influential computer model.
Macintosh
Apple Lisa
Apricot Portable
Macintosh
In 2010 this movie soundtrack featuring Jeff Bridges was a Billboard Top 10 country album.
Walk the Line
Country Strong
Crazy Heart
Crazy Heart
Mars
Ares
Enyo
Phobos
Ares
"The Drew Carey Show"
Detroit
Cleveland
Buffalo
Cleveland
"Home to hundreds of prestigious colleges... (it) is where the nation's best and brightest can't afford to go".
Massachusetts
Virginia
Pennsylvania
Massachusetts
May 19:
Led by a Great One, this Canadian team takes its first Stanley Cup.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver Canucks
Edmonton Oilers
Not to be confused with Lady Gaga, the country music group with the CD "Need You Now".
Little Big Town
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Lady Antebellum
Mercury
Iris
Apate
Hermes
Hermes
"Laverne and Shirley" (the first 5 seasons)
Burbank
Milwaukee
Cincinnati
Milwaukee
"Like Hee Haw, but a state", this state "is the birthplace of country music, and the deathplace of all other music".
Kentucky
Tennessee
Alabama
Tennessee
August 21:
Half a million people march through the streets of Manila protesting this president's rule.
Marcos
Duterte
Estrada
Marcos
This sound, like that made by plucking a guitar, is the title of a 2009 album by George Strait.
Troubadour
Twang
It Just Comes Natural
Twang
Victoria
Zelos
Nike
Athena
Nike
"The Office"
Scranton
Allentown
Wilkes-Barre
Scranton
"This otherwise featureless state of expansive desert... boasts the world's most awe-inspiring hole".
Arizona
Nevada
New Mexico
Arizona
Jan. 3:
Syria frees a U.S. Navy flier following a visit from this U.S. politician; June 27: Cuba frees 48 prisoners ditto.
Raphael Warnock
John Lewis
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson
This frontman of Hootie & the Blowfish went country with his solo album "Learn to Live".
Darius Rucker
Jimmie Allen
Cody Johnson
Darius Rucker
Faunus
Pushan
Pan
Cernunnos
Pan
"The Big Bang Theory"
Berkeley
Irvine
Pasadena
Pasadena
It "is not just the former Soviet republic that everyone knows about--it is also in fact a small U.S. state".
Florida
Mississippi
Georgia
Georgia