Country Music Stars Honor Bob Kingsley

Bob Kinsgley, Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks still remembers hearing Bob Kingsley announce his first No. 1 single, If Tomorrow Never Comes, in 1989.

"All of our greatest memories have his name attached to them," says Brooks, one of several country stars, including his wife, Trisha Yearwood, as well as Reba McEntire, Alabama and Martina McBride who paid tribute to the country radio personality Monday on the stage of Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House, according to Brian Mansfield for USA Today.

Called "the most recognized voice in the history of country music" by fellow syndicated-radio host Blair Garner, Kingsley hosted America's Country Countdown from 1978 until 2006 and currently hosts Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40.

Kingsley also received video messages from Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, George Strait and others.

'Your countdown is such an important part of the DNA of country music," said Reba McEntire, who spoke at the event. "Making your countdown is something every country artist dreams of."

Lee Ann Womack performed Merle Haggard's If We Make It Through December, the first song to top the country chart when Kingsley became producer of American Country Countdown in 1974. Kingley took over as host of the program, which had been created as a country-music counterpart to the Casey Kasem-hosted American Top 40, in 1978. He hosted that show until 2006, then launched Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40 in 2006.

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