Daily Archives: December 31, 2025

Actor, musician Ricky Nelson killed in plane crash 40 years ago this hour (Dec 31 1985)


Video: 'Headline News on the Death of Rick Nelson - late 1985'

(New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, 1985, 5:14 p.m. CST)Ricky Nelson, who gained childhood fame on his parents’ radio and television programs and went on to became one of rock-and-roll’s earliest teen-age idols, was killed today along with his fiancee and five other people when his DC-3 plane crashed in flames near De Kalb, Texas. Continue reading Actor, musician Ricky Nelson killed in plane crash 40 years ago this hour (Dec 31 1985)

‘Don’t Forget About Us’ by Mariah Carey peaks at #1 in USA 20 years ago today (Dec 31 2005)

(New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31, 2005) — “Don’t Forget About Us” by Mariah Carey was the #1 song on today’s Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks (Dec. 31, 2005 and Jan. 7, 2006). Continue reading ‘Don’t Forget About Us’ by Mariah Carey peaks at #1 in USA 20 years ago today (Dec 31 2005)

‘Burn That Candle’ by Bill Haley and His Comets peaks at #9 in USA 70 years ago today (Dec 31 1956)

(New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31, 1955) — “Burn That Candle” by Bill Haley and His Comets peaked at #9 on today’s Billboard Most Played in Jukeboxes chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Burn That Candle’ by Bill Haley and His Comets peaks at #9 in USA 70 years ago today (Dec 31 1956)

Continental Army General Richard Montgomery killed as British win Battle of Quebec 250 years ago today (Dec 31 1775)


Video: 'Battle of Quebec 1775 - America’s First Major Defeat?'

(New Year’s Eve, Sunday, December 31, 1775, approximately 5:00 a.m. local time; during the Battle of Quebec (1775), part of American Revolutionary War and the American Revolution) — The British repulsed an attack by Continental Army generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold this morning at the Battle of Quebec (1775) in Quebec City, present-day Canada; Montgomery, 37, was killed.