Short answers, pulled from the story.
The first commercial country music recording was made on the 30th of June 1922 when Henry Gilliland recorded Arkansas Traveler for Victor Records. This session marked one of the earliest recordings of instrumental music that would become known as country music.
The Grand Ole Opry began airing on WSM radio in Nashville starting in 1925. It quickly became the largest country music show ever produced and served as a major launching ground for early artists outside New York City.
Jimmie Rodgers released Blue Yodel which sold over a million records and established him as a premier singer. He is credited with introducing the steel guitar into the genre as early as 1922 after meeting Hawaiian guitarist Frank Ferera on the West Coast.
Shania Twain released Come On Over in 1997 becoming a worldwide phenomenon and one of the world best selling albums for three years from 1998 to 2000. Her album went on to become certified twelve times platinum while Fly reached ten times platinum status.
Country Music Television launched as the first channel devoted entirely to country music alongside Nashville Network which started in 1983. Great American Country began broadcasting in 1995 adding lifestyle programming pertaining to American Heartland and South.