On this day in 1970, America’s airwaves welcomed a new sound to Wednesday nights as The Everly Brothers Show made its debut on ABC-TV. Slotted as a summer replacement for The Johnny Cash Show, the hour-long variety series brought the signature close harmonies of Don and Phil Everly into living rooms across the country—marking a rare moment when rock and roll royalty took center stage on network television.

Already beloved for hits like “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” and “Cathy’s Clown,” the Everly Brothers used the platform to showcase not only their own music but also a rotating cast of musical guests. The show blended rock, gospel, and country & western with a few light comedy sketches, offering a format that felt both nostalgic and fresh.

Filmed at ABC Television Center in Los Angeles, the series ran for 11 episodes through September 9, 1970. Though brief, its impact was notable. Guests included a who’s who of the era’s talent—Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, and The Statler Brothers, among others—each adding their own flair to the Everlys’ musical canvas2.

The show also coincided with the release of a double LP by Warner Bros. Records, though the album was not a direct soundtrack to the series. Still, it captured the essence of the brothers’ enduring appeal: tight harmonies, acoustic charm, and a bridge between the golden age of rock and the evolving sound of the 1970s.

While The Everly Brothers Show didn’t extend beyond its summer run, it remains a fascinating footnote in television history—a moment when two Kentucky-born brothers, raised on radio and refined in the studio, brought their timeless sound to the small screen.