Today marks Friday, January 23, 2026, the 23rd day of the year, leaving 342 days remaining in the calendar.
Today in history:
On this day in 1986, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebrated its inaugural induction, honoring legendary figures such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley.
Also on this date:
In a notable historical moment in 1368, the Ming dynasty commenced in China as Zhu Yuanzhang was formally recognized as the Hongwu Emperor, succeeding the fallen Yuan dynasty. This dynasty would go on to span almost three centuries.
1789 saw the founding of Georgetown University, now located in Washington, D.C., marking a significant development in American higher education.
Elizabeth Blackwell made history in 1849 by becoming the first woman in the United States to earn a medical degree, paving the way for future generations of women in medicine.
The year 1870 witnessed a tragic event known as the Baker Massacre, where approximately 200 members of the Piegan Blackfoot tribe, predominantly women, children, and the elderly, were killed by U.S. Army troops under Major Eugene Mortimer Baker’s command in Montana.
In 1964, the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, prohibiting poll taxes in federal elections.
In 1973, President Richard Nixon announced an accord had been reached to end the Vietnam War, and would be formally signed four days later in Paris.
In 1997, Madeleine Albright was sworn in as the United States’ first female secretary of state.
In 2002, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped by extremists in Pakistan while researching Islamic militant groups, leading to the beheading of the American journalist weeks later in captivity.
In 2018, at age 33, LeBron James became the youngest NBA player to reach the 30,000 career-point milestone.
In 2020, Democratic House prosecutors presented arguments before skeptical Senate jurors at Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial over his dealings with Ukraine, accusing him of abuse of power. (The Republican-led Senate would later vote to acquit Trump, and he would also be acquitted at another impeachment trial in 2021 following the U.S. Capitol riot).
Today’s birthdays:
- Football Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer is 90.
- Jazz musician Gary Burton is 83.
- Actor Richard Dean Anderson is 76.
- Retired airline pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (‘Miracle on the Hudson’ landing) is 75.
- Rock singer Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) is 73.
- Princess Caroline of Monaco is 69.
- Singer Anita Baker is 68.
- Actor Mariska Hargitay is 62.
- Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan is 57.
- CBS News senior correspondent Norah O’Donnell is 52.
- Actor Tiffani Thiessen is 52.
- Actor Jack Reynor is 34.
- Singer and actress Rachel Crow is 28.
