1956

Elvis Presley made his first national TV appearance on “Stage Show,” a CBS program hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

1980

Six U.S. diplomats who had avoided being taken hostage at their embassy in Tehran flew out of Iran with the help of Canadian diplomats; the events were later dramatized in the film “Argo.”

1985

To raise funds in support of famine relief in Ethiopia, the supergroup USA For Africa recorded the song “We Are the World.”

1986

The space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida, killing all seven crew members including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.

2017

Serena Williams won her record 23rd Open Era Grand Slam singles title, defeating her sister Venus at the Australian Open for what would be her final major championship.

Birthdays

Actor Alan Alda is 89. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., is 78. Golf Hall of Famer Nick Price is 68. Singer Sarah McLachlan is 57. Rapper Rakim is 57. Humorist Mo Rocca is 56. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is 53. Rapper Rick Ross is 49. Singer Joey Fatone Jr. (‘N Sync) is 48. Singer Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys) is 45. Actor Elijah Wood is 44. Actor Ariel Winter is 27.