What Happened on January 1, 1997

• 26th Fiesta Bowl: #7 Penn State beats #20 Texas, 38-15
• 83rd Rose Bowl: #4 Ohio State beats #2 Arizona State, 20-17
• The Republic of Zaïre officially joins the World Trade Organization, as Zaïre.

• Noah Khan, American singer-songwriter ("Hurt Somebody"), born in Strafford, Vermont

• Hagood Hardy, American-Canadian jazz and easy listening pianist, vibraphonist and film score composer ("The Homecoming"), dies from lymphoma at 59
• James B. Pritchard, American theologist & archaeologist, dies at 87
• Joan Rice, British actress (His Majesty O'Keefe, The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men), dies at 66
• John Burgess, English rugby coach and administrator (England coach 1971-75; RFU President 1987-88), dies at 71
• Townes Van Zandt, American singer-songwriter ("Pancho and Lefty"), dies of a heart attack at 52

Holidays: New Year's Day (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States)

• #1 Song: Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
• #1 Song: 2 Become 1 - Spice Girls