| 1 | ->''"You're not supposed to say the word 'cancer' in a song.'' |
| 2 | ->''And tellin' folks Jesus is the answer can rub 'em wrong.'' |
| 3 | ->''It ain't hip to sing about tractors, trucks, little towns, and Mama, yeah that might be true.'' |
| 4 | ->''But [[TitleDrop this is country music]], and we do."'' |
| 5 | -->-- '''Music/BradPaisley''', "This Is Country Music" |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Ah, country music. The cousin of American FolkMusic that is mostly associated with places like Texas, men wearing cowboy attire unironically, and old-timey instruments like fiddle, pedal steel guitar and banjo. Despite its widespread notoriety amongst latte-sipping urban coastal city {{Bourgeois Bohemian}}s as a deplorable FlyoverCountry genre, country music is not unpopular, as proved by its successful musicians with top hits. It is by some measures the most listened-to genre of music in the United States. Together with {{Blues}} it was a huge influence on RockAndRoll and {{Rockabilly}}. Country music songs do emotional storytelling about issues that are close to the heart, like family and relationships. Heartfelt vocals bring out the narrative, supported by virtuoso lead instrument "pickin" solos. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | Country music as a genre of its own originated in the 1920s in the United States, primarily played on string instruments, most notably the acoustic guitar, fiddle, banjo, the big upright bass, and the use of sweet vocal harmonies. It has its roots in the folk ballads of the Appalachian Mountains, which in turn descended from the various folk traditions of the [[UsefulNotes/{{UnitedKingdom}} British Isles]]. Depending on whom you ask, the offshoot genre of {{Bluegrass}} might be referred to as "[[TakeThat good country music]]". In the 1970s, mainstream country developed "Nashville sound", a commercial, radio-friendly style, which layered heavily arranged string sections with lush harmony vocals. In response, Progressive Country developed out of the Country Rock scene, drawing from Bakersfield and classic honky-tonk country, RockAndRoll, FolkMusic, Bluegrass, Blues, {{Jazz}} and SouthernRock. Essentially Progressive Country is ProgressiveRock [[JustForFun/XMeetsY Meets Country]]. The grittier, simpler style "{{outlaw country|Music}}" developed out of Progressive Country. Outlaw Country emphasized ThreeChordsAndTheTruth, a more raw singing style, and darker themes. Outlaw country was heavy enough to intrigue PunkRock musicians, some of whom launched cowpunk bands. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | While fiddle and pedal steel continued to be used to add a country flavor, the genre electrified like its pop and rock cousins. Twangy Fender Telecaster electric guitar with a tweed amp became a defining sound, and the electric bass took over the upright bass' role. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Country in the 1980s turned to a pop-heavy sound inspired by the film ''Film/UrbanCowboy''. Like their pop counterparts, country artists used synthesizers to add sustained chords to ballads. This followed by a more traditional wave in the 1990s inspired by honky-tonk music. Modern mainstream country music has become a melting pot, ranging from more traditional acts such as Music/GeorgeStrait and Alan Jackson to pop acts such as Music/CarrieUnderwood, and in-betweens such as Music/BradPaisley. Starting in the 1990s, a large number of pop and rock acts, ranging from Music/BonJovi and Music/{{Jewel}} to Music/KidRock and the Music/{{Eagles}}, crossed over to country with varying degrees of success. The crossover acts, in particular Music/TaylorSwift, are often among the most divisive in the fanbase. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | TheNewTens saw the rise of "Bro-country", basically a combination of TestosteronePoisoning and modern rap influence, leading to jacked-up songs about driving around in pimped-up pickup trucks, drinking copious amounts of beer with friends, and partying in the woods with a hot girl. The TropeMaker of such was Music/FloridaGeorgiaLine's "Cruise", a review of which even coined the term "bro-country". However, bro-country quickly drew ire for its simplistic themes and marginalization of women (lampshaded heavily in Music/MaddieAndTae's "Girl in a Country Song"), which led to an increased discussion of misogyny in the genre. From this spawned a more romantically-minded "boyfriend country" and a mix of artists with more traditionally country influence drawn from the early 1990s traditionalist boom, as well as a resurgence in female artists who were largely marginalized during the heyday of "bro-country". |
| 16 | |
| 17 | On that note, the fanbase is stereotyped as being [[StrawmanPolitical right-wing]] {{Boisterous Bruiser}}s who personify the DeepSouth of EagleLand. While such an portrayal is two-dimensional and uneducated, one must remember k.d. lang ''was'' blacklisted for being outspokenly pro-vegetarian (she didn't come out as a lesbian until after she felt she no longer had a country fanbase to alienate). And yet the Music/DixieChicks were surprised when their fans turned on them after bad-mouthing [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush George W. Bush]] (granted, the death threats were a bit much). |
| 18 | |
| 19 | "AlternativeCountry" (sometimes abbreviated as "Alt-Country") is a loosely defined term that means, more or less, the attitude of AlternativeRock with a country sound. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | See also: CountryRap, AlternativeCountry, GothicCountryMusic, OutlawCountryMusic, {{Bluegrass}} and SouthernRock. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | !Country musicians: |
| 24 | [[index]] |
| 25 | * Music/RyanAdams |
| 26 | * Music/TraceAdkins |
| 27 | * Music/{{Alabama}} |
| 28 | * Music/JasonAldean |
| 29 | * Music/GaryAllan |
| 30 | * Music/JimmieAllen |
| 31 | * Music/BillAnderson |
| 32 | * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Arnold Eddy Arnold]] |
| 33 | * Music/GeneAutry |
| 34 | * Music/KelseaBallerini |
| 35 | * Music/TheBand |
| 36 | * Music/TheBandPerry |
| 37 | * Music/DierksBentley |
| 38 | * Music/{{Beyonce}} |
| 39 | ** "[[Music/Lemonade2016 Daddy Lessons]]" (2016) |
| 40 | ** ''Music/CowboyCarter'' (2024) |
| 41 | * Music/BigAndRich |
| 42 | * Music/RyanBingham |
| 43 | * Music/ClintBlack |
| 44 | * Music/LeeBrice |
| 45 | * Music/GarthBrooks |
| 46 | ** ''Music/{{Garth Brooks|Album}}'' |
| 47 | ** ''Music/NoFences'' |
| 48 | ** ''Music/InTheLifeOfChrisGaines'' |
| 49 | * Music/BrooksAndDunn |
| 50 | * Music/BrothersOsborne |
| 51 | * Music/BlancoBrown |
| 52 | * Music/KaneBrown |
| 53 | * Music/ZacBrownBand |
| 54 | * Music/LukeBryan |
| 55 | * Music/ZachBryan |
| 56 | * Music/BuffaloSpringfield |
| 57 | * Music/JimmyBuffett |
| 58 | * Music/TracyByrd |
| 59 | * Music/TheByrds |
| 60 | * [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Campbell Glen Campbell]] |
| 61 | * Music/JohnnyCash |
| 62 | * Music/RayCharles |
| 63 | ** ''Music/ModernSoundsInCountryAndWesternMusic'' |
| 64 | * Music/TheCharlieDanielsBand |
| 65 | * Music/KennyChesney |
| 66 | * Music/MarkChesnutt |
| 67 | * Music/TheChicks |
| 68 | * Music/EricChurch |
| 69 | * [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Cline Patsy Cline]] |
| 70 | * Music/LukeCombs |
| 71 | * Music/StompinTomConnors |
| 72 | * Music/CowboyTroy |
| 73 | * Music/SherylCrow |
| 74 | * Music/BillyCurrington |
| 75 | * Music/BillyRayCyrus |
| 76 | * Music/DavidAllanCoe |
| 77 | * Music/DanAndShay |
| 78 | * Music/DiamondRio |
| 79 | * Music/JoeDiffie |
| 80 | * Music/{{Eagles}} |
| 81 | * Music/JustinTownesEarle |
| 82 | * Music/SteveEarle |
| 83 | * Music/BrettEldredge |
| 84 | * Music/SaraEvans |
| 85 | * Music/TheEverlyBrothers |
| 86 | * Music/FloridaGeorgiaLine |
| 87 | * Music/TheFlyingBurritoBrothers |
| 88 | * Music/TennesseeErnieFord |
| 89 | * [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefty_Frizzell Lefty Frizzell]] |
| 90 | * Music/KinkyFriedman |
| 91 | * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Gayle Crystal Gayle]] |
| 92 | * Music/TerriGibbs |
| 93 | * Music/BrantleyGilbert |
| 94 | * Music/VinceGill |
| 95 | * Music/MickeyGilley |
| 96 | * Music/MickeyGuyton |
| 97 | * Music/MerleHaggard |
| 98 | * Creator/LucyHale |
| 99 | * Music/TomTHall |
| 100 | * Music/HunterHayes |
| 101 | * Music/WalkerHayes |
| 102 | * Music/TyHerndon |
| 103 | * Music/FaithHill |
| 104 | * Music/JohnnyHorton |
| 105 | * Music/SamHunt |
| 106 | * Music/JasonIsbell |
| 107 | * Music/AlanJackson |
| 108 | * Music/JessieJames |
| 109 | * Wrestling/MickieJames |
| 110 | * Music/WaylonJennings |
| 111 | * Music/{{Jewel}} |
| 112 | * Music/GeorgeJones |
| 113 | * Music/CledusTJudd |
| 114 | * Music/TheJudds |
| 115 | * Music/WynonnaJudd |
| 116 | * Music/TobyKeith |
| 117 | * Music/TheKentuckyHeadhunters |
| 118 | * Music/SammyKershaw |
| 119 | * Music/KidRock |
| 120 | ** 2001: ''Music/{{Cocky}}'' |
| 121 | ** 2003: ''Music/KidRock2003'' |
| 122 | * Music/AlisonKraussAndUnionStation |
| 123 | * Creator/KrisKristofferson |
| 124 | * Music/LadyA (formerly Antebellum) |
| 125 | * Music/MirandaLambert |
| 126 | * Music/TracyLawrence |
| 127 | * Music/SteveLee |
| 128 | * Music/JerryLeeLewis |
| 129 | * Music/LittleBigTown |
| 130 | * Music/{{Lonestar}} |
| 131 | * Music/MuniLong released a country-pop album in 2018 under the name "Priscilla Renea" |
| 132 | * Music/PattyLoveless |
| 133 | * [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyle_Lovett Lyle Lovett]] |
| 134 | * Music/JennetteMcCurdy |
| 135 | * [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loretta_Lynn Loretta Lynn]] |
| 136 | * [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Mandrell Barbara Mandrell]] |
| 137 | * Music/KathyMattea |
| 138 | * Music/MaddieAndTae |
| 139 | * Music/MartinaMcBride |
| 140 | * Music/CWMcCall |
| 141 | * Music/NealMcCoy |
| 142 | * Creator/JennetteMcCurdy |
| 143 | * Music/RebaMcEntire |
| 144 | * Music/CatherineMcGrath |
| 145 | * Music/TimMcGraw |
| 146 | * Music/JoDeeMessina |
| 147 | * Music/RonnieMilsap |
| 148 | * Music/JohnMichaelMontgomery |
| 149 | * Music/MontgomeryGentry |
| 150 | * Music/JustinMoore |
| 151 | * Music/LorrieMorgan |
| 152 | * Music/MarenMorris |
| 153 | * Music/KaceyMusgraves |
| 154 | * Music/RickyNelson (particularly around the mid 60's and early 70's) |
| 155 | * Music/WillieNelson |
| 156 | * Music/MichaelNesmith (a pioneer of Country Rock and Progressive Country) |
| 157 | * Music/OliviaNewtonJohn (prior to her starring role in ''Film/{{Grease}}''; thereafter her music became more purely pop) |
| 158 | * Music/IanNoe |
| 159 | * Music/TheOakRidgeBoys |
| 160 | * Music/OldDominion |
| 161 | * Music/JakeOwen |
| 162 | * Music/BuckOwens |
| 163 | * Music/BradPaisley |
| 164 | * [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram_Parsons Gram Parsons]] |
| 165 | * Music/DollyParton |
| 166 | ** ''Music/CoatOfManyColors'' (1971) |
| 167 | * Music/OrvillePeck |
| 168 | * Music/ThePineBoxBoys |
| 169 | ** 2016 - ''Music/TheFeastOfThreeArms'' |
| 170 | * Music/{{Poco}} |
| 171 | * Creator/AlisanPorter |
| 172 | * Music/ElvisPresley |
| 173 | * Music/CharleyPride |
| 174 | * Creator/MissiPyle |
| 175 | * Music/RascalFlatts |
| 176 | * Music/CollinRaye |
| 177 | * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Reeves Jim Reeves]] |
| 178 | * Music/RestlessHeart |
| 179 | * Music/ThomasRhett |
| 180 | * Music/RidersInTheSky |
| 181 | * Music/LeAnnRimes |
| 182 | * Music/MartyRobbins |
| 183 | ** ''Music/GunfighterBalladsAndTrailSongs'' (1959) |
| 184 | * Music/JimmieRodgers |
| 185 | * Music/KennyRogers |
| 186 | * Music/DanielRomano |
| 187 | * Music/LindaRonstadt |
| 188 | * Music/DariusRucker |
| 189 | * Music/DanSeals |
| 190 | * Music/BlakeShelton |
| 191 | * Music/{{Shenandoah}} |
| 192 | * Music/NancySinatra |
| 193 | * Creator/ShawneeSmith |
| 194 | * Music/ChrisStapleton |
| 195 | * Music/TheStatlerBrothers |
| 196 | * Music/RayStevens |
| 197 | * Music/DougStone |
| 198 | * Music/GeorgeStrait |
| 199 | * Music/{{Sugarland}} |
| 200 | * Music/ColeSwindell |
| 201 | * Music/TaylorSwift early on; she'd undergone a gradual GenreShift to straight-up pop by the middle of TheNewTens. |
| 202 | ** ''Music/{{Taylor Swift|2006}}'' |
| 203 | ** ''Music/{{Fearless}}'' (2008) |
| 204 | *** "Music/YouBelongWithMe" |
| 205 | ** ''Music/SpeakNow'' (2010) |
| 206 | *** "Music/{{Mean}}" |
| 207 | ** ''Music/{{Red|2012}}'' (2012) |
| 208 | * Creator/BillyBobThornton |
| 209 | * Music/MelTillis |
| 210 | * Music/PamTillis |
| 211 | * Music/AaronTippin |
| 212 | * Music/RandyTravis |
| 213 | * Music/TravisTritt |
| 214 | * Music/TanyaTucker |
| 215 | * Music/ShaniaTwain |
| 216 | * Music/ConwayTwitty |
| 217 | * Music/UncleKracker |
| 218 | * Music/CarrieUnderwood |
| 219 | * Music/KeithUrban |
| 220 | * Music/TownesVanZandt |
| 221 | * Music/ClayWalker |
| 222 | * Music/ColterWall |
| 223 | * Music/MorganWallen |
| 224 | * Music/SteveWariner |
| 225 | * Music/KittyWells |
| 226 | * Music/KeithWhitley |
| 227 | * Music/DonWilliams |
| 228 | * Music/HankWilliams |
| 229 | ** ''Music/HankWilliamsAsLukeTheDrifter'' (1955) |
| 230 | ** ''Music/TurnBackTheYearsTheEssentialHankWilliamsCollection'' (2005) |
| 231 | * Music/HankWilliamsJr |
| 232 | * Music/HankWilliamsIII |
| 233 | * Music/LucindaWilliams |
| 234 | * Music/MarkWills |
| 235 | * Music/LeeAnnWomack |
| 236 | * Music/ChelyWright |
| 237 | * Music/TammyWynette |
| 238 | * Music/TrishaYearwood |
| 239 | * Music/DwightYoakam |
| 240 | * Music/ChrisYoung |
| 241 | * Creator/PiaZadora |
| 242 | [[/index]] |
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