The Popularity of Country Music

The Popularity of Country Music

The epitome of a country song is about mama, trains, prison, and getting drunk, according to David Allen Coe in his classic hit, “You Never Even Call Me By My Name.”

Well, country songs are all about these things, particularly back in the day of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. So why is country music becoming so popular now with listeners of all ages? Has the music changed or have we changed?

There are two popular camps in the country music field; one group remains true to the roots of country music by preserving the purest of beginnings. Songwriter and singer, Hank Williams, is one of the pioneers of country music, with heart rendering songs like, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”.

The song personifies country music from decades past. Singers like George Strait and Alan Jackson have continued in the former style and remain very popular after years in the business. However, age is not a factor to this style of country music because Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner are classified as pure country in this camp.

It’s more about the lyrics, the steel guitars, fiddles, and there’s a certain twang (for lack of a better word). The songs pull at your heart and are especially favored with heartaches come. Reba McIntire, Miranda Lambert, Brooks and Dunn are all in this group.

The other camp admires the new sound of country with singers Taylor Swift, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, and Keith Urban who have a lighter, happier sound, songs you hear and sing the familiar tunes all day. Songs that are intended to be turned up loud and encourage rolling down the car windows; after all, it is a beautiful world. They are about small towns, football on Friday nights, and parties in the barn.

Taylor Swift alone has revolutionized the music industry by gaining the audience of young girls into country music; look at the current fashion of boots and short jeans skirt. It’s fresh and young people like it. But it’s not only teens that are chilling out to young country. The music has crossed age groups as much as it has integrated old with new to create a type of country music that has yet to hit its potential.

No doubt, country music is hot and whatever camp you are in, the rise of country music popularity is are on the rise and growing daily.