Country Western Music

Many of the characteristic sounds heard in today’s Country Western music can be directly attributed to folk music. Originally, the term for Country Western music was simply "country music" or "folk music," rooted in the music of the Appalachian Mountains and various regions of America, particularly the South. Some of the terms used to describe early country music include hillbilly, mountain, hill country music, old-time, and bluegrass. The direct roots of these styles of country music can be traced back to the music of the British Isles and Europe. Later, the term "western" was added, creating "country and western" or "country Western" music. The term "western" was used to describe songs with themes such as cowboys, the taming of the West, the building of the railroad across America, and the gold rush of the 1840s.

Country Western music began to gain popularity in America through the extensive use of radio broadcasting and commercials featuring country music as part of the ads. These commercials were designed specifically to appeal to a larger base of people in more rural communities throughout the United States, and this approach was very successful. Later, when singing-cowboy movie stars such as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers made Country Western music popular on the television screen, an even larger base of Americans was able to hear and participate in Country Western music.

Before long, Country Western music firmly established itself in the city of Nashville, Tennessee. The original radio program known as the "Barn Dance Program" evolved into what is now the "Grand Ole Opry" and has continued to showcase the best talent in country music via radio and television. Some of the most famous country musicians include Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams Sr., Loretta Lynn, and Johnny Cash. They, along with others, helped not only to establish Country Western music as an American tradition and art form but also to spread it to European countries and other parts of the world.

While Country Western music lagged behind rock-and-roll in listenership through the 1970s and early '80s, artists such as Dolly Parton, Hank Williams Jr., and the group Alabama began to incorporate rock elements into their music. Although this "crossing over" appealed to many listeners who had not been fans of country music before, some traditionalists felt it was a corruption of the country style. In the late 1980s and early '90s, country music experienced rapid growth in popularity, with artists such as Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, The Judds, George Strait, and Garth Brooks leading the way. These and other veteran musicians continue to perform and record today. However, as in all music genres, a new generation of artists has emerged to continue the traditions of country music while striving to create their own styles. Today’s country music artists include Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Sugarland, and Rascal Flatts.