How Country Music Has Evolved

Even if you don’t consider yourself a country music fan, it’s a genre we’re all familiar with. We all recognise the genre’s signature twangs and more than likely know a song or two we can sing along with (even if it’s just the chorus). 

Most of us will even recognise a famous country musician or two, whether it’s the low, soulful tones of Johnny Cash, the often clad-in-pink Shania Twain, or the ever-iconic and charitable Dolly Parton, all of whom have transcended the genre to become widely beloved. 

Then there are the likes of Beyoncé, who entered the country scene with her Cowboy Carter album in 2024; Taylor Swift, who rose to country fame and then drifted to the pop scene; and the many bro-country artists who were massively popular (and simultaneously controversial) component of the country industry, giving the genre mass appeal and recognisable personalities. 

But country music today looks and sounds entirely different from how it started over a century ago. Below, we’ll explore the genre from its earliest days to its present. 

17th to 18th Century: The Seeds of Country Music Are Planted

When Europeans, particularly poor Europeans hoping to find their fortunes, and enslaved Africans first arrived in what is present-day United States, they brought with them traditions and music of their own, which would be hugely influential in how country music shaped and defined its sound. The music of America’s Indigenous peoples also played a role in building the country genre.

19th Century: First Country Songs Are Published

As more people settled in the United States, the refined characteristics of European music and more easily transportable instruments made their way to the country, like instrumental opera music and singing. Of course, places and people unable to access these formal areas of music, like concerts or vocal teachers, continued with the folk music and musical knowledge they brought with them, passing it on to others who settled around them. Some country songs, however, found their way beyond the confines of rural folk to be formally published. 

One of these songs is “Turkey in the Straw,” which is widely recognised even today and has a clear influence from Irish fiddle music and British folk music. It was often played with instruments like fiddles and banjos and has been adapted in many different ways throughout its lifetime, even being connected to the blues and jazz genres in later years. 

During the tail end of the 19th century, major technological innovations started to take shape that changed many aspects of life, including how people connected with country music. Among these inventions was the phonograph, unveiled by Thomas Edison in 1877.

20th Century: Country Music Goes Mainstream

The phonograph was just the beginning of influential technological innovations that changed America’s music (and daily) landscape. In the 20th century, technologies such as radios and televisions were developed. Alongside these innovations, there were other significant alterations in the country music industry; the most notable happened in the 1920s, 1940s, and 1960s.

The 1920s

Many consider the 1920s the beginning of country music, and it’s easy to see why. The genre underwent significant changes, bringing it from location-specific folk stories and ditties to cross-state audiences with a broad appeal. A major milestone came in 1924 when the National Barn Dance aired on WLS Radio in Baltimore. A year later, the Grand Ole Opry was born as a radio show in Nashville, which still runs today—though it has grown to encompass far more than playing on the radio.

The 1940s

Sub-genres of country music, like honky-tonk, which made the topics of heartbreak and drinking popular in country music, started to become commonplace, as did bluegrass styles. This change was due to the United Service Organizations (USO) introducing “hillbilly” bands (which country music was primarily known for up until this time) to their audiences. The 1940s also saw Nashville become the centre of country music, with many recording studios setting up shop there. Some of the most well-established of these studios are still found there today.

The 1960s

The 1960s were filled with changes that paved the way for future artists, including the first Black country artist to chart, Charley Pride, and some of the first women in the industry. The Country Music Hall of Fame was also introduced, and as the genre’s most influential figures began to be inducted into the hall, the history of the genre was carefully recorded.

21st Century: Country Music Continues to Evolve

Changes in country music don’t come easily, with the genre’s fans quick to accuse outside influences or up-and-coming artists of ruining the genre, and since 2000, many newcomers have faced significant criticism for this. 

For instance, there were the bro-country artists, who were initially met with criticism for the influence of rock, pop, and electronica in their music. These same artists also played into the trope of country music being about drinking, women, partying, and pick-up trucks. Many of these artists are now considered popular in the genre, though new up-and-comers face their own challenges. 

Many country fans worry that the heavy pop, rap, or rock influences mean the music can no longer be considered true country since, like playing at an online casino for free, they’re playing without any commitment to a specific sound or style. But the same was said of many newcomers to country music who have since been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, like Shania Twain.

Conclusion

From its early roots to its emerging artists, country music has left a mark on the American music landscape and well beyond. True to the melting pot culture of the US, it is an amalgamation of different styles from different regions—a trend that, based on current patterns, shows no signs of slowing down.

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