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{{trope}}
{{quote|''"Sometimes you don't realize how true country songs are until you find yourself in the middle of one."''|[[Hank Williams, Jr.]]}}
{{quote|''"Well, my woman stayed true, and I'm sober..."''|Greg Proops, ''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway?
{{quote|''"You're not supposed to say the word 'cancer' in a song.''<br />
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Ah, country music. The American answer to [[Folk Music]] that is mostly associated with places like Kansas and men wearing cowboy attire unironically. Despite its widespread notoriety, country music is not bad, as proved by many musicians, and is in fact by some measures the most listened-to genre of music in the United States.
Country music as a genre of its own originated in the 1920s in the United States, primarily played on string instruments, most notably the guitar, fiddle and banjo. It has its roots in the folk ballads of the Appalachian Mountains, which in turn descended from the various folk traditions of the British Isles. Depending on whom you ask, the offshoot genre of bluegrass might be referred to as "[[Take That|good country music]]". Modern mainstream country has progressed through a "Nashville sound" in the 1970s, which layered the string sections on heavily, and a 1980s pop-heavy "Urban Cowboy" sound inspired by the film ''Urban Cowboy'', 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 [[
On that note, the fanbase is stereotyped as being [[Strawman Political|right-wing]] [[Boisterous Bruiser|Boisterous Bruisers]] who personify the [[Deep South]] of [[Eagle Land]]. 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 [[Dixie Chicks]] were surprised when their fans turned on them after bad-mouthing [[George W. Bush]] (granted, the death threats were a bit much).
"Alternative Country" (sometimes abbreviated as "Alt-Country") is a loosely defined term that means, more or less, the attitude of [[Alternative Rock]] with a country sound, pioneered by folk and punk influenced singer/songwriters like Lyle Lovett in the mid 1980's. This came to prominence in [[The Nineties]], with artists like Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams and bands such as Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, and [[
See also: [[Country Rap]].
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== Notable country musicians: ==
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* Glen Campbell
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* David Allan Coe: A key figure in the decidedly un-mainstream "Outlaw Country" movement of the 70s. Recorded a couple of very dirty albums back in the day. At the behest of Shel Silverstein, no less.
* Lefty Frizzell: Perhaps the most influential country artist ever along with Hank Williams.
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* The Judds: Second most-popular country music duo (they were tops until Brooks & Dunn trumped them).
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* Kris Kristofferson: Known for writing songs made famous by other people ("Me and Bobby Mc Gee" was popularised by Janis Joplin), but also well-regarded in his own right.
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* Lyle Lovett: The trope maker of Alternative Country and, for a while, one of the few alternative country acts to get attention on country radio. Nowadays, you're likely to find his music playing on an Adult Alternative station rather than your local country station.
* Loretta Lynn: Legend who is arguably the most important female country artist. Called the "First Lady of Country Music", a title that has never been granted to anyone else. Named "Artist of the Decade" for the '70s.
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* Charley Pride: Most popular black artist in the genre by far.
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* [[Hank Williams, Jr
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{{reflist}}
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