History of American Pop Music
Chapter 40: Country Music in the 80s and 90s

Chapter 40: Overview

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Chapter 40 traces country music's rise from a regional genre to the best-selling style of music in the United States through the success of neotraditional country, country-pop, and alternative country. Artists such as George Strait, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Vince Gill, Dwight Yoakam, and Johnny Cash combined traditional country sounds with modern production and large-scale performances, while new technology, broader radio access, and changing audiences helped bring country music to a much larger commercial audience.

Important Terms

Countrypolitan - A polished country style that blended country with pop arrangements, strings, and smooth studio production.

Neotraditional Country - A 1980s and 1990s country style that returned to older sounds such as honky-tonk, bluegrass, western swing, and the Bakersfield sound.

New Country - A more polished, radio-friendly country style that kept country themes but used pop and rock production.

Alternative Country - A style that mixed country with rock, punk, indie, and Americana influences while keeping a rougher, outsider feel.

Americana - A broad roots-music style that draws from country, folk, blues, rock, and related American traditions.

Line Dancing - Choreographed group dancing done without partners, often used in country bars and clubs.

Hat Act - A male country performer whose cowboy hat became part of his public image and stage identity.

Crossover - Music that appeals to both country audiences and pop audiences.

SoundScan - A sales-tracking system that used barcode data to measure music sales more accurately than older reporting methods.

Honky-Tonk - A country style rooted in barroom music, heartbreak, drinking, and working-class life.

Bakersfield Sound - A hard-edged California country style built around electric guitars, pedal steel, and a strong backbeat.

Western Swing - A dance-oriented style blending country with jazz and swing.

Bluegrass - A fast, acoustic form of country music often built around banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and tight harmonies.

Cajun Rhythm - A rhythmic style tied to Louisiana music and sometimes used in country-pop production.

Country-Pop - A form of country designed for pop radio through smoother production and crossover appeal.

Urban Cowboy - A film and cultural trend that popularized smooth, dance-friendly country music and Western style.

Neotraditionalism - A movement that revived older country sounds while keeping a modern commercial audience.

Artists Discussed

Dolly Parton - Country singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman.

Reba McEntire - Country singer known for strong vocals and a traditional country image.

Garth Brooks - Country star who mixed arena rock spectacle with country songwriting.

George Strait - Country singer and one of the clearest neotraditional voices of the era.

Vince Gill - Singer, guitarist, and songwriter known for technical skill and emotional phrasing.

Dwight Yoakam - Country singer who drew on Bakersfield country and cowpunk energy.

Shania Twain - Country-pop star who crossed country into global pop success.

LeAnn Rimes - Young country singer with strong crossover appeal.

Clint Black - Country singer and songwriter tied to the neotraditional revival.

Tim McGraw - Major 1990s country star with broad commercial appeal.

Trace Adkins - Country singer with a deep baritone and working-class image.

Billy Ray Cyrus - Singer known for "Achy Breaky Heart."

Kenny Rogers - Country-pop singer with crossover success.

Alan Jackson - Country singer associated with the 1990s mainstream boom.

Martina McBride - Country singer who became a major 1990s star.

Clint Black - Country singer and songwriter tied to the early 1990s country wave.

Alabama - Country band whose harmony style helped characterize mainstream country.

The Judds - Country duo that helped bring women’s voices to the foreground.

Conway Twitty - Country singer associated with mainstream country success.

Don Williams - Country singer with a smooth, understated style.

Patty Loveless - Neotraditional country singer.

Keith Whitley - Singer whose voice bridged bluegrass and mainstream country.

Ricky Van Shelton - Country singer associated with the revival of older styles.

Pure Prairie League - Soft rock and country group that featured Vince Gill.

Rodney Crowell - Country songwriter and performer who worked with Vince Gill.

Byron Berline - Fiddle player and bandleader.

Patty Loveless - Country singer tied to the neotraditional wave.

Bluegrass Alliance - Bluegrass group that included Vince Gill.

Mountain Smoke - Early bluegrass band led by Vince Gill.

Ace in the Hole - George Strait’s backing band.

Randy Travis - Neotraditional country singer whose recordings helped renew interest in traditional country sounds.

Uncle Tupelo - Alt-country band whose No Depression became a touchstone.

Lucinda Williams - Singer-songwriter associated with alt-country.

Whiskeytown - Alt-country band.

Old 97's - Alt-country band.

k.d. lang - Singer who bridged country, pop, jazz, and alternative country.

Johnny Cash - Country legend who returned late in life through the American Recordings.

Sheryl Crow - Singer-songwriter who moved between rock, pop, and country influences.

Mutt Lange - Producer and husband of Shania Twain.

Songs Referenced

  • "9 to 5" – Dolly Parton

  • "We Shall Be Free" – Garth Brooks

  • "Achy Breaky Heart" – Billy Ray Cyrus

  • "Lady" – Kenny Rogers

  • "The Gambler" – Kenny Rogers

  • "Coward of the County" – Kenny Rogers

  • "Don't Close Your Eyes" – Keith Whitley

  • "Guitars, Cadillacs" – Dwight Yoakam

  • "Honky Tonk Man" – Dwight Yoakam (cover of Johnny Horton)

  • "Streets of Bakersfield" – Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens

  • "Unwound" – George Strait

  • "Amarillo by Morning" – George Strait

  • "Sweet Dreams" – Reba McEntire

  • "How Blue" – Reba McEntire

  • "Only in My Mind" – Reba McEntire

  • "The Last One to Know" – Reba McEntire

  • "Is There Life Out There?" – Reba McEntire

  • "Whoever's in New England" – Reba McEntire

  • "Does He Love You" – Reba McEntire and Linda Davis

  • "Fancy" – Reba McEntire

  • "Let Me Love You Tonight" – Pure Prairie League

  • "I Still Believe in You" – Vince Gill

  • "Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away" – Vince Gill

  • "One More Last Chance" – Vince Gill

  • "Tryin' to Get Over You" – Vince Gill

  • "The Heart Won't Lie" – Reba McEntire and Vince Gill

  • "Sober Saturday Night" – Chris Young featuring Vince Gill

  • "Forever Country" – Artists of Then, Now & Forever

  • "If Tomorrow Never Comes" – Garth Brooks

  • "The Dance" – Garth Brooks

  • "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)" – Garth Brooks

  • "Friends in Low Places" – Garth Brooks

  • "The Thunder Rolls" – Garth Brooks

  • "Blue" – LeAnn Rimes

  • "Bridge Over Troubled Water" – Simon & Garfunkel

  • "You Light Up My Life" – Debby Boone

  • "A Better Man" – Clint Black

  • "Killin' Time" – Clint Black

  • "Still Holding On" – Clint Black and Martina McBride

  • "Summer's Comin'" – Clint Black

  • "Like the Rain" – Clint Black

  • "It's Your Love" – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

  • "Every Light in the House" – Trace Adkins

  • "I Left Something Turned On at Home" – Trace Adkins

  • "(This Ain't) No Thinkin' Thing" – Trace Adkins

  • "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" – Shania Twain

  • "Any Man of Mine" – Shania Twain

  • "That Don't Impress Me Much" – Shania Twain

  • "You're Still the One" – Shania Twain

  • "From This Moment On" – Shania Twain and Bryan White

  • "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" – Shania Twain

  • "All I Wanna Do" – Sheryl Crow

  • "If It Makes You Happy" – Sheryl Crow

  • "Steve McQueen" – Sheryl Crow

  • "No Depression" – The Carter Family

  • "Constant Craving" – k.d. lang

  • "Hurt" – Johnny Cash (cover of Nine Inch Nails)

Albums

  • Urban Cowboy (Soundtrack) – Various Artists

  • Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. – Dwight Yoakam

  • Under the Covers – Dwight Yoakam

  • Dwight's Used Records – Dwight Yoakam

  • Dwight Sings Buck – Dwight Yoakam

  • Strait Country – George Strait

  • Strait from the Heart – George Strait

  • My Kind of Country – Reba McEntire

  • For My Broken Heart – Reba McEntire

  • Turn Me Loose – Vince Gill

  • The Things That Matter – Vince Gill

  • The Way Back Home – Vince Gill

  • When I Call Your Name – Vince Gill

  • When Love Finds You – Vince Gill

  • Souvenirs – Vince Gill

  • Garth Brooks – Garth Brooks

  • No Fences – Garth Brooks

  • Ropin' the Wind – Garth Brooks

  • The Chase – Garth Brooks

  • In Pieces – Garth Brooks

  • The Hits – Garth Brooks

  • Sevens – Garth Brooks

  • Double Live – Garth Brooks

  • The Ultimate Hits – Garth Brooks

  • Time Traveler – Garth Brooks

  • Killin' Time – Clint Black

  • Not a Moment Too Soon – Tim McGraw

  • All I Want – Tim McGraw

  • Everywhere – Tim McGraw

  • Dreamin' Out Loud – Trace Adkins

  • Chrome – Trace Adkins

  • Comin' On Strong – Trace Adkins

  • Shania Twain – Shania Twain

  • The Woman in Me – Shania Twain

  • Come On Over – Shania Twain

  • Up! – Shania Twain

  • Tuesday Night Music Club – Sheryl Crow

  • Sheryl Crow – Sheryl Crow

  • The Very Best of Sheryl Crow – Sheryl Crow

  • Detours – Sheryl Crow

  • 100 Miles from Memphis – Sheryl Crow

  • No Depression – Uncle Tupelo

  • A Truly Western Experience – k.d. lang

  • Angel with a Lariat – k.d. lang

  • Shadowland – k.d. lang

  • Absolute Torch and Twang – k.d. lang

  • Ingenue – k.d. lang

  • American Recordings – Johnny Cash

  • American IV: The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash