Country music

===Sixth generation (2000s–present)===
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2017}}
{{See also|2000s in music#Country|l1=2000s in music § Country|2010s in music#Country|l2=2010s in music § Country}}
The sixth generation of country music continued to be influenced by other genres such as pop, rock, and R&B. [[Richard Marx]] crossed over with his ''[[Days in Avalon]]'' album, which features five country songs and several singers and musicians. [[Alison Krauss]] sang background vocals to Marx's single "Straight from My Heart." Also, [[Bon Jovi]] had a hit single, "[[Who Says You Can't Go Home]]", with [[Jennifer Nettles]] of [[Sugarland]]. [[Kid Rock]]'s collaboration with [[Sheryl Crow]], "[[Picture (song)|Picture]]," was a major crossover hit in 2001 and began Kid Rock's transition from hard rock to a country-rock hybrid that would later produce another major crossover hit, 2008's "[[All Summer Long (Kid Rock song)|All Summer Long]]." (Crow, whose music had often incorporated country elements, would also officially cross over into country with her hit "[[Easy (Sheryl Crow song)|Easy]]" from her debut country album ''[[Feels like Home (Sheryl Crow album)|Feels like Home]]''). [[Darius Rucker]], frontman for the 1990s pop-rock band [[Hootie & the Blowfish]], began a country solo career in the late 2000s, one that to date has produced five albums and several hits on both the country charts and the Billboard Hot 100. Singer-songwriter [[Unknown Hinson]] became famous for his appearance in the [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] television show ''Wild, Wild, South'', after which Hinson started his own band and toured in southern states. Other rock stars who featured a country song on their albums were [[Don Henley]] (who released ''[[Cass County (album)|Cass County]]'' in 2015, an album which featured collaborations with numerous country artists) and [[Poison (American band)|Poison]].

The back half of the 2010-2020 decade saw an increasing number of mainstream country acts collaborate with pop and R&B acts; many of these songs achieved commercial success by appealing to fans across multiple genres; examples include collaborations between [[Kane Brown]] and [[Marshmello]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://musicrow.com/2020/09/kane-brown-joins-taylor-swift-luke-bryan-with-latest-riaa-milestone/|title= Kane Brown Joins Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan With Latest RIAA Milestone|date=September 29, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201030113542/https://musicrow.com/2020/09/kane-brown-joins-taylor-swift-luke-bryan-with-latest-riaa-milestone/|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-date= October 30, 2020}}</ref> and [[Maren Morris]] and [[Zedd]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/zedd-grey-maren-morris-the-middle-songs-that-defined-the-decade-8544258/|title= Songs That Defined the Decade: Zedd, Grey and Maren Morris' 'The Middle'|magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=November 21, 2019|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref> There has also been interest from pop singers in country music, including [[Beyoncé]], [[Lady Gaga]], [[Alicia Keys]], [[Gwen Stefani]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Justin Bieber]] and [[Pink (singer)|Pink]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Garcia|first=Patricia|title=Why Are So Many Pop Stars Going Country?|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/pop-music-goes-country|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=Vogue|date=May 15, 2016}}</ref> Supporting this movement is the new generation of contemporary pop-country, including [[Taylor Swift]], [[Miranda Lambert]], [[Carrie Underwood]], [[Kacey Musgraves]], [[Miley Cyrus]], [[Billy Ray Cyrus]], [[Sam Hunt]], [[Chris Young (singer)|Chris Young]],<ref name=":0" /> who introduced new themes in their works, touching on fundamental rights, feminism, and controversies about racism and religion of the older generations.<ref name=":1" />

====Popular culture====
[[File:191125 Carrie Underwood at the 2019 American Music Awards.png|thumb|251x251px|[[Carrie Underwood]] at the [[American Music Awards of 2019|2019 American Music Awards]]]]
In 2005, country singer [[Carrie Underwood]] rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of ''[[American Idol]]'' and has since become one of the most prominent recording artists in the genre, with worldwide sales of more than 65&nbsp;million records and seven [[Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/readers-poll-10-best-carrie-underwood-songs-177887/ |title=Readers' Poll: 10 Best Carrie Underwood Songs |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=March 10, 2015|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref> With her first single, "[[Inside Your Heaven]]", Underwood became the only solo country artist to have a number 1 hit on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart in the 2000–2009 decade and also broke ''Billboard'' chart history as the first country music artist ever to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Underwood's debut album, ''[[Some Hearts (Carrie Underwood album)|Some Hearts]]'', became the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history, the fastest-selling debut country album in the history of the SoundScan era and the best-selling country album of the last 10 years, being ranked by ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' as the number 1 Country Album of the 2000–2009 decade. She has also become the female country artist with the most number one hits on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot Country Songs]] chart in the Nielsen SoundScan era (1991–present), having 14 #1s and breaking her own ''[[Guinness Book]]'' record of ten. In 2007, Underwood won the [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist]], becoming only the second Country artist in history (and the first in a decade) to win it. She also made history by becoming the seventh woman to win Entertainer of the Year at the [[Academy of Country Music Awards]], and the first woman in history to win the award twice, as well as twice consecutively. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' has listed Underwood as one of the [[Time 100|100 most influential people in the world]].
In 2016, Underwood topped the [[Country Airplay]] chart for the 15th time, becoming the female artist with the most number ones on that chart.
[[File:Miranda-Lambert-Bandwagon-Tour-2019.jpg|thumb|218x218px|[[Miranda Lambert]] in 2019]]
Carrie Underwood was only one of several country stars produced by a television series in the 2000s. In addition to Underwood, ''American Idol'' launched the careers of [[Kellie Pickler]], [[Josh Gracin]], [[Bucky Covington]], [[Kristy Lee Cook]], [[Danny Gokey]], [[Lauren Alaina]] and [[Scotty McCreery]] (as well as that of occasional country singer [[Kelly Clarkson]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Kelly Clarkson goes country with 'Kellyoke' cover of the Chicks' 'Sin Wagon'|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/kelly-clarkson-goes-country-kellyoke-cover-chicks-sin-wagon-t205837|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=TODAY.com|date=January 14, 2021 }}</ref>) in the decade, and would continue to launch country careers in the 2010s. The series ''[[Nashville Star]]'', while not nearly as successful as ''Idol'', did manage to bring [[Miranda Lambert]], [[Kacey Musgraves]] and [[Chris Young (singer)|Chris Young]] to mainstream success, also launching the careers of lower-profile musicians such as [[Buddy Jewell]], [[Sean Patrick McGraw]], and Canadian musician [[George Canyon]]. ''[[Can You Duet]]?'' produced the duos [[Steel Magnolia]] and [[Joey + Rory]]. Teen sitcoms also have influenced modern country music; in 2008, actress [[Jennette McCurdy]] (best known as the sidekick Sam on the teen sitcom ''[[iCarly]]'') released her first single, "So Close", following that with the single "[[Generation Love]]" in 2011. Another teen sitcom star, [[Miley Cyrus]] (of Disney Channel's ''[[Hannah Montana]]''), also had a crossover hit in the late 2000s with "[[The Climb (Miley Cyrus song)|The Climb]]" and another with a duet with her father, [[Billy Ray Cyrus]], with "[[Ready, Set, Don't Go]]." [[Jana Kramer]], an actress in the teen drama ''[[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]]'', released a country album in 2012 that has produced two hit singles as of 2013. Actresses [[Hayden Panettiere]] and [[Connie Britton]] began recording country songs as part of their roles in the TV shows ''[[Nashville (2012 TV series)|Nashville]]'' and ''[[Pretty Little Liars]]'' star [[Lucy Hale]] released her debut album ''[[Road Between]]'' in 2014.

In 2010, the group [[Lady A]]ntebellum won five Grammys, including the coveted [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] and [[Record of the Year]] for "[[Need You Now (Lady Antebellum song)|Need You Now]]".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/13/AR2011021303447.html?hpid=top |title=Esperanza Spalding, Arcade Fire top a night of upsets at 2011 Grammys |first=Chris |last=Richards |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 14, 2011 |access-date=March 13, 2011}}</ref> A large number of duos and vocal groups emerged on the charts in the 2010s, many of which feature [[close harmony]] in the lead vocals. In addition to Lady A, groups such as [[Little Big Town]], [[the Band Perry]], [[Gloriana (band)|Gloriana]], [[Thompson Square]], [[Eli Young Band]], [[Zac Brown Band]] and British duo [[The Shires (duo)|the Shires]] have emerged to occupy a large share of mainstream success alongside solo singers such as [[Kacey Musgraves]] and [[Miranda Lambert]].

[[File:191125 Taylor Swift at the 2019 American Music Awards.png|alt=|left|thumb|189x189px|[[Taylor Swift]] at the [[American Music Awards of 2019|2019 American Music Awards]]]]
One of the most commercially successful country artists of the late 2000s and early 2010s has been singer-songwriter [[Taylor Swift]]. Swift first became widely known in 2006 when her debut single, "[[Tim McGraw (song)|Tim McGraw]]", was released when Swift was only 16 years old. In 2006, Swift released her [[Taylor Swift (album)|self-titled debut studio album]], which spent 275 weeks on [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], one of the longest runs of any album on that chart. In 2008, Taylor Swift released her second studio album, ''[[Fearless (Taylor Swift album)|Fearless]]'', which made her the second longest number-one charted on ''Billboard'' 200 and the second best-selling album (just behind [[Adele]]'s ''[[21 (Adele album)|21]]'') within the past 5 years. At the [[52nd Annual Grammy Awards|2010 Grammys]], Taylor Swift was 20 and won Album of the Year for ''Fearless'', which made her the youngest artist to win this award. Swift has received fourteen [[Grammy Award|Grammys]] already.

Buoyed by her [[teen idol]] status among girls and a change in the methodology of compiling the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' charts to favor pop-crossover songs, Swift's 2012 single "[[We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together]]" spent the most weeks at the top of Billboard's [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] chart and [[Hot Country Songs]] chart of any song in nearly five decades. The song's long run at the top of the chart was somewhat controversial, as the song is largely a pop song without much country influence and its success on the charts was driven by a change to the chart's criteria to include airplay on non-country radio stations, prompting disputes over what constitutes a country song; many of Swift's later releases, such as album ''[[1989 (Taylor Swift album)|1989]]'' (2014), ''[[Reputation (Taylor Swift album)|Reputation]]'' (2017), and ''[[Lover (album)|Lover]]'' (2019) were released solely to [[Pop music|pop]] audiences.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-country-music-split-6228999/ |title=Are Taylor Swift and Country Splitting Up for Good? |first= Jem |last= Aswad |date= August 22, 2014 |magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/trace-taylor-swifts-country-to-pop-transformation-in-5-songs-165118/|title=Trace Taylor Swift's Country-to-Pop Transformation in 5 Song |first= Keith |last= Harris |date=September 9, 2014 |magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/08/18/taylor-swift-shakes-off-country-with-first-pop-album-1989/14256849/ |title=Taylor Swift shakes off country with first pop album |first1=Patrick|last1=Ryan|first2=Brian|last2=Mansfield|work= USA TODAY |date= August 18, 2014 }}</ref> Swift returned to country music in her recent folk-inspired releases, ''[[Folklore (Taylor Swift album)|Folklore]]'' (2020) and ''[[Evermore (Taylor Swift album)|Evermore]]'' (2020), with songs like "[[Betty (Taylor Swift song)|Betty]]" and "[[No Body, No Crime]]".

==== Modern variations ====
===== Influence of rock, pop and hip-hop =====
In the mid to late 2010s, country music began to increasingly sound more like the style of modern-day [[Pop music]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|title=As Gen Z Matures, Country Music Moves Into a New Age With Huge Potential|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/generation-z-country-music-future-tegan-marie-emisunshine/|access-date=February 15, 2022|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> with more simple and repetitive lyrics, more electronic-based instrumentation, and experimentation with "talk-singing" and rap, pop-country pulled farther away from the traditional sounds of country music and received criticisms from country music purists while gaining in popularity with mainstream audiences.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Moss|first1=Marissa R.|date=December 18, 2019|title=20 Country Songs by Women That Should Have Been Hits|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/20-country-songs-by-women-that-should-have-been-hits-928385/|access-date=April 21, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> The topics addressed have also changed, turning controversial such as acceptance of the [[LGBT community]], safe sex, recreational marijuana use, and questioning religious sentiment.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Nugent|first=Addison|title=The story of queer country music – and its message of hope|url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20200611-the-story-of-queer-country-music-and-its-message-of-hope|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=BBC}}</ref> Influences also come from some pop artists' interest in the country genre, including [[Justin Timberlake]] with the album ''[[Man of the Woods]],''<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Blistein|first1=Jon|date=January 16, 2018|title=Watch Justin Timberlake Tease New Album in Behind-the-Scenes Doc|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-justin-timberlake-tease-new-album-in-behind-the-scenes-doc-202639/|access-date=April 21, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> [[Beyoncé]]'s song "[[Daddy Lessons]]" from [[Lemonade (Beyoncé album)|''Lemonade'']],<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Beyonce's 'Daddy Lessons': 10 Fun Facts|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/cma-awards-beyonce-daddy-lessons-fun-facts-7564872/|access-date=February 15, 2022|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> [[Kelly Clarkson]],<ref name=":2" /> [[Gwen Stefani]] with "[[Nobody but You (Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani song)|Nobody but You]]",<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 20, 2020|first1=Billy |last1=Dukes|title=Watch: Gwen Stefani Turns 'Don't Speak,' 'Spiderwebs' Into Country Songs|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/gwen-stefani-spiderwebs-dont-speak-country-songs-fallon/|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=Taste of Country}}</ref> [[Bruno Mars]],<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Willman|first1=Chris|date=August 26, 2017|title=How a Country Music Bassist Made 'Magic' With Bruno Mars and Nabbed Four VMA Nominations|url=https://variety.com/2017/music/news/midland-bassist-video-director-vmas-bruno-mars-1202539414/|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=Variety}}</ref> [[Lady Gaga]],<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Spanos|first1=Brittany|author-link=Brittany Spanos|date=October 18, 2016|title=Hear Lady Gaga's Catchy New Country-Pop Song 'A-Yo'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-lady-gagas-catchy-new-country-pop-song-a-yo-187124/|access-date=April 21, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> [[Alicia Keys]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 18, 2016|first1=Laura|last1=Hostelley|title=Maren Morris to Meet Alicia Keys at the 'Crossroads'|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/maren-morris-alicia-keys-cmt-crossroads/|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=Taste of Country}}</ref> and [[Pink (singer)|Pink]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Hudak|first1=Joseph|date=September 16, 2020|title=Keith Urban and Pink Duet on New 'One Too Many'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/keith-urban-pink-duet-one-too-many-1060886/|access-date=April 21, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

The influence of [[rock music]] in country has become more overt during the late 2000s and early 2010s as artists like [[Eric Church]], [[Jason Aldean]], and [[Brantley Gilbert]] have had success; [[Aaron Lewis (musician)|Aaron Lewis]], former frontman for the rock group [[Staind]], had a moderately successful entry into country music in 2011 and 2012, as did [[Dallas Smith]], former frontman of the band [[Default (band)|Default]].

[[Maren Morris]] success collaboration "[[The Middle (Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey song)|The Middle]]" with [[Electronic music|EDM]] producer [[Zedd]] is considered one of the representations of the fusion of electro-pop with country music.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=McKenna|first1=Brittney|date=January 23, 2018|title=Hear Maren Morris Sing on Vibrant New Zedd Song 'The Middle'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/hear-maren-morris-sing-on-vibrant-new-zedd-song-the-middle-125082/|access-date=April 21, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

[[Lil Nas X]] song "[[Old Town Road]]" [[List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones|spent 19 weeks]] atop the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart, becoming the longest-running number-one song since the chart debuted in 1958, winning [[Billboard Music Awards]], [[MTV Video Music Awards]] and Grammy Award.<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 13, 2019|title=Lil Nas X hit 'Old Town Road' makes Billboard charts history|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billboard-charts-history|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=Associated Press}}</ref> [[Sam Hunt]] "[[Leave the Night On]]" peaked concurrently on the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, making Hunt the first country artist in 22 years, since [[Billy Ray Cyrus]], to reach the top of three country charts simultaneously in the [[Nielsen SoundScan]]-era.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Sam Hunt Scores Country Charts Feat Last Achieved 22 Years Ago|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/sam-hunt-scores-country-charts-feat-last-achieved-22-years-ago/|access-date=February 15, 2022|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> With the fusion genre of "country [[trap music|trap]]"—a fusion of country/western themes to a [[hip hop music|hip hop]] beat, but usually with fully sung lyrics—emerging in the late 2010s, line dancing country had a minor revival, examples of the phenomenon include "[[The Git Up]]" by [[Blanco Brown]].<ref name="Chow 2019">{{cite magazine | last=Chow | first=Andrew R. | title=Blanco Brown Talks 'The Git Up' and the Fusion of Country and Rap | magazine=Time | date=July 27, 2019 | url=https://time.com/5634271/blanco-brown-the-git-up-interview/ | access-date=December 11, 2022}}</ref> Blanco Brown has gone on to make more traditional country soul songs such as "I Need Love" and a rendition of "[[Don't Take the Girl]]" with [[Tim McGraw]], and collaborations like "[[Just the Way]]" with [[Parmalee]].<ref name="MusicRow.com 2021">{{cite web | title=Industry Ink: Parmalee & Blanco Brown, Visionary Media Group, PLA Media | website=MusicRow.com | date=June 22, 2021 | url=https://musicrow.com/2021/06/industry-ink-parmalee-blanco-brown-visionary-media-group-pla-media/ | access-date=December 11, 2022}}</ref> Another country trap artist known as [[Breland (musician)|Breland]] has seen success with "[[My Truck]], "[[Throw It Back (Breland song)|Throw It Back]]" with [[Keith Urban]], and "[[Praise the Lord (Breland song)|Praise the Lord]]" featuring [[Thomas Rhett]].<ref name="Zisman 2022">{{cite web | last=Zisman | first=Erica | title=Who Is Breland? The Story Behind His Journey to Country Music | website=CS | date=March 8, 2022 | url=https://countryswag.com/who-is-breland-the-story-behind-his-journey-to-country-music/ | access-date=December 11, 2022}}</ref>

[[Emo rap]] musician [[Sueco]], released a [[cowpunk]] song in collaboration is country musician [[Warren Zeiders]] titled "Ride It Hard".<ref name="MusicRow.com 2022">{{cite web | title=DISClaimer Single Reviews: Jordan Davis Gives 'The Sound Of A Superstar In Training' | website=MusicRow.com | date=November 17, 2022 | url=https://musicrow.com/2022/11/disclaimer-single-reviews-jordan-davis-gives-the-sound-of-a-superstar-in-training/ | access-date=December 11, 2022}}</ref> Alex Melton, known for his [[cover version|music cover]]s, blends [[pop punk]] with country music.<ref>{{cite web | title=This Pop Punk Cover Of "Wagon Wheel" Might Be The Only Acceptable Way To Listen To It Anymore | website=Whiskey Riff | date=July 17, 2022 | url=https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2022/07/17/this-pop-punk-cover-of-wagon-wheel-might-be-the-only-acceptable-way-to-listen-to-it-anymore/ | access-date=December 11, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Kerrang! 2021">{{cite web | title=God, this country cover of Paramore's Misery Business feels so good | website=Kerrang! | date=March 4, 2021 | url=https://www.kerrang.com/this-country-cover-of-paramores-misery-business-feels-so-good/ | access-date=December 11, 2022}}</ref>

====== Bro country ======
{{Main|Bro-country}}
[[File:Florida Georgia Line Night Train Tour 2014.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Florida Georgia Line]] whose hit song "[[Cruise (song)|Cruise]]" drew attention to the [[bro-country]] genre]]
In the early 2010s, "[[bro-country]]", a genre noted primarily for its themes on drinking and partying, girls, and pickup trucks became particularly popular.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/clever-response-bro-country-songs |title=Taking Country Music back from the Bros |first=Ian |last=Crouch |magazine=The New Yorker |date=July 24, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/country-music-and-the-rise-of-the-binge_b_5697278 |title=Country Music and the Rise of the Binge-Drinking Bro |first=Patrick R. |last=Krill |work=HuffPost |date=August 21, 2014|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref name="kanuch">{{cite web |last1=Kanuch |first1=Nathan |title=Re-visiting Bro-Country |url=https://medium.com/shore2shore-country/re-visiting-bro-country-dd85fe7fe93d |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |access-date=June 12, 2022 |date=March 5, 2018}}</ref> Notable artists associated with this genre are [[Luke Bryan]], [[Jason Aldean]], [[Blake Shelton]], [[Jake Owen]] and [[Florida Georgia Line]] whose song "[[Cruise (song)|Cruise]]" became the best-selling country song of all time.<ref name="best-selling">{{cite news |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/florida-georgia-line-cruise-sets-all-time-country-sales-record/ |title=Florida Georgia Line's 'Cruise' Sets All-Time Country Sales Record |first= Wade |last= Jessen |date =January 6, 2014 |magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/6/country-times-bro-country-vs-traditional-bring-on-/?page=all |title=COUNTRY TIMES: 'Bro-country' vs. traditional: Bring on the fight|first = David |last = Eldridge |work=The Washington Times |date= January 6, 2014 }}</ref> Research in the mid-2010s suggested that about 45 percent of country's best-selling songs could be considered bro-country, with the top two artists being Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1750831/bro-country-mashup-guy-confronts-radio-programmers/ |title=Bro Country Mashup Guy Confronts Radio Programmers: What Does the Future of Country Radio Hold?|first =Chris |last =Parton |date=February 26, 2015 |work=CMT}}</ref> Albums by bro-country singers also sold very well—in 2013, Luke Bryan's ''[[Crash My Party]]'' was the third best-selling of all albums in the United States, with Florida Georgia Line's ''[[Here's to the Good Times]]'' at sixth, and Blake Shelton's ''[[Based on a True Story...|Based on a True Story]]'' at ninth.<ref name="fox">{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/country-music-is-not-dead-give-bro-country-a-chance |title=Country music is not dead: Give bro' country a chance|first= Sasha |last= Bogursky |date= June 12, 2014 |work=Fox News|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref> It is also thought that the popularity of bro-country helped country music to surpass classic rock as the most popular genre in the American country in 2012.<ref name="fox"/> The genre however is controversial as it has been criticized by other country musicians and commentators over its themes and depiction of women,<ref name="smith">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2013/10/01/country-music-identity-crisis/|title=How country music went crazy: A comprehensive timeline of the genre's identity crisis|last=Smith|first=Grady|date=October 1, 2013|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=McCarthy|first1=Amy|title=Bro Country's Sexism Is Ruining Country Music|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/bro-countrys-sexism-is-ruining-country-music-7070740|website=Dallas Observer|access-date=February 15, 2022|date=June 18, 2014|archive-date=February 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214012201/http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2014/06/bro_country_sexism_ruining_country_music.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tasteofcountry.com/kenny-chesney-billboard-bro-country/ |title=Kenny Chesney Covers Billboard, Speaks Out on Country Songs That 'Objectify' Women|first= Sterling |last= Whitaker |work=Taste of Country|date=November 15, 2014 }}</ref> opening up a divide between the older generation of country singers and the younger bro country singers that was described as "civil war" by musicians, critics, and journalists."<ref name=time>{{cite news |url=https://time.com/3502546/florida-georgia-line-bro-country/ |title='Bro Country' Is Still Thriving, Even If Everyone Hates It |first=Adam|last=Carlson|date= October 14, 2014 |magazine=Time }}</ref> In 2014, [[Maddie & Tae]]'s "[[Girl in a Country Song]]", addressing many of the controversial bro-country themes, peaked at number one on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Country Airplay]] chart.

===== Bluegrass and Americana =====
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2020}}
{{Main|Americana (music)|Bluegrass music}}Bluegrass is a genre that contain songs about going through hard times, country loving, and telling stories. It's history can be traced back to the 1600s. During this time, many people were coming to America from Ireland, Scotland and England.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-01 |title=Bluegrass, Roots, Americana, and Folk Music {{!}} San Diego Troubadour |url=https://sandiegotroubadour.com/bluegrass-roots-americana-and-folk-music/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=sandiegotroubadour.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Those people brought the first version of Bluegrass to the Americas. After several years of bluegrass' development, Bill Monroe became the "father" of bluegrass.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rosenberg |first=Neil V. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.03309 |title=Bluegrass music |date=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |series=Oxford Music Online|doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.03309 }}</ref> Other sources argue that The Monroe Brothers were the first stars of bluegrass.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2021 |title=Bluegrass Music Guide |url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bluegrass-music-guide |access-date=March 4, 2024 |website=Masterclass}}</ref>  Newer artists like [[Billy Strings]], [[the Grascals]], [[Molly Tuttle]], [[Tyler Childers]] and [[the Infamous Stringdusters]] have been increasing the popularity of this genre, alongside some of the genres more established stars who still remain popular including [[Rhonda Vincent]], [[Alison Krauss]] and [[Union Station (band)|Union Station]], [[Ricky Skaggs]] and [[Del McCoury]]. The genre has developed in the [[Northern Kentucky]] and [[Cincinnati]] area. Other artists include [[New South (band)]], [[Doc Watson]], [[Osborne Brothers]], and many others.

[[File:Emmylou Harris 2008 The Woodland Park Zootunes.jpg|thumb|269x269px|[[Emmylou Harris]] in 2008]]
In an effort to combat the over-reliance of mainstream country music on pop-infused artists, the sister genre of [[Americana (music)|Americana]] began to gain popularity and increase in prominence, receiving eight [[Grammy]] categories of its own in 2009. Though Americana music gained popularity in 2009, the first Americana singer was likely Hank Williams in the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chilton |first=Martin |date=2023-05-02 |title=Americana: How Country And Roots Music Found A "Brand New Dance" |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/in-depth-features/americana-music-country-roots-history/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=uDiscover Music |language=en-US}}</ref> Americana music incorporates elements of country music, bluegrass, folk, blues, gospel, rhythm and blues, roots rock and southern soul and is overseen by the [[Americana Music Association]] and the [[Americana Music Honors & Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Awards |url=http://americanamusic.org/about-awards |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=April 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420081843/http://americanamusic.org/about-awards |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result of an increasingly pop-leaning mainstream, many more traditional-sounding artists such as [[Tyler Childers]], [[Zach Bryan]] and [[Old Crow Medicine Show]] began to associate themselves more with Americana and the [[alternative country]] scene where their sound was more celebrated. Similarly, many established country acts who no longer received commercial airplay, including [[Emmylou Harris]] and [[Lyle Lovett]], began to flourish again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/lyle-lovett| title=Lyle Lovett| access-date=June 4, 2019 |website=Grammys}}</ref>

===== Contemporary country and western revival =====
[[File:Kacey Musgraves 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg|thumb|260x260px|[[Kacey Musgraves]] became one of the most controversial figures in contemporary country music.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 20, 2019|title=Kacey Musgraves: from liberal misfit to country's biggest star|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/20/kacey-musgraves-liberal-misfit-country-star-nashville-horse-microdosing-lsd|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=The Guardian}}</ref>]]

During the mid-1980s, a group of new artists began to emerge who rejected the more polished country-pop sound that had been prominent on radio and the charts, in favor of more, traditional, "back-to-basics" production. Many of the artists during the latter half of the 1980s drew on traditional honky-tonk, bluegrass, folk and western swing. Artists who typified this sound included [[Travis Tritt]], [[Reba McEntire]], [[George Strait]], [[Keith Whitley]], [[Alan Jackson]], [[John Anderson (musician)|John Anderson]], [[Patty Loveless]], [[Kathy Mattea]], [[Randy Travis]], [[Dwight Yoakam]], [[Clint Black]], [[Ricky Skaggs]], and [[the Judds]].

Beginning in 1989, a confluence of events brought an unprecedented commercial boom to country music. New marketing strategies were used to engage fans, powered by technology that more accurately tracked the popularity of country music, and boosted by a political and economic climate that focused attention on the genre. [[Garth Brooks]] ("Friends in Low Places") in particular attracted fans with his fusion of neotraditionalist country and [[arena rock|stadium rock]]. Other artists such as [[Brooks and Dunn]] ("Boot Scootin' Boogie") also combined conventional country with slick, rock elements, while [[Lorrie Morgan]], [[Mary Chapin Carpenter]], and [[Kathy Mattea]] updated neotraditionalist styles.<ref name="Country Music">{{cite web|last1=Neal|first1=Jocelyn R.|title=Country Music|url=http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/A2224075|website=Oxford music online}}</ref>

Roots of conservative country was Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA".<ref name="Mendez 2020">{{cite web | last=Mendez | first=Katy | title=Lee Greenwood, 'God Bless the USA' singer, to perform at Trump rally in Central Texas | website=www.kwtx.com | date=October 15, 2020 | url=https://www.kwtx.com/2020/10/15/lee-greenwood-god-bless-the-usa-singer-to-perform-at-trump-rally-in-central-texas/ | access-date=October 13, 2022}}</ref> The [[September 11 attacks]] of 2001 and the economic recession helped move country music back into the spotlight. Many country artists, such as Alan Jackson with his ballad on terrorist attacks, "[[Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)]]", wrote songs that celebrated the military, highlighted the gospel, and emphasized home and family values over wealth. Alt-Country singer Ryan Adams song "[[New York, New York (Ryan Adams song)|New York, New York]]" pays tribute to New York City, and its popular music video (which was shot 4 days before the attacks) shows Adams playing in front of the Manhattan skyline, Along with several shots of the city. In contrast, more rock-oriented country singers took more direct aim at the attacks' perpetrators; Toby Keith's "[[Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)]]" threatened to "a boot in" the posterior of the enemy, while Charlie Daniels's "[[This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag]]" promised to "hunt" the perpetrators "down like a mad dog hound." These songs gained such recognition that it put country music back into popular culture.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Neal|first1=Jocelyn|title=Country Music|url=http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/A2224075|website=Oxford Music Online|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=February 21, 2015}}</ref> Darryl Worley recorded "Have You Forgotten" also. There have been numerous patriotic country songs throughout the years.<ref name="Country Thang Daily 2021">{{cite web | title=10 America Songs You Should Be Listening Right Now | website=Country Thang Daily | date=January 28, 2021 | url=https://www.countrythangdaily.com/top-10-america-songs/ | access-date=October 13, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Moore 2022">{{cite web | last=Moore | first=Bobby | title=20 Most Patriotic Country Songs | website=Wide Open Country | date=July 4, 2022 | url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/patriotic-country-songs/ | access-date=October 13, 2022}}</ref>

Some modern artists that primarily or entirely produce [[country pop]] music include [[Kacey Musgraves]], [[Maren Morris]], [[Kelsea Ballerini]], [[Sam Hunt]], [[Kane Brown]], [[Chris Lane]], and [[Dan + Shay]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=How The Sound Of Country Music Changed|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2018/03/20/594037569/how-the-sound-of-country-music-changed|access-date=April 21, 2021|newspaper=NPR|date=March 20, 2021|last=Hight|first=Jewly}}</ref> The singers who are part of this country movement are also defined as "Nashville's new generation of country".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hight|first=Jewly|date=August 9, 2018|title=In the Write: The Evolution of Country Music in Nashville|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/08/the-evolution-of-country-music-in-nashville.html|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=Vulture}}</ref>

Although the changes made by the new generation, it has been recognized by major music awards associations and successes in [[Billboard charts|Billboard]] and international charts. [[Golden Hour (Kacey Musgraves album)|''Golden Hour'']] by Kacey Musgraves won album of the year at [[61st Annual Grammy Awards]], [[Academy of Country Music Awards]], [[Country Music Association Awards]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mercuri|first=Monica|title=Kacey Musgraves Reclaims Top Country Albums No. 1 Following Grammy Success|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2019/02/20/kacey-musgraves-reclaims-top-country-albums-no-1-following-grammy-success/|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=Forbes}}</ref> although it has received criticism from some traditional country music fans.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Kacey Musgraves' Golden Year: After dominating the year with her own brand of cosmic country, the singer looks ahead to 2019 and the Grammys|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/kacey-musgraves-golden-hour-album-grammy-771594/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=December 21, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Midland in concert - NYS Fair.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Midland (band)|Midland]], one of the most popular neotraditional honky-tonk bands]]