Country music

===== 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.