What Happened to Country Music?

I know exactly what youre talking about its like you dont even have to have talent now to become a country star....I am only 19 years old and I am a huge hank fan and johnny cash fan...I really do wish that people would start making that kind of music again the good stuff like what johnny cash would put out...todays country really has changed...like some of the country is more pop and some of the country has gone rock...I actually saw on cmt nickelbacks video for rockstar and nickelback is a rock group not country!

Most music in the charts nowadays sounds the same. It's hard to distinguish what passes for "country" and what passes for "R and B" now, when they used to be two very different (and two very good) styles of music. Nowadays every style of music seems to be a watered down version of what came before. I love people like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. I'm sure there's still great country music being made, but a lot of it doesn't make it to the charts. Then again maybe that's the way it should be. Johnny Cash wasn't accepted by "mainstream" country back in the sixties because of his views of Americas treatment of Native Americans. I guess things have come full circle and you have to look beyond the charts for good country music. I believe Hank Williams grandson, Hank Williams III, is still making music.

Hey Ps

I have to say right now that country isn't as country anymore, you have the 'Pop Country, Southern Country', but when I sit here and think about it, you still have people that do it their way,

George Straight and Alan Jackson come to mind and with that I think about the duet they did together....
http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/jackson-alan/murder-on-music-row-6575.html
Murder on Music Row

>For the steel guitars no longer cry
And you can't hear fiddles play
With drums and rock 'n' roll guitars
Mixed right up in your face
Why the Hag wouldn't have a chance
On today's radio
Since they committed murder
Down on music row<

Country music is changing to try to keep younger people intersted and with the music.

I think one of the biggest groups to influence the change was the 'Chicks', and I'm no fan of them, but I think that they more than any other group influenced the rock style of country that we see now.

Mooch

I like coutry music past and present. I like some Johnny Cash and some Willie, but I will have to say my favorite country singer is Brad Paisley. I think he sings about the perfect balance of funny and somewhat serious songs. I like almost all of his songs and if you have not been to one of his concerts, then you are seriously missing out on a fantastic time. Some of the most fun I have had. I also enjoy the present day music of Kenny Chesney, Rodney Atkins, and Tim McGraw. I don't know I kind of like the new stuff more.

I miss it badly.I like real country music, not pop songs with a few country instruments added.I want steel guitars and fiddles and songs in 3/4 time. And I want songs about love and love lost.Back in the early 90's there was a rash of then new artists that played Real Country. Alan Jackson and Randy Travis and Travis Tritt come to mind.And Vince Gill.I remember coming back to country because of the classic sound was back. it was like coming home.But now, I don't listen. Thankfully, I have great tapes and records I can listen to and I have Music Choice on my cable and I can hear classic country.

Its true. I can be listening to country on the radio and its ok but then a real song will come on one of the oldies we call them and I will be slapping my leg singing along my girls are like here she goes again. That is the real stuff that you can slap your leg to and enjoy.

I sit in my room and cry everyday as I listen to some good ole' country music and then I hear a 18 year old girl named Taylor Swift come on the radio and then I turn the station and hear her on the pop station..How do you call that country music? This year at the CMA awards I saw T.Pain there..This would never happen back then. What ever happened to some good George Jones, Tennessee Whiskey, or Some Don Edwards, Mary Chappin Carpenter, & Marty Robbins. What happened to people doing hard work in the fields and riding horses and chasing cows. I sit here and think that the world is going to hell and everything is turning all modern. I just want to hear some Amarillo by Morning & some good old Garth Brooks. Some country artists these days are respectable, such as Eric Church that I met last summer. & Joe Nichols.. There are many that are still good country artists, but some that have just came and modernized this beautiful way of life we once had. I just wish there was something we could do, but nothing will ever be the same.