The Rise of Country Music in Mainstream Spaces

Shelbi Baker
1 day ago
8 min read

In recent years, you may have noticed that country music has been making its way into pop music spaces. Artists like Beyonce, Chappell Roan, and Post Malone have tried their hand at the art and created some truly iconic tunes. We've also seen the emergence of artists like Shaboozey taking over the Billboard Top 100 with, you guessed it, a country hit. So, what's going on here? Why is a genre historically tied to the US South suddenly blowing up all over the world? Well, that's what we're here to discuss. So, strap on your sparkly pink cowboy boots and come along as we explain the rise of country music in mainstream spaces.

A History of Country Music

It's no secret that country music is a timeless genre in American history. That trademark twang is the product of centuries of Southern and Appalachian cultures. The genre itself dates back all the way to the 1920s, but found widespread traction in the 1940s. Country music's persistence is derived from the sheer drive to play music in any and all economic situations. The parallels to gospel hymns, slave songs, and traditional folk songs are extremely prevalent when you think about the structure and sound of classic country. And remember, the United States is a melting pot. The modern, diverse society we have today ties back to our ancestors from all over the world. Country music holds one of the richest and most fascinating histories of any genre of music, with a winding road lined with ups, downs, twists, turns, and a whole slew of creative artists making something meaningful.

Country Music's Inspiration - The 1st Generation

Country's influences are boundless. You may recall hearing yodeling when you listen to classic country music. Now, I don't have to tell you that Americans didn't invent the yodel. That credit belongs to the Swiss. However, the actual purpose of yodeling is to communicate and aid in herding livestock across mountainous regions. Of course, American cowboys learned this technique from their Swiss descendants and friends, and eventually, that sing-song sound wound up becoming a vital part of their music. Jimmie Rodgers, who is often considered the 'Father of Country Music' can be heard yodeling in his music from 1928.

Country in the Spotlight - The 2nd Generation

During the 1930s and 40s, country music's popularity skyrocketed due to radio exposure and the airing of the Grand Ole Opry. This was also the time period when Westerns dominated the Hollywood spotlight. Gene Autry and Hank Williams hit the scene, giving rise to the 'singing cowboy' trope. However, it was Bob Wills who made the most notable contribution to country music in this era. He and his string band brought jazz to the table, creating one of the most beloved types of classic country known as Dixieland Jazz or Western Swing. These small tweaks and different talents brought together made for a vibrant, danceable sound enjoyed at even the remotest of barn dances on the most finicky of radios.

The Rise of Bluegrass and Rock and Roll - The 3rd Generation

After World War II, country music found its way into poorer communities. While gospel was still a key component to country, Native American and Hispanic influence began making its mark on country sound. It was in the 1950s and 60s that we saw the mainstream emergence of Bluegrass. This genre spawned from the idea of making great music from very little. You can't afford an instrument? That's okay, we've got a washboard. Don't know how to play? That's all right. Sing how they taught you in church. A basic band could consist of a guitar, banjo, drums, and a fiddle. However, any number of household items and combinations were used to make a band and the genre thrived. Bluegrass made its way onto the Grand Ole Opry and the rest was history.

However, another genre was making its rounds around this time, and that genre was rock and roll. Electric instruments like guitars and keyboards began to see stages across the US. Rock's influence on country music is undeniable even today, thanks to a little fusion known as rockabilly. Major representatives of the rockabilly sound include Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Rockabilly music would come to be known today as Nashville country and became a billion-dollar industry. Artists like Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves were prominent pioneers of the Nashville scene.

Much like today, genre purists from both the rock and roll and country sides would emerge, giving pushback to the rising new fusion. It sounds silly, doesn't it? This sound is obviously country music, right? Of course, the British Invasion of the 1960s influenced rock music in a whole new way, splitting the genre into even more distinctions. Fans of groups like the Beatles shifted to listening to more of that British sound, leaving rockabilly in the dust. Meanwhile, those who believed country music should have stayed traditional and out of the hands of radio producers opposed the Nashville sound as well. However, as you're about to see, music has a way of evolving despite artistic differences.

Country Giants - The 4th Generation

While 4th generation country isn't quite traditional, it's certainly what most people think of when they think about classic country. This era in the 70s and 80s gave rise to some of country's most legendary artists like Dolly Parton and John Denver. It was the time that introduced the idea of outlaw country and country pop. John Denver's impact on the era included a blend of country, folk, and rock. His song, "Country Roads", is still widely known as West Virginia's anthem across the world. It's recognizable in countless countries, sung in countless languages, as the little thing that sets Appalachia apart, and we think that's really cool.

Of course, this was a time when country music was fully commercialized. It wore glitz and glamour as a vehicle for telling its stories. And if you've ever listened to Dolly Parton, you know her glamour discounted absolutely nothing. Her tunes like "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" struck the hearts of countless listeners. Today, Dolly is still performing, lending her classic voice as a feature to modern artists like her god-daughter Miley Cyrus, Sabrina Carpenter, and even Beyonce. She has even taken part in an EDM record by Cheat Codes in a song titled, "Bets on Us".

The Modern Era - The 5th and 6th Generations

In the 1990s and 2000s, country music became something of a stadium event. Artists like Brooks and Dunn, Shania Twain, and Garth Brooks became huge. Concerts were selling out like hotcakes, and the line between country, rock, and pop continued to blur. As a matter of fact, some artists began to notice. Shania Twain's 2002 album, Up!, actually had three different versions. The green version leaned more into traditional country, the red disc was more of a rock sound, and the blue version had a rhythmic, international sound reminiscent of Bollywood music. This blending of genres pushed country further and further into the mainstream, opening it up to those who might not otherwise give the genre a chance. After the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 in the US, some country artists took particularly more patriotic turns in their songwriting. It was an impactful event that, for better or worse, unified Americans in a way that nothing had in a long time. Despite country being an age old American tradition, this is around the point in time where patriotism and country music became almost completely synonymous. It paved the way for the connection country has now to American conservatism. Although, not everyone wanted to write about that sort of thing. Country that wasn't patriotic usually consisted of tunes about love, having fun, dancing, or drinking. There were also some stellar girl power artists rising up like The Chicks, Miranda Lambert, and Carrie Underwood, who really gave rise to that 'kill your ex' trope in country music we all know and can't help but sing out when we hear it. It was an interesting time to push the boundaries of being a woman in country music. However, as you'll see, that self-discovery wasn't anywhere close to stopping.

Post-Modern Neo-Country - Present Day

We've talked about how country music has blended with multiple genres over the course of its now 100-year lifespan, but that doesn't really answer the question of why it's coming back into the mainstream now, in 2025. To answer that question, we have to talk about a few very notable artists. In 2019, A little-known artist named Lil Nas X would release a song called "Old Town Road". You might've heard of it. But why is this important? Well, the massive popularity of "Old Town Road" lent millions of ears to an openly gay, black country AND hip-hop musician, something that Americans were less willing to acknowledge before this release due to unfortunate prejudice and taboo double standards in the country music industry. Lil Nas X undoubtedly started a wave in pop and hip-hop spaces, giving artists the confidence to make the music that they want to make.

The newfound freedom that came from this new wave sparked the idea that artists no longer need to be confined to just one genre. Post Malone, a known hip-hop artist, started stepping outside the lines back in 2023 with his country-folk album, AUSTIN. His single, "I Had Some Help" from 2024, rode the top of the Billboard charts for months alongside another influential modern artist. Another 2024 release, "Bar Song", by Shaboozey lit up the Billboard Top 100 upon release with its unique country take on J-Kwon's 2004 hip-hop classic, "Tipsy". This emulation's popularity put yet another black country artist on the map. It brought hip-hop nostalgia from the 2000s and pulled in new listeners with its modern charm. Recently, our resident sapphic icon, Chappell Roan, has released her new country song, "The Giver" to overwhelming praise. Is Chappell becoming a full-time country artist? Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, she did this song just for fun, as music should be, and we respect that.

Now, I know y'all didn't think I could talk about the rise of country music without talking about a modern queen, Beyonce. Cowboy Carter continues to be the talk of the internet since its release in March, 2024. Beyonce, a well-known, critically acclaimed, Grammy-winning pop, hip-hop and R&B artist, releasing a country album was certainly a big event, and it's sparked some interesting conversations. While the album explores Queen Bey's Texas roots, some listeners don't consider it 'country enough'. (Think back to the rockabilly discourse of the 1960s.) Of course, Beyonce saw this coming and left no stone unturned. The album includes several vocal endorsements from country legends like Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and most importantly, Linda Martell. If you aren't familiar with Linda Martell, she was the first commercially successful black female country artist in history. For Beyonce to have her blessing is one of the greatest honors imaginable. Cowboy Carter is more than meets the eye, and its audience knows that all too well.

Thank you for sticking with us throughout this essay of an article! It has truly been a labor of love to compile this timeline for you. So, what did you think? Did you learn something new? Maybe you'll see country music in a whole new light. Feel free to tell us your thoughts at any of our socials below.

Written By Shelbi Baker