Country music, which mainly was recognized for the gospel or spiritual songs or American folk music, has diversified as the music industry progressed. Country music first acquired popularity in the 1940’s in places such as the Grand Ole Opry House, also known as the world-famous home of country music. It was one of the most popular radio genres in the United States. However, times have changed, and now, “country music” covers a wide range of styles and sub-genres. True, the United States has produced many well-known country performers who are still famous today. Cowboys singing and tapping their feet to these folk tunes come to mind when you think about country music. So, let’s take a look at some of the most well-known country music artists.

Dolly Parton

An American singer and writer, Dolly Rebecca Parton, is best recognised for her country music career. “Hello, I’m Dolly” was her first album, released in 1967, and it became a hit in the 1970s and 1980s. She has sold over 100 million recordings globally, including Dolly Records, which she founded. She has received 11 Grammy Awards along with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

She has also received several notable distinctions, including being one of just seven female performers to receive the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award. Parton was elected to the “Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999”. She’s written over 3,000 songs, all of which have become global pop hits.

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Marie Underwood is a country music artist from the United States who came to fame after winning American Idol in 2005. Underwood became the first country singer to achieve the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her debut hit, “Inside Your Heaven.”

Some Hearts (2005), her first album, became the highest-selling debut solo female album in the history of country music. She has been awarded three Grammys, including Best New Artist. Underwood’s albums have sold more than 70 million copies around the world. She is also the top female artist of all time and the most outstanding female country artist.

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash was an American music artist who primarily sang about sadness, moral difficulty, and salvation. Cash was among the most thriving musicians, selling more than 90 million albums globally. His songs spanned genres, including country, rock and roll, and gospel. Because of his eclectic musical tastes, he was nominated for various country music, rock n roll and gospel categories. The 2005 film Walk the Line chronicled his musical career.

Willie Nelson

Willie Hugh Nelson is an American musician who became one of country music’s most well-known musicians because of the acclaimed and economic success with Shotgun Willie (1973), as well as Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978). Nelson combines a wide range of musical elements to produce his unique brand of country music, which is a mix of jazz, pop, blues, rock, and folk. For his solo rendition of “Always On My Mind,” he earned a Grammy in several categories.

Musical genres are often deceiving to foreign listeners but never to the natives. Though Bluegrass and Country music have been found similar to each other, they are vaguely different across thin lines. If you have heard both but never got around to differentiate them, let’s explore how they are actually different.

Instruments used

One of the biggest indicators depicting a vague difference in different musical genres is the instruments used, which is one major difference these both also have.

• Bluegrass music uses manual instruments like acoustic guitars, acoustic bass guitars, fiddle, mandolin for plucking sound, banjo for sustaining notes, and loud resonating guitars.
• On the other hand, Country music depends on electric and high-pitched instruments like electric bass guitars, pedal steel guitars, and drums.

Thus, the next time you visit a concert to get to hear a song, you can probably guess its type by the sound of the instruments themselves!

Musical specifications

The choice of instruments differentiates and elucidates the possible difference between the type and specifications of the music’s pitch, frequency, and notes. Along with the difference in musical notes, the Bluegrass instruments are mostly stringed, offering a similar tone, whereas the Country music is a mix of many, having some in the foreground and the rest for background or chorus.

Even though they are performing in a band, Bluegrass singers have solo performances to highlight instrumental solo pieces, whereas it isn’t common practice in Country music songs.

The setting of the songs

Country music might generally have pop music with dancing zeal revolving around a story or the main plot. The songs sung in a collective group have chorus parts and try to portray a theoretical scene. In contrast, the Bluegrass music is somewhat blue and depicts the retro setting without a pop song’s zeal. One can say it rather resembles the jazz culture with traditional acoustics. The singers don’t have a collective structure and instead focus on highlighting the instruments separately.

Evolution of the genre

Historically, Country music evolved around the 1920s with a twang and electric effect. The songs, as discussed, have ringing metallic music, whereas the Bluegrass type had low and comparatively traditional acoustics. Bluegrass came up around the 1940s, quite later, after Country music became popularised. But due to the earlier discussed sharp differences, it got an easy recognition as a subset.

To amaze you more, the Bluegrass singers often dress up in folk clothes, whereas the Country Singers have a trendy look with hats, boots, and chequered shirts.

Conclusion

Though many listeners often claim Bluegrass and Country American music are quite similar, they have many fine differences perceptible only by the keen listeners. To sum up, the instruments used are different, which ultimately changes the musical pitch and chords, which portray varied musical sets and backgrounds.

Even more, these genres have regional differences, which also bring about a change in their lyrical and musical formation. Thus, country music being old may be prevalent around the region, but Bluegrass music, which emerged later as its subset, is still broadly different from it.

The term “country music” generally reflects nostalgic vibes set in a countryside setting and peaceful weather. But you definitely know that the country music of America is exactly the opposite and has a very interesting history and evolution. Have you ever come across its amazing facts? Here are a few mind-blowing facts you must not have noticed to date, even though they were always around.

Country music actually started with acoustic instruments

Country and Bluegrass music are often confused for their style and setting but never when it comes to their instruments used. You might have always seen country singers with electric guitar or drums and Bluegrass singers with acoustic guitars, fiddles, or banjos to differentiate them both. But historically, country music has its roots in manual Bluegrass instruments using which the singers developed the music and notes.

The band and singers always prefer cowboy-like attire

Country instruments like drums and mouth organs became famous among the traveling soldiers and cowboys as they were portable and easy to use anytime. Since their bands started to spread the country music genre, the professional singers also started choosing the same attire. You can still find the bands often dressed in cowboy dresses, broad summer hats, dungarees, and high boots as the folks of the West.

The music can present any theme or storyline in jazz notes

One thing that defines country music is its musical setting which is pop and jazz style. Though the songs convey different stories and situations, from life, love, damage to self-motivation and courage, they all are usually set in the same musical notes. You can find that almost all songs are structured alike with a band and chorus, no matter what the core concept is.

Country music wasn’t a single genre

Have you ever heard of music melting pot? As the definition of melting pot indicates, country music is also a collective result of many existing genres. Thus, we can’t possibly call it a subgenre but a mixture instead. Apart from Native American music., it also has a great influence on Irish and Scottish music.

Bristol is the birthplace of country music

Like any other folk and native music, country music was also considered to be evolved in New Orleans or Tennessee. But it spread out and got recognition only after the radio and recordings got attention in mid-20th century. Back in 1927, one Ralph Peers, a famous American scout and music publisher, held several recording sessions of country music bands in an abandoned hat factory in Bristol city and published them. Since these albums got famous all around, spreading the fame of country music, Bristol became its official birthplace.

Country music never meant it was an ancient culture

Does country seem old and dull music to you? Well, America’s country music is exactly the opposite as it is neither old nor dull. This genre, though seemingly folk, emerged only around 1940, which didn’t even age a century. The music and instruments are also electric and fashionable, nothing like traditional ones. Its growing craze in modern society gave way to various fusion genres with different music worldwide that are now relatively popular.