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Taleen Azazian
Professor Santosh Khadka
English 114B
23 February 2015
What Makes Country Music so Unique?
Country music originated in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1920s. It started from
American folk music and Western music. It is mainly composed of harmonies, with
strong instruments such as electric and acoustic guitars, fiddles, banjos, and harmonicas.
It started to become popular in the 1940s, which was known as "hillbilly" music." The
origins of countymusic include mainly white, working-class Americans. They started to
mix Irish and Celtic fiddle tunes, cowboy songs, and music from European immigrant
communities. Country music was starting to become very popular. For example, in 2009,
country music was the most listened to on the rush hour radio during the evening.
Therefore, it was the second most popular in the morning in the U.S. Country music has
not only become popular, but inspirational among the younger generation and how music
affects us.
There are six generations of country music. First generation emerged in 1920s,
with Okeh Records, which began the hillbilly music records by Fiddlin' John Carson,
Columbia Records, and RCA Victor Records. The second generation emerged in the
1930s-1940s. The Grand Ole Opry became popular, which was a weekly country music
stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, which started in 1925. The third generation started
at the end of World War II, 1950s-1960s. The "mountaineer" string band music, which
were known as bluegrass became popular. The guitar, steel guitar, and dobro were

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popular instruments. The fourth generation emerged in 1970s-1980s, which was country
pop. It was mainly countrypolitan solid, soft rock, and folk music. The fifth generation
started in the 1990s, when the Dixie Chicks became a popular country band. The sixth
generation emerged in 2000s-presenet. This is when rock and hip-hop music became
popular with country music.
Some of the best and most popular country singers include Carrie Underwood,
Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Florida Georgia Line, Taylor Swift, and Luke Bryan.
These are some of the most popular singers, who have been a positive influence on
country music. Carrie Underwood is one of the most successful country artists, because
she became famous by appearing on American Idol in 2005. When she was only 14 years
old, she auditioned for Capitol Records. Even though nothing came out of that audition,
she states "I honestly think it's a lot better that nothing came out of it now, because I
wouldn't have been ready then. Everything has a way of working out. Country weekly
website. Carrie Underwood believes that she needs to give her fans the best for their
money's worth, because without her fans she would not be who she is today. Which she
said during an interview on country weekl. Therefore, Carrie Underwood has become an
inspiration for young country singers to pursue their dreams, because anything is
possible. She has won seven Grammy Awards, and in 2007 was the second Country artist
in history to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Another significant figure in country music is Blake Shelton. He started in 2001,
with his hit single Austin. Blake Shelton has been number one on the charts eleven
times. He is a five-time Grammy nominee. He is also a judge on the show called, The
Voice, on NBC. Shelton has become an inspirational figure in the country music

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industry. Blake Shelton is known to be a very hardworking man, because "by the age of
16, he won the Denbo Diamond Award, which is the top award for young entertainers in
Oklahoma." His style consisted of a "traditional mix of blue-collar rock songs and
country ballads" bio.newsletter
Lady Antebellum has also become an important aspect among country music.
They are a group of three, which originated in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. "Dave
Haywood who is one of the artists in the group stated,
"The three of us are the closest we've ever been as
friends. Out on the road, we've spent almost every
single day together for the past three and a half
years"ace showbiz celebrity biograph. They were
awarded top vocal group, and song of the year Need You Now. They won five awards
at the 53rd Grammy Awards. They won Best Country Album at the 54th Grammy
Awards. Finally, in 2013, they sold more than 12.5 million singles and 10 million albums
in the U..
Florida Georgia Line is a duo, which include Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard.
They played at the 2012 Country Throwdown Tour. They have opened for Luke Bryan. In
2014, they toured with Jason Aldean at his tour Burn it Down. Florida Georgia Line is
a huge inspiration, because they wanted to "pave something new, something original,
something maybe a little shocking." Tyler Hubbard stated that "Anything goes, it says it
all. No boundaries, no genre, no rules." "There's a little something for everybody in
there." Brian Kelley, the other artist in the group said "We've always been comfortable
doing something that may or may not be accepted," which is stated on their website.

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These two artists took a risk with their music, because they wanted to show their
audience that they are able to make things happen, because they are so passionate.

Taylor Swift has become one of the most popular country singers. She writes each
and every one of her songs. Therefore, her fans feel like they can relate to her, because
her songs come from her heart. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the
Grammys in 2008. Her song Love Story, was one of the most
popular songs ever in country music. She has won a total of
246 awards. She has been nominated 558 times and has won
246. Taylor Swift is one of the youngest country artists, who has accomplished so many
goals at such a young age and a short period of time. In 2013, she was honored with the
CMA Pinnacle Award for "her achievements as a country music performer for her
positive impact on country music" biography-commercial success. Taylor Swift is able to
connect emotionally with her audience, because she writes her own songs. Her songs are
very relatable especially, for young teenagers, because she expresses her lyrics in ways
that her fans can feel like this was made perfectly for what they are gong through in their
life.
Luke Bryan is another significant figure in country music because he wrote songs
for Travis Tritt and Billy Currington. He was a part of the Academy of Country Music
Awards and Country Music Association Awards Entertainer of the Year. Luke Bryan is
one of the most successful country artists, because he is dedicated to create music that his
fans will love. At the age of 14 he got his first guitar. His mother urged him to belt out
George Strait songs over and over while she drove him into town to shop Ace show biz

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celebrity biography. As the years went by, Bryan was able to entertain crowds.
Therefore, Luke Bryan is an inspiration among young artists out there who have a dream,
and can accomplish that only if they are true to themselves and believe in themselves.

Country music has evolved throughout the years. It has changed tremendously
from the 1920s-present. Therefore, not only has country music become popular, it has
also been able to mix hip-hop and rock as well. Country artists have evolved throughout
the years, because some are able to incorporate a couple of different genres into country
music to make it a bit more interesting. Country is a unique type of genre of music,
because the audience can relate to the lyrics, because each artist has their own style.
Country music distances itself from the specific trends in the music industry. Country
music is about the real world, and how some people go through tough times, but get right
back up. For example, the song Wanted You More, by Lady Antebellum represents
exactly what the fans are going through and are feeling. Country music is able to relate to
its audience about how life truly works, and not everything is as perfect as it seem.

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"ITunes Top 100 Country Songs 2015." PopVortex. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.popvortex.com/music/charts/top-country-songs.php>.
"Carrie Underwood: Her Tour, Her Wedding, Her Acting Career (2010)." Country
Weekly. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.countryweekly.com/magazine/vault/carrie-underwood-her-tour-herwedding-her-acting-career-2010>.
"About | Florida Georgia Line." Florida Georgia Line. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
<http://floridageorgialine.com/about/>.
Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.biography.com/people/taylor-swift-369608#commercial-success>.

"Luke Bryan Pictures, Latest News and Video." AceShowbiz. Web. 22 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/luke_bryan/biography.html>.