American Roots Blog

 American Roots Blog: Country Pop Music

What is Country Pop?

Country pop is a fusion genre of country music and pop music that was developed by members of the country genre out of a desire to reach a larger, mainstream audience. “Country pop music blends genres like rock, pop, and country, continuing similar efforts that began in the late 1950s, known originally as the Nashville sound and later on as Countrypolitan. By the mid-1970s, many country artists were transitioning to the pop-country sound, which led to some records' charting high on mainstream top 40 as well as the Billboard country chart” (Wikipedia).

Where and When?

The mixing of country music and pop began in the 1950s. Studio executives Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley wanted to create a new kind of music for young adults. This innovative genre originated in Nashville, Tennessee and later became known as the Nashville Sound. Country pop began when pop music singers like Glen Campbell, John Denver, Olivia Newton-John, and Anne Murray, started having hits on the country charts. One of the first songs to have a crossover hit between pop and country charts was Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy."  Later, Dolly Parton’s song “Here You Come Again” became the number 1 country and number 3 pop hit in the world in 1977. Then in 1980, Parton’s “9 to 5” became another big hit which topped both the country and pop singles charts. 

More Background:

Country pop had first been country music but had been transitioned to a more pop like music. The evolution of country to country pop dates back to the 1960s. Country pop was known by a vast majority of Nashville citizens as the Nashville sound. Jim Reeves and Eddy Arnold were the first male artists (music artists) to come out of this new genre. Patsy Cline was the first female country singer to emerge from this popular genre in the early 60’s. Additionally, many older artists in the 1960’s and 1970’s began to convert their style of music to country pop. “The Nashville Sound did not maintain its popularity for long, receiving competition first from the Bakersfield Sound (a different type of country music developed in Canada) and later the outlaw movement (a trendy change in country music). Country pop later returned in the 1990’s and had many new singers” (The History of Country Pop). In the 2000s, Country pop grew and many groups and/or singles started to become really famous for singing country pop music, such as:  Miley Cyrus, Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, Olivia Newton-John, Jessica Simpson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Bon Jovi, etc.

What music genre influenced country music?

Music genres like jazz and the blues influenced and fed into early country music. 

Instruments, Vocals, and Lyrics?

Country Pop instruments include Banjo, Mandolin, Pedal Steel, Slide Guitar, Acoustic Guitars, Piano/Keyboard, Bass, Drums, Baritone, Electric Guitars, Electric Rhythm, Electric Slide, Electric Effected, Electric Lead, (Stereo and 24-bit WAV Multitrack Drums), and many more. 

The most evident instruments that can be clearly heard when listening to country pop are the chordophones such as banjo and guitars as well as the membranophones. The banjo is a key instrument used in country music.

Lyrics for country pop typically revolve around drinking/beer/bars, love/heartbreak, trucks, family and country living. As far as vocals, artists typically have a country or southern accent which adds to the tone of the lyric delivery. Most country songs have a portion of the music after the chorus where you just hear the instrumental solo and sometimes some vocalables.

Country Pop Today and Conclusion:

Today, there are many popular artists that make Country Pop songs. Jordan Davis, Tyler Rich, and Florida Georgia Line are just a few. However, I would say the most well known country artist/pop country singer is Morgan Wallen. Wallen has over 12.3 billion on-demand streams, multi-platinum certifications and seven chart-toppers at Country radio. According to his website, “His critically-acclaimed, 4x platinum ACM Album of the Year Dangerous: The Double Album… And topped 2021s all-genre Billboard 200 Albums year-end chart with 4.1 million units sold earning him 2022 Billboard Awards Country Male Artist top honor while continuing to notch historical chart status as Billboard’s longest running Top 10 album in history for a solo artist (eclipsing Adele’s 21 and Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA)” (Craven).

In my opinion, Morgan Wallen is the most popular and relevant country-pop artist today. As some of his first songs were just solid/original country, his now more recent songs have that pop/hip-hop spin to the country music. Typical Country music is normally sung slow with acoustic instruments, while in some of Wallen’s newer albums you’ll hear electric instruments and melodies with a faster/upbeat rhythm to the lyrics.

 In conclusion, Country Pop dates back to the 1950s. The earlier music genre “Blues” fed into Country music and then with the addition of more instruments and faster/upbeat styles of melodies and lyrics led way to the genre Country Pop. 

Media Selections:

Fender Telecaster: one of the most iconic guitars across genres but is well known for creating that signature country music sound. A telecaster is a classic and straightforward solid-body electric with two single-coil pickups

Banjo: a key instrument used in country music. The banjo came to the United States from West Africa, played by African’s who taught picking techniques to their children.

Glen Campbell's Rhinestone Cowboy

Dolly Parton's 9 to 5

Morgan Wallen's You Proof

Starting from Glen Campbell's Rhinestone Cowboy to Morgan Wallen's music Country Pop has evolved

over the years.

References:

“Country Pop.” Country Pop Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Dec. 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_pop#1970s_country_pop. 

Craven, Stephen. “Morgan Wallen.” Morgan Wallen | Official Website, Morgan Wallen, 18 June 2016, https://morganwallen.com/home/. 

“The History of Country Pop.” History of Country Pop, https://cowsmackers.tripod.com/id11.html.