Country pop

Country Pop is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock. Although the term first referred to country songs and artists that crossed over to top 40 radio, country pop acts are now more likely to cross over to Adult Contemporary.

History

Country pop music gained its first success in the early 60s with a new widespread creation by producers Owen Bradley and Chet Atkins called the Nashville Sound. This was to have Country singers gain more success in Pop music and help sell more records. The first male artists to come out of this new genre was Jim Reeves and Eddy Arnold, who both grew to have widespread acceptance in Country and Pop music. The first female country singer to come out of this new genre was Patsy Cline in the early 60s. She created a whole new breed of female Country artists to come like Crystal Gayle and Shania Twain. Patsy Cline too gained widespread acceptance from Country and Pop audiences alike, however, the Nashville Sound didn't last for long.

Country pop found its first widespread acceptance during the 1970s, when popular music acts – including John Denver and Olivia Newton-John – began having hit songs simultaneously on country and Top 40 radio. A group of artists, troubled by this recent trend, formed the Association of Country Entertainers in 1974. The debate raged into 1975, and reached its apex at that year's Country Music Association awards when reigning Entertainer of the Year Charlie Rich (who himself had a series of crossover hits) presented the award to his successor; instead of reading the name of the winner ("My good friend John Denver!"), set fire to the envelope with a cigarette lighter. Some considered it a statement against the Music Row-controlled Nashville Sound, while others rejected his actions.

Country pop reached an early peak immediately following the movie Urban Cowboy in the early 1980s. For the next several years, country radio was dominated by neotradtionalist artists, although some country pop artists continued to have hits. Country pop enjoyed a resurgence beginning in the mid-1990s, primarily because of Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, among others. In the last few years, however, some albums (such as Faith Hill's Cry) have been dismissed by country radio as "too pop".

Country Singer LeAnn Rimes has proved her ability to sing pop country songs such as the record setting "How Do I Live", which spent 69 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, more than any other song in history, and her massive hit "Can't Fight the Moonlight."

Among the more famous country pop artists are Alabama, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, John Denver, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Big and Rich, Trace Adkins, Ronnie Milsap, Rascal Flatts, Eddie Rabbitt, Kenny Rogers, Carrie Underwood, Shania Twain, and Glen Campbell.

In recent years some pop acts have also crossed over to country music. Since 2003, Sheryl Crow, Los Lonely Boys, MercyMe and Kid Rock have all charted singles on the Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart. Jimmy Buffett, Elton John, Uncle Kracker, John Mellencamp, and Bret Michaels have also hit this chart in collaboration with established country artists. Whether this also counts as country pop is still being debated.

While supporters of country pop contend the style has brought many new fans to the genre, others – particularly, older country music artists and fans embracing their more traditional styles – have criticized country pop music, especially that produced since the 1990s (when artists such as Brooks, Hill and McGraw rose to fame). The main point of contention is that country music sounds too much like mainstream pop music.

See also

• Murder on Music Row
• Trashville

External Charts

• Pop Culture Madness Country/Pop Music Crossover Hits

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