| Country Music originated in early 20th | | | | The other two, Kelly Willis' "Easy" and |
| century among the whites in Rural areas of | | | | Allison Moorer's "Miss Fortune," are also |
| West and South. The roots of this music lie | | | | hailed as good country music. These two |
| in Ballads, English songs and Folk Songs. The | | | | artists are not quite famous but they have a |
| term Country Music replaces what is popularly | | | | solid fan following. American Country Music |
| called Hill Billy Music. | | | | is being popularized by various artists like |
| | | | Rhonda Vincent, Mandy Barnett, Brad Paisley, |
| Country Music has been associated with cowboy | | | | Hank Williams III and Danni Leigh. |
| hats and boots. The fact is that apparel has | | | | |
| got nothing to do with it. One of the | | | | Country Music has an association also, the |
| veterans, Travis Tritt does not wear a hat. | | | | Country Music Association (CMA), founded in |
| Country Music is a genre that means different | | | | 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally |
| things to different people. If you look over | | | | consisted of only 233 members. This was the |
| at their interpretations, you will find for | | | | first trade organization formed to promote a |
| some it is Johnny Cash's weather beaten | | | | music genre. The objectives of the |
| crooning or Shania Twain's prancing-pony | | | | organization are to guide and enhance the |
| burlesque. Right since the beginning of the | | | | development of Country Music throughout the |
| 21st century, Music Industry is divided and | | | | world. They wish to show that it is a viable |
| quite fractured as to what really the Country | | | | medium to advertisers, consumers and media. |
| Music is. Most people say that, when they | | | | It provides a unity of purpose for the |
| hear it, they know its country or its not. | | | | Country Music industry. |
| | | | |
| The relationship is one if hate and love, | | | | The association presents annual wards also. |
| either fans love it and hate other genres | | | | Annual awards are given in the following |
| intensely. If you have met some hardcore | | | | twelve categories: Entertainer, Male |
| country fans, you will notice, they will | | | | Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Horizon Award, |
| always find a way to hear it, no matter what | | | | Vocal Group, Vocal Duo, Single, Album, Song, |
| state country radio currently finds itself | | | | Music Event, Music Video, and Musician. |
| in. Even if an artist's presence on country | | | | |
| radio represents a certain kind of success or | | | | Country Music is getting lot more world wide |
| acceptance, there's no doubt that "real" | | | | attention after the Country Music Annual |
| country is always happening in the margins, | | | | Awards was shifted to New York. |
| in clubs and coffeehouses, and on smaller | | | | |
| labels or self-produced records. | | | | An academy for this genre, the Academy of |
| | | | Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in |
| Recently very good different country records | | | | Los Angeles, California. It was originally |
| have been released by women artists like, the | | | | called the Country & Western Music Academy; |
| Dixie Chicks' "Home," debuted at No. 1 on the | | | | and was formed by people who wanted to share |
| Billboard chart, knocking Eminem down a bit. | | | | their love of Country music. |