A sampler of Cash's Mercury stint proves that, contrary to conventional wisdom, he recorded plenty items of merit during the late '80s. The mid-'70s saw another rebellion in the edgier, more eclectic form of outlaw country, but by the end of the decade, the film Urban Cowboy had popularized a new variation on country-pop (named after the film), which smoothed the music out even more by blending it with soft-rock influences.
Marty Robbins See Billboard's rankings of this year's most popular songs, albums, and artists. Crystal Gayle
... Before officially transitioning to pop music, T. Swift was a mainstay at the ACM Awards.
This approach resulted in a bevy of pop crossover hits for singers who could make the transition to Atkins' smooth, polished style, most notably Jim Reeves. A star-studded mini-LP that showcases Jimmie Allen's versatility. Decca Records producer Owen Bradley crafted an even lusher sound for his artists, most importantly providing the sympathetic sonic environment that best showcased the angelic voice of Patsy Cline, and making her a star in the process. George Jones
Buffy Sainte-Marie Bobbie Gentry Country This flirtation with the mainstream marked the beginnings of country-pop, which grew out of the realization that country-influenced music (as opposed to straight-ahead honky tonk) could be hybridized and smoothed out for mass consumption. Kenny Rogers Chet Atkins
This sound made Garth Brooks a superstar during the '90s and brought pop crossover success to Billy Ray Cyrus; toward the end of the decade, the emphasis had shifted to female vocalists like Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, and Faith Hill, whose brands of country-pop could encompass soft-rock covers, roots-rock, or arena-rock-style production. George Jones. Charley Pride Brooks & Dunn
Country pop music blends genres like rock, pop, and country, continuing similar efforts that began in the late 1950s, known originally as Nashville sound and later on as Countrypolitan.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine When rockabilly took off, however, country musicians were forced to consider whether their true affinities lay with traditional country or with this popular new style, which allowed artists to reach crossover audiences for the first time. Tammy Wynette
Thomas.
Don Gibson Don Williams Dolly Parton. Taylor Swift.
A soft, smooth collection ideal for lazy Sunday afternoons.
Jim Reeves
RCA Records producer Chet Atkins was the most important figure in the initial cross-breeding of country and pop, creating a sound that was dubbed "countrypolitan" for its blend of rural sensibility and urban sophistication. Countrypolitan pop eventually came to be tagged "the Nashville Sound," since nearly all of its records were produced there.
More Blake Shelton ❯ A Complete Timeline Of Blake Shelton And Gwen Stefani's … The folklore artist turned up the country flavor for her highly-anticipated performance of "Betty."
Ray Price
A smart, splashy, stylish country-pop debut. But even as its practitioners racked up hit after hit, the first of many backlashes against country-pop began to form in the 1960s among artists frustrated at not fitting into the Nashville mold; the biggest came in the form of the Bakersfield sound, with its hard-driving beat, electric instrumentation, and love of old-style honky tonk. Charlie Rich Carrie Underwood performed a medley of hits by iconic female country artists who paved the way for her at the 2020 Academy of Country Music awards on Wednesday. Nevertheless, the Nashville sound continued to prosper among fans of mainstream-oriented country. Mac Davis
Kacey Musgraves. Charley Pride.
Get the best news, information and inspiration from TODAY, all day long“These strong voices mean so much to me and all the other female artists who stand on their shoulders,” Underwood, 37, said before belting a mash-up of the women’s hits to mark the 95th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry.Carrie Underwood announces her first Christmas album: See the coverJason Kempin/ACMA2020 / Getty Images for ACMThe Entertainer of the Year nominee took Underwood performs at the American Country Music Awards on Sept. 16, 2020.Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani perform for 1st time together at ACMsCarrie Underwood performed a medley of hits by iconic female country artists who paved the way for her at the 2020 Academy of Country Music awards on Wednesday night. Because the melodies and song structures of country music were usually very simple and catchy, they worked well when placed in a pop-oriented format; Atkins' productions often placed the songs in orchestral arrangements heavy on the strings, which sometimes blended with country instrumentation and sometimes stood alone.
Eddie Rabbitt
Brenda Lee Maren Morris Tim McGraw