Randy Travis Sets Alan Jackson Straight About Today’s Country

For years, any time a country music artist lashed out about the direction of country music or the quality of its current stars, they received pretty loud applause for their bravery and leadership from the true country music community. That’s still the case for many, and most certainly what is going on in the mainstream of country remains a cause for concern. But things are changing as well.
Ahead of Alan Jackson’s new album Where Have You Gone whose title track is a lament on how so many of the sounds and sentiments vital to country music can no longer be heard, the Country Music Hall of Famer was pretty outspoken about how he feels about today’s country music.
When speaking with Holly Gleason of HITS Daily Double, Alan Jackson said, “Country music is gone—and it’s not coming back. It’s like the 1980s again. I’m 62 years old; I’m not some 30-year-old stud. It’s not the same, but somebody has to bring it back, because it’s not just people in their 50s, it’s people in their 20s, too. All the kids and young people around my house? The older they’ve got, the more hardcore and traditional what they’ve leaned into has become.”
Alan Jackson continued, “It’s not old-school, it’s the real school. And I’m kinda pissed off like you are about what’s happened to the format, or whatever they wanna call it.”
Loretta Lynn—who helped induct Alan Jackson to the Country Music Hall of Fame a few years ago—also shared similar sentiments in 2020, saying in part, “They’ve already let it [die]. I think it’s dead. I think it’s a shame. I think it’s a shame to let a type of music die. I don’t care what any kind of music it is. Rock, country, whatever. I think it’s a shame to let it die, and I’m here to start feeding it.”
But where most true country fans usually cheer these sentiments, now some are starting to push back. Sure, when talking about country music on corporate radio, or many of the new artists on major labels, these arguments are correct. But now more than ever, a vibrant scene of independent and authentic country artists are challenging the monopoly of mainstream radio and major labels, and finding major success without their assistance.
At this point, if you think real country music is “gone,” or “dead,” it’s because you’re looking in the wrong places. Tyler Childers and Cody Jinks have now minted RIAA Certified Gold and Platinum singles and albums without the assistance of radio, and are selling out large venues. Artists like Blackberry Smoke, Aaron Watson, and Sturgill Simpson are scoring #1 records on the Billboard charts. Big festivals transpire without a single mainstream name. Now with streaming, blogs and podcasts, and social media, fans are finding their way to the country music that actually sounds country, and supporting it in unprecedented numbers.
But even within the mainstream, it’s fair to say there’s been some improvement in recent years from the time when artists such as Sam Hunt and Florida Georgia Line were dominating the airwaves. They may not be your style, but it’s pretty easy to say that artists like Luke Combs and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Eric Church are much better alternatives.
Interestingly, after Alan Jackson’s comments about country music being “gone” went viral, the Twitter account of Randy Travis piped up in reaction to a headline about them, saying “There’s still some doing it like we did my friend … Drew Parker, Luke Combs, Riley Green, Alexandra Kay, and more. Ashley McBryde, Eric Church, Cody Johnson, the list goes on!”
And the Randy Travis camp would know. Randy regularly appears at the concerts of artists who are helping to save country music in the present day. He once appeared at a Cody Jinks concert, and Randy mentioned Cody in his autobiography. A while back Randy Travis appeared at a Josh Abbott Band show. Even with his aphasia, Randy Travis has been using his platform to try and point people in the right direction to country music that matters.
Nonetheless, there are still many people out there—perhaps Alan Jackson and Loretta Lynn included—who still use the radio as their primary gauge of who’s hot, and who’s not. It’s not necessarily their fault. Since the beginning, country has always been synonymous with the radio. But things are changing, both with the rise of independent artists challenging the mainstream, and the mainstream being forced to meet those rising challenges and recognize artists more similar to the country music of old.
Alan Jackson said in his recent comments, “It’s like the 1980s again.” Well if that’s true, then there’s nothing stopping us from having another major neotraditional resurgence in country like the one that was sparked off by Randy Travis in the mid/late 80’s, and then hit hyper drive with Alan Jackson and the others in the “Class of ’89” and put country music back where it needed to be.
Country music isn’t dead. In fact it might be in better shape now than any other time since the explosion of Bro-Country. And though holding the mainstream accountable and calling it out is still important, so is recognizing and shining a spotlight on the artists that are upholding the standards and values set by Alan Jackson, Loretta Lynn, and Randy Travis.
May 23, 2021 @ 10:42 am
Good for Randy. I like the song by Alan Jackson and form what I’ve seen Alan does his best to promote country music. If he looked anywhere other than Nashville and radio he could easily find traditional sounding music. Some of sounds even more traditional then the supposed golden era of the 90s.
My biggest gripe is that commercial radio has pretty much abandon guys like Jinks, Childers, Wall and so so many others. For people that are seeking that type of music, but don’t have the time to really hunt for it, it is a huge disservice.
May 23, 2021 @ 5:21 pm
Been saying it for a long time myself. Ever since country crossroads came around, I knew it would end traditional country music.i grew up in the 60s-80s listening to the all time greats… My parents played that music from back in the 50s. There are a few that play that music still and they are very few. After country pretty much started sounding like rock and country rap… I quit listening to it and country music stations altogether. I search for classic country stations and listen to them. I’m buy the CDs of country’s greatest stars that I grew up with up until the 90s era but im not wasting time and money on what they call country today. Some stars who started out country have been big disappointments.
When they start getting political and try pushing their hate and liberal ideas on us … I stop buying their music.
It’s catching up to them too.
I’m with loretta and Alan on this… Country music died a long time ago, at least what I call country! I don’t want to hear sound effects and see light shows and all that garbage… I want to hear a talented voice with some country twang and a great story in song… Music and sound effects drown out the voices and the twang is gone, it all covers up the talentless singers who just sing for the money and not from the heart.
May 24, 2021 @ 1:55 am
I haven’t listened to country radio regularly for over a decade, and the I would even go so far to say that the last time I did it was because teenagers were playing at the place I work. I would agree with you if corporate/commercial radio was the only music I listened to.
Thankfully today streaming services make it a lot easier to find a particular style and I disagree with country music is dead. I grow up in the 90’s, it had plenty of commercial focused even then (Lonestar comes strongly to mind), and it’s well documented that music was pretty corporate in the 80’s. Heck Alan even talks about that a little in his comments.
As far as politics and music goes, well that I think part of that is where the art is. Loretta herself had some pretty liberal idea’s for her time and hell she even put them in some of her songs. There is a piece of advice that floats around for would be authors a lot and that is: “Show, don’t tell.” A lot of musician’s today would rather tell when it comes politics and I think that is where a major hang up is. The art is getting someone to see something form a different perspective. I think good musicians can do that if they desired to.
As far as the actual sound I do think there is a lot of overproduction, but still there is a lot of it out there that isn’t overproduced as well. The thing is it doesn’t get the marketing that the crummy stuff does.
I’m not sure if this site allows links but here is a few:
Kathryn Legendre “Old Soul”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=246_oCIuAuk
I would say she is about as traditional as it comes, I haven’t heard one song by her that doesn’t have that old school sound.
Jason Eady “My Best Friend”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eREKdUH3yp8
Again one of the more traditional sounding guys out there right now.
Addison Johnson “Rollin’ Stolen”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCKQuBJpHsg
This sure sounds like 90’s country, but I really don’t know this artist enough to say this is his style. This is the only song I’ve heard by him.
May 24, 2021 @ 3:11 pm
I agree with a lot of what Alan said but then again I am bias because I am a huge Alan fan.. But to say we don’t still have greats out there is kind of jacked up to the one’s who are young who looked up to him and are doing a great job.. I like a lot of this new country and its easy to find.. Just use your damn phone and type an artist name in.. Guess what then they recommend similar artist.. The people who complain are the lazy people who can’t change a radio station, honestly your opinion doesn’t matter because most people who you know already think your lazy so they already don’t respect you .
May 24, 2021 @ 9:23 pm
Sorry but I’m just going to put it out there. I and my husband are both in our early 50’s. Although we like a few “old” country songs, we can’t stand most of it and I personally hate twang. I always call it old fart country — or at least I teased my dad with that because he loved it. Don’t know where modern country will go should it be forced to the side with this resurgence of twang, but we will be following it. Y’all can have it. Enjoy. Just not for us.
May 24, 2021 @ 10:28 pm
Amen to you bro. And Alan. I’m 73 can’t stand the music their calling Country now days! Should be called modern Southern or sometning besides country,it’s not even western. I’m a Randy fan too and along with Alan his was real Country.
There should be RadioStations playing REAL COUNTRY MUSIC and not this stuff so-called country station play today.
May 28, 2021 @ 8:51 pm
I like the country music of the 70’s and the 80:s. All this new stuff really doesn’t appeal to me. Bring back Reba, Garth, Billy Ray ,Alan,Aaron Tippan, etc. That’s country music.
May 24, 2021 @ 9:23 am
Randy is wrong Alan Jackson is right there’s no more fiddles & steel guitars in country music HE”S RIGHT Florida Georgia line Eric church rascal flats so many others I’m a fan of country music but the reality of it is that’s not country music Keith urban not country Carrie Underwood not country great musicians but you don’t hear the fiddles
May 24, 2021 @ 12:05 pm
Y’all are so freaking crazy, ok I agree on one thing that Alan and Loretta pointed out, first of all Country died years ago, when Hank passed Hank snow Patsy Cline and etc, but people needs to realize the music didn’t change cause if we wanted to go back to them days, do you really think their producers would allow that ?No for one, and do you think that y’all would buy any of their music ? No y’all wouldn’t…. The world has changed not the music, the style changed but not the music… That being said I don’t like the High pitched off the wall of playing as they call it..very fast like for instance like Rock n roll….. People want country traditional country while others like that kind of music,So that being said who are you going to satisfy ? Moral of this story is you can’t satisfy everyone, cause if you tried you would lose….. Don’t get me started cause I tell it like it is…. And quit blaming Randy for this crap cause he believes in things like you do for crying out loud….y’all share the same stage together eat together, tour together so shut up…. Quit blaming people for y’all’s actions…. This is 2021 not 1930’s-50’s…. Get over it…. You can’t change what has already changed…. I’m pretty sure if you could it would have already been done already…..Now talk things over and quit being hateful to others…. Everybody loves everybody and God loves you so act like it and quit being kids……I like Randy,Alan,George,Loretta,etc love them all, but quit gripping and let’s everybody get along….. Does everyone agree…..Amen….. Look to your brother that’s next to ya and give them a handshake hug you name it, and be proud of both of you…….just saying………the truth will hurt when the world’s on fire……..your friend Bobby Brown
May 25, 2021 @ 5:44 am
Well said, we. Sometimes don’t realise
It till we hear it from someone else !!
May 25, 2021 @ 7:45 am
It has nothing to do with radio. It’s about the songs being labeled country that’s not truly country music.
May 27, 2021 @ 1:56 pm
How can you do an article about country and leave out Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, and Reba McIntire, Faith hill. Keith urban etc. They are country to me. Charlie pride. Darius Rucker.
May 28, 2021 @ 4:26 pm
Gary Stewart should be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame! Why hasn’t this already been done? Gary is the King of Honky Tonk and a legend! Gary’s family, friends and legion of fans want to see this happen; it’s way past time and should have happened long ago. Who do I need to contact to get this done?
May 28, 2021 @ 7:52 pm
I have not listened to the new country music any more. Its not country. Country music is the sounds of Alan Jackson Randy Travis, George Strait. And all we don’t hear hardly any more . I don’t like the so called new country music. Its to rock and roll. Theirs no country twang . It ‘s to much rock and roll.. I’m 67 and just love the old country music. Someone needs to bring it back on the radio. Not the new country..
Thank you!
May 30, 2021 @ 6:13 am
The good old country music is gone they would sing about hard times their lives and dress decent now all u see in videos is half naked men and women to get a record sold they didn’t have to do it back in the early years the dress in cowboy suits or dresses long with their tops covered not any more that’s why I don’t like country music anymore I don’t like seeing half naked people trying to make a living that way.
May 24, 2021 @ 9:46 am
Funny how you say hate AND liberal ideas. The hate comes from conservatives.
May 24, 2021 @ 3:24 pm
Funny how you are doing exactly what you are preaching against.. So all Republicans are hateful?? Isn’t that judging or worse being prejudice against someone without knowing them??
Wasn’t Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein both Registered Democrat’s?? So by that standard should I assume your the same as them?? As a matter of fact should I assume all Dems assualt and hurt woman and kids??
You see how that works.. We need to stop saying little things like that because it just spreads hate.. You are no better then him by assuming liberals hate.
Its a stupid circle so many americans are going it and it’s leading no where but standing behind the next sheep going in thw same circle repeating the same BS
May 24, 2021 @ 7:34 pm
Hate from the “Commies Left”… i have never heard such HATE the day
RUSH LIMBAUGH passed ..
Absolutely Horrifing to wish such Hate on a poor soul who just passed – thanks to Hollywood Commie actors.
May 28, 2021 @ 10:49 am
I’m kinda hearing what you’re saying.
Here’s my take…. No Politics, You don’t Hate, Too Strong of a word (just not your Favorite) , As for Judging, Their’s Only 1 Judge and you will face him on Judgment Day!!! Not mine nor your place to be Judging!!! I have No political affiliation here and that’s the way it should be!!!
I’m 65 years old, I grew up with Country Music, Visited the Grand Old Opry, Ran down Center aisle and had Roger Miller sign my arm 3 years old, Pure Country… I’m listening to what Loretta Lynn, Alan Jackson and Randy Travis is saying and it’s all true (get ahold of that kid Mason Ramsey he is so Amazing and needs your guidance) !!! I Love Carrie Underwood, but she isn’t true COUNTRY!!! George Straight and Dolly Parton changed as the times were a changing to keep making money. It has nothing too do with 1930’s, I’ve grown up with it as have my children (youngest 35) GrandDaughters Love True Country!!! So Please let’s get back to playing true Country!!! As my oldest son used to say, when you play it backwards, you get your car back, your house back, your job back, your wife back, you get everything back!!! Now that’s a darn good Country Song!!!!!
May 24, 2021 @ 5:19 pm
Your sir are delusional!
May 24, 2021 @ 7:51 pm
So hate comes from conservatives, eh. It is ridiculous thinking like that that has this country in the shape it is in.
May 24, 2021 @ 8:30 pm
Folks, this isn’t a political topic at all. Let’s please try to keep the discussion on country music. Nothing is ever solved with these back and forths.
Thanks!
May 24, 2021 @ 9:15 pm
You all prove my point.
May 25, 2021 @ 4:32 am
Your wrong. Liberals hate the world this country what it stands for and everything in it including themselves therefore the changes they insist on. Conservatives are more traditional than a liberal ever could be. Yes good traditional country music is dying out. The crap played today is more smoke glitter and rock licks on loud amps. The old movie “pure country” tells it like country has become.
May 29, 2021 @ 6:14 pm
I like country music the it use to be.Iwish they would play more of the old songs on the radio. Have missed Randy Travis, hope he is doing much better. What they sre singing for country country music now, does not sound like country music to me.0
May 26, 2021 @ 1:15 pm
I believe, there’s more to life than this!! Arguing about what’s country! Either you know or you don’t know…I grew up on a dirt road, (preferably), dranked strawberry wine on my grandpa’s farm. Slept all night long on the floor, hated D-i-v-o-r-c-e…but I still wear my wrangler jeans from 1980 and I have never seen “blue eyes crying in the rain! I like Willie Nelson, and Randy Travis…Angel. But my sll time favorite is Vince Gill after all these years together.. when i grow up i aspire to be like Loretta Lynn. I sing her song to help me make it through the night..here in Oklahoma! Where i live on a dirt road…
May 26, 2021 @ 7:43 pm
I, too, grew up in Oklahoma. On a dirt road.
I’m not here to argue. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the former “president” shows the level of compassion and acceptance of others that conservatives relate to. Plain and simple.
May 24, 2021 @ 11:41 am
Randy, I agree with what you are saying about Country music and I also agree with Alan and Loretta. Now, George and Alan pointed this subject out VERY well in the duet they did called ‘Murder on Music Row,’ and OF COURSE, Nashville tried to get it banned from playing on the radio but it never stopped them from playing it in shows or selling it on albums. The days of traditional country music, in my opinion, started dying with Alabama back in the 80s, and I hate to say that but if you listen to the actual music, it had a country/southern rock mix to it. Almost like a Lynard Skynyrd mix. No more Randy, George, Alan, Lefty, Waylon, Willie, Merle etc.. Screw the politics and politicians in country who have no clue what they have done to poison the genre. Not to mention the talentless, sound effects/ light show, noncountry wannabe singers who have aided that process. It’s just sad. I will say hello to Marshville for you when I pass through Randy.
May 25, 2021 @ 8:24 am
You know it just gets under my skin when singers will stand up in Jean’s with holes in them ear rings in what are supposed to be men tattoos. Alan Jackson and George Strait know how to dress. I agree with guy who posted about the wild playing on the guitars.
May 25, 2021 @ 11:35 am
Sorry, Ranger Bob, but Alan Jackson was the first guy I saw with torn, worn jeans. Still love his music.
May 26, 2021 @ 8:22 am
Country music is not changing, it’s evolving and it has done so ever since it was first created. If you truly know your Country music history, you should know that Country Music isn’t just one standard type of sound or style, it is several that have been added by previous artists over time. There have been so many different sounds and styles that they have created several branches of Country Music. Many of the traditional country music artists weren’t really that traditional. For example Hank Sr.’s style of Country music was actually inspired from Blues and Gospel but he was welcomed in the Country Music family, . No matter the artist, there is always going to be some people from the previous generations frowning down upon the newer generation. I’m sure when Alan Jackson came along, with holes in his jeans and heard his more modern twang, people of the generations who came before him probably judged him like he’s doing to these newer artists. I mean “Chattahoochee” is pretty modern sounding when compared to say.. “Hey Good Looking”. They’re both very country, but not the same country. But the amazing and beautiful thing about Country Music, is that no matter how diverse it has become, Country Music will always be connected in a circle that will eventually go back to its roots.
May 28, 2021 @ 9:07 pm
Thank you, Amber. Finally, a voice of reason! No idea how I got sucked into this but at least I finally found the most reasonable response. BTW: I love Alan but the guy is coming out of obscurity and needs to draw attention . He’s done an outstanding job!
May 27, 2021 @ 12:50 pm
I agree wholeheartedly. Some of today’s country music don’t seem to have a story or an inspiration that goes with the song. And their appearance is less than desirable. They either look like they haven’t had a bath in days or they (the females) look like streetwalkers. There are ways to dress for today’s fashion without giving up their individuality. I know young people have their own style but they need to take lessons from the greats that came before then. That’s why they are still the “greatest” and are still listened to.
May 29, 2021 @ 12:49 am
Honestly I say the same things about country artists who are outspoken conservatives. Luckily on either side, there is always plenty of fans to cut the loss of losing one fan/patron
May 30, 2022 @ 10:20 pm
I agree that the “New Country Mainstream” is some of the younger millennials take on country music…and their music is good.. it’s just not country..so put in the proper categories…almost Rock… don’t label it country…or do like I do, I check out when they play..to each his own… I don’t have to listen to it..change the channel or stop watching at that point.my choice
May 23, 2021 @ 6:47 pm
I may be a bit naive, but I assume that Alan is indeed talking about the country format on radio. If so, I completely agree.
May 23, 2021 @ 7:36 pm
Come on folks, Radio is what’s dead. Throw all ya transistors away and get you a satellite radio and you can have traditional country all the way back even before Bob Wells, all you want no commercials just good music. Put on the channel you like and go anywhere without changing channels. All the am fm junk is obsolete. Cheers
May 24, 2021 @ 4:53 am
Country true Country is dead. Today it is a bunch of half dressed screaming memes. The music is over bearing and the vocals are screamed! The songs tell no story
May 24, 2021 @ 8:38 am
‘The country side of harmonica sam’ is single handedly saving country music…just look em up’
May 25, 2021 @ 3:05 pm
Or use Pandora where you can have all of the artists you like to listen to, or someone who plays in the same genre. I stopped listening to radio “country” a long time ago – it’s really not country. Go to Pandora and make your own station folks – besides, it’s free!
May 24, 2021 @ 4:23 pm
Well I believe in alan jackson all the way them that are trying to be country are not they just don’t no what county music is about at all I love the old country not this young country it not country at all love you alan jackson you are country that for sure
May 24, 2021 @ 5:17 pm
Rock and roll has severe different levels of that ganre it’s kinda like trying to compare evlis presly to Ozzy Osbourne, country needs to expand so your comparing apple to apples
May 26, 2021 @ 5:07 am
It’s not the same it sounds like rock and roll I listen to 105.7 in Hartselle Alabama that plays classic country, gospel, and bluegrass music, I don’t listen to this New stuff it just ain’t the same what I grew up with. ????????????
May 26, 2021 @ 10:45 am
Randy Travis has lost it totally if he thinks that wanna be outlaw Eric Church is real country. that guy is a disgrace.
May 26, 2021 @ 1:33 pm
Totally agree. In North Central Texas 95.9 the Ranch has been carrying me through this hard time with some great Red Dirt Country! If I’m not on 95.9 I’m on my Spotify cause I can not stand listening to the radio any longer! It’s nothing but commercials to make the station more money a then the 2 or 3 songs you do get to hear an hour are bullshit people who are self proclaimed artist but just looking for a easy buck and couldn’t careless about true country music, where it came from and where it’s heading. There’s so many out there now and the mainstream record companies don’t care as well as long as they get their cut! There’s nothing in this world like a good ‘ole Honky Tonk, sawdust floor, a steel guitar and some Waylon, Willie, Meril and Cash playing on the juke box as I enjoy an ice cold beer! I’ll take that over any mainstream concert anyway! Just my country boy opinion, I could be wrong!
November 14, 2023 @ 3:04 pm
The greatest of the country genre would be: Hank Williams Sr., Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones and Willie Nelson. Yes there are others that would make the list. But the 5 listed would be at the top of any country fans list. There music did not sound the same. Waylon Jennings and George Jones have very different styles. But they had the important ingredients in common. A steel guitar(mandatory), real talent(not overproduced), genuine and distinct personalities. Waylon Jennings did not try to manufacture an image. I think the originality is the big thing that is missing. Where is the Johnny Cash of today?
May 23, 2021 @ 10:42 am
Amen Mr. Travis lots of actual country music being made.
May 23, 2021 @ 10:51 am
In reality, country music is not dead. Country radio is what’s dead. And that is just as disappointing. Yes we can go on Spotify or whatever streaming service and find real quality music. But for those of us driving old trucks out dirt roads, or like putting the radio on the porch on Saturday evening, we still can’t hear it. Like it or not, radio is still the most convenient method to listen to music. It’s free and readily available regardless of your cell service. And nash Icon hasn’t taken off like I hoped it would.
May 23, 2021 @ 4:55 pm
Radio ain’t free not with all those dang commercials every 5 minutes.
May 23, 2021 @ 7:12 pm
I agree with Alan, and I have never heard of some of the people Randy are talking about. Not on my Radio stations . Cou try isn’t Country more like pop
May 24, 2021 @ 5:35 am
That’s exactly what this new version of “Country Music” is, pop. Wheres the steel guitars and the twin fiddles, what? Oh I see, they’ve been taken over by in your face keyboards, hard rock guitar snd heavy metal drums, yep sure sounds like Country to me.
May 24, 2021 @ 4:55 am
They have to pay the bills like you said it isn’t free
I don’t like commercials anymore than you do
As far as traditional country music
I went to Spotify
I have a lot of Alan Jackson,Don Williams,Waylon,Baron Young the list goes on and on
May 24, 2021 @ 6:47 am
Country music will never die. It is in the souls of America. Young, older, babies. We sing to them to put them to sleep.
When this country puts God back in all will be good again. Keep the faith. I love country music and the heritage that comes with it. Stay safe and be careful.
May 23, 2021 @ 11:28 am
LOL. All of those Randy mentioned are really not that good at all, and definitely have a more pop-country style than the likes of Alan and Randy. Josh Abbott Band? I mean come on… Might as well just show up at a FGL show, Mr. Travis.
May 23, 2021 @ 12:41 pm
The bigger point is that there are artists out there making real country music. They’re just not being played on the radio. Anyone’s list may be different from yours, but everyone can make a list of great country artists they enjoy who still uphold the sonic values of country.
May 23, 2021 @ 11:32 am
Mainstream Country is in a much better state than what it was 5 yrs ago.
Heck, it’s almost as good today as it was in 2012.
For me, country music changed by 2013..
From 2013-2018 it was pretty terrible 95% of the time. Nowadays, i like about 50% of what’s charting on the airplay radio charts.
May 23, 2021 @ 11:50 am
I disagree. There may be more good songs on the radio, and more country songs on the radio right now, but the bad songs have never been worse. These overly sentimental partner-worshipping songs are vomit-inducing. And then there are songs like “Ladylike” by Ingrid Andress which is supposed to make some sort of statement but the narrator just sounds like a bad person who’s completely insufferable.
It doesn’t feel like any progress is made when the bad gets noticeably worse. I’d take bro country over the bad stuff on radio these days.
May 24, 2021 @ 9:58 am
I prefer “Boyfriend Country ” over Bro Country any day. Plus the snap tracks are sort of gone (except with Dustin Lynch & Sam Hunt)
Boyfriend Country existed in the 90s. “I Swear” from 1994 was definitely a love fest song. It holds up to me.
May 25, 2021 @ 3:26 pm
Yeah, but the boyfriend country of the 90s was well written and sung by men who not only could they actually sing, they actually sounded like men. When the hell are Dan and Shay going to hit puberty?
November 29, 2021 @ 7:51 am
I listen to Willie’s Roadhouse…Bluegrass Junction and Prime Country in Sirius XM…I get ALL my classic country and bluegrass that way
May 23, 2021 @ 11:35 am
Country music is gone and people of age know it!
May 23, 2021 @ 11:48 am
I love Tyler Childers, Cody Jinks, Church, etc. I don’t feel like their music is “traditional” country. In all honesty,sometimes, I feel like I am settling for them. I don’t have the joy any more. I miss that steel guitar & fiddle sound,Alan is talking about. I want that George Strait ” Something Special…” western swing vibe in the mainstream mix, along w/ the ones Randy mentioned. I liked when there were country artists I could play the entire album in mixed company. “Everlovin’ hand, ” really?!? I prefer subtle innuendo. I get out my Triple 6 & UGK tunes, when I don’t want that. Thinking out loud…carry on.
May 23, 2021 @ 1:10 pm
I feel you about ‘Everlovin Hand’. I mean, that is in the direct middle of the album. A song like that should left for live performances or a ‘secret track’ at the end of the album.
My two complaints about Country Squire is the placement of Everlovin hand and the other is the way the vocals were recorded on the two singles versus the rest of the album.
May 24, 2021 @ 7:50 pm
I enjoy Randy Travis I enjoy Alan Jackson I do believe the sound if the steel guitar is missing and the fiddles is missing more in today’s country music and I would love to enjoy the new artist to have that traditional sound that is so enjoyed by Randy Travis I do appreciate what he is doing with the newer artist I will enjoy more traditional sound as we receive from Alan Jackson and all of the great traditional artist from the the beginning of country music and really exploded in the mid to late 80s the words from there at the steel guitar really helps set the felling of a song the fiddle is very nice to hear in the songs as well I enjoy all country music traditional is my favorite and the best o do believe it does need to return Randy Travis w is my favorite from the mid 80s before him I really enjoyed the great ones before him and o enjoy all of the true good traditional artist in the late 80-90s the I do believe the artist of this current time with the right direction could evolve in to the traditional sound we need and if the is a shortage of steel guitar players in Nashville I believe there should encourage and have some people learn I understand it takes years to be good I am sure there are people willing to learn
May 23, 2021 @ 4:31 pm
I’d argue that a good deal of Tyler Childers’ music is just as traditional as AJ’s, it just isn’t that 1990s neo-traditional sound. Songs like Country Squire, Purgatory, I Swear to God, Banded Clovis, etc. are as traditional to my ears as anything AJ has ever done, some of them calling back to an even earlier era of country than most of AJ’s catalogue. I agree with you on Eric Church and (to an extent) Cody Jinks, though.
May 24, 2021 @ 1:12 pm
Tyler and Cody both sound very traditional to my ears. Tyler has more of an old school, almost Appalachia country sound, and Cody’s style is more reminiscent of Texas Outlaw country. Hell, I would argue that some of Alan’s past material sounds less traditional than anything Tyler and Cody have released so far in their respective careers.
May 23, 2021 @ 12:00 pm
Alan Jackson is right miss his music as well as George Jones, Merle Haggard,Johnny Cash, etc.
May 23, 2021 @ 12:04 pm
How the hell did Eric Church get on Randy’s List? Sounds like a paid promo…
Eric Church is alright. I like 2 or 3 out of every 10 songs he does, or so – but pretty far from traditional country – or even non-traditional country for that matter. Folk-rock ain’t country.
May 24, 2021 @ 10:01 am
He didn’t mention Jon Pardi whose literally the best of the mainstream…
May 28, 2021 @ 5:03 pm
When they quit playing Hank Jr’s new stuff, that’s when I stopped listening to “new country music”. It’s nothing but pop music and most of it is terrible. I agree with Alan.
May 23, 2021 @ 12:09 pm
Eric Clapton
May 23, 2021 @ 12:50 pm
I appreciate your passion on this issue. But I remain puzzled why Eric Clapton’s opinions on the COVID-19 vaccine are a matter for a country music website, especially when it’s a guarantee the comments section would devolve into holy hell.
May 23, 2021 @ 1:29 pm
I think it is because the other publications were quite demeaning to him.
Knew he would get more of a fair shake from you.
We were talking about the Rolling Stones, earlier.
But you are right, to really delve into it would devolve into holy hell. And we probably don’t want to go there.
I get it.
May 23, 2021 @ 3:55 pm
On a totally unrelated note, are you familiar with The Deltaz?
Going to see them in a couple of weeks.
Just listened to, I’ve Been Rejected.
Sold already
May 23, 2021 @ 7:14 pm
I for one appreciated Church said something about it. More people need to get the vaccine not only to protect yourself and others. I can’t wait to be able to attend live music. I do agree with Alan Jackson real Country Music has died. I like to hear the old stuff I grew up on it. The problem is really radio. They still don’t play enough females. Miranda Lambert is just about the only great artist and songwriter but unless you are #1 you don’t get air play. Radio only plays #1 songs. Then they play them to deaf. If I owned a station I certainly play more of a variety.
May 29, 2021 @ 8:06 am
I don’t like much of the new style of country. Also the way some of the artist dress is disgusting. I want to listen to the words of the song not half dressed woman and men with holes in their jeans.
May 23, 2021 @ 4:37 pm
….is nearly as overrated as the Eagles. But not quite. Were you looking for people to finish that post? Not sure what Clapton has to do with anything?
May 24, 2021 @ 5:40 pm
I read on the internet a comment which was ” singing a song with a fake southern accent doesnt make it a country song” , and theres alot of that , my opinion , it sucks!!
May 23, 2021 @ 12:16 pm
Cool try awards ruined country! Their attire is discussing and the music is all redicilous! Not country at all anymore! Just like xfinity Comcast, gone to the grave
May 26, 2021 @ 2:15 pm
I haven’t read through all of the comments so I may be repeating what has already been said, but here I go. I am in my 50’s and I like lots of different flavors of guitar driven music in the spectrum from hard rock to classic country. Frankly, I haven’t searched for new music on the radio for almost a decade. Almost without exception the best new music I have found gets little or no play on the radio. I don’t believe either country music or rock is dead. I think radio is dead. The music lives on without it.
May 23, 2021 @ 12:17 pm
I love county music and Randy Travis. Randy is a trooper. Jackson is a dweeb. Lived there for many years so I do know what I am talking about.
May 23, 2021 @ 12:18 pm
My grand kids, 7 y/o girl and 9y/o boy signed up for Summer Music Camp last week – grandson who will only listen to Waylon, Willie and Cody Jinks, and me, signed up for guitar and drums- grand daughter signed up for fiddle (violin) and singing- when I told her, if you’re gonna play in Texas you gotta have a fiddle in the band- she grinned from ear to ear and replied; I was wonderin what the difference is between a violin and fiddle- I told her, the music you play with it- her grin got even bigger- so, there is hope- Country ain’t dead in my family-
May 23, 2021 @ 12:22 pm
Although I agree with Randy Travis’ statement, I can’t help but think he said it because Kane Brown sits on his lap when he comes over to visit.
May 23, 2021 @ 12:36 pm
I agree with Randy Travis. There is a lot of great country music. Perhaps though not much on country music radio? The new Alan Jackson album is a great listen. It might not get played on the radio but it is great country music.
May 23, 2021 @ 12:59 pm
Of the names Randy mentioned I will admit those aren’t the ones I listen to. It was “the list goes on!” that got me. Guys like Tom Buller and Jon Bowlin are guys that are on my playlist and YouTube that I wish he would have mentioned. For me with Wesley Dennis, Ken Mellons and Chris Keefe already releasing new music this year I say it’s been pretty good so far for traditional country music.
May 23, 2021 @ 1:02 pm
Sorry, but reading a sentimental poem while plucking on a guitar is NOT Country Music – which is what most “country music” consist of.
May 23, 2021 @ 1:23 pm
It’s gotten to the point I don’t care anymore-I just listen to my old records and tapes and hear what I like. To heck with the junk they play now, that you half the time can’t even understand.
May 23, 2021 @ 2:03 pm
l have always been an Alan Jackson fan. Worked for National Life who owned WSM radio and TV and followed country music. Went to the Friday night opry just about every week.
Went to an outside concert at the Reno Hilton several years ago when we were on on vacation and it was magical.
May 23, 2021 @ 3:05 pm
Country music has been dead for years. That is why I own Hank Williams Sr records. So I don’t have to depend on todays Dead Country radio and all of the other dead country music formats.
May 24, 2021 @ 10:34 am
Do you hunt for your meat too, instead of utilizing grocery stores ????
May 24, 2021 @ 8:23 pm
Grocery stores are alive and booming. Country music is dead. I only hunt in November, not because I have to.
May 23, 2021 @ 3:30 pm
Country music is dead, hip hop, rap and the other crap out there today is no way country music I love Randy but country is long gone
May 24, 2021 @ 11:40 am
Country + Rap = Crap Music
May 23, 2021 @ 3:40 pm
I loved Randy Travis songs but he is so wrong On this. All the names he named are not country. I love Alan and agree with him so much.they don’t want country music in Nashville radio.i mean they fought GEORGE JONES COME ON……brothers Osbourn is good country he was on opera last sat. Night, him and his brother .are good…..sounded like country…but they are far and few out there……..sorry Randy but it’s the truth…..
May 23, 2021 @ 3:59 pm
Alan Jackson’s country isn’t Johnny Cash’s though. Country music has never remained the same. And country music has always had a variety of different types Glen Campbell didn’t make the same country music as Hank (and gasp he had a TV show too). I like particular types of country music, and I think there are boundaries (sup Dan & Shay), but this idea that it has to sound like it used to is non-sensical. Artists want to create, not imitate.
May 25, 2021 @ 3:20 am
There’s a difference between creating and manufacturing. Most of what is ‘created’ today are turds covered in chocolate and sold as candy bars.
May 23, 2021 @ 4:27 pm
It shouldn’t be hard to know what Alan meant plus I’m sure he’s aware of the independent scene just think he’s referring to the mainstream that 80% of country listeners just settle for.
Plus of who Randy listed wasn’t really a good list to try and make his point especially if he’s gonna compare them to himself and Alan.
Drew Parker: Looked him up he’s garbage
Luke Combs: Good for mainstream standards but zero use after he caved like Lizzo sitting on kids bed.
Riley Green: meh
Alexandra Kay: okay
Ashley McBryde: not bad
Eric Church:
Cody Johnson: he’s 50/50
May 23, 2021 @ 4:41 pm
I’m a little stunned that readers of this column would proclaim “country music is dead.” If you listen to even half the albums Trig reviews here, you’d have a pretty decent collection of 21st century country music that would rival any other era of country. I have trouble keeping up with it all, there’s so much good stuff out there. Zephaniah, Ags, Reeves Brothers, Tessy Lou, Dori… the list goes on and on. Country radio sucks, but country music is definitely not dead.
May 23, 2021 @ 4:56 pm
I’m a little surprised at this too, though some of the commenters I believe are blowing in here from Facebook or Google and are not necessarily daily readers here. I get that some don’t like Eric Church, Luke Combs, or Ashley McBryde. But Randy’s point still stands, and is self-evident: there are younger, newer artists making traditional country that are carrying the torch forward. No, they’re not always the most popular or getting played on mainstream radio. But they’re out there, and generally speaking are finding greater support than years before. Much more work needs to be done, but the fight is far from lost.
May 24, 2021 @ 8:28 pm
Hank Williams Sr, Ernest Tubb, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Hank Jr in the late 50’s, 60 and to the mid 70’s. Those were country music artists. All of todays stuff sucks even that Wanna Be Chris Stapleton.
May 23, 2021 @ 4:57 pm
Chris Stapleton is keeping it going just as good as tyler childers and sturgill. Give him alot of the credit!!!
May 23, 2021 @ 4:58 pm
There is more good country music now than there has ever been. It’s not even close. You just have to know where to look/listen.
May 23, 2021 @ 5:37 pm
There was a. country music station ad on a billboard in west palm bch Florida with a pic of Shania twain on it and i hope the so-called “COUNTRY MUSIC FANS” there are reading this.the ad read, more TWAIN LESS TWANG. (Translation.the people that listen to that station there and agree with that statement are not REAL COUNTRY MUSIC FANS. Probably are not real country people.just my opinion.nothing personal.
May 23, 2021 @ 6:32 pm
I’ve been listening to a shitload of George Jones and as much as I love him, hd definitely did s few complete clunkers. Shit, Willie Nelson has done multiple versions of “Valentine” and I think Merle Haggard covered it. Now, I will take the worst George Jones and Willie over the best of anything that hit the radio after Dwight Yoakam came on the scene, but dumb bullshit is not a new phenomenon.
May 23, 2021 @ 6:34 pm
Luke Bryan song ,”What Makes You Country!”If country music stuck to the same format,it’ll never got big as it is today.Some of them artists was depressing to listen to.I’m proud of the way country music sounds today like I was when I first listened to country,I’m a born and raised small town country boy,I do like to listen to other music,besides country music don’t make the artist,it’s the artist that’s born and raised in the small towns that make country music.You did your time in making country music,move over or accept the new country music coming in,their telling you’ll what makes and made them country too,,again I’m glad some of those old country singers stayed depressing,every song was depressing????now tim McGraw,George Strait,Reba McEntire,Faith Hill,The Judds,Wyoming,Trish,Willie,,man come on,myself Timothy Taylor
May 23, 2021 @ 7:37 pm
I wish this comment could go on forever.
May 23, 2021 @ 8:36 pm
Yes Country grows and changes same with any genere, but substituting it with rap and hip hop and slapping a country label on it does not make it such. Imagine the outrage if artist like Alan Jackson recorded a really country album and called it hip-hop. People would be outraged! That is the issue in country music today-not saying all the music is bad in the radio (although much is in my opinion) it is simply miscatergorized. And I’m having a little trouble understanding your argument but if your saying all the old artist made depressing songs I would be happy to make a few recommendations. And by the way I’m not some boomer, I’m 19 and know that’s Luke Bryan is full of bullshit. Radio is a terrible format to listen to any genere on, much better can be found on Spotify’s . Also it doesn’t mean if an artist is from a small town that automatically qualifies their music as country.
May 23, 2021 @ 7:17 pm
Country music or what they call country music sucks today. They’ve put rap into country and made it crap. I wrote country music songs for years and finally said the hell with it. The story songs are gone. The ballads are gone. It’s pure shit anymore and one couldn’t carry a tune in a ten gallon bucket. If I want to listen to rock I’ll go back to the Temptations, Bob Seger, CCR, and the Eagles. I’ve not bought a country music CD for years. Country music sucks!
May 23, 2021 @ 7:43 pm
So did “Randy Travis” set him straight, like the title says, or was it the “Twitter account of Randy Travis?”
Also, worth repeating…that’s an……”interesting” list to make the point with.
May 23, 2021 @ 8:17 pm
A title is a summation meant to give a very brief overview of what an article is about. As explained in the article, it was the Randy Travis Twitter account that directly reached out to the Alan Jackson Twitter account in reaction to a headline saying that Alan Jackson was declaring country music was “gone.”
I don’t know who composed the tweet, but I have been told numerous times that despite Randy’s aphasia, he’s still 100% lucid, and approves and often composes the things that are posted under his name on social media. If this came directly from Randy, or perhaps his wife Mary, or a hybrid of the two, I don’t know.
I think folks are getting way too hung up on the names he mentioned, and are missing the forest for the trees. Perhaps he mentioned the names he did because many of them have actually received radio play, which was what Alan Jackson was talking about, a.k.a. “the format.”
The underlying point I believe is very important to underscore, which is when criticizing the mainstream, let’s not overlook the independent artists out there doing it right. Country music is not “dead” or “gone.” I feel like I posted examples of this most every day.
The folks saying, “Yep, Alan Jackson’s right” are proving there’s an entire population of country fans out there completely clueless there’s an entire other world of country music out there. That was part of the point of this article, to clue them into it. Unfortunately, some just either don’t want to hear that, or are too hung up on “Eric Church” sucks to get clued into the country music they’re yearning for.
May 23, 2021 @ 9:29 pm
Except it’s not a summation, and it’s as misleading as that list is ironic.
May 24, 2021 @ 8:58 am
I don’t think Randy’s list is ironic at all, I think it’s pragmatic. Luke Combs, Eric Church, and Ashley McBryde are better than Sam Hunt, Florida Georgia Line, and Jason Aldean all day, running away. He lists off a bunch of artists radio never plays, and the point doesn’t resonate with the people who most need to hear it.
I have made this point about these very artists myself. Ashley McBryde might be the best artist in all of the mainstream, and might be a Top 10 artist in all of country music. A couple of weeks ago I was at the Key West Songwriters Fest, and one of the underlying takeaways is when I went to see some of the greatest behind-the-scenes songwriters of our era like Channing Wilson, Erik Dylan, and Rob Snyder, they all talked about how important Luke Combs cutting their songs was to their career. Of course Eric Church is more country than rock, but who would you rather have as the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, Eric Church, or Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, or Jason Aldean?
You can run up and down this comments section and see people say “Yep, country is dead!”
…but listen to Sirius XM, or find stuff on Spotify, or, here’s a list of cool artists to check out.
“Nope! Country music is dead! Just turn on the radio!”
…no but that’s the point, turn off your radio, and…
“Country music’s dead!”
Okay well, nevermind.
Some are taking some strange point of pride in that pronouncement, and seem to be perfectly unwilling to be turned onto the new alternatives to country radio that will deliver them the kind of music they’re looking for.
As I said in the article, I 100% agree with Alan Jackson about the problem. That’s why this website exists. But if you’re not at the same highlighting the solution, and using your voice to let folks know they have alternatives, you’re only fighting half the battle.
Again, you may not like Randy’s list specifically. The point is there are dozens, maybe hundreds of artists out there making country music the right way. Let’s make sure we highlight that as well. Not just proclaim country’s dead, and in the words of Alan Jackson, “and it’s not coming back.”
I say bullshit.
May 24, 2021 @ 10:39 am
Was the word “dead” a little too absolutist and hyperbolic? Sure. But he was likely criticizing the mainstream, as many have pointed out. While you yourself make the case with the independent scene, Tyler, Cody, etc….. “I don’t know who composed the tweet,” but it was probably Randy, “set him straight” by providing a list of mostly MAINSTREAM “better than Sam Hunt,” but not really country sounding artists. And that’s……NOT ironic. Ok then.
May 24, 2021 @ 3:11 pm
Trig, I think what people mean when they say “dead” is that it’s dead in the mainstream. If it’s not on the radio, if it’s not on the awards shows, if it’s not on major media, it’s essentially dead to them.
Many folks don’t want to search for artists or be a fan of someone few people know about. They want real country to be front and center. When they see a promo for the ACMs or something, and it features a bunch of pop artists, it’s a slap in the face.
Some music fans love discovering artists and following artists who are unique or not mainstream. But lots more just want music that is accessible and visible.
In that regard, I think guys like Luke Combs and Jon Pardi are the answer.
May 23, 2021 @ 7:44 pm
It’s country radio that’s the problem because the big liberal media owns them and they would like to bring country down to cancel that too.
May 24, 2021 @ 12:38 pm
iHeart Media and Clear Channel were founded by Texas billionaires Red McCombs and Lowry Mays, respectively. Don’t know where you get your information.
May 24, 2021 @ 2:16 pm
Haven’t ya heard? Everything bad is caused by LIBTARDS!
May 25, 2021 @ 3:25 am
Redder Shade Of Neck: Founded by means shit. Look who owns them now.
Trainwreck92: at least you’re finally able to admit that. Lol.
May 23, 2021 @ 7:55 pm
Alan Jackson is right-on. I agree with everything he said because it’s the truth. I like Randy Travis and loved his music, but the ones he’s promoting do not sing the real country music I grew up on. The music of Cash, Haggard, Jones, Jackson, Strait, Travis to mention a few is gone and it is so sad. Today’s music is loud, can hardly can understand the words, and the melodies are gone. Keep on Alan Jackson. I could listen to your music all day. It tells stories that I’ve experiences.
May 24, 2021 @ 9:55 am
Cody Jinks Is As Close As we Can Get To a modern Day Merle Haggard in Terms of Talant and song writing. He Has A Great voice that doesn’t seem fake and His Songs sound very From the Heart. When people say He isn’t Country they might as Well be saying Waylon and Haggard isn’t country either. Fans Spend Way Too much energy on this same old argument That the Other Genres of music doesn’t seem to have. You never have Rock and roll fans arguing Elvis Being the King Of Rock and Roll even though there was alot of country and Pop Influences in his Music. Alot of Country Fans Can be Super Stuck up when it comes to music. Metal fans never argue who is more Metal when it comes to Black Sabbath or Iron Maiden like Country Fans Argue who is More country…. Alan Jackson makes good Points But It’s Very Obvious he Is Talking about Radio in General while Randy Is Just Saying the Music is there You Just need to forget Radio and Find it elsewhere.
May 25, 2021 @ 3:27 am
Jinks definitely has the voice. His songwriting is nowhere near the level of Haggard (or even Jackson).
November 14, 2023 @ 3:11 pm
No offense but the talent of a Merle Haggard? I think Merle had more talent in his left finger. Cody is good but Merle may be the greatest of all time. The talent of Merle, Waylon and the like have not been seen since. I think Sturgill Simpson is the closest thing in regards to talent. Anyways, not being a jerk. I just don’t think they are in the same league.
I am also a huge Randy Travis and Keith Whitley fan. Arguably the 2 greatest voices to ever sing country. I am ready for the next generation to step up.
May 23, 2021 @ 9:14 pm
the only country i believe is true country 1980s, and 90s country this new stuff is hit and miss probly a hand full of these new artist have songs that could be considered as country alan is rite most country is slowly dieing off into pop they just dont realize it go back and listen to 80s and 90s country for a day thn listen to this new stuff n u wil see
May 24, 2021 @ 11:44 am
So the stuff from the 40s – the 70s isn’t real country? That’s an… interesting perspective, chief.
November 14, 2023 @ 3:14 pm
Hank Sr., Lefty Frizzell, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Roger Miller etc etc would all be left out. And the list I just made are as real as it gets.
May 23, 2021 @ 9:20 pm
Whats mr straight think about country music George tells no bullshit jus like it is .
June 1, 2021 @ 8:36 am
George knows there was a murder committed on music row.
May 23, 2021 @ 9:25 pm
To the SCM uninitiated, look up these artists, and begin to find again what you lost all those years ago:
Mike and the Moonpies
Jesse Daniel
Colter Wall
Emily Scott Robinson
May 24, 2021 @ 12:53 am
I love Alan Jackson’s music but Randy Travis is the one showing true class here.
Anyone who authoritatively claims that ” music is dead” needs to pull their head out of their ass and look around. Look beyond the Spotify top lists and commercial radio and you will find a vibrant independent scene in every genre.
I like rock music as well as country music so I hear this “music is dead” shit at least twice a week and frankly it pisses me off a little bit more each time I hear it
May 24, 2021 @ 4:32 am
Country music is not dead it’s just gone underground (and not so much lately..)
May 24, 2021 @ 5:44 am
Alan is smart enough to know who many of these other artists are. I’m assuming he’s talking about commercial country radio
May 24, 2021 @ 5:47 am
So what, exactly, is wrong with mainstream radio? Why won’t they play gold-selling country artists like Tyler Childers and Cody Jinks, for example?
I feel like that’s kind of the end game of “saving country music,” isn’t it? Don’t we have to have a Nirvana moment where the underground surfaces and wipes away all the bro and boyfriend country in the same way hair bands disappeared in the early 1990’s?
That doesn’t seem to be happening. You can find some decent mainstream stuff, but the bad stuff still dominates.
I guess it’s all about marketing. I picture a bunch of suits sitting around a board room table saying “…but will this sell trucks to the bros?!?”
Tyler Childers is “Americana” to these people. A different market. A much smaller market. It might as well be Peter, Paul & Mary.
May 24, 2021 @ 5:54 am
Darn rights Country Music is dead. It’s sad when you watch The CMAs and all you see is today’s Artists, no Country there that’s for sure. Where’s the steel guitars, the twin fiddles? Ah yes, I forgot, they’ve been replaced by in your face keyboards, hard rock guitars and heavy metal drums, yep, sure sounds like Country
May 24, 2021 @ 7:23 am
Having recently turned 51…and getting increasingly tired of chasing music around…I’ve decided the kind of country I like just isnt coming back. Shelton made me realize it just isnt coming back. The CONDITIONS that were present when the country music I like and I grew up on just arent PRESENT anymore. We aren’t the people ( as a whole, not the fine readers here on SCM) we were, some would argue for the better, some worse.
I listen to SCM’s Top 25 songlist on occasion and 90 percent of the time I find myself saying what IS this? This is TERRIBLE! Stapleton DESTROYED a fantastic DAC/George Jones song, and the public just lapped it up. Disgusting.
I’ve found myself seeking out old, undiscovered-by-me music more and more. I’ve slowly collected all of Bob Wills as I can get my hands on, All of Buck Owens and the Buckaroos I can get my hands on ( Don Rich was a national treasure and the date of his death should be a national day of mourning, IMO) I already possess Waylon’s catalogue and Hank Williams’ as well, All safely saved on my hard drive, and backed up on a separate drive. No legal dispute is going to take it from me.
So, I guess I am officially old and crochety now. YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!
May 24, 2021 @ 7:43 am
Let me put you straight – Randy was disagreeing not setting anybody straight. Setting someone straight is sharing the truth with someone who is telling a lie. Alan isn’t lying about anything he said. Just another self-impressed writer trying to stir the stink but only sharing his own BS!
May 24, 2021 @ 9:01 am
Pedantics.
Alan Jackson said country music is dead and is not coming back. Randy Travis tried to “set him straight” by highlighting that there are artists out there that are still trying to keep alive the traditional values of country.
Nobody was trying to “stir the stink.”
May 24, 2021 @ 10:48 am
Saving Country Music, It’s good to know you’re not “tryin’ o stir the stink” but you need to be careful how to word your article headline because you said Randy “set him straight.” You’re follow-up to my response said “tried” to set him straight. There’s a big difference in your inference!
May 24, 2021 @ 8:17 am
The only radio I listen to is wsm from Nashville on my cell I downloaded plus I have pandora so I can type in the oldies like George Jones and other oldies and listen all day long I’m 62 I grew up listing to all the great stuff like hank Sr. Mel tills Barbara mandrels Jerry Reed randy travis I saw some of the oldies at the del mar fair in the 60’s and the 70’s with my uncle who introduced me too all the greats like red Saving Merle haggard who I saw buck ownes like I said I have pandora with all the greats downliaded
May 24, 2021 @ 8:26 am
I think there is some great country music today but it’s just not going to be found on regular radio. The opportunity for small acts to get noticed is significantly better than the past. Many of these acts will never get rich but they would not have before either as they would not have any airplay.
If you say country is dead because it doesn’t sound like Hank Sr, well no kidding. Everything evolves. Rock doesn’t sound like Elvis, Rap doesn’t sound like NWA and Pop doesn’t sound like the Bee Gees. I love old fashion country and I love the new wave of country from bands like 48 Winchester, Corb Lund, Rob Leines, Blackberry Smoke.
If your only comparison is FGL or Sam Hunt I view that as an entire separate category. And personally I don’t care for it at all
May 24, 2021 @ 8:34 am
Randy didn’t set anyone straight.
One, Alan was clearly talking about radio which like it or not is the barometer for most country fans.
Two, Randy’s examples are really relevant to Alan’s point. I love me some Church but he hasn’t been straight country since “Sinners Like Me” (sadly) and while I enjoy Combs, he is definitely radio friendly traditional at best.
May 24, 2021 @ 8:58 am
Good country music we need some good country music that sounds like country they have ruined country music please bring it back give some of us people that love country and grew up in the country something to live for for a few more years the country is out of whack
May 24, 2021 @ 9:32 am
I don’t care if country music’s dead. I’m just trying to make it to tomorrow.
May 24, 2021 @ 10:18 am
The bluegrass genre has lots and lots of great country music. They all play traditional country acoustic instruments… fiddle, dobro, banjo, upright bass, mandolin, guitar. The talent is astonishing. You guys reading this should attend some shows featuring current bluegrass groups.
May 24, 2021 @ 10:39 am
Amen.
And this is where i have a huge problem with Jackson implying country music is dead.
And, that he (Jackson) is bringing country music back.
He needs an ego check.
His ego is out of control.
There is plenty of really great music out there.
Country, & bluegrass.
Regionally, Nationally, Globally.
While a lot of people were running around yelling “The sky is falling!” the past year and beyond, hundreds of thousands of us have been enjoying live music.
Loved last Saturday night, when the band played “I’ll Fly Away.” near the end of the night.
This was not a country, or a gospel group.
More of a Blues group.
May 24, 2021 @ 10:41 am
Bluegrass music is amazing if you are into bluegrass you should check out Steve Earl bluegrass album it’s called steve earl and the Duke’s it’s awesome stuff and then the classic bill Monroe
May 24, 2021 @ 11:16 am
I love the old country music of the late 50’s/ 60’s and the 70’s and of the early 80’s. And the bluegrass and truck driver songs.But I don’t care for this new country music shit of the late 80’s up to now. It stinks. Bring back the great country music and bluegrass and truck driver songs.
May 24, 2021 @ 12:32 pm
Yeah, country radio and the music row monster that spawns it are maggot infested roadkill. Not unlike the farmer in MIB.
However, independent Country is alive and kicking. There are better albums being produced nowadays than 30 or 40 years ago. Most of the legends were guilty enough of filler tracks – a lot of artists now aren’t settling for that.
I think a lot of our older artists who were plugged into the mainstream are now siloed. Jackson and Travis are both examples in their own ways. They’re both looking at the mainstream. Jackson sees only the worst; Travis cites some who’ve had some success while not being the worst.
I think the silo effect is apparent in some recent comeback projects. How many of them have had a bit of an Americana vibe, when they would’ve sounded a bit better if they were truer to the artist’s original sound? I think if they were more plugged into the current independent scene, they’d know there are currently active producers who can deliver a classic sound.
May 24, 2021 @ 1:52 pm
I think Jinks is doing an excellent job “keeping country country” while NOT caving to any labels’ control or structuring of his ideas and music. His live shows are like going to church, only you come out full of the spirit of his country music… so if able, turn off your radios and go to some of the live shows or look these folks up (YouTube, Spotify, etc): Alex Williams, TJ Hernandez, Colter Wall, Town Mountain…. seriously – check out a few of their songs!!! Also, Ward Davis, Jason Eady , Porter Union, Bryan James, Courtney Patton, and yes Ashley McBryde (Bible and a 44 – are you kidding me?) Check these folks out! As stated so many times in this thread, you just won’t hear them on your favorite local “country” radio. I also believe there a definitely still names that have been around longer and that are keeping it real like, Jamey Johnson, Jason Borland and the Stragglers and Chris Stapleton
May 24, 2021 @ 2:49 pm
Country music has gone down the tubes. I do see a little bit coming back. But many of today’s artists have no experience to call on. Their songs are empty. Just like George said, “Whose gonna fill their shoes”. The true country artists are gone, the new ones need insight. Thank goodness for cassettes and CD’S.
Keep up tbe great work Alan Jackson.
May 24, 2021 @ 3:19 pm
“Country music isn’t dead. In fact it might be in better shape now than any other time since the explosion of Bro-Country.”
I’ll agree with you here, Trigger. That genre of country music may be dead, if not on life support.
May 24, 2021 @ 5:58 pm
I was a part of Country Music when Radio would not play the new artist. I had the first D.J. Association for Clubs in the United States 1981. Was Written up in Billboard Magazine 1982. I had 35 Clubs that were. Members across the country that I sent Promotional copies to. C&W. D. J. ASSOCIATION.
RAY MURPHEY.
May 24, 2021 @ 6:39 pm
I feel the same way, that hip hop country garbage dont fly with me.
May 24, 2021 @ 6:52 pm
Yeah, I’m 99.5 % sure Alan is talking about MAINSTREAM country, particularly country radio, and what’s on the award shows. I’m pretty sure he’s well aware that there are dozens of independent artists who are still putting out traditional country, and that you can find it elsewhere besides mainstream radio/TV.
The fact is, a lot of people, especially long time country fans, would still prefer to have the music they love be readily available on the radio instead of having to search the internet or having to pay for satellite radio. And if we’re talking about what’s mostly on country radio today, I’m afraid Alan is still very much correct, at least in my experience. In these past few months, whenever I’ve happened to hear a “country” station while riding with a friend, all I mostly hear is a bunch of snap/clap and drum machine infested music, along with a lot of bro country recurrents, and a token 90’s country ditty like “Down On The Farm” or “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” thrown in every once in a blue moon, just so they can claim that they also play “your all time favorites.” Except of Church or Combs, I have yet to hear Ashley McBryde and most of the other names Randy listed on the radio. Traditional country is simply not being represented on the radio like it was in the 90’s, late 80’s, and previous decades. Even the early 00’s were still much better compared to today. Sure, I mainly go to Spotify, Youtube, and my ipod for my music these days, but I really miss being able to turn on the radio and count on hearing music like what’s on Alan’s latest album.
May 27, 2021 @ 8:04 pm
H3LL YEAH ???????? Couldn’t a said it better myself! When the Ken Burns documentary came out I was so pissed he left out Jackson and treated Brook’s as he should have Jackson. Cuz he had Rock N Roll type stage show’s! Really MoFo ????????????????
I believe Brooks got that cuz he’s a Liberal like Burns so ???? F U Burns ???????? Anyways some old dude, I think a music exec twords the end talked about country going to ???? in early 80’s. I wish he would have got Nashville music execs handle this shit 10 yes ago! Thanks God for Allen for the for the 379th time. Allen “BAD ASS” JACKSON!
May 24, 2021 @ 10:17 pm
As much as I like Randy I have to go with Alan Jackson on this. The simple fact that we will find almost no real country music on radio or CMT. Most of it is primarily soft rocks posing as country. Yes you can find it on small clubs and bars but little of that’s ever going to make it to a larger audience. Not because there are so few people who want to hear it but because the number is not large enough. but because the number is not large enough to make the kind of money that drives music companies. They started destroying true country music in the 60s when they started trying to push the wall of sound into Country. We ended up with pop country/Broadway with little room for Bluegrass, rockabilly, or the true country music 40s, 50s, and 60s.
May 25, 2021 @ 3:08 am
“But things are changing, both with the rise of independent artists challenging the mainstream…”
I would hardly call a handful of artists a challenge to the mainstream. Radio is about selling advertising, and these few artists are not turning this into some kind of revolution. The mainstream will always be calculated and focus on soccer moms, etc.
There has been a lot of talk (and a bit of ink) lately about the death of genre. Everyone wants to be a rock star. Citing Eric Church as some kind of torch bearer for traditional country is silly. In the beginning, maybe, but Church long ago sold his soul to corporate rock and roll.
I feel sorry for Randy Travis. He can’t sing anymore (can he even talk?). It seems the only way he can keep his name out there is by injecting his (or his wife’s?) thoughts on what passes for current country music.
So, no, Randy didn’t set Alan straight.
May 25, 2021 @ 3:37 am
Wow, Allen jackson, makes his point, so does Loretta Lynn. It’s based on thier opinions if what country music is or was to them. That’s what they played, sang, danced to, cried to, drank to.and lived to or through! I’m a little north of 55 and I loved those pure country songs too. When I was young Randy and my dad and some more of the old time country pickers and singers would get together on Saturday night, just over the line from where Randy lived and play and sing those good old songs! But things change, times change. People change. Music changed Life goes on. And so will the music! Old country new country old rock, new rock, rapp and so on. Whatever your opinion of the music is, is just that, your opinion! All of the artists who have made a living from playing, singing, dancing, or cutting back flips. They did it the way they did to make a living and to support thier family’s. Sure they love their style of music, but that don’t change the fact that if they were not making any money doing it thier way how many of them wouldn’t change styles to keep the bills paid or food on the table? I don’t like all genres of music. Some of them just don’t make sense! But that is my opinion. We live in this great country called the USA! And we can have an opinion and listen to whatever music we want! So instead of criticizing everyone who don’t see things the way you do? Maybe we should open our eyes again and see that things change!
May 25, 2021 @ 6:22 am
This is for Alan Jackson, Alan I like what you’re doing with country music, I think country music has came a long way with you being a big part of it, I like all your music, Alan, you and George Strait, show just how much it means to country music today, yall keep up the good work, cause ill love yall till my lungs give out, I ain’t lieing, your both in the country music, and the country music is sure in yall as well, And please don’t ride in a plane with George, cause if it were to crash, country music would sure nuff just be gone for good ,, P, S, Wayne, Ferrell, here, good day,,
May 25, 2021 @ 7:45 am
Hello. I have no life and must comment about something that doesn’t matter and pretend that anyone cares about my two cents. Think I’ll go put myself out of my misery.
Crap. Did I spell everything correctly? Is my cover blown?
May 25, 2021 @ 9:17 am
Country isn’t dead as a doornail, but I do think Alan’s right about one thing: it’s like the 1980s all over again. Corb Lund and some of the other independent artists had better start a revolution like “Class of ’89” so we can put country music back on the map. We don’t need these idiots like Sam Hunt or Kane Brown to try and make country music. I think both of them are pop stars through and through, and their songs shouldn’t be on the frigging country charts.
May 25, 2021 @ 10:29 am
Alot has to do with lyrics it also takes words that people can relate to. Many of us have wonderful story telling lyric because we’ve lived
It,the story lyrics with a steel guitar or fiddle would be breath taking..things people have lived,not just me.but because I’m not so savvy with
Getting it out there,,we leave it in a book.i am a writer an member of a Nashville writhing organization..because I’m 62 easily intimidate
I don’t push,,.I’m just saying I think some of the real good country music comes from some older writers,,in which they are over looked
May 25, 2021 @ 11:33 am
I agree with Alan. I love traditional country music I love Alan, Randy, George Strait and I miss songs from Tammy Wanett, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Bob Wills, Loretta Lynn,and I love Dolly Parton and Barbra Fairchild and I could name so many more wonderful old country singers that the only way I can listen to their songs is by asking Google to play them and there will never be another Alan Randy or both George’s.
May 25, 2021 @ 5:50 pm
Alan is right, Nashville deliberately tried to kill country music about 15 years ago and they were successful within a few years. Randy is being kind or charitable to some of these people. Maybe they are friends.
I don’t believe for a minute most of these current “country” stars like the old stuff or even know who most of the country icons are; they are into rock and it shows.
May 25, 2021 @ 8:45 pm
So I’m a huge Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, George Strait, George Jones especially kind of fan that’s when country was country. Today’s country is more of a pop country you don’t get the grits and steel guitars you don’t hear the soul-full songs like you did way back when. You know what I mean the storytellers I could listen to them all day long. Now I’m going to go to sleep now some Randy George and Alan..
Xoxo
Kim
May 26, 2021 @ 4:41 am
Music on FM is dying, IMO. I believe the is the result nationwide station ownership. I listen to only two stations occasionally, one specializes in classics Rock and the other still plays classic country. I don’t think either of these are owned by Clearchannel or Iheartradio – these two groups seem to own most of the radio dial(or they did when I used to scan). Luckily the country station is a mountain-top station and has nice range, the same can not be said about my classic rock station.
FM won’t completely die since there are still local stations but I hope it becomes less profitable to the ownership giants until they disappear.
May 26, 2021 @ 11:17 am
Good for Alan and what he said. For the most part, country Is in the toilet and throwing out that handful of ” real” country artists is pretty laughable.
May 26, 2021 @ 2:56 pm
How about the young and up and comers like Will Jones, Mary Sarah and the new wave of modern traditionalists lead by producers like David Ferguson and Bart Butler??? Give them some airtime!
May 26, 2021 @ 11:13 pm
I like Jerry Jeff Walker……..now that’s Country.
May 27, 2021 @ 9:48 am
Country music is dead because it was primarily written about the tough, blue collar, hard working men and women that built this nation through blood, sweat, and tears. They wrote about flawed, and sometimes not so flawed, people that lived hard lives defined by the struggle to make a better life for themselves their family, and their country. Real country music was about those people that tried to live a life based on values that don’t exist today. They very often failed as did those musicians that wrote about them, but the objective was to reach that goal. The music was often about poor people that worked with their hands and heart to achieve the American dream. The content was often about the results of their failure to reach that goal either through their own human weaknesses or by their circumstances. Sometimes the music was devastatingly sad and sometimes it was humorous, but it was primarily about those people Our country doesn’t have very many of those people around anymore; the kind of people that worked hard and expected nothing from the government and didn’t blame their circumstance or failure on others. They didn’t expect to get a trophy or a handout, they woke up everyday and tried to survive the coal mines, sawmills, factories, etc. Yes, real, traditional country music is dead because we don’t even have to attempt to survive in the way the people real country music was written about. Our government assures us through handouts that we don’t really have to go hungry. Hell, we don’t even have to go without our iPhones. Both parties assure us this and our country will pay the price one day. This is not political; it’s cultural. I would say to Alan Jackson and Randy Travis that real country music might have already been dead when he arrived on the scene. We are now relegated to bro country, tailgate songs, and garbage from Sam Hunt and Mare Morris because that’s how we live in this country, and the music always reflects our society. Real country music can’t exist today, because real country music wouldn’t be woke enough. I can’t imagine Johnny Cash or Merrill Haggard apologizing for the stupid shit Luke Combs recently apologized for. Luke Combs cared too much about his money and reputation to be real country. So, yes real country music is an extremely rare thing to hear these days. It ain’t coming back, and in 10 years it’s going to be completely what pop music was in the 90’s. It’s almost there now.
May 27, 2021 @ 2:10 pm
It started already in 1978: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSsdUyrOnA4
May 27, 2021 @ 4:29 pm
I agree with Alan Jackson wholeheartedly. But this just didn’t happen, it’s been going on for years. Some of the biggest stars helpec ruin it including Crystal Gayle, Martina Mcbride, Barbara Mandrell, Colin Raye, and even Garth Brooks among others.
May 27, 2021 @ 5:29 pm
The death of country music is a societal issue for the most part. Songwriters write about their life experiences and modern cultural norms play a part in the equation. You see a generation that’s predominantly jacked up on technology, video games, etc. Those kinds of people, for the most part, don’t want to hear 3/4 time, steel guitar, and thoughtful songwriting. Today’s songwriters and artists reflect that audience. It started in the 60’s and it’s slowly progressed decade by decade. It really took off with rise of internet and the technological transformation of society. It’s sad, because our cultural decline has been a negative thing as a whole, don’t think politics but think work ethic, values family, loss of respect for each other, etc. The death of country music is easy to trace and you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out it ain’t coming back in any resemblance to what it was. Hopefully, we get better songwriting than most of this garbage, but we surely aren’t going back to 3/4 time, steel guitar, fiddle, and slow tempos of the Hank Sr. Era. We can only hope we can get back to Travis Tritt and Alan Jackson country at best. I think one might argue that even old Alan had some non country songs, or some that at least pushed the envelope in some ways. Blasphemy, I know! I would say Randy Travis was pure country compared to Alan, but I do love Alan Jackson. Most of his stuff was country gold. I would put him ahead of George Strait as an artist.
May 27, 2021 @ 6:45 pm
Reading all these thoughts has got me thinking. It’s obvious Alan was talking about Mainstream music. And on that point he is spot on. Sure you can find it if you search for it but at one time all you had to do was turn the radio on. Sure some odd or different sounding tune might come on but it was the oddball in the format. Now it’s the other way around. People talk about bluegrass but you really have to search for it on any radio and even then it’s just a two hour show or something. Heck you can still find modern people doing Doo woo or old time rock n roll but you would still say it’s basically dead so in that way Alan is right. And it’s also about where your real talented performers are that drives things. All those people are doing stuff that is more pop orientated country than traditional because they are trying to reach a bigger audience. I personally don’t like it but it’s been headed that way for a while and young people by and large prefer what’s popular. Rock n roll got to this point a lot sooner so there isn’t as big a deal with it anymore even though you will find some complaints. Country for the biggest part stayed true to its roots for a long long time so it’s hard for people to accept that country as it is now known as is more pop, more beholding to trends and fads. It may even get more trendy as more people of different backgrounds and different races try to bring their style of country or home into the music.
May 28, 2021 @ 7:02 am
Country music today sucks hard. It’s all “bro country” or some sappy crap love song about an imaginary hot country gal, which doesn’t exist. Only a 250lb+ breeder exist in the “country”
May 28, 2021 @ 5:27 pm
The only country radio I listen to anymore is Willie’s roadhouse. This stuff today is junk. Even Paisley is off the rails now.
February 21, 2023 @ 11:09 am
Why should we have to go to all these crazy lengths to hear solid country music? Why can’t more of it be played on radio stations? Why is it not pushed to the front?
Is it money? They appeal to more and probably get more listeners with the poppy stuff. Forget the small crowd of hardcore country folk for the large crowd of teenage girls everywhere.
Or is it politics? Are they afraid of rocking the boat with the things that the hardcore artists sing songs about? I personally am sick of the fluff and would love to hear some songs with some life lessons, substance, and opinions on the radio. Isn’t that what country’s about?
May 30, 2021 @ 10:56 am
Alan is ultimately right. Yes, you can find more traditional sounding music online all day long but the Nashville machine (or what’s left of it) certainly will no longer provide a place at the table for such artists . To cut through all the online minutia as and independent artist can be nothing more than quick race as to who slips through the cracks the fastest. Even Randy knows this is true. Randy also knows the artists he mentioned certainly do not cut muster or hit the spot to anyone wanting the kind of country music Alan is talking about. One thing is certain. We can no longer look to Nashville for authenticity..
May 30, 2021 @ 12:47 pm
I’m sorry to say, but I can’t even watch the C M A awards now. They sing, and I rather hear a dog bark. They dance and their feet never leave the floor, only twist their ass, what is that ? Go half naked,don’t know why they even bother to put on clothes at all. country music has gone bonkers. These are the reason they can’t sing,or play country ‘’Please, what-ever that is, that your trying to do, Don’t try to hide behind the word country.’’ ‘’FOR IT IS NOT’’
May 31, 2021 @ 8:25 pm
I agree with Alan 100%! Very few artist even come close to what country music really is. Easton Corbin is by far the best and closest to country I have seen yet! Most of what they try to call country now days isn’t even close not to mention how a lot of the songs have the same beats and you can even play them over each other and they are really close to being identical! Sorry but not sorry I refuse to listen to any of it unless it is real 100% country, anything else I change the station or toss the cd in the trash!
June 15, 2021 @ 3:55 pm
If I were commercial country radio,…or a major label,…I would sure take a good look at these comments. Bring back the live radio format. Talk about country music. Take calls. Give aways,…..live interviews……..phoners. DUMP ROBO FORMAT RADIO SHOWS !!! Or streaming will shut you down.
July 28, 2021 @ 12:46 am
i JUST WISH THE POLITICS WOULD ALLOW THE DIXI CHICK BACK, I REALLY MISS THIS KINK OF MUSIC
February 19, 2022 @ 12:47 am
The music of Willie, Waylon, Johnny Cash , Merle, that stuff to me is the greats , but then you go back to G. Jones , Buck Owens, Roy Clark , Marty Robbins , Hank williams Sr. and Jr. . Then 80’s and 90’s you had Garth , Alan , Clint Black , The Judds , Dwight Yokham, Mark Chesnut , so many greats . But to say that country music is non talent today is crap it is just evolving like everything else . There are a lot of talents out there today but most are non instrument playing singers . I have never seen so many fake guitarists in all my life . Let me just say being a guitar player myself , the ones that are faking it are only making themselves look foolish . There are in almost every video strumminhg along clearly not plugged in or even good at faking it . If you dont play guitar just stop. You look stupid . And people like Keith urban need to relax he may actually be playing but bounces around like a flea. I swear one of the pre -requisits of me going out with a woman is asking her what her opinion of Keith Urban is and if she likes him we are definitely not going to be compatable because he makes me want to flick him in the forhead for being a twit. Lol! Go back to Austrailia and bounce around like you have ants in your pants.
February 21, 2023 @ 11:16 am
Why should we have to go to all these crazy lengths to hear solid country music? Why can’t more of it be played on radio stations? Why is it not pushed to the front?
Is it money? They appeal to more and probably get more listeners with the poppy stuff. Forget the small crowd of hardcore country folk for the large crowd of teenage girls everywhere.
Or is it politics? Are they afraid of rocking the boat with the things that the hardcore artists sing songs about? I personally am sick of fluff and would love to hear more songs with some life lessons, substance, and opinions on the radio. Isn’t that what country’s about?
February 10, 2024 @ 5:55 pm
People can flap their gums and say whatever they want. This is the real truth, no matter what anyone says. Alan Jackson is right. Country music is dead and it’s a terrible shame. Thankfullly, George Strait is still around. Other than that, it’s dead. I won’t listen to any of this R&B and new pop sound they call “country”. Thank goodness for recordings. George Strait, George Jones, Randy Travis, Hank Williams. I will listen to these until I die. That stuff they play today is embarassing and terrible. Truth. Period!
June 27, 2024 @ 1:58 am
Alan Jackson is right and even though I love Randy Travis because he has traditional country music running through his veins, I disagree about alot of the names he mentioned such as Ashley Mcbride. She is not traditional country or even modern country her stuff sounds like Pop Music crap or soft rock crap. Now Luke Combs, Jon Pardi, Scott McCreery, Justin Moore, they are awesome traditional country and modern country. Maybe more new singers like them will come along to save country music. But it’s really up to the legends of country music who are still alive to save country music before it gets fazed out into pop, hip hip, r&b and rock. And you can thank Jay Z and Beyonce for this since they are the ones trying to faze out country music altogether with their influences of promoting these singers into country music and these singers are not true Country singers and they need to be forced out of country music and thrown into pop, hip hop or rock: Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley Mcbride, Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Post Malone, Hardy, Niko Noon, hip hop Jimmy Allen, hip hop Kane brown, r&b Mickey Guyton and I could go on and on. It’s up to these legends to start a new record label with the hundreds of millions of dollars they have made. One record label connected to country FM radio and Sirius XM satellite radio. And they should screen all country music singers before they sign a contract. These great legends are: Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Tanya Tucker, John Anderson, Alabama, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Tim Mcgraw, Tracy Lawrence, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Kathy Matea, Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, Jo Dee Messina, LeAnn Wommack, Deana Carter, Sara Evans, LeAnn Rimes and of course Reba Mcentire. I was going to mention Blake Shelton and he still is on the list, but I want to vomit for him doing a duet with Post Malone, Blake is just adding to the problem. Country Music is Almighty God Yahweh-Jehovah- Lord Jesus Christ’s favorite genre of music………..Hopefully He will save it………..