Here in Folsom Prison, time keeps dragging on, but country music somehow remains relevant in the sound of our generation. Whether you’re a fan of Beyonce’s R&B albums or Lana Del Rey’s sultry-sweet tracklist, there seems to be an upcoming shift for artists to try out the country genre. Worldwide listeners are playing along to this tune, with country music receiving its biggest streaming week ever at over 2.26 billion listeners in 2023.
After years of pop music topping the charts, the often overlooked genre of country music is experiencing a revival. Country artists like Zach Bryan, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen and Kacey Musgraves are dominating the charts in an unprecedented way. For example, in 2023, country streaming on Spotify went up 23% after Luke Comb’s cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” peaked at number two on the Hot 100, right behind Wallen’s “Last Night.”
Meanwhile, artists of other categories like Beyonce and Lana Del Rey are deviating from their respective genres to a country style. While some could believe these artists are following an unsuccessful fad, this proves untrue. Beyonce, who recently heralded her country debut “Cowboy Carter,” with lead single “Texas Hold ‘Em,” debuted No. 1 on country charts, broaching the sound to an entirely new audience.
There are many reasons for this rise, but the main culprit is the fact that country music has re-invented itself in our modern era. It stopped being your dad’s backyard-beer-jam and has evolved to appeal to younger listeners, hungry for new sounds and old stories. The traditional story-telling lyrics found in country music make the genre widely relatable and when combined with artists mixing these stories with new concepts, we get a musical love being fast-tracked to popularity.
One couldn’t discuss the new rise of country music without mentioning the predecessors responsible for introducing the genre into our popular culture. Icons like Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley are due major credit for creating innumerable catchy songs that are still remembered today. Modern artists recognize this too, with Beyonce recreating Parton’s famous “Jolene,” and putting her spin on it. However, this appreciation is mutual, with Dolly Parton posting, “Beyonce is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it,” after listening to Beyonce’s version.
The marriage of new and old never tires in the music industry. Country music continually reminds us that records of the past can be made anew, whether you’re a long-time country fan or just an occasional enjoyer.
