“Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living,”… Dolly Parton declared in nineteen eighty. Early in her career, the country music monarchy reigning Queen Mother was inspired by trailblazer women who opened the roads for her and many other female country artists. Parton’s role models were Rose Maddox, Molly O’Day, and Patsy Cline. Evidence that music as an art form is a continuous flow of sounds influenced by the world; even the purists and gatekeepers of each genre have not safeguarded a particular music style from infectious tunes or catchy chants that don’t belong to the purest form of the style sound and are foreign to the genre. There is no simple explanation other than art, an evolving form of expression that stands the test of time by getting acquainted with what is current. More so, since the entertainment enterprise has become an industry that relinquished its purpose of feeding the human soul with moving experiences in favor of multimillion-dollar revenues at all costs, more often than not. On the positive side of the equation is the enrichment that results from the artist’s motivation to create novelty sounds. This emphasis on the role of the artists in creating novelty sounds will make the audience feel inspired and appreciative of their creativity. These sounds, over the years, gave birth to sub-genres. Country music, such as Honky-tonk, Western swing, Country Rock, and Bluegrass, was born from the blending and amalgamation of harmonies derived from the country genre. Its fascinating storytelling capabilities connect with the simplicity of everyday life trials and triumphs. A variable to this equation is the ultimate decision-making process at the hands of the executives who, throughout the years, have waved their powerful wand by reintroducing some music styles to new potential customers, choosing from the comfort of their boardrooms to open the vault of rhythmic jewels, polish and repackage them to then embedded droplets of beats, hooks, and bridges of the genre they want to trend on their vast catalog of singers. In the 1990s, Latin influence was present in a plethora of albums released by various artists. The dawn of the 2000s was the turn of hip hop, which had a predominant influence for over two decades.
Meanwhile, isolated cases of performers’ collaborations with their country music counterparts have been happening for decades, and adventurous legends such as Tina Turner released an album titled “Tina Turns the Country on!” In 1974. However, the turn for a twister of ballads accompanied by harmonicas and banjo that identify the country-style ethos arrived at the beginning of 2023 and has been going strong since then. The music, lifestyle, and rudimentary cowboy hats and boots had proliferated tremendously with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. What unchained this phenomenon besides the eagerness of singers to appeal to a novel, significant, and loyal fanbase? The answer is a combination of factors that range from the top echelon of music labels’ decision-makers thirst for new markets to the rapid spread of trends courtesy of social media platforms like TikTok. These platforms have not only accelerated the spread of country music but also made the audience feel connected and part of the music evolution, the endorsement of bonafide pop stars that are researching their Texan roots and digging deeper into the genesis of the genre that descends from folk and Hispanic American contributors incorporating the staple instruments used on country such as banjo, guitar and more. At the forefront of the research turned into the country album “Cowboy Carter” is Beyonce Knowles. Her all-in-production approach and the weight that her name carries in the music business wouldn’t be enough to hold a trend; what catapulted the cowboy music sensation of late is the never-resting scrolling fingers and swift change patterns of millennials and, more importantly, Gen Z’s quintessential curators of tik-tok content. This generation of modern-day stewards of music palate has instilled the will in a whole slew of artists to tap into the country genre temporarily and permanently for the delight of fans who are hyped by Lana Del Rey’s creation “Take Me Home Country Road and delighted by everyone’s friend Post Malone and his seamless crossover album F-1 Trillion that counted with the collaboration of country music legitimate prodigal son Morgan Wallen launching the summer anthem and chart-topping country song” I Had Some Help.” that overshadow Beyonce’s rendition of the classic Parton’s Jolene. In addition to the temporary collaborations and releases, a list of artists like Ed Sheeran reaching out for Luke Combs’s endorsement of the song “Life Goes On” and Taylor Swift’s constant reclaiming of her beginnings in Nashville with country droplets nostalgia in most of her albums the country frenzy has to recruit permanently former rapper Jelly Roll’s who enlist rap royalty Eminem to delivered “Somebody Save Me” a heartfelt body of work that meshes perfectly country and hip hop from both artists previous work. The mounted evidence and willpower from creative artists, buddy collaborations, successful crossovers, and unexpected blendings tied with an alluring philosophy of a simpler life that calls chart toppers and fan favorites performers from all genres enticing the likes of the ultimate hermit Slim Shady declared that all music roads are leading to country music.