They are pretty faces and mouths to spit moneymaking words out of, and millions of fans love it.Ĭountry music has veered from its origins. Pop country singers often repeat the same worn out lyrical tropes, usually written by hired lyricists and producers. Country pop is often less than authentic: Stars wearing cowboy boots and lots of makeup make millions of dollars singing to huge crowds about pickup trucks and blue-collar jobs. Country pop is defined by its inclusion in mainstream music, specifically a song’s presence on the American Top 40 charts. Bluegrass turned into honky-tonk which turned into folk rock which turned into country pop.Ĭountry pop is the version of country music most familiar to us, boasting stars like Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Reba McEntire, the Dixie Chicks and Blake Shelton. As the genre grew in popularity, its sound slowly evolved. The invention of the radio helped popularize the music, with radio shows like the “Grand Ole Opry” airing across the nation. Country music was born in the Appalachian region of Tennessee, evolving from “hillbilly music” and the blues. At its heart, it is rooted in simple, country living. Country music tends to stick to a few acoustic instruments and vocals. Ever since, his fans have begged him to “go big,” proclaiming him the “savior of country music.”Ĭountry lyrics have long celebrated blue-collar lifestyles, the countryside and life’s simple pains and pleasures. He exploded in popularity after releasing a video of himself playing an original song, “ Heading South,” while dripping with sweat beside a campfire. Bryan, an Oklahoma native, posts most of his music on his YouTube channel directly from his iPhone. Enter Zach Bryan, a 23-year-old singer with a guitar, an unkempt mustache and a grainy, desperately romantic voice. In the last two decades, country music has become a pop-ified, glamorous and overly produced genre.

Zach bryan hopefully