The Top Country Music Entertainers of the Year
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Looking for a comprehensive list of the top country music entertainers of the year? Look no further than this blog post! Here, you’ll find a roundup of the industry’s top performers, complete with a short description of their work and why they made the list.
Country Music in the United States
Grammy-winning artists and top-selling albums dominate the country music landscape in the United States. Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, and Florida Georgia Line are among the many artists that had a great year in country music. Take a look at what made these artists so successful in 2018.
The History of Country Music
Country music is a genre of American popular music that originated in the Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from the folk music of the Appalachian Mountains and the music of the rural South. Country music often consists of ballads and dance tunes with simple forms and harmonies accompanied by string instruments such as banjos, electric and acoustic guitars, fiddles, and harmonicas. Rootsy performers such as Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and George Jones popularized country music in the 1940s and 1950s. Country music often has a pronounced influence on other genres including rock (particularly Southern rock), pop (“country-pop”), blues, rhythm and blues (“bro country”), bluegrass, gospel (“country gospel”), honky tonk, rockabilly (“psychobilly”), punk rock (most notably through cowpunk), post-punk (“alt-country”), indie rock (a fusion of alternative country with emo), new jack swing (a fusion of hip hop with R&B), fills out the sound of many current popular songs with digital samples (“for COUNTRY !”). Contemporary country music is also influenced by rock (especially arena rock)
The Evolution of Country Music
Country music has been around since the early 1920s, when it first developed as a distinctive genre in the Southern United States. Also known as country and western music, or simply country music, it takes its roots from a blend of various musical traditions, including folk, blues, bluegrass, and gospel.
Over the years, country music has evolved and changed quite a bit. In the early days, most country music was performed by solo artists with simple instrumentation. The songs were often about life in the rural South and were usually quite sentimental. In the 1940s and 1950s, however, a new type of country music called honky-tonk became popular. This style was more upbeat and often featured electric guitars and other instruments that gave it a louder sound.
In the 1960s, country music became more mainstreamed thanks to artists like Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline. And in the 1970s and 1980s, a new subgenre called country-pop emerged, with artists such as Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers finding crossover success with both country and pop audiences.
Today, country music is as popular as ever, with many different subgenres catering to different audiences. Some of the most popular contemporarycountry artists include Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson
The Top Country Music Entertainers of the Year
There’s no doubt that these artists had a great year. They’ve released catchy songs, gone on successful tours, and won prestigious awards. Their hard work has paid off and they’re now being recognized as some of the top country music entertainers of the year.
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, and has since become one of the most successful recording artists in the country music genre. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was released in 2005 and quickly went multi-platinum, spawning several hit singles including “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats”. Her follow-up album, Carnival Ride, was released in 2007 and once again topped the country charts, producing several more hit singles including “So Small” and “All-American Girl”. In 2008, Underwood won her first Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
In addition to her musical career, Underwood has also appeared in a number of television shows and films. She made her acting debut in 2007 with a small role in the film adaptation of Tony Hillerman’s novel Skinwalkers. She later had a starring role in The Sound of Music Live!, a live television broadcast of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical The Sound of Music. In 2016, she played Gabby White in the comedy film Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.
Keith Urban
Keith Urban is a country music entertainer from Australia. He has released nine studio albums, one live album, and has had several singles reach number one on the US Country charts. He is married to actress Nicole Kidman, and the pair have two daughters together.
Blake Shelton
No list of top country music entertainers would be complete without Blake Shelton. This year, Shelton took home the Entertainer of the Year award at the Academy of Country Music Awards, as well as the CMA Entertainer of the Year award. He also won Male Vocalist of the Year at both ceremonies. In addition to his many awards, Shelton has also had a great year musically. His album If I’m Honest debuted at number one on the Billboard Country Albums chart and his single “Came Here to Forget” reached number one on the Country Airplay chart.
The Future of Country Music
It’s no secret that country music is one of the most popular genres in the United States. Every year, country music fans eagerly await the announcement of the top entertainers of the year. So, who are the top country music entertainers of the year?
The Rise of Country Music Festivals
In recent years, country music festivals have seen a significant uptick in popularity. These events usually take place over the course of a weekend and feature a lineup of multiple country music artists. Many of these festivals also offer other activities, such as camping, hiking, and swimming.
While country music festivals have always been popular in the United States, they have seen a surge in popularity in other countries as well. Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom have all seen an increase in the number of country music festivals being held each year.
This rise in popularity can be attributed to a number of factors. First, many people enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of these events. Second, these festivals provide an opportunity to see multiple country music artists perform live. Third, many of these festivals are held in scenic locations that offer attendees a chance to enjoy the outdoors.
With the continued popularity of country music festivals, it is likely that we will see even more of these events being held in the years to come.
The Growth of Country Music Radio
Though it has been slowly declining in recent years, country music radio is still the most popular format in the United States. In fact, according to Nielsen, country radio averaged 14.6 million listeners in 2017, making it the most-listened-to genre.
What’s more, country music radio is growing in popularity. In 2017, country radio saw a 3% increase in listenership from the previous year. This growth is likely due to the increasing popularity of country music among younger generations.
And it’s not just country radio that’s growing; the genre as a whole is seeing an uptick in popularity. According to a 2018 report from The Nashville Network (TNN), country music is the fastest-growing genre in the United States, with a 5% increase in listenership since 2016.
This growth is being driven by a number of factors, including the success of streaming services like Spotify and Pandora, which have made it easier than ever for people to discover new country artists. Furthermore, the genre’s increasing popularity among young people has led to a boom in outdoor country music festivals, which are attended by millions of people every year.
As country music continues to grow in popularity, it’s likely that we’ll see even more growth in country radio listenership. So if you’re a fan of country music, be sure to tune in!
