PBS Airs Ken Burns’ Country Music Documentary

PBS is set to air a new documentary from Ken Burns called Country Music. The eight-part, 16-hour series will explore the history and evolution of the genre, from its roots in the Appalachian Mountains to its current status as one of America’s most popular music styles.

Introduction

PBS will be airing a new documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns. The eight-part, 16-hour series chronicles the history of country music from its humble beginnings in the early 20th century to its current status as one of America’s most popular musical genres.

The series features interviews with more than 80 country music performers, historians and other experts, as well as previously unseen footage and photographs. It is narrated by some of country music’s most iconic figures, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson.

The documentary will air on PBS in September 2019.

PBS Airs Ken Burns’ Country Music Documentary

PBS aired the Ken Burns’ Country Music documentary on September 15, 2019. The film is a eight-part, 16-hour documentary that explores the history of country music. The documentary features interviews with more than 80 country music stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson.

What is 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 folk music and blues and has influences from Western and Hillbilly music. Country music often consists of ballads and dance tunes with generally simple forms, folk lyrics, and harmonies mostly accompanied by string instruments such as banjos, electric and acoustic guitars, steel guitars (such as pedal steels and dobros), and fiddles as well as harmonicas. Songs tend to be about topics such as love, loss, heartbreak, rejection, resilience, social issues, and patriotism.

The History of Country Music

The history of country music is a long and rich one, dating back to the early days of American folk music. For many years, country music was primarily the music of the rural South, played by string bands and featuring simple, heartfelt lyrics about everyday life. In the 1920s, a new style of country music called “hillbilly” or “mountain” music began to emerge, led by such artists as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charlie Poole, and the Carter Family. This style of music would eventually give rise to what we now think of as “traditional” country music.

In the 1930s and 1940s, country music became increasingly popular nationwide, thanks in part to the success of radio stations that played it and to the popularity of country-themed movies such as “100 Men and a Girl” (1937) and “Sentimental Journey” (1946). The post-World War II years saw a further increase in the popularity of country music, with stars like Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline achieving widespread success.

In recent years, country music has continued to evolve, incorporating elements from other genres such as rock and pop while remaining true to its roots. Today, there are many different subgenres of country music, each with its own unique sound and feel. Whether you’re a fan of traditional country or modern pop-country, there’s something out there for everyone.

The Impact of Country Music

Ken Burns’ 16-hour documentary “Country Music” aired on PBS last night, and it is already being praised as a comprehensive and insightful look at the history of this iconic American music genre. The film traces the origins of country music back to the 1920s, and explores how it has evolved over the decades.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the documentary is its examination of the impact country music has had on American culture. For instance, the film discusses how country music has helped to Shape the identity of the American South, and how it has been used as a tool for social commentary on issues such as race relations, politics, and war.

Country music is often seen as a symbol of Americana, and the film does a great job of illustrating how this unique form of art has become an integral part of our nation’s history.

Conclusion

The documentary is a love letter to country music and its history. It is a story of heartache and triumph, of poverty and wealth, of racism and inclusion. It is the story of the people who created this music, and the people who have kept it alive.

Burns has said that he set out to make a film that would appeal to both fans of country music and those who know nothing about it. “If you love country music, you’re going to see things in this film that you never knew before,” he told NPR’s All Things Considered. “And if you don’t know anything about country music, I think you’re going to be completely swept away by the story.”