This book highlights 50 of the most important entertainers in contemporary country music, providing a brief biography of each artist with special emphasis on experiences that influenced their musical careers. The artists are divided into five categories: “The New Traditionalists” (artists such as George Strait, Reba McEntire, and Clint Black who established the mainstream country sound in the 1980s); “Alternative Country” (artists such as Steve Earle and Bela Fleck who made country music on their own terms); “Groups” (ensemble acts such as Alabama, the Dixie Chicks, and Rascal Flatts that have carried on the traditions of the Carter Family and other prominent groups of the 1920s and 1930s); “Country-Pop” (artists such as Garth Brooks and Shania Twain who firmly established the “countrypolitan” sound as the cash cow of Nashville); and “New Country” (the next generation of country-pop artists, with particular attention paid to international megastars such as Keith Urban, and teen sensations, including LeAnn Rimes and Taylor Swift).

David Dicaire is the author of numerous works about music history. He lives in Leamington, Ontario, Canada.

David Dicaire
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 275
Bibliographic Info: appendix, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2008
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3787-0
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8559-8
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction      1

PART ONE. THE NEW TRADITIONALISTS      5

George Strait (1952–): Strait Style      6

Ricky Skaggs (1954–): Kentucky Thunder      11

Reba McEntire (1955–): Feel the Fire      16

Keith Whitley (1955–1989): Hard Act to Follow      23

Vince Gill (1957–): Oklahoma Swing      27

Alan Jackson (1958–): High Mileage      31

Randy Travis (1959–): Full Circle      36

Toby Keith (1961–): Red, White and Blue      41

Clint Black (1962–): Mass Market Initiator      45

Travis Tritt (1963–): A Particular Style      49

PART TWO. ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY      55

Jimmie Dale Gilmore (1945–): Austin Outlaw      57

Emmylou Harris (1947–): Cosmic American Female      61

Joe Ely (1947–): Amarillo Honky Tonk      68

Hank Williams, Jr      (1949–): Honky Tonk Genes      71

Steve Earle (1955–): Alternative Troubadour      77

Dwight Yoakam (1956–): Bakersfield Honky Tonk      82

Lyle Lovette (1957–): Eclectic Texan      87

Mary Chapin Carpenter (1958–): Country Folk Style      91

Béla Fleck (1958–): New Grass Revival      95

k.d      lang (1961–): Cowgirl Rebel      100

PART THREE. GROUPS      105

Asleep at the Wheel (1970–): Bump, Bounce, Boogie      107

Alabama (1977–2004): Mountain Music      113

The Judds (1983–): Rockin’ in the Rhythm      120

The Mavericks (1989–): Music for All Occasions      125

Dixie Chicks (1989–): Little Cowgirls      128

Brooks & Dunn (1991–): The Dynamic Duo      134

Rascal Flatts (1999–): Pleasant Harmonies      138

Sugarland (2002–): Premium Quality Tunes      142

PART FOUR. COUNTRY-POP      147

Tammy Wynette (1942–1998): Stand by Your Man      149

Ronnie Milsap (1944–): The Country-Pop Master      155

Dolly Parton (1946–): Smoky Mountain Voice      158

Barbara Mandrell (1948–): Midnight Angel      166

Crystal Gayle (1951–): Family Tradition      171

Tanya Tucker (1958–): Texas Prodigy      175

Garth Brooks (1962–): No Fences      180

Trisha Yearwood (1964–): The Sweetest Gift      186

Shania Twain (1965–): Twang-Pop      189

Martina McBride (1966–): Timeless Country      193

Tim McGraw (1967–): Rise to Prominence      196

Faith Hill (1967–): Mississippi Girl      201

PART FIVE. CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY      205

Keith Urban (1967–): New Zealand Cowboy      207

Kenny Chesney (1968–): Average Guy      210

Terri Clark (1968–): New Country Canadian      214

Jo Dee Messina (1970–): Dared to Dream      217

Alison Krauss (1971–): Bluegrass Propagator      220

LeAnn Rimes (1982–): Teenage Sensation      225

Carrie Underwood (1983–): Country Idol      228

Miranda Lambert (1983–): Texas Nightingale      231

Catherine Britt (1984–): Aussie Style      234

Taylor Swift (1989–): Captured Moments      237

Appendix: Country Music Associations      241

Bibliography      251

Index      255

“recommended”—ARBA.