Country music originated in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It was originally known as "hillbilly" or "old familiar" music but was later renamed to "country" to sound less degrading. Common instruments in country music include fiddle, guitar, steel guitar, drums, and keyboard. Famous country artists mentioned include Jimmie Rodgers, considered the "father of country music," Garth Brooks, the top-selling solo artist in the US, Dolly Parton, and Shania Twain, one of the world's best-selling female artists. Major events for country music include the annual Country Music Association Awards and various festivals held across America and worldwide.

1. Music

2. Introduction
Music has been around for as long as many of us
can remember. Music is a combination of
instrumental and vocal sounds that create a
sense of beauty and emotion. (Oxford
Dictionary) There are a variety of different
music genre’s such as, Pop, Rock, RnB and
Country. Although not many express the
intensity and emotion that country music
does. Music expresses emotion and people
find themselves resonating with the lyrics to
songs.

3. Country Music
This particular genre isn’t as well-known in
Australia opposed to in America. The
singer/songwriters have a unique sound to
their voices, as well as their instruments are
not as well used in other genre’s. Common
instruments used in this genre include: fiddle,
guitar, steel guitar, drums and keyboard.
(Oxford Dictionary) All genre’s contain
similarities but also unique aspects which
separates them from the others.

5. Origin/History
Country music was formed in the 1920’s in rural
Southern United States. (Wikipedia) It wasn’t
always known as “country” music, it was
originally known as “hillbilly” or “old familiar”.
Being labelled as “hillbilly” was seen to be
degrading, so it was changed. The new name
“country” took hold around the 1940’s.

6. A factor as to why it was changed to country was
because the people creating this type of music
were from the rural parts of the US and not
from the city. Cowboy films between the
1930’s- 1940’s really contributed to making
country music more well-known. As with any
genre of music they come with a fashion
sense. Some male country artists can be found
wearing jeans, cowboy boots, button up shirts
and sometimes cowboy hats. Female artists
tend to have a more glamorous style.

7. Garth Brooks (Top selling solo artist in the US) Jimmie Rodgers “Father of Country Music”

8. Famous Country Artists
Jimmie Rodgers is called the “father of country
music.”
Garth Brooks (pictured on left on previous page)
has the record for top selling solo artist in the
Us. He struggled to make it as a singer until he
filled in for a show and was scouted. It is said
he became pretty much an overnight
sensation.

9. Dolly Parton grew up very poor and worked very
hard to get where she is today. She started off
as a country singer but is also known for her
acting talent, featuring in many TV programs
and movies. She has won many Country Music
and Grammy awards and was placed into the
Country Music Hall of Fame as of 2000.
Another famous female artist is Shania Twain,
known best for her “Man, I feel like a woman”
and “You’re still the one” hits. Shania Twain is
one of the world’s best selling female artist,
having sold over 75 million albums.

10. Dolly Parton Shania Twain

11. Major Events
Like other genre’s Country music also has it’s
own awards show, this is called the CMA’s or
Country Music Association. It contains a variety
of awards such as, Album of the year,
Entertainer of the year, female and male vocalist
of the year, single and song of the year and so
on. There is also a variety of Festivals all over
America each year, as well as singers and bands
concerts worldwide.

12. References
‘Music’ [image] 2015 Available at:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=music&view=detailv2&&&id=490C
42A4564DE841CAFCC8BF895C300BF9A48900&selectedIndex=178&ccid=W3
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Q&ajaxhist=0 (Accessed 12 May 2015)
Oxford Dictionaries Oxford University Press 2015, Music, Available at:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/music
(Accessed 12 May 2015)
Oxford Dictionaries Oxford University Press 2015, Country Music, Available
at:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/countr
y-music?q=country+music (Accessed 12 May 2015)
Wikipedia 2015, Country Music Available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_music (Accessed 12 May 2015)
‘Country Music 1920’ [image] 2015 Available at:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=country+music+1920&view=detail
v2&&&id=E07D68E6D5B40400BB66F64E35844EB630219498&selectedIndex
=11&ccid=MulVBEro&simid=608016135287603629&thid=JN.QLflCFQ6B6BAf
FpxAsecyA&ajaxhist=0 (Accessed 12 May 2015)

13. Schmoop University 2015, Culture in Country Music History, Available at:
http://www.shmoop.com/country-music-history/culture.html (Accessed 12
May 2015)
About entertainment 2015, The History of Country Music, Available at:
http://countrymusic.about.com/od/trivia/tp/HistoryofCountryMusic.htm
(Accessed 12 May 2015)
Bio 2015, Garth Brooks, Available at:
http://www.biography.com/people/garth-brooks-9542125#wynn-las-vegas
(Accessed 12 May 2015)
Bio 2015, Dolly Parton, Available at:
http://www.biography.com/people/dolly-parton-9434112 (Accessed 12
May 2015)
Bio 2015, Shania Twain, Available at:
http://www.biography.com/people/shania-twain-9542122 (Accessed 12
May 2015)
‘Garth Brooks’ [image] 2015 Available at:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=garth+brooks&view=detailv2&&&i
d=B60768F0B4DCFC43CF6098C1096813B811C4EB8A&selectedIndex=50&cci
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14. ‘Dolly Parton’ [image] 2015 Available at:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=dolly+parton&view=detailv2&id=B
6D2B8861D1C1F66117C66512FC64DBF640F4F91&selectedindex=158&ccid=
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‘Shania Twain’ [image] 2015 Available at:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Shania+Twain&view=detailv2&&&
id=65390E43074B17FDBA311C8B9C2E674C22D1E0D6&selectedIndex=65&cc
id=pvIrg1tb&simid=608055451416528605&thid=JN.ZvOj4ixhGxN8kJ8gBq5U
Bw&ajaxhist=0 (Accessed 12 May 2015)
CMA Country Music Association 2014, 48th CMA Awards, Available at:
http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-awards/home/ (Accessed 12 May 2015)
Country Music Festivals 2015, Music Festival Guide for 2015 Country Music
Festivals, Available at: http://countrymusicfestivals2015.com/ (Accessed 12
May 2015)