A history of country music which discusses its roots, influences, and various types including bluegrass, honky tonk, cowboy music, western swing, and rockabilly.

"Dolly Parton's success as a performer and pop culture phenomenon has overshadowed her achievements as a songwriter. But she sees herself as a songwriter first, and with good reason. Parton's compositions like "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene" have become American standards with an impact far beyond country music. Lydia R. Hamessley's expert analysis and Parton's characteristically straightforward input inform this comprehensive look at the process,...

Part 1: The First Five Years, looks at Brooks' meteoric rise to superstardom from 1989-1993 in his own words, as he tells the stories behind creating, recording and promoting his first five albums for Capitol Nashville. His memories are supplemented by others who were there, including the songwriters, musicians, and Brooks' longtime manager, Bob Doyle. The book also includes more than 150 never-before-seen photos, tracking sheets, session charts,...

"It was at the age of three, sitting in the front seat of her father's car, that Alice Randall began to write her first country song: "Daddy, don't go in that B-A-R." To Randall, country music is a beating heart, shared communally with her family alive and gone, and the origin of a singular distinction she holds in American music history: the first Black woman to cowrite a #1 country hit, Trisha Yearwood's "XXX's and OOO's." Randall found inspiration...

Smarsh challenged a typically male vision of the rural working class with her first book, Heartland, starring the bold, hard-luck women who raised her. Now, in She Come by It Natural, originally published in a four-part series for The Journal of Roots Music, No Depression, Smarsh explores the overlooked contributions to social progress by such women -- including those averse to the term "feminism" -- as exemplified by Dolly Parton's life and art....

Tells the story of "Austin City Limits", the longest-running music program in TV history.

Go inside the electric world of Garth Brooks LIVE. From the first on-stage appearance in college to headlining his own record breaking tours and worldwide stardom. Includes behind the scene stories, insider secrets, interviews with band and crew. Five CDs with 52 Live Recordings including Triple Live, the soundtrack of the record breaking world tour. 100 behind-the-scenes and performance photos. 10 augmented reality experiences that come to life through...