With its themes of love, loss, hope, and heartbreak, country music speaks to the basic emotions of human life. Because of this appeal, it is one of the most original and enduring of American musical forms. Although its origins are humble, in the poor white communities of the American South, country music has grown throughout the twentieth century into a major musical style with great popular and commercial appeal. It is now an industry all its own. Part of its endurance comes from how it touches people deeply. In addition, its styles are varied enough to attract new listeners continually.

Country music emerged in the American South, particularly along the Appalachian Mountains, in the early twentieth century. Its roots can be found in the songs brought over by early immigrants from England, Scotland, and Ireland. Those songs expressed the hardships of rural life and the deep...