Loretta Lynn Thinks Country Music Is Dead, Others Concur

Feb 02, 2020 by apost team

Loretta Lynn, now 87, didn't hold back during an appearance on Vocal Point with Martina McBride about her disappointment with modern country music:

"They've already let it [die]," Lynn told McBride (as reported by People). "I think it's dead. I think it's a shame. I think it's a shame to let a type of music die. I don't care what any kind of music it is. Rock, country, whatever. I think it's a shame to let it die, and I'm here to start feeding it."

Country music has indeed changed since Lynn entered the genre with her hit song "I'm A Honky Tonk Girl" in 1960. She has released many other popular songs since then, and most recently, in 2018, released her album Wouldn't It Be Great.

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NPR agrees that the sound of country music has changed. Garth Brooks and Shania Twain were instrumental in this change, redefining the look of country music stardom. They made flashier music videos, introduced a more prominent role for the backbeat, and turned their live performances into events that resembled arena rock with theatrics and a high level of energy. Many other performers followed their lead. Other artists have also been questioning the current direction of country music. Kelly Clarkson said:

"Country music doesn't sound country anymore. Country music is gone. Like, I don't know who's making it, but there might be like four people. Now it's like weird word rap."

Clarkson also expressed concern about the fact that women didn't seem to be welcome in country music anymore. Clarkson said she was so inspired by all of the female country music artists in the past, and now all you hear on the radio are male country artists. Reba McIntire concurred and expressed concerns about the "bro-country" trend and said she missed the strong country music industry of the past, Fox News reported. The "bro-country" trend involves male country singers performing acts that are overly confident displays of youthful male masculinity, often throwing in outdated hip-hop moves. The trend also involves replacing the emotion-laden, hard times, and relationship difficulties that are the traditional mainstays of country songs with feel-good, upbeat, tailgating themes.

Forbes says that the popularity of country music has been increasing over the years, and that country music dominates other forms of music among radio listeners. However, it's unclear how popular country music is among the general population, who mostly stream music rather than listen to the radio.

Are you a country music fan who is also puzzled by the current direction of this art form? What do your friends think? Find out by discussing this article with everyone you know.