You don't like country music, but do you know what country music is?

Everybody knows that Shania ain't country

That's what they used to say about Johnny Cash

Those lyrics from the Shannon Brown song “High Horse” have always summed up how people seem to think about country music. She goes on articulate it quite well “If you ask me, I say screw all the boundaries, cause it's all about whatever moves your soul”.

I have copped it my whole life for the music I choose to listen to. I grew up listening to Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Kenny Rogers. The people that paid out on me as a kid for listening to those artists now will refer to them as music icons. Then and now, country is what moves my soul.

Is it the only genre of music I listen to? No, it’s not. My phone’s playlist includes N.W.A, Adele, Billy Joel, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Buffett, and Springsteen, as well as country staples like Brad Paisley, Jon Pardi, and Zac Brown as well as my recent new discoveries of Miko Marks and Mickey Guyton.

One of the biggest artists in the world kick-started her career as a country artist with a song about the music of another top country artist. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m referencing Taylor Swift’s song Tim McGraw). She has topped the Billboard Hot 100, and she plays ukulele and banjo.

It seems that whilst people can accept that other genres of music can adapt to the times, it seems that many still think of country music as yodeling and steel guitars. This just isn’t the reality of 21st-century country music. Any viewing of recent Country Music Association Awards shows has mainstream artists collaborating with their country cousins including Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, and Pink.

Additionally, it seems convenient to align the outliers of country music as the problems. When Jason Aldean talks about his anti-vaccination stance or Morgan Wallen gets caught out using racial slurs, it’s because all country music people are uneducated rednecks. But Kanye West’s views aren’t representative of all rappers?

Like any industry, country music has continued to find its way in the world. Racism, sexism, and other poor traits occur, just like they do in other music genres, to think country music is unique in that regard is naïve at best. Some amazing voices for change in country music have emerged over recent years. Rissi Palmer (a stellar country singer in her own right) hosts Color Me Country which showcases Black, Indigenous, and Latinx country artists. As an aside, Rissi also introduced me to Patty Griffin, if you haven’t listened to her 1996 album “Living with Ghosts”, then stop reading this right now and go download it or stream it. You will evermore consider your life in two distinct parts, BP and AP (Before Patty and After Patty).

Artists like Kacey Musgraves have sung about same-sex relationships and gone on to win country music awards because of it. It should come as no surprise that Willie Nelson is passionate about medicinal and recreational cannabis.

Most recently I grabbed the latest offering from the reigning queen of country music, Miranda Lambert with her ninth studio album, Palomino. If you were already a Miranda fan, this album won’t change that, but if you’re new, then maybe you can find something to enjoy. Her own brand of female outlaw country is something else, and her voice is unmistakable.

The days of all country songs being about your girl leaving you, your dog dying and your pickup truck breaking down are mostly gone (I say mostly because there is still going to be some pickup truck-related material). But country music these days has so many different sub-cultures and genres that it is aiming to meet the needs of as many people as possible. If Alan Jackson isn’t your style, then try Kane Brown. If you aren’t a fan of Kelsea Ballerini then maybe, you’ll prefer The Wreckers.

All I can say is maybe give country music another shot, you may find something that moves your soul.