Country History
‘Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain’ is one of the most important songs in the career of Willie Nelson, marking a turning point that helped define both his legacy and the outlaw country movement of the 1970s. Though many associate the song solely with Nelson, it was actually written by Fred Rose and first recorded […]
Released in 1984, ‘Prisoner of the Highway’ became one of the signature hits for Ronnie Milsap, perfectly capturing the spirit of life on the road and the evolving sound of country music in the 1980s. By this point in his career, Milsap had already established himself as one of the most versatile and successful artists […]
When Reba McEntire released ‘Somebody Should Leave’ in 1985, she delivered one of the most emotionally honest portrayals of a failing relationship in country music. Featured on her album Have I Got a Deal for You, the song stands out not for dramatic confrontation, but for its quiet, aching realism. At its core, ‘Somebody Should […]
Released in 1981, ‘Feels So Right’ became one of the signature songs of Alabama and helped solidify their place at the forefront of country music’s crossover boom in the early ’80s. Written by the band’s lead singer Randy Owen, the song showcased a softer, more intimate side of the group—one that stood in contrast to […]
Released in 2003, “Beer for My Horses” became one of the most iconic songs in the catalog of Toby Keith, thanks in large part to its unique blend of traditional country themes and modern attitude. The song, a duet with country legend Willie Nelson, was featured on Keith’s album Unleashed and quickly rode its way […]
When it comes to the Houston Rodeo, country may pay the bills — but rock stars have burned the paint off the rafters. Inside NRG Stadium (and the old Astrodome before it), these seven shows didn’t just play. They detonated. Elvis Presley – 1970The King in a rhinestone jumpsuit at the Houston Livestock Show and […]
THE HIGHS: OUTLAW KING Waylon didn’t just sing country, he rebelled against it. In the early ’70s, he flipped Nashville the bird and helped create the “Outlaw Country” movement alongside Willie Nelson. Albums like Honky Tonk Heroes and Dreaming My Dreams made him a hero to guys who liked their music loud, their whiskey strong […]
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest didn’t start as the monster meat circus it is today. Like most great Texas traditions, it began smaller, rougher and fueled by bragging rights, smoke and beer. The cookoff fired up in 1974, back when the Houston Rodeo wanted something that felt more Texas than […]
If you’re wondering whether 69 year old Dwight Yoakam can still bring it at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the short answer is this: absolutely — and he won’t care if you think otherwise.
1. Peak popularity perfectly overlapped the peak of the 8-track format. 8-tracks were hottest from 1968–1978. Kenny Rogers’ monster albums hit right then:The Gambler (1978)Kenny (1979)Daytime Friends (1977)Love Lifted Me (1976)These albums were massive sellers on every format, but 8-tracks were still a dominant retail product. 2. Crossover appeal = more salesHe wasn’t just country—he was everywhere: pop radio, adult contemporary, supermarkets, truck […]
The Country Music Association Awards has been a fixture in country music since its first show, which was untelevised, in 1967. The awards show has almost exclusively taken place in Nashville, aside from 2005’s show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Many musicians have etched their names into the history of the genre […]
Country music and Hollywood seem like a perfect match, big personalities, big stories and that all-American charm. When some of country’s biggest stars traded their cowboy hats for movie sets, the results were often more cringeworthy than charming. Take Dolly Parton. While she’s beloved for 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias, not every role was […]