country music

American  

noun

1. a style and genre of largely string-accompanied American popular music having roots in the folk music of the Southeast and cowboy music of the West, usually vocalized, generally simple in form and harmony, and typified by romantic or melancholy ballads accompanied by acoustic or electric guitar, banjo, violin, and harmonica.

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country music British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: country.  a type of 20th-century popular music based on White folk music of the southeastern US

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Etymology

Origin of country music

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

“I know you know how to line dance” she said, drawing a line between Irish tradition and American country music culture, the latter shaped in part by Celtic immigrant music.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

“It’s got a great concept. It’s written with Miranda. It’s got like, 11 things that work for it. It’s cool to see it working within country music and also crossing over like crazy.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

"That's a phenomenon I didn't see coming," said Jennie Hayes Kurtz of the country music band Brother and The Hayes.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

His songwriting submissions to RCA Records impressed the artist Chet Atkins, who championed his tunes in the country music scene.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

He turned the radio to 96.7, country music.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel