There is a common thread in the world of musical appreciation that people will write off Country music with absolute prejudice.
Admittedly, much of it is deserved: the genre has been dominated by watered-down Southern twanged pop music for the last few decades. I don’t blame anyone for hearing Rascall Flatts or Keith Urban and wanting nothing to do with it.
But the songs topping the country charts are a poor representation of the genre—which is itself deep and rich, full of tragic storytelling, wonderful musicianship, and skillful songwriting.
Ever since catching his incredible SNL performance of “Parachute,” Chris Stapleton has been my prescription for anyone who dismisses country music wholesale. And so far, that treatment has a 100% success rate.