By Kendall Peterson

I have always liked country music. I remember when I was eight, listening to Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” every time I was in the car, and it was always a jam.

Country music is very unpopular nowadays, and I would just like to know why. Let’s take a second and think about this. Country music is definitely not the same as it was 50 years ago because of the recent pop influence. However, just because it has changed, does not mean it is not good anymore. 

Even though the musical structure of country music is different, the message still remains of what it means to live in the country. 

The key to a song being country is the twang. My rule of thumb is that if you can sing it with a country accent and it still sounds decent, then it’s a country song. 

Country music is the best to listen to in the car, especially if you have a truck. My friend drives a truck (a black F-150 to be specific), and I always beg her to let me ride in it while listening to some good country music. It’s the highlight of my week.

I think country music is something you really have to embrace or else you won’t understand how amazing it really is. 

For example, I don’t listen to a lot of rap music so I don’t really get it, but I know that if I did listen to it more, I would probably understand why people like it so much.

Every genre of music changes over time. I mean, look at pop. Even in just the 1990s, some of the most popular pop songs were Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and “Livin’ la Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin. Now some hit pop songs are “Señorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello and “ME!” by Taylor Swift. But they’re still good, right?

Country music is all about just living life, so if that’s what you want to do, why not listen to it to that kind of music?

Because country music can vary in the style of some songs—whether it be classics like George Strait or new hits like Florida Georgia Line—there are several songs for everybody to listen to and enjoy.

For me, country music is all about living with what we have and embracing that, so it’s definitely one of the more positive genres. 

If you just want to have a good ol’ time, just turn on some country music and drive around in a truck, and trust me, it’ll be hype.

Obviously, not everyone likes every genre of music, but I’m just saying give country music a chance and don’t be so judgmental about it.

Every genre of music should be appreciated, whether you listen to it or not, because there is always something good about all types of music.

To wrap what I’m trying to say, country music is amazing and it should not be underestimated. Like Rodney Atkins sings, I’m “caught up in the country, the only way I wanna be.”