I am not a big country fan (tho my dad was, so what I do like is quite old) but I do love bluegrass, so that first episode was great for me.
Had no idea a banjo came from African gourd instruments!
I plan to watch the rest.
Anyone can stream it here, FYI: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/country-music/
@scmom12 , the marketing of some musicians as more “common” than they are is still going on. One of the current big names in country music is a graduate of Vanderbilt, but doesn’t promote that fact so he can seem more like his fans. I think he basically channels his alumni support to the Vanderbilt Medical Center, now a separate entity from Vanderbilt University, which is widely supported by the Nashville music scene (all genres).
There is something about a Ken Burns’ documentary that just puts me to sleep. And I really wanted to learn more about country music. Maybe it’s the slow pace or the narrator’s voice.
I watched the first episode today and found it very interesting. Some of the things I already knew, but I learned a lot as well. The origins of the banjo was interesting, and I love how music brings people together and crosses boundaries, music is truly medicine for the soul.
I streamed the first one from pbs and really liked it. The record producers ending up in Bristol TN where they encountered Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family seemed so random but so important. I loved the Marty Party tv show but I think Marty appears too tan.
We had our own celebration last night here in Wisconsin for Bill Malone, the country music historian who lives locally, though is originally from Texas. Fun to hear stories of the making of the show. I loved how it pulled so many genres together. I am more a folk music fan, and the first show certainly tied into the folk and bluegrass traditions.
My prediction-a Jimmy Rodgers revival! He was something!
I’m not much of a country fan. I don’t hate it… just only listen once in a while on radio as change of pace. But I am a big fan of Ken Burns work. So I’d like to see it, perhaps gain a new appreciation.
@2VU0609 Dierks is very smart! 
And a bunch of Belmont grads on the charts!
MOWC, agree that Dierks is very smart! After I posted above, I also remembered that Minnie Pearl (Sarah Cannon) was said to be very different onstage than she was privately. I always heard that she was genteel and quite generous to a variety of charitable causes.
As for Belmont grads, I’m not as familiar with who those are other than Florida Georgia Line. Who else? There is so much talent in Nashville that it’s hard to keep up!
Brad Paisley and Vince Gill- Belmont. Chris Young- MTSU (I think).
Chris Young went to Belmont, but amazing songwriter Luke Laird went to MTSU as did up-and-comer Mitchell Tenpenny, who got an ACM nomination this year for New Male Artist of the Year.
My daughter was an ARTS finalist (high school music award) the same year Chris Young was a finalist and they met at the finals week in Miami. She said “I met this incredible country singer from Nashville.” We lived in Texas at the time and most of the ARTS finalists were classical singers. He, of course, became a top country artist.
There was an older man at the church I attended as a kid who taught Ernie Tubb to play the guitar. He also played in Tubb’s band at times. Buff became a fundamentalist Christian and gave up country music because he thought God wanted him to, but he sure liked telling us about Ernie Tubb!
For those who have access to older PBS shows, I highly recommend “American Epic”, that aired in 2017. I think it is also available on Prime. This series documents the period when the record companies went to the countryside and rural areas to record local music. The Carter Family and Jimmie Rogers are documented in the first episode, The Big Bang along with the origins of Memphis Blues. The other episodes cover recording sessions in other parts of the country.
We have a really nice Tammy Wynette exhibit at the Red Bay Musuem, if anyone happens to come through Northwest Alabama. Also have the W.C. Handy home nearby, Fame recording studios, historic Muscle Shoals sound studio, and Alabama music hall of fame. Elvis Presley birthplace is also nearby.
For those who enjoyed the Ken Burns series, there are 2 new podcasts you might enjoy as well. One is Country Mile and is sponsored by The Tennessean. The other is Dolly Parton’s America. I’ve not gotten far with either, but am liking them both so far.