Christian country music

Christian country music
Stylistic origins	Country Southern gospel hymns Jesus music
Cultural origins	Mid 20th century by secular country music artists andSouthern Gospelacts
Subgenres
Bluegrass gospel
Regional scenes
Southeastern and Midwestern United States
Other topics
Gospel Music Association-Christian music

Christian country music(sometimes marketed ascountry gospel,gospel country,positive countryorinspirational country) is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regardingChristianlife, as well as (in terms of the varying music styles) to give a Christian alternative to mainstreamsecular music.Christian country music is a form ofChristian musicand a subgenre of bothGospel musicandCountry music.

Like other forms of music the creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of Christian country music varies according to culture and social context. It is composed and performed for many purposes, ranging from aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes with a positive message, or as an entertainment product for the marketplace. However, a common theme as with most Christian music is praise, worship or thanks toGodand/orChrist.

Organizations

Many Christian country organizations have been around for a great number of years. The oldest of all of these organizations is theInternational Country Gospel Music Associationwhich was founded in 1957.These organizations were founded to further artists careers much in the same manner as theGMA,NARASorCMA.Many of these organizations have yearly conventions which hosts music showcases and awards shows. The CCMA was sued by theCMAfor award name right infringement. The CCMA renamed their awards show after a federal judge ruled that they could no longer use the name. The new name is the ICM Music Awards' which stands for "Inspirational Country Music".

Radio

Radio personality Bob Wilson was one of the first radio personalities to see the potential of the genre. His weekly showGospel Country Round-upaired for many years playing southern and Christian country music. Many Christian country stations today are going the way of Internet stations. That is a positive move for this genre, however, because there are few terrestrial radio stations that play a strictly Christian country format. Many mainstream country stations only have a weekly Sunday Country Gospel show.

Christian country has several syndicated programs. TheCountry Gospel Countdownhas broadcast since 1984 and syndicated since 1988,The Country Parsonradio program with host Scott Perkins, broadcast since 1995 and has been syndicated since 1998.Today's Cross Countrywith Marty Smith, broadcast since 1995, syndicated since 1996.Ken's Country Radio Show,TheRadio Hour,Country Messenger,The Ranchradio show on KKUS, and Canadian producedRiverside Country.The Country Gospel Music Guild also airs a weekly radio program whileCircuit Rider Radioairs on conventional and satellite radio worldwide.

Other syndicated weekend shows that feature Inspirational and Positive Country music arePower Source Top 20,and finally, theAmerican Christian Music Reviewfor United Stations Radio Networks. These programs are aired nationwide weekly on both Country and Southern Gospel radio stations.

AM/FM and Internet stations that play Christian Country Music, 90.5 KJIC Christian Country Radio, CBN Cross Country, HLE Radio, Heaven's Country, 89.9 Today's Christian Country.

Artists

Many secular country music artists have recorded country gospel songs or have performed them on their radio and television programs. From 1956–1960, two network shows usually concluded with a gospel number, which was popular with viewers:The Tennessee Ernie Ford ShowandRed Foley'sOzark Jubilee.

Other shows likeHee Haw,the Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters Show, andthe Statler Brothersimplemented the same programming style. For instance,Hee Hawfeatured a gospel song at the end of each of its shows; series stars Roy Clark, Buck Owens, Grandpa Jones and Kenny Price would sing either a traditional hymn or a newer one well known by mainstream country and Christian country audiences, and the segment itself served as a balance to the show's loony, corn-style humor.

The Grand Ole Opry,the longest running radio show and one of the most popular country music shows, has always included gospel music as a part of its program.

In the past, most Christian country music was recorded by groups with southern gospel flair like theOak Ridge Boys,Mercy River Boys,The Cook Family Singers,Red Sovine,The Louvin BrothersandThe Carter Family.Eventually, more mainstream country artists—ranging from Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton to Alabama and Alan Jackson—recorded gospel albums while continuing to record secular music. Johnny Cash, a devout Christian despite living a troubled life, recorded several best-selling gospel albums and always included a Christian song in his concerts. Ray Stevens, a musician known primarily for his comedy and novelty recordings, also recorded an album of Christian music and mixed Christian themes in his serious ( "Everything is Beautiful," stressing unity) and novelty (for instance, "Mississippi Squirrel Revival," which had a theme of repentance) mainstream releases.

Although The Oak Ridge Boys began releasing secular country songs in the late 1970s, they always maintained their gospel roots by recording religious material and performing gospel songs in their concerts, as well as releasing songs stressing Christian values and family unity. TheMercy River Boysreleased their debut album, Breakout (Canaan Records) in 1979, firmly establishing the new Christian Country genre.Don Cusic(Billboard Magazine, Vol. 90, No 31), creditsCanaan Recordsfor creating a band to crossover into country music, improving "what is essentially a good product (gospel) and made it become commercially viable."TheMercy River Boyscharted hits in Country, Southern Gospel and on traditional Gospel formats.Other gospel groups followed theOak Ridge Boysand theMercy River Boysinto Christian Country music.

At times, gospel and Christian-themed songs earned mass mainstream appeal. Among the most popular of these songs included "Why Me"byKris Kristofferson(1973, a plea for God's guidance and forgiveness), "The Seeker"byDolly Parton(1975, a spiritual), "One Day at a Time"byCristy Lane(1980, co-written by Kristofferson), "Three Wooden Crosses"byRandy Travis(2003, where a prostitute gives birth to a man who eventually becomes a preacher), "Long Black Train"byJosh Turner(2003, about resisting temptation from Satan and following the Lord instead); "Jesus, Take the Wheel"byCarrie Underwood(2005, where a woman turns to Christ) and "When I Get Where I'm Going"byBrad Paisley(2006, about the afterlife).

Christian country magazines

• Christian Music Weekly(formerly CCRB) since 1990
• Power Source Magazine
• Circuit Rider Magazine
• Christian Country Gospel News
• Super Christian Country
• Singing News magazine

See also

• List of Christian country artists