38th Annual Student Research Conference
The Political Effect of 9/11 On Country Music
Addi Noecker
Dr. Amber Johnson, Faculty Mentor
For the past couple of decades, a country musician’s reputation has been that of a redneck who cares only about beer, women, and his tractor. Though this is currently a fairly popular image conjured at the thought of country music, this was not always the case. From the early days of folk protest songs, country music was a voice for the underprivileged and the impoverished. By the 1990s, most country musicians adopted a less political tone, but lyrics and musicality reflected strong family values and social themes of the time. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 began a string of nationalist themes throughout the genre. This research explores the timeline preceding and following the events of 9/11 and the gradual shift into conservative values in country music.
Keywords: 9/11, Country music, Nationalism, Protest
Topic(s):Music
Sociology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 205-4
Location: SUB Georgian B
Time: 11:00